# US 10,309,377 B2 · Bi-directional actuator

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- Number: US 10,309,377 B2
- Document ID: US10309377B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/548,248
- Filed: 2016-01-21
- Published: 2018-09-20
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-06
- Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Inventors: Daan Anton van den Ende
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309377B2

## CPC

- B26B 19/28: Drive layout for hair clippers or dry shavers, e.g. providing for electromotive drive (electric motors per se H02)
- B32B 15/08: of synthetic resin
- F03G 7/0121: {Electroactive polymers}
- F03G 7/0614: {using shape memory elements}
- F03G 7/06143: {Wires}
- F21V 5/008: {Combination of two or more successive refractors along an optical axis}
- F21V 14/06: by movement of refractors {(in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635)}
- H05B 3/0004: {Devices wherein the heating current flows through the material to be heated (Circuit arrangements for heating by passing the current directly across the material to be heated H05B3/0023; granular, powdered or fluid material H05B3/60)}
- H10N 30/204: {using bending displacement, e.g. unimorph, bimorph or multimorph cantilever or membrane benders}
- H10N 30/2041: {Beam type}
- H10N 30/802: {Circuitry or processes for operating piezoelectric or electrostrictive devices not otherwise provided for, e.g. drive circuits}
- H10N 30/857: Macromolecular compositions
- B32B 2307/738: Thermoformability
- F05C 2251/08: Shape memory
- F21Y 2101/00: Point-like light sources
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- H10N 30/2043: {connected at their free ends, e.g. parallelogram type}
- B26B: HAND-HELD CUTTING TOOLS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (for harvesting A01D; for horticulture, for forestry A01G; for butchering or meat treatment A22; for manufactering or repairing footwear A43D; nail clippers or cutters A45D29/02; kitchen equipment A47J; {vegetable slicers, julienne cutters and similar devices and holders therefor, B26D3/28}; for surgical purposes A61B; for metal B23D; cutting by abrasive fluid jets B24C5/02; plier-like tools with cutting edges B25B7/22; pincers B25C11/02; handles for hand implements, in general B25G; guillotine-type cutters B26D; {perforating by non-mechanical means, e.g. by fluid jet, B26F1/26}; for erasing B43L19/00; for textile materials D06H)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
- F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00)
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H10N: ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F05C: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO MATERIALS, MATERIAL PROPERTIES OR MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS FOR MACHINES, ENGINES OR PUMPS OTHER THAN NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED

## Abstract

A thermally and electrically controllable miniaturised actuator comprises a bi-layer structure formed of a shape-memory alloy layer coupled with an electro-active polymer layer. A heating means is provided for thermal stimulation of the shape-memory alloy layer, this layer transitioning from an initial shape at a first temperature to a second, pre-determined, shape at a second temperature. Application of an electric field to the electro-active polymer layer stimulates this layer to deform in response, with a stress which may exceed that of the alloy layer, when the latter layer is in a low-temperature phase. Actuation methods are further provided, which include stimulating the polymer layer to deform in an opposite ‘direction’ to the deformation of the alloy layer, thus allowing the actuator to be ‘reset’ in between strokes. Methods of producing an actuator are also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bi-directional actuator, comprising:
a heat-sensitive shape-memory layer, wherein the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer comprises a shape memory alloy, the shape memory alloy existing in a first phase below a first temperature, and in a second phase above a second temperature, and wherein a transition from the first to the second phase stimulates the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer to move from any first shape into a second, predetermined shape;
an electro-active polymer layer, coupled with the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer such that both follow a same shape, the electro-active polymer layer being deformable, in response to an applied voltage; and
a heating means for controlling a temperature of the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer, wherein the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer and electro-active polymer layer provide bi-directional functionality in which the shape-memory alloy deforms with a first force on transition between the first phase to the second phase, wherein the first force provides an actuation force in a first direction, and in which the electro-active polymer layer provides a manual deformation of the shape-memory alloy back away from the second, pre-determined shape of the second phase, in a second direction, opposite the first direction, in response to an application of the applied voltage for a controlled speed and extent of the manual deformation in the second direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating means comprises at least two contact terminals in electrical communication with the shape memory alloy, for delivery of an electrical current through the shape memory alloy.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heating means comprises a heating element in thermal communication with the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The actuator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer comprises a layer of polymer material having an embedded shape memory alloy wire.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A beam-shaping element, comprising:
a light-directing channel having one or more boundary walls, wherein at least one boundary wall comprises one or more of the actuators as claimed in claim 1; and
a light source for emitting a beam within the light-directing channel.

