Active materials-based compliant mechanisms
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsNilesh D. Mankame, Alan L. Browne
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Abstract
A compliant mechanism includes a body that is configured to generate a mechanical output in response to a mechanical input. The body has at least one region formed by an active material. The compliant mechanism also includes at least one activation device configured to selectively apply an activation signal to the at least one region. The active material is configured to undergo a change in modulus in response to the activation signal such that the output is characterized by a first magnitude or direction when the activation device applies the activation signal and a second magnitude or direction when the activation device does not apply the activation signal.
Claims9
A compliant mechanism comprising:
- a compliant mechanism body being configured to generate an output in response to an input;
- said compliant mechanism body having at least one region formed by an active material;
- wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in at least one material property in response to an activation signal;
- at least one activation device configured to selectively apply the activation signal to said at least one region;
- wherein said at least one activation device includes a plurality of activation devices;
- wherein said at least one region includes a plurality of regions;
- and
- wherein each of the activation devices is configured to selectively apply an activation signal to a respective one of said plurality of regions.
A method comprising:
- providing a compliant mechanism body having a first configuration and having at least one region formed by an active material that is configured to undergo a change in at least one material property in response to an activation signal;
- and
- applying the activation signal to said at least one region;
- wherein said at least one material property includes a modulus;
- wherein said applying the activation signal reduces the modulus of said at least one region;
- wherein the compliant mechanism body in the first configuration generates a first performance in response to an input in the absence of the activation signal;
- and
- determining a desired second performance prior to said applying the activation signal;
- while the modulus of said at least one region is reduced, deforming said at least one region such that the compliant mechanism is characterized by a second configuration;
- and
- after said deforming said at least one region, raising the modulus of said at least one region while maintaining the compliant mechanism body in the second configuration.
A method comprising:
- providing a compliant mechanism body having a first configuration and having at least one region formed by an active material that is configured to undergo a change in at least one material property in response to an activation signal;
- applying the activation signal to said at least one region;
- wherein said at least one material property includes modulus;
- wherein said applying the activation signal reduces the modulus of said at least one region;
- wherein the compliant mechanism body in the first configuration generates a first performance in response to an input in the absence of the activation signal;
- and
- wherein the method further comprises applying the input to the compliant mechanism body while the modulus of said at least one region is reduced such that the compliant mechanism body generates a second performance different from the first performance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.