Jeffrey A Fortin, 5239 Ffrost Dr, Durham, NH 03824

6883774, Apr 26, 2005

Oct 21, 2002

10/277028

Matthew C. Nielsen - Schenectady NY, US
Laura J. Meyer - Schenectady NY, US
Todd G. Wetzel - Niskayuna NY, US
Stanton E. Weaver - Northville NY, US
Jeffrey B. Fortin - Niskayuna NY, US
Renato Guida - Wynantskill NY, US

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

F16K007/12

251 11, 251331

A microvalve and a method of forming a microvalve. The microvalve comprises first and second layers, a diaphragm member and a switching means. The first and second layers are secured together to form a valve body that forms an inlet opening for receiving fluid, an outlet opening for conducting fluid from the valve body, and a flow channel for conducting fluid from the inlet to the outlet. The diaphragm is disposed between the layers, and is movable between open and closed positions. In these position, the diaphragm, respectively, allows and blocks the flow of fluid from the inlet to the flow channel. The diaphragm is biased to the closed position, and moves from the closed position to the open position when the pressure of fluid in the inlet reaches a preset value. The switching means is connected to the valve body for moving the diaphragm to the closed position against the pressure of fluid in the inlet. Preferably, the microvalve is constructed out of SiC and stainless steel materials, allowing the microvalve to be used in a harsh environment.

6933661, Aug 23, 2005

Oct 16, 2002

10/271454

Charles E. Seeley - Niskayuna NY, US
Todd G. Wetzel - Niskayuna NY, US
Andrew J. Calver - Clifton Park NY, US
Jeffrey B. Fortin - Niskayuna NY, US
Keith B. Fosen - Orlando FL, US

Lockheed Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

H01L041/08

310341, 310346

A piezoelectric actuator and a method of assembling and employing a piezoelectric actuator. This method comprises the steps of positioning an expandable piezoelectric material inside a case, and enclosing a vaporizable liquid in the case. The case is positioned in a high temperature environment; and the liquid vaporizes, in that high temperature environment, over a given period of time, to maintain the temperature of the piezoelectric material below a given value for said period of time. Preferably, the vaporizing liquid maintains the temperature of the piezoelectric material substantially constant over that period of time. Also, preferably the case is provided with a pressure responsive valve that opens and closes, in the high temperature environment, to expose the liquid to that environment and control the vaporization of the liquid to maintain the temperature of the piezoelectric material substantially constant over the period of time.

7037746, May 2, 2006

Dec 27, 2004

11/023252

Lowell Scott Smith - Niskayuna NY, US
David Martin Mills - Niskayuna NY, US
Jeffrey Bernard Fortin - Niskayuna NY, US
Wei-Cheng Tian - Clifton Park NY, US
John Robert Logan - Danville CA, US

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

H01L 21/00

438 53

A capacitive micromachined ultrasound transducer (cMUT) cell is presented. The cMUT cell includes a lower electrode. Furthermore, the cMUT cell includes a diaphragm disposed adjacent to the lower electrode such that a gap having a first gap width is formed between the diaphragm and the lower electrode, wherein the diaphragm comprises one of a first epitaxial layer or a first polysilicon layer. In addition, a stress reducing material is disposed in the first epitaxial layer.

7114397, Oct 3, 2006

Mar 12, 2004

10/799053

Jeffrey Fortin - Niskayuna NY, US
Kuna Kishore - Bangalore, IN

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

H04R 17/00

73756

According to some embodiments, an apparatus includes a substrate that defines a plane. The apparatus also includes a first conducting plate that is substantially normal to the substrate and a second conducting plate that is (i) substantially normal to the substrate and (ii) deformable in response to a pressure.

7116036, Oct 3, 2006

Aug 2, 2004

10/909062

Mahadevan Balasubramaniam - Clifton Park NY, US
Jeffrey Bernard Fortin - Niskayuna NY, US
Walter John Smith - Ballston Spa NY, US
Huageng Luo - Clifton Park NY, US

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

H01L 41/08

310322, 310339, 310324, 310334

An energy harvesting device, system and method are described. The energy harvester collects acoustic energy and transforms it into electrical energy for use by a sensor. The energy harvester utilizes a piezoelectric device, which may be encased, either wholly or partially, within an acoustic chamber. Alternatively, the piezoelectric device may be entirely exterior to the acoustic chamber, which acts to amplify the collected acoustic energy.

7181972, Feb 27, 2007

Dec 27, 2004

11/023202

Samhita Dasgupta - Niskayuna NY, US
Jeffrey Bernard Fortin - Niskayuna NY, US
Steven Francis LeBoeuf - Schenectady NY, US
Vinayak Tilak - Schenectady NY, US
Chayan Mitra - Bangalore, IN
Steven Alfred Tysoe - Ballston Spa NY, US

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

G01L 9/00

73705, 73754

A sensor, in accordance with aspects of the present technique, is provided. The sensor comprises a membrane formed of gallium nitride. The membrane is disposed on a substrate, which is wet-etched to form a closed cavity. The membrane exhibits both a capacitive response and a piezo-response to an external stimulus. The sensor further includes a circuit for measuring at least one of the capacitive response or the piezo-response. In certain aspects, the sensor may be operable to measure external stimuli, such as, pressure, force and mechanical vibration.

7296476, Nov 20, 2007

Jul 31, 2006

11/495317

Jeffrey Fortin - Niskayuna NY, US
Kuna Kishore - Bangalore, IN

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

H04R 17/00

73756

According to some embodiments, an apparatus includes a substrate that defines a plane. The apparatus also includes a first conducting plate that is substantially normal to the substrate and a second conducting plate that is (i) substantially normal to the substrate and (ii) deformable in response to a pressure.

7305889, Dec 11, 2007

Jul 31, 2006

11/495318

Jeffrey Fortin - Niskayuna NY, US
Kuna Kishore - Bangalore, IN

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

H04R 17/00

73756

According to some embodiments, an apparatus includes a substrate that defines a plane. The apparatus also includes a first conducting plate that is substantially normal to the substrate and a second conducting plate that is (i) substantially normal to the substrate and (ii) deformable in response to a pressure.