Shaped memory alloy (SMA) valve assembly for controlling pressurized air supply to air cells in a vehicle seat

A method of assembling a shaped memory alloy (SMA) valve assembly, comprising:

• providing a housing containing a plurality of SMA valves and a main printed circuit board carrying electronic components and conductors for operating the SMA valves;
• each SMA valve comprising a pressure chamber having a port, each pressure chamber containing:
• a valve element biased to a rest position in sealing abutment on a valve seat of the port, a SMA actuator adapted to, when activated by supply of electrical energy, move the valve element away from the valve seat, and an actuator printed circuit board for mounting and electrically connecting the SMA actuator;
• providing a conductor arrangement electrically connecting the actuator printed circuit boards inside of the pressure chambers to the main printed circuit board disposed in the housing outside the pressure chambers;
• wherein the actuator printed circuit boards and the main printed circuit board are provided by inserting an integral common printed circuit board carrying the conductor arrangement and including a plurality of actuator printed circuit board portions and a main printed circuit board portion, wherein each actuator printed circuit board portion is connected to the main printed circuit board portion by a bridge printed circuit board portion, and in that each pressure chamber is provided with an opening to allow a respective bridge printed circuit board portion to extend therethrough, which opening is provided with a pocket, and in that each pocket is filled with curable sealing glue to embed the bridge printed circuit board portion extending therethrough and to seal the opening of the pressure chamber by cured sealing glue.