Shape memory alloy actuator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12049877-B2
Application number	US-202117412030-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2021
Priority date	May 5, 2017
Publication date	Jul 30, 2024
Grant date	Jul 30, 2024

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. 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.

2. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the SMA material of the one or more bimorph arms is an SMA wire.

3. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the bimorph arms are integrally formed with the base.

4. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein an adhesive is disposed on the resistance weld and the flat surface of at least one of the fixed end and the load point end.

5. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fixed end and the load point end includes a metallic interlayer disposed on the flat surface.

6. The actuator of claim 1 , comprising an island formed on at least one of the fixed end and the load point end on a side opposite the resistance weld, the island electrically coupled with the SMA material.

7. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the beam portion of the one or more bimorph arms includes a formed offset.

8. The actuator of claim 7 , wherein the one or more bimorph arms includes a limiter configured to be adjacent to the formed offset.

Assignees

• Hutchinson Technology

Inventors

• Miller Mark A
• Behning Nathaniel K
• Myers Dean E
• Davis Michael W
• Ruzicka Ryan N

Classifications

• F03G7/06143 Primary

  Wires · CPC title

• F03G7/0614

  using shape memory elements · CPC title

• G02B6/3859

  Ferrules characterised by use of shape memory material [SMM], e.g. heat recoverable polymers, Ti-Ni compounds (chemical aspects of SMM see the relevant places under C08 and C22; SMM used for shaping by moulding B29C61/00; SMM for electrical coupling H01R4/01, H01R4/72, H01R12/856, H02G15/1806) · CPC title

• G02B6/3584

  constructional details of an associated actuator having a MEMS construction, i.e. constructed using semiconductor technology such as etching (MEMS per se B81B, B81C) · CPC title

• G02B6/3576

  Temperature or heat actuation (thermal forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/0866; thermo-optic devices G02F1/0147) · CPC title