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US 12,049,877 B2Granted
Shape memory alloy actuator
AssigneeHutchinson Technology Incorporated
InventorsMark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis, Ryan N. Ruzicka
Life of this patent
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Abstract
SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
Claims8
An actuator comprising:
- a base;
- and
- one or more bimorph arms, the one or more bimorph arms including:
- a beam portion,
- a fixed end, and
- a load point end, the beam portion disposed between the fixed end and the load point end, wherein at least one of the fixed end and the load point end of the one or more bimorph arms includes a flat surface;
- and
- a Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) material with a first end of the SMA material affixed to the fixed end and a second end of the SMA material affixed to the load point end, wherein the SMA material of the one or more bimorph arms is affixed to the flat surface of at least one of the fixed end and the load point end by a resistance weld.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.