公开(公告)号：WO2023012487A1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-09

申请号：PCT/GB2022/052064

申请日：2022-08-08

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： FARMER, Geoffrey ,  KLOPFENSTEIN, Reto ,  BUNTING, Stephen Matthew ,  HOWARTH, James ,  HEIJNE, Nicolas ,  RUST, Steve ,  BAGADHI, Kumar

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  F16K31/00 ,  G02B7/00

Abstract: Apparatus and method for accurate positioning and coupling of a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator wire to an actuator or actuating component. The apparatus may be manually-operated, partly manually-operated and partly automated, or fully automated.

公开(公告)号：WO2023089334A1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-25

申请号：PCT/GB2022/052939

申请日：2022-11-18

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： HART, Oliver ,  JOHNSON, Alexander ,  HEIJNE, Nicolas ,  BUNTING, Stephen Matthew ,  ARMSTRONG, Samuel ,  EDDINGTON, Robin ,  BROWN, Andrew Benjamin Simpson ,  HOWARTH, James

IPC: H04N23/54 ,  H04N23/57 ,  G03B17/02 ,  H04M1/02

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a support structure; a movable part; an actuator assembly configured to move the movable part relative to the support structure; a flat flexible connector for making electrical connections to the movable part, wherein the flexible connector is connected at one end to the movable part and comprises a bend about an axis substantially parallel to a major surface of the flexible connector; and a locating feature configured to locate the bend relative to the movable part.

公开(公告)号：WO2023002216A1

公开(公告)日：2023-01-26

申请号：PCT/GB2022/051931

申请日：2022-07-22

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： HEIJNE, Nicolas ,  BROWN, Andrew Benjamin Simpson ,  WISEMAN, Chris ,  VAN WYK, Peter ,  CARR, Joshua ,  BUNTING, Stephen Matthew

IPC: H04N5/225

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a support structure; a movable part comprising an electronic component, wherein a primary axis is defined with reference to the support structure and passes through the electronic component; an actuator assembly configured to move the movable part relative to the support structure; and a flexible connector for making electrical connections to the electronic component.

公开(公告)号：WO2020120998A3

公开(公告)日：2020-06-18

申请号：PCT/GB2019/053568

申请日：2019-12-16

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： REYNOLDS, Matthew John ,  BURBRIDGE, Daniel John ,  LANGHORNE, Robert ,  ARMSTRONG, Samuel ,  HEIJNE, Nicolas ,  HOWARTH, James

IPC: F03G7/06

Abstract: Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide techniques for improving the operation of a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator by using at least one damping element to reduce undesired movement of the actuator.

公开(公告)号：WO2022208066A1

公开(公告)日：2022-10-06

申请号：PCT/GB2022/050775

申请日：2022-03-29

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： HEIJNE, Nicolas ,  BROWN, Andrew Benjamin Simpson ,  HOWARTH, James ,  SOUTH, Adam

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  G02B7/02 ,  G03B3/10 ,  F03G7/06143 ,  F03G7/067 ,  G02B27/646 ,  G03B13/36 ,  G03B15/05 ,  G03B2205/0007 ,  G03B2205/0046 ,  G03B2205/0076

Abstract: A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator assembly (1) comprising: a movable part (100); a support structure (3); one or more SMA wires arranged, on contraction, to tilt the movable part relative to the support structure about two orthogonal axes that are perpendicular to a primary axis (O) of the support structure; and axial translation constrainers (16) configured to limit axial translation of the movable part relative to the support structure along the primary axis of the support structure, wherein the axial translation constrainers are arranged to prevent all points of the movable part from simultaneously reaching their most extreme position along the primary axis of the support structure allowed by the range of possible tilt of the movable part relative to the support structure.

公开(公告)号：WO2021148814A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-29

申请号：PCT/GB2021/050159

申请日：2021-01-25

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： BROWN, Andrew Benjamin Simpson ,  SCHOLZ, Marc-Sebastian ,  FLOURIS, Andreas ,  HEIJNE, Nicolas ,  HOWARTH, James

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  G06F3/01 ,  F03G7/065 ,  G06F3/016

Abstract: An SMA haptic assembly comprises relatively movable first and second parts and a length of SMA wire, the ends of which are connected to the first part or second part, wherein the first and second parts comprise at least one contact portion making contact with the length of SMA wire on opposite sides of the length of SMA wire and relatively positioned so as to guide the length of SMA wire along a tortuous path such that the first and second parts are driven in opposite directions along a movement axis on contraction of the length of SMA wire. The at least one contact portion of one or both of the first and second parts is formed from sheet material that is shaped to guide the path of the SMA wire in contact therewith, thereby reducing the overall thickness and simplifying manufacture.

公开(公告)号：WO2021123780A1

公开(公告)日：2021-06-24

申请号：PCT/GB2020/053252

申请日：2020-12-16

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： BROWN, Andrew Benjamin Simpson ,  FLOURIS, Andreas ,  HEIJNE, Nicolas ,  HOWARTH, James ,  SCHOLZ, Marc-Sebastian ,  BUNTING, Stephen Matthew ,  CARR, Joshua ,  FARMER, Geoffrey

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  B06B1/00 ,  F03G7/065

Abstract: An SMA actuator assembly comprises two parts relatively movable along a movement axis, and a length of SMA wire, each end of the SMA wire being connected to one of the parts. One part comprises a contact portion and the other part comprises plural contact portions, the contact portions making contact with the SMA wire on opposite sides along the movement axis. The contact portions alternate in a direction normal to the movement axis and are positioned to guide the SMA wire along a tortuous path such that the parts are driven in opposite directions on contraction of the SMA wire. Considering intermediate sections of the SMA wire between contacts with adjacent contact portions, on contraction of the SMA wire, the fractional change in the wire length of each intermediate section is equal to the overall strain of the SMA wire and there is no slippage of the SMA wire.

公开(公告)号：WO2020120998A2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-18

申请号：PCT/GB2019/053568

申请日：2019-12-16

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： REYNOLDS, Matthew John ,  BURBRIDGE, Daniel John ,  LANGHORNE, Robert ,  ARMSTRONG, Samuel ,  HEIJNE, Nicolas ,  HOWARTH, James

IPC: F03G7/06

Abstract: Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide techniques for improving the operation of a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator by using at least one damping element to reduce undesired movement of the actuator.