DEVELOPMENTS AT NIST Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are working on the following technology. For further information, CONTACT: MARY CLAGUE, TELEPHONE (301) 975-4188 OR EMAIL
[email protected], National Institute of Standards and Technology, Technology Partnerships Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2200, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899. Fax: 301-869-2751. THIS IS NOT AN ANNOUNCEMENT OF A PROPOSED CONTRACT ACTION OR A GRANT. NIST DOCKET NUMBER: 02-002PA Title: Low Cost Portable Refreshable Tactile Graphic Display Description: This technology relates primarily to reducing the total number of stimulus points needed by a refreshable tactile graphic display system, though the ratio of actuators to stimulus points can also be reduced for further cost saving. The method is also expected to reduce the cost per actuator, compared to discrete piezoelectric actuators. NIST DOCKET NUMBER: 02-013PA Title: Integrated Refrigerant Expansion Valve Description: This technology describes a refrigerant expansion valve in which flow restriction can be modulated. The valve involves a fluid container, membrane and heater, and is produced using the types of manufacturing processes developed in the silicon processing industry. By taking advantage of these processes, it will become possible to produce an expansion valve in large quantities with accurate dimensions and excellent reproducibility at a relatively small cost per unit. By inexpensively producing a device with this functionality, it will become feasible to utilize them in small vapor compression systems, such as refrigerators and window style air conditioners, to improve the operational efficiency. It will also be feasible to apply such a device on individual circuitry branches of large evaporators to evenly control refrigerant superheat at the outlets of all branches.