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US 12,248,233 B2Granted
Shape memory alloy actuators and methods thereof
AssigneeHutchinson Technology Incorporated
InventorsRyan N. Ruzicka, Yasushi Sakamoto, Mark A. Miller
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.
Claims6
An actuator comprising:
- a plurality of bimorph arms configured to reduce a net friction force of the plurality of bimorph arms, wherein the plurality of bimorph arms are arranged in a reversed inline orientation, the reverse inline orientation including:
- a first bimorph arm of the plurality of bimorph arms and a second bimorph arm of the plurality of bimorph arms, each of the first bimorph arm and the second bimorph arm comprising a fixed end fixed to a base and an unfixed end, the second bimorph arm arranged inline with the first bimorph arm such that the fixed end of the first bimorph arm is positioned at an end of the actuator that is opposite from an end of the actuator that is adjacent to the fixed end of the second bimorph arm.
An actuator comprising:
- a plurality of bimorph arms configured to reduce a net friction force of the plurality of bimorph arms, wherein the plurality of bimorph arms are arranged in a staggered orientation, wherein the staggered orientation includes:
- a first bimorph arm of the plurality of bimorph arms and a second bimorph arm of the plurality of bimorph arms, each of the first bimorph arm and the second bimorph arm are disconnected from one another and comprising a fixed end fixed to a base and an unfixed end that is unfixed from the base, wherein the fixed end of the first bimorph arm is positioned at an end of the actuator that is opposite from an end of the actuator that is adjacent to the fixed end of the second bimorph arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.