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US 12,372,858 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.
Claims13
A device comprising:
- a base;
- an actuator coupled to the base;
- one or more springs configured to provide a downforce on the bearing to maintain contact between the actuator and a bearing, wherein one or more flattening bends are formed in each of the one or more springs, and wherein the one or more flattening bends include a first flattening bend bending in a negative direction relative to a z-axis and a second flattening bend bending in a positive direction relative to the z-axis.
An actuator comprising:
- a base;
- a slide bearing in contact with the base;
- and
- a spring in contact with the slide bearing, wherein one or more flattening bends are formed in the spring, and wherein the one or more flattening bends include a first flattening bend bending in a negative direction relative to a z-axis and a second flattening bend bending in a positive direction relative to the z-axis.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.