### Claim 6

A beam shaping element, comprising;
a channel having one or more boundary walls, wherein at least one boundary wall comprises one or more actuator that comprises (i) a heat-sensitive shape-memory layer, wherein the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer includes a shape memory alloy, the shape memory alloy existing in a first phase below a first temperature, and a second phase above a second temperature, and wherein a transition from the first to the second phase stimulates the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer to move from any first shape into a second, predetermined shape, (ii) an electro-active polymer layer, coupled with the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer such that both follow a same shape, the electro-active polymer layer being deformable, in response to an applied voltage, and a heating means for controlling a temperature of the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer; and
one or more optical elements arranged at one end of the channel.

### Claim 7

An adaptive lighting device comprising:
one or more beam-shaping elements that comprise a channel having one or more boundary walls, wherein at least one boundary wall comprises one or more actuator that comprise (i) a heat-sensitive shape-memory layer, wherein the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer includes a shape memory alloy, the shape memory alloy existing in a first phase below a first temperature, and a second phase above a second temperature, and wherein a transition from the first to the second phase stimulates the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer to move from any first shape into a second, predetermined shape, (ii) an electro-active polymer layer, coupled with the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer such that both follow a same shape, the electro-active polymer layer being deformable, in response to an applied voltage, and a heating means for controlling a temperature of the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer; and
one or more solid-state lighting elements disposed within at least one boundary wall of the channel.

### Claim 8

A skin-contacting structure for a skin-hair shaving device, the skin contacting structure for contacting a skin portion of a skin during shaving of said skin by the shaving device, the structure comprising an actuator for altering a relative position or orientation between at least a part of the skin contacting structure and the skin portion, wherein the actuator comprises (i) a heat-sensitive shape-memory layer, wherein the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer includes a shape memory alloy, the shape memory alloy existing in a first phase below a first temperature, and a second phase above a second temperature, and wherein a transition from the first to the second phase stimulates the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer to move from any first shape into a second, predetermined shape, (ii) an electro-active polymer layer, coupled with the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer such that both follow a same shape, the electro-active polymer layer being deformable, in response to an applied voltage, and a heating means for controlling a temperature of the heat-sensitive shape-memory layer.

### Claim 9

A bi-directional actuation method, comprising:
increasing, via a heating means, a temperature of a first layer element comprising that comprises a shape-memory alloy, above a transition temperature for stimulating the shape-memory alloy to transition from a first shape at a first temperature into a second, predetermined shape at a second temperature;
decreasing the temperature of the first layer element to a third temperature; and
applying a voltage to a second layer element, wherein the second layer element is coupled with the first layer element such that the first and second layer elements together follow a same shape, and wherein the second layer element comprises an electro-active polymer, for stimulating the electro-active polymer to deform from the second, pre-determined shape, into a third shape, the third shape dependent upon a magnitude of the voltage being applied,
wherein the shape-memory alloy of the first layer element and electro-active polymer of the second layer element provide bi-directional functionality in which the shape-memory alloy deforms with a first force in a first direction on transition between a first phase to a second phase, and in which the electro-active polymer provides a manual deformation of the shape-memory alloy back away from the second, pre-determined shape of the second phase, in a second direction, opposite the first direction, in response to an application of the voltage for a controlled speed and extent of the manual deformation in the second direction.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the voltage is applied to the second layer element having a magnitude such that the third shape is identical to the first shape.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the transition of the first layer element from the first shape to the second, predetermined shape, is used to deliver the first force, wherein the first force comprises an actuation force.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the manual deformation provided by the electro-active polymer of the second layer element is used to deliver a second force that comprises an actuation force.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the heating means comprises a joule heating process, and wherein a current is passed through at least a portion of the first layer element.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the voltage is applied to the second layer element via the first layer element, wherein the first layer element is in electrical communication with the second layer element.

### Claim 15

A method of producing a bi-directional actuator, comprising:
coupling a first layer element that comprises a shape-memory alloy to a second layer element that comprises an electro-active polymer, such that the first and second layer elements together follow a same shape; and
providing a heating means in thermal communication with the first layer element,
wherein the shape-memory alloy exists in a first phase below a first temperature, and in a second phase above a second temperature, and wherein a transition from the first to the second phase stimulates the shape-memory alloy to move from any first shape into a second, predetermined shape,
wherein the electro-active polymer is deformable in response to an applied voltage, and
wherein the heating means controls the temperature of the shape-memory alloy, wherein the first layer element and the second layer element provide bi-directional functionality in which the shape-memory alloy deforms with a first force in a first direction on transition between the first phase to the second phase, and in which the electro-active polymer provides a manual deformation of the shape-memory alloy back away from the second, pre-determined shape of the second phase, in a second direction, opposite the first direction, in response to an application of the applied voltage for a controlled speed and extent of the manual deformation in the second direction.