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：WO2021240161A2

公开(公告)日：2021-12-02

申请号：PCT/GB2021/051293

申请日：2021-05-27

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： BROWN, Andrew Benjamin Simpson ,  CARR, Joshua ,  HART, Oliver

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  G02B7/00 ,  G02B7/02 ,  G03B3/10 ,  G03B5/00 ,  G02B7/04 ,  F03G7/0614 ,  F03G7/0665 ,  G02B7/023 ,  G02B7/102 ,  G03B2205/0046 ,  G03B2205/0053 ,  G03B2205/0076

Abstract: Actuator assembly comprising a first part (102), a second part (110), and a helical bearing arrangement (20). The helical bearing arrangement is arranged to guide helical movement of the second part with respect to the first part around a helical axis. The helical bearing arrangement comprises first and second helical bearings. The first helical bearing comprises a first track and a first bearing element received in the first track and the second helical bearing comprises a second track and second bearing element received in the second track. The first and second bearing elements are offset in a direction along the helical axis. The present disclosure also relates to an autofocus system and a camera system.

公开(公告)号：WO2021255469A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-23

申请号：PCT/GB2021/051549

申请日：2021-06-17

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： BROWN, Andrew Benjamin Simpson ,  HOWARTH, James ,  LANGHORNE, Robert ,  KIST, René

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  G02B7/00 ,  G02B7/02 ,  G02B7/04 ,  G03B3/10 ,  G03B5/00 ,  F03G7/06143 ,  F03G7/067 ,  G02B7/08 ,  G03B2205/0007 ,  G03B2205/0046 ,  G03B2205/0076 ,  G03B30/00

Abstract: A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator comprising: a support structure (10); a moveable part (20) movable relative to the support structure; plural SMA components (30) connecting the support structure and the movable part, the SMA components are operable to controllably change the position and/or orientation of the moveable part in two or more degrees of freedom; a controller (12) for controlling the operation of the SMA components in a first operating mode during normal operation and a second operating mode in response to an event; and means configured to, during the second operating mode, maintain at least partial control of the moveable part with a subset of the plural SMA components.

公开(公告)号：WO2021141818A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-15

申请号：PCT/US2020/067584

申请日：2020-12-30

Applicant: HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED

Inventor： MILLER, Mark, A. ,  LADWIG, Peter, F. ,  RIEMER, Douglas, P. ,  JELKIN, Duane, M. ,  SCHUMANN, John, L. ,  POKORNOWSKI, Zachary, A.

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  F03G7/00 ,  F16F15/00 ,  G03B17/00 ,  G02B27/646 ,  G03B2205/0015 ,  G03B2205/0076 ,  G03B5/00 ,  H04N5/23287

Abstract: A suspension assembly is described. The suspension assembly including a rigid interposer circuit; a plurality of flexible circuits configured to attach to the rigid interposer circuit and movable about an x-axis and a y-axis with respect to the static plate; and a sensor mounting region on the rigid interposer circuit.

公开(公告)号：WO2021240165A1

公开(公告)日：2021-12-02

申请号：PCT/GB2021/051298

申请日：2021-05-27

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： HART, Oliver ,  EDDINGTON, Robin ,  VAN WYK, Peter ,  BROWN, Andrew Benjamin Simpson ,  FARMER, Geoffrey

IPC: G02B7/00 ,  G02B7/02 ,  G02B7/04 ,  G03B3/10 ,  G03B5/00 ,  F03G7/06 ,  F03G7/0665 ,  G02B7/08 ,  G03B2205/0007 ,  G03B2205/0046 ,  G03B2205/0076

Abstract: An actuation apparatus is disclosed. The actuation apparatus comprises a first part (2), a second part (10), and a bearing arrangement (20) supporting the second part on the first part. The bearing arrangement is arranged to guide movement of the second part with respect to the first part. The bearing arrangement comprises a bearing having a first bearing surface (31) located on the first part and a second bearing surface (32) located on the second part, and a rolling bearing (33, 38) configured to be disposed between the first and second bearing surfaces such that the first and second bearing surfaces are spaced by a gap. One of the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface is configured such that the bearing surface has a single contact point with the rolling bearing at any one time and the other of the first bearing surface and the second bearing surface is configured such that the bearing surface has two contact points with the rolling bearing at any one time. The two contact points of the first or second bearing surface are located closer to the axis of rotation of the rolling bearing than the single contact point of the other of the first or second bearing surface, such that the distance moved by the rolling bearing relative to the first part is different to the distance moved by the second part relative to the rolling bearing.

公开(公告)号：WO2021191626A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-30

申请号：PCT/GB2021/050741

申请日：2021-03-26

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： EDDINGTON, Robin ,  HOWARTH, James ,  PANTELIDIS, Konstantinos ,  BUNTING, Stephen Matthew ,  BURBRIDGE, Daniel John ,  HART, Oliver ,  CARR, Joshua ,  VAN WYK, Peter ,  KINDNESS, Stephen

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  G02B7/00 ,  G03B3/10 ,  G03B5/00 ,  G02B27/646 ,  G02B7/08 ,  G03B2205/0007 ,  G03B2205/0069 ,  G03B2205/0076 ,  G03B30/00 ,  H04N5/2254 ,  H04N5/23248 ,  H04N5/2328 ,  H04N5/23287

Abstract: A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator (100) for a camera assembly, comprising: - a support structure supporting an electronic component, wherein the electronic component is susceptible to interference caused by magnetic flux; - a moveable part moveable relative to the support structure; one or more SMA components (12) connected between the moveable part and the support structure, wherein the one or more SMA components are configured to, on contraction, drive movement of the movable part; - a first electrical path and a second electrical path defined between, and/or including, each of the one or more SMA components (12) and respective electrical terminals (3a); and wherein the first and second electrical paths of each of the one or more SMA components are configured to, at least in part, extend adjacently to and in parallel with each other, and enabling the electrical current in the respective paths to flow in opposite directions, so as to minimise combined magnetic flux from the first and second electrical paths into the electronic component.