Diann Erbschloe Brei

7063377, Jun 20, 2006

Aug 6, 2004

10/913691

Diann Brei - Milford MI, US
John Redmond - Ann Arbor MI, US
Nathan A. Wilmot - Waterford MI, US
Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Gary L. Jones - Farmington Hills MI, US

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI

B60J 7/00

29618709, 29619311, 296 9722, 296 56, 2961464, 296 571, 180 6921, 180271, 180274

A hood lift mechanism for reversibly increasing the energy absorption capability at appropriate force levels of a vehicle hood includes a vehicle hood; an active material in operative communication with the vehicle hood, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, an ionic polymer metal composite, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in a property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an increased clearance distance between the vehicle hood and an underlying component.

7331616, Feb 19, 2008

Jul 15, 2004

10/893118

Diann Brei - Milford MI, US
John Redmond - Ann Arbor MI, US
Nathan A. Wilmot - Waterford MI, US
Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Gary L. Jones - Farmington Hills MI, US

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI

E05C 19/10
E05C 3/06

292100, 292201, 29234116, 292DIG 66

A latch for engaging and disengaging two opposing surfaces includes a pin disposed on one surface and a gate disposed on an opposite surface; an active material in operative communication with the pin or the gate; an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in a property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an engagement or a disengagement of the pin or the gate from the other of the pin or the gate; and a spring in operative communication with the pin or the gate, wherein the spring is configured to provide a force opposite to a force provided by the active material, wherein the activated active material is effective to overcome the force provided by the spring.

7455147, Nov 25, 2008

May 9, 2006

11/430794

Diann Brei - Milford MI, US
John Redmond - Ann Arbor MI, US
Nathan A. Wilmot - Waterford MI, US
Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Gary L. Jones - Farmington Hills MI, US

General Motors Corporation - Detroit MI
The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI

B60K 28/10

180274, 49 31, 180 6921, 180281, 180282, 29618703

A hood lift mechanism for reversibly increasing the energy absorption capability at appropriate force levels of a vehicle hood includes a vehicle hood; an active material in operative communication with the vehicle hood, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, an ionic polymer metal composite, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in a property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an increased clearance distance between the vehicle hood and an underlying component.

7556117, Jul 7, 2009

Sep 20, 2006

11/533417

Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Kenneth A. Strom - Washington MI, US
Diann Brei - Milford MI, US
Jonathan E. Luntz - Ann Arbor MI, US
Brian M. Barnes - Ypsilanti MI, US

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI
The University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI

B60R 21/34
B62D 25/12

180274, 180281

Hood lift mechanisms for reversibly increasing the energy absorption capability at appropriate force levels of a vehicle closure includes a vehicle closure; an active material in operative communication with the vehicle closure, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, an ionic polymer metal composite, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in a property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an increased clearance distance between the vehicle closure and an underlying component.

7563097, Jul 21, 2009

Sep 6, 2005

11/218583

Christopher Lavigna - Olney MD, US
Diann Brei - Milford MI, US
Jonathan Luntz - Ann Arbor MI, US
Anupam Pathak - Ann Arbor MI, US

Techno-Sciences, Inc. - Lanham MD
The Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI

F41A 33/00

434 16, 434 18, 42 90, 42 94, 42124, 42125, 42126

In a self-contained actively-controlled stabilization system within a hand-grip, all components are contained within the handgrip, and one generic handgrip can be attached to a variety of devices for a wide range of applications, thereby increasing portability, reducing weight and bulkiness, and decreasing complexity and application dependence. The handgrip includes a sensor, a controller and an actuator which preferably employs at least one shape memory alloy wire. The actuator drives a platform mechanism which may be configured such that the elevation and azimuth degrees of freedom are coupled or uncoupled. Direct, rotational and other platform mechanisms may be used with the invention.

7686120, Mar 30, 2010

Sep 20, 2006

11/533430

Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Kenneth A. Strom - Washington MI, US
Diann Brei - Milford MI, US
Jonathan E. Luntz - Ann Arbor MI, US
John Redmond - Ann Arbor MI, US
Brian M. Barnes - Ypsilanti MI, US

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

B60R 21/34
B62D 25/12

180274, 180 6921

A hood lift mechanism for reversibly increasing the energy absorption capability at appropriate force levels of a vehicle hood includes a vehicle hood; an active material in operative communication with the vehicle hood, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, an ionic polymer metal composite, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in a property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an increased clearance distance between the vehicle hood and an underlying component.

7722560, May 25, 2010

Feb 9, 2007

11/673193

Daniel H. Teitelbaum - Ann Arbor MI, US
Jonathan E. Luntz - Ann Arbor MI, US
Ariel Uzziah Spencer - Philadelphia PA, US
Diann E. Brei - Milford MI, US

The Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI

A61M 1/00
A61F 2/04

604 27, 604 38, 604124, 604195, 623 2364

A bowel extension device implantable into a body for treatment of short bowel syndrome. The bowel extension device comprises a housing and a displaceable member coupled to the housing. The bowel extension device is configured to apply a tensile force sufficient to promote bowel growth without causing damage to the bowel. In some embodiments, the bowel extension device can be completely contained with the body.

7823682, Nov 2, 2010

Sep 20, 2006

11/533422

Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Diann Brei - Milford MI, US
Nathan A. Wilmot - Waterford MI, US
John Redmond - Ann Arbor MI, US

GM Global Technology Operations, Inc. - Detroit MI

B60R 21/34

180274

A hood lift mechanism for reversibly increasing the energy absorption capability at appropriate force levels of a vehicle hood includes a vehicle hood; an active material in operative communication with the vehicle hood, wherein the active material comprises a shape memory alloy, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, a magnetorheological fluid, an electroactive polymer, a magnetorheological elastomer, an electrorheological fluid, a piezoelectric material, an ionic polymer metal composite, or combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing active materials; and an activation device in operative communication with the active material, wherein the activation device is operable to selectively apply an activation signal to the active material and effect a reversible change in a property of the active material, wherein the reversible change results in an increased clearance distance between the vehicle hood and an underlying component.