Simpler Networks, Inc.

Réseaux Mems

Normand Lassonde

Jean-Claude Villeneuve

Michel Décarie

Pierre Kakos

Paul-André Messier

Stéphane Menard

Stefane Menard

The apparatus is used for installing a wire in a crimp, in particular a wire being provided on a wire spool mounted on a spool holder. The wire outputs the apparatus at a wire output guide. The apparatus comprises a crimp punch tool located in front of the wire output guide. A first actuator allows operating the crimp punch tool. The wire is cut using a wire cutter adjacent to the crimp punch tool. The cutter tool is operated by a second actuator. In use, the wire is installed by feeding the wire from the wire spool through the wire output guide and then into the crimp. The crimp is closed by punching it using the crimp punch tool. The wire is cut after the last crimp using the wire cutter tool. The apparatus and method can be used for installing very fragile and small wires.

Apparatus for installing a length of wire

The MEMS cantilever actuator is designed to be mounted on a substrate. The actuator comprises an elongated hot arm member having two spaced-apart portions, each provided at one end with a corresponding anchor pad connected to the substrate. The portions are connected together at a common end that is opposite the anchor pads. It further comprises an elongated cold arm member adjacent to and substantially parallel of the hot arm member, the cold arm member having at one end an anchor pad connected to the substrate, and a free end that is opposite the anchor pad thereof. A dielectric tether is attached over the common end of the portions of the hot arm member and the free end of the cold arm member. This MEMS actuator allows improving the performance, reliability and manufacturability of MEMS switches.

MEMS actuators

A bistable shape memory alloy (SMA) micro-switch includes a single continuous SMA element such as a nitinol wire that provides bi-directional motion for switching functions. Bifunctional contact arms provide a mechanical force to maintain an open state of the micro-switch in addition to conducting current through a circuit. The SMA element includes first and second segments that are alternately heated above a transition temperature to cause the SMA element to alternate between first and second conformations. A cursor attached to the SMA element moves from a first position to a second position as the SMA element moves from its first to its second conformation. To close the SMA micro-switch, the contact arm is moved from an open position to a closed position through sliding contact with the cursor as the cursor moves from its second position to its first position. Friction generated by contact between the cursor and the contact arm maintains the cursor in its first position and the SMA micro-switch in its closed state.

Bistable switch with shape memory metal

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Pincourt, Canada

Normand Lassonde