Cambridge Mechatronics Limited

Hutchinson Technology Corporation

Thorlabs Gmbh

Femcare-nikomed Limited

Femcare Limited

Robin Eddington

James Robert Howarth

Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown

Stephen Matthew Bunting

Konstantinos Pantelidis

Oliver Hart

Nicholas Henry Reddall

Peter Francis Ladwig

Andrew Benjamin David Brown

Iain G McDerment

Jeffrey S Brooker

Richard Rodger Jenneke

Nick Harrison

Keith Dhese

Robert Langhorne

James Daniel John

John Philip Briant

Adam South

Adrian John Streeter

Paulo Chaves

Chee Keong Lai

Desmond John Miles

Joshua Carr

Peter Van Wyk

Andreas Flouris

Daniel John Burbridge

Igor Gotlibovych

Ian Edward Charles Rogers

Paul Windle

Valerio Polenta

Stephen Kindness

Iain Grierson McDerment

Iain Grierson Mcderment

A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator assembly comprising: a support structure (); a moveable part () moveable relative to the support structure; at least one SMA wire () having a first portion and a second portion respectively attached to the support structure and the moveable part, the said SMA wire is configured to, on contraction, drive movement in the moveable part at least in a primary axis along which the shortest side of the SMA actuator assembly extends; an intermediate component () engaging the SMA wire at a location between the first and second portions, the second portion of the SMA wire being arranged at an oblique angle to both the primary axis and the first portion of the SMA wire.

Actuator assembly

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

An actuator assembly () comprising: a support structure () comprising a first friction surface (); a movable part () comprising a second friction surface () engaging the first friction surface; one or more SMA wires () arranged, on contraction, to move the movable part relative to the support structure to any position within a range of movement; a biasing arrangement () arranged to bias the first and second friction surfaces against each other with a normal force, thereby generating a static frictional force that constrains the movement of the movable part relative to the support structure at any position within the range of movement when the one or more SMA wires are not contracted, wherein the one or more SMA wires are arranged such that the normal force between the first and second friction surfaces remains substantially constant on contraction of the one or more SMA wires.

An actuator assembly comprising: a support structure comprising a first friction surface; a movable part comprising a second friction surface engaging the first friction surface; one or more SMA wires arranged, on contraction, to move the movable part relative to the support structure to any position within a range of movement; a biasing arrangement arranged to bias the first and second friction surfaces against each other with a normal force, thereby generating a static frictional force that constrains the movement of the movable part relative to the support structure at any position within the range of movement when the one or more SMA wires are not contracted; wherein the one or more SMA wires are arranged, on contraction, to reduce the normal force between first and second friction surfaces.

An actuator assembly () comprising: first () and second () parts that are movable relative to each other; and one or more actuating units, each actuating unit comprising: a force-modifying mechanism () connected to the first part (); a coupling link () connected between the force-modifying mechanism () and the second part (); and an SMA wire () connected between the first part () and the force-modifying mechanism () for applying 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 second part (); wherein the coupling link () is compliant in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the actuating force.

An actuator assembly comprising: a support structure; an image sensor assembly comprising an image sensor having a light-sensitive region, the image sensor assembly being suspended on the support structure in a manner allowing movement of the image sensor assembly relative to the support structure; and at least two flexible printed circuits, each electrically connected at one end to the image sensor assembly, wherein the flexible printed circuits fold around the image sensor assembly such that their other ends are at the same side of the image sensor assembly.

An actuator assembly comprises: first () and second () parts, wherein a primary axis (P) is defined with reference to the second part; a plurality of lengths of shape-memory alloy wire () connected between the first and second parts, wherein the lengths of wire are configured, when selectively powered, to cause three-dimensional movement of the first part relative to the second part; and a mechanism configured, when the lengths of wire are unpowered, to hold the first part in at least one position and/or orientation relative to the second part against the force of gravity for any orientation of the second part.

An SMA actuator is arranged to tilt the mirror in a zoom camera to effect optical image stabilization. The actuator may comprise four angled-V SMA wires. The actuator may alternatively comprise a gimbal flexure and SMA wires. In this case there may be four SMA wires or two SMA wires and two springs. The SMA wires may be straight wires or wires hooked in a V shape.

Shape memory alloy actuator assembly for optical image stabilisation

A shape memory alloy actuator assembly () is disclosed. The actuator assembly comprises a support (), a first stage () moveable in at least two different non-parallel directions in a first plane relative to the support, a first set of at least two shape memory alloy wires () configured to move the first stage in the first plane, a second stage () moveable in at least two different non-parallel in a second plane parallel to or coplanar with the first plane relative to the first stage, and a second set of at least two shape memory alloy wires () configured to move the second stage in the second plane. The first stage is coupled to the support via the first set of shape memory alloy wires and the second stage is coupled to the first stage via the second set of shape memory alloy wires such that movement of the second stage in the second plane with respect to the support is a combination of movement of the first stage relative to support and the second stage relative to the first stage.

Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide an actuator that comprises segments of shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator wire that can be used to deliver a relatively large output stroke. In particular, two segments of SMA actuator wire may be mechanically coupled together around a corner of a static component of the actuator such that a displacement (e.g. contraction) of one segment causes a displacement (e.g. contraction) of the other segment. In this way, the displacement of each segment combines in an additive manner to generate a large output stroke that is able to move a moveable component of the actuator.

Compact SMA actuator

Embodiments of the present techniques provide methods for assembling and manufacturing shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator assemblies, which may also advantageously simplify the process of, speed-up the process of and/or reduce the cost of manufacturing SMA actuator assemblies.

Shape memory alloy actuator bearings

A camera assembly comprises a lens assembly