IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,324,080
Granted Patent B2
US 12,324,080 · App. 18/135,058 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Multifunctional assemblies

Inventors: Seth S. Kessler (Newton, MA); Gregory A. Thomas (San Francisco, CA); Christopher T. Dunn (Salem, MA); Michael Borgen (Wilmington, MA); Brian L. Wardle (Lexington, MA)
Assignee: Metis Design Corporation
H05B6/101H01B1/04H01C13/00H01G4/33H05B1/0236H05B3/145H05B3/20H05B3/265H05B3/267H05B2203/011H05B2203/013H05B2203/016H05B2203/017H05B2214/02H05B2214/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,324,080
App. No.
18/135,058
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A multifunctional assembly having a resistive element a conductive element in electrical communication with the resistive element, the conductive element defining at least one of a plurality of multifunctional zones of the resistive element, wherein the conductive element is configured to direct a flow of electricity across at least one of the plurality of multifunctional zones of the resistive element in a preselected manner.

Claims (41)

1. A system comprising:

an object formed incorporating a multifunction assembly having a stacked, layered structure, the multifunction assembly including:

a first resistive layer formed of carbon nanofibers, the carbon nanofibers are bound to one another by attraction or entanglement to form a self-supporting sheet;

a first conductive layer electrically coupled to and stacked on the first resistive layer to distribute an electrical current through the first resistive layer; and

a pair of insulating layers including a first insulating layer stacked on and disposed across the first resistive layer and a second insulating layer stacked on and disposed across the first conductive layer on a side opposing the first resistive layer; and

a control system operationally couplable to the first conductive layer configured or programmed to drive the first resistive layer with electrical energy to maintain or change a temperature of the object.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the object is integrated into or onto a portion of a tool adapted for manufacturing use in a forming, curing or heat treating process for a part having a polymer matrix included therein, the tool being placed in contact with the part during the forming, curing or heat treating process.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the object changes a state of a material in contact with the object or the stacked layered structure.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the object changes the state of the material or prevents a change of the state of the material.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second resistive layer formed of carbon nanofibers, the carbon nanofibers are bound to one another by attraction or entanglement to form a self-supporting sheet free of a support material prior to contact with a matrix material;

a second conductive layer electrically coupled to and stacked on the second resistive layer to distribute an electrical current through the second resistive layer; and

a second pair of second insulating layers including a third insulating layer stacked on and disposed across the second resistive layer and a fourth insulating layer stacked on and disposed across the second conductive layer on a side opposing the second resistive layer.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising: a second set of contacts connecting the second conductive layer to the control system.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a first set of contacts connecting the first conductive layer to the control system.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system drives the first resistive layer with the electrical energy to increase the temperature of the object so as to change a material from solid water to liquid water.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first resistive layer includes a plurality of multifunctional zones defined by the first conductive layer.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein each of the multifunctional zones is configured to increase the temperature of the object so as to change a material from solid water to liquid water.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control system drives the first resistive layer with the electrical energy to maintain a temperature of the object so as to prevent a change of a material from liquid water to solid water.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sheet is free of a support material prior to contact with a matrix material.

13. An assembled object comprising:

a component;

a multifunction assembly having a stacked, layered structure, the multifunction assembly including:

a first resistive layer formed of carbon nanofibers, the carbon nanofibers are bound to one another by attraction or entanglement to form a self-supporting sheet;

a first conductive layer electrically coupled to and stacked on the first resistive layer to distribute an electrical current through the first resistive layer; and

a pair of insulating layers including a first insulating layer stacked on and disposed across the first resistive layer and a second insulating layer stacked on and disposed across the first conductive layer on a side opposing the first resistive layer; and

a control system operationally couplable to the first conductive layer configured or programmed to drive the first resistive layer with electrical energy to maintain or change a temperature of the component.

14. The assembled object of claim 13 , wherein the assembled object is integrated into or onto a portion of a tool adapted for manufacturing use in a forming, curing or heat treating process for a part having a polymer matrix included therein, the tool being placed in contact with the part during forming, curing or heat treating process.

15. The assembled object of claim 13 , wherein the assembled object changes a state of a material in contact with the component or the stacked layered structure.

16. The assembled object of claim 15 , wherein the assembled object changes the state of the material or prevents a change of the state of the material.

17. The assembled object of claim 13 , further comprising:

a second resistive layer formed of carbon nanofibers, the carbon nanofibers are bound to one another by attraction or entanglement to form a self-supporting sheet free of a support material prior to contact with a matrix material;

a second conductive layer electrically coupled to and stacked on the second resistive layer to distribute an electrical current through the second resistive layer; and

a second pair of second insulating layers including a third insulating layer stacked on and disposed across the second resistive layer and a fourth insulating layer stacked on and disposed across the second conductive layer on a side opposing the second resistive layer.

18. The assembled object of claim 17 , further comprising: a second set of contacts connecting the second conductive layer to the control system.

19. The assembled object of claim 13 , further comprising: a first set of contacts connecting the first conductive layer to the control system.

20. The assembled object of claim 13 , wherein the control system drives the first resistive layer with the electrical energy to increase the temperature of the component so as to change a material from solid water to liquid water.

21. The assembled object of claim 13 , wherein the sheet is free of a support material prior to contact with a matrix material.

22. The assembled object of claim 13 , wherein the first resistive layer includes a plurality of multifunctional zones defined by the first conductive layer.

23. The assembled object of claim 22 , wherein each of the multifunctional zones is configured to increase the temperature of the component so as to change a material from solid water to liquid water.

24. The assembled object of claim 13 , wherein the control system drives the first resistive layer with the electrical energy to maintain a temperature of the component so as to prevent a change of a material from liquid water to solid water.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2023
From: KESSLER, SETH S.; THOMAS, GREGORY A.; DUNN, CHRISTOPHER T.; BORGEN, MICHAEL; WARDLE, BRIAN L.
To: METIS DESIGN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063351/0542 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17576019 · Jan 14, 2022
Continuation 14678066 · Apr 3, 2015
Provisional Application 62057728 · Sep 30, 2014
Provisional Application 61978154 · Apr 10, 2014
Provisional Application 61978152 · Apr 10, 2014
Related Publication 20240090091A1 · Mar 14, 2024
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