Actively controlled surfaces

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12091160-B2
Application number	US-202217885082-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2022
Priority date	Oct 23, 2014
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

Active surface structures comprise an exposed surface, a controlled group of MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system) actuators, and a controlled region of the exposed surface corresponding to the controlled group. The controlled region has a first state, and a second state that is less textured than the first state. Active surface structures may be part of an apparatus that includes a controller and/or one or more sensors. The controller, sensors, and the controlled region may form a feedback loop in which the active surface structure is actively controlled.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An active surface structure comprising:
an exposed surface;
a controlled group of one or more micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) actuators; and
a controlled region of the exposed surface corresponding to the controlled group;
wherein the controlled region is configured to be actively changed between a first state and a second state as a result of the one or more MEMS actuators being activated or deactivated, wherein the exposed surface in the first state is more textured than in the second state, and wherein the controlled region in at least one of the first state and the second state includes a plurality of nanoprotrusions projecting from a plurality of microprotrusions as a result of the one or more MEMS actuators being activated or deactivated, wherein the nanoprotrusions are spaced apart from one another with an average spacing of 1-1,000 nanometers (nm) and have an average height of 1-1,000 nm, and wherein the microprotrusions are spaced apart from one another with an average spacing of 1-100 microns (μm) and have an average height of 1-100 μm.

2. The active surface structure of claim 1 , wherein the second state is less hydrophobic than the first state.

3. The active surface structure of claim 1 , wherein the first state is a hydrophobic state or a superhydrophobic state, and wherein the second state is a hydrophilic state or a superhydrophilic state.

4. The active surface structure of claim 1 , wherein a contact angle of water with the controlled region in the second state is less than 60°.

5. The active surface structure of claim 1 , wherein the second state is an oleophobic state.

6. The active surface structure of claim 1 , wherein the second state is an oleophilic state.

7. The active surface structure of claim 1 , wherein the one or more MEMS actuators comprises one or more nano-electro-mechanical system (NEMS) actuators.

8. The active surface structure of claim 1 , wherein, in the first state, each MEMS actuator of the controlled group is activated to deform a portion of the controlled region and wherein, in the second state of the controlled region, each MEMS actuator of the controlled group is deactivated, and the controlled region is unaffected by the controlled group of the one or more MEMS actuators.

9. The active surface structure of claim 1 , wherein the controlled region in the first state includes the plurality of microprotrusions, and wherein the one or more MEMS actuators are configured to selectively form the microprotrusions.

10. The active surface structure of claim 1 , wherein the one or more MEMS actuators are configured to selectively form the nanoprotrusions.

11. The active surface structure of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of vibration generators configured to selectively impart a sonic shock into the controlled region.

12. The active surface structure of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of vibration generators are interspersed with the one or more MEMS actuators.

13. The active surface structure of claim 1 , further comprising an outer elastomeric covering, wherein the outer elastomeric covering defines the exposed surface, and wherein the controlled group of one or more MEMS actuators is embedded within or covered by the outer elastomeric covering.

14. The active surface structure of claim 13 , wherein the outer elastomeric covering is hydrophilic, and further wherein an activation of the controlled group of the one or more MEMS actuators causes the controlled region to transition between the first state and the second state.

15. The active surface structure of claim 13 , wherein the active surface structure is a laminated structure comprising:
the outer elastomeric covering; and
an electrical wiring layer electrically connected to the one or more MEMS actuators and positioned below the outer elastomeric covering.

16. The active surface structure of claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of vibration generators, wherein the laminated structure further comprises a sublayer opposite the exposed surface relative to the outer elastomeric covering, and wherein the plurality of vibration generators are arranged within the sublayer of the laminated structure.

17. The active surface structure of claim 1 , wherein the controlled region is in one of the first state and the second state according to an activation state of the controlled group of the one or more MEMS actuators.

18. The active surface structure of claim 1 , wherein each MEMS actuator of the controlled group has an activated state in which each MEMS actuator deforms a portion of the controlled region and has a deactivated state in which the controlled region is unaffected by the one or more MEMS actuators, wherein the second state of the controlled region corresponds to all the MEMS actuators of the controlled group being in the deactivated state, and wherein the first state of the controlled region corresponds to all the MEMS actuators of the controlled group being in the activated state.

19. An apparatus comprising:
a body; and
the active surface structure of claim 1 ;
wherein the body includes the active surface structure.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the body includes an aerodynamic component that has a leading edge, and wherein the active surface structure is proximate to the leading edge.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect at least one of an environmental condition and an exposed surface condition, and further comprising a controller configured to control the controlled region based at least on information from the one or more sensors in a feedback loop.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a controller configured to transition the controlled region between the first state and the second state by activating the one or more MEMS actuators of the controlled group to transition to the first state, and by deactivating the one or more MEMS actuators of the controlled group to transition to the second state.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a controller and one or more sensors, wherein the controller is configured to transition the controlled region from the second state to the first state based upon a detection of condensation conditions, a detection of icing conditions, a forecast of condensation conditions, and/or a forecast of icing conditions.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the controlled region is in one of the first state and the second state according to an activation state of the controlled group of the one or more MEMS actuators.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Guerry Joshua Benjamin
• Koch Peter Aaron
• Chang Li Chun
• Thim Robert Hans

Classifications

• B81B7/04

  Networks or arrays of similar microstructural devices · CPC title

• B81B7/02

  containing distinct electrical or optical devices of particular relevance for their function, e.g. microelectro-mechanical systems [MEMS] (B81B7/04 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B81B7/0029

  Protection against environmental influences not provided for in groups B81B7/0012 - B81B7/0025 · CPC title

• B81B3/0094

  Constitution or structural means for improving or controlling physical properties not provided for in B81B3/0067 - B81B3/0091 · CPC title

• Y02T50/10

  Drag reduction · CPC title