Insulation of SMA actuator wires in a miniature camera
AssigneesCambridge Mechatronics Limited, Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
InventorsAndrew Benjamin David Brown, Peter Francis Ladwig, Richard Rodger Jenneke, Timothy Alan McDaniel, Paul Valentine Pesavento, Todd Austin Peter, Bryan John Scheele
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Abstract
A miniature camera (1) comprising at least one SMA actuator wire (11) arranged to effect focus, zoom or optical image stabilization. The SMA actuator wire (11) is coated with an electrically insulating layer (40) of thickness in the range from 0.3 μm to 10 μm. The layer (40) provides electrical insulation whilst permitting cooling that provides a rapid response time of the SMA actuator wire (11).
Claims14
A miniature camera comprising at least one SMA actuator wire arranged, on application of drive signals that cause resistive heating of the at least one SMA wire, to effect focus, zoom or optical image stabilization of the miniature camera, wherein the at least one SMA actuator wire comprises SMA material coated with an electrically insulating layer of thickness in the range from 0.3 μm to 10 μm, there being no other conductive material inside the electrically insulating layer besides the SMA material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.