Cambridge Mechatronics Limited

Joshua Carr

Stephen Matthew Bunting

Peter Van Wyk

Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown

Marc-Sebastian Scholz

Andreas Flouris

James Robert Howarth

Dominic George Webber

Oliver Hart

Daniel John Burbridge

Thomas James Powell

David Kuan Wei Ooi

David Richards

Robin Eddington

David Charles William Richards

Robert Langhorne

Konstantinos Pantelidis

Jason Tun

David Ooi

Stephen Kindness

An actuator assembly () comprises: a support structure (); a movable part () that is movable relative to the support structure; and a set of one or more actuating units (). Each actuating unit () is configured, on actuation, to apply a force on the movable part () that is substantially directed along a line in a plane perpendicular to a primary axis (z). Each actuating unit () comprises: a force-modifying mechanism () connected to one of the support structure () and the movable part (); a coupling link () connected between the force-modifying mechanism () and the other of the support structure () and the movable part (); and an SMA element () connected between the force-modifying mechanism () and the one of the support structure () and the movable part (). The SMA element () is configured to exert an input force on the force-modifying mechanism (), thereby causing the force-modifying mechanism () to apply an output force on the coupling link () and causing the coupling link () to apply an actuating force on the other of the support structure () and the movable part (). The component of the input force along the primary axis (z) has a greater magnitude than the component of the input force in any direction perpendicular to the primary axis (z).

Actuator assembly

A shape memory alloy apparatus () comprising: a member () comprising a first end portion () and a second end portion (); and a shape memory alloy component () connected to the member (). The shape memory alloy component () being configured to, on contraction, change the separation between the first end portion () and the second end portion () of the member (), the member () being configured to be in tension during contraction of the shape memory alloy component (), wherein the said separation changes in a direction that is angled to the direction of contraction.

Shape memory alloy apparatus

A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator () 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 () 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 () and respective electrical terminals (a); 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.

Shape memory alloy actuator

Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide apparatus and methods for generating a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a scene (also known as 3D sensing) using a time-of-flight imaging system. In particular, the present techniques provide an apparatus comprising a time-of-flight imaging camera system that emits illumination having a spatially-nonuniform intensity over a field of view of the sensor that is moved across at least part of the field of view of a sensor using an actuation mechanism.

3D sensing

An actuation apparatus comprising: a support structure; a movable element; a helical bearing arrangement supporting the movable element on the support structure and arranged to guide helical movement of the movable element with respect to the support structure along a helical path around a helical axis; an actuating mechanism configured to drive rotation of the movable element around the helical axis which the helical bearing arrangement converts into said helical movement; and a loading arrangement configured to exert a biasing force on the movable element in a direction that is at least substantially normal to the helical path over an operating range of the helical movement.

Actuation apparatus

Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide haptic button assemblies in which the haptic button has a low profile while still providing a satisfying tactile response or sensation to a user. Advantageously, the haptic button assemblies may have a profile that, for example, enables the assembly to be incorporated into the free space along an edge of a portable computing device. The haptic assemblies may, for example, be arranged to move the button perpendicularly with respect to the edge of the device.

Haptic button with SMA

A method suitable for use by a time-of-flight (TOF) imaging system (), wherein the system emits illumination in multiple configurations, each configuration having a different spatially-varying intensity over a field of view of an image sensor (), the method comprising: moving an actuation mechanism () to change the illumination via a first sequence of configurations from a first configuration (A) to a final configuration (B); moving the actuation mechanism () to subsequently change the illumination via a second sequence of configurations from the final configuration to the first configuration or a second configuration; and obtaining a set of data from the image sensor () for each of the configurations (A, B) in the first and second sequences, thereby obtaining two sets of data for each configuration that are suitable for producing two depth image frames, wherein the two sets of data corresponding to the final configuration are consecutively obtained from the first and second sequences. Light emitted by light source () passes through a set of one or more optical elements () before being emitted from the TOF system (). The set of optical elements () includes a diffractive optical element to produce an optical field, and also includes a shift lens to which the actuation mechanism () is operatively connected. Translational movement of the shift lens in directions perpendicular to the optical axis result in steering of the light. The imaging part includes a receiver lens and/or filter system () and an image a multipixel sensor (). The TOF system () also includes a controller ().

Method and apparatus for use in a time-of-flight imaging system

Embodiments herein provide haptic button assemblies with a shape memory alloy actuator (SMA) in which the haptic button has a low profile while still providing a satisfying tactile response or sensation to a user. Advantageously, the haptic button assemblies may have a profile that, for example, enables the assembly to be incorporated into the free space along an edge of a portable computing device. The haptic assemblies may for example, be arranged to move the button perpendicularly with respect to the edge of the device.

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Cambridge, United Kingdom

Joshua Carr