Actuator
AssigneeOsler Diagnostics Limited
InventorsBarry Lillis, Steven Green, Damian Holland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to an actuator, an actuator assembly, a method of operating an actuator, a computer program and a system. In one aspect, an actuator may comprise a plurality of independently operable actuation elements and an operator having an operator surface. Each actuation element may have an actuation surface. The operator may be driveable to move the operator surface along a path to selectively engage with the respective actuation surface of each actuation element to actuate the actuation element.
Claims21
An actuator comprising:
- a plurality of independently operable actuation elements, each actuation element having an actuation surface;
- and
- an operator having an operator surface,
- wherein the operator is driveable to move the operator surface along a path to selectively engage with the respective actuation surface of each actuation element to actuate the actuation element.
An actuator according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuator is configured such that the operator surface cannot engage with the actuation surfaces of the actuation elements as the operator surface moves along the path in one direction, and such that the operator surface can engage with the actuation surfaces of the actuation elements as the operator surface moves along the path in the opposite direction.
An actuator according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of actuation elements comprises three or more actuation elements.
An actuator according to any preceding claim, wherein the operator is configured to operate only one actuation element of the plurality of actuation elements at any one time.
An actuator according to any preceding claim, wherein the operator is driveable to move the operator surface along the path to selectively engage with the respective actuation surface of each actuation element to actuate the actuation element to a selectively controlled degree.
An actuator according to any preceding claim, wherein each actuation element is biased to an activated position when not engaged with the operator surface, and wherein each actuation element assumes an at least partially deactivated position when the operator surface engages with the respective actuation surface of each actuation element.
An actuator according to any preceding claim, wherein each actuation surface is a ramp, and wherein an extent of actuation of each actuation element changes as the operator surface moves along the path and selectively engages with the ramp of each actuation element.
An actuator assembly comprising:
- the actuator according to any preceding claim;
- and
- a driving means for driving the operator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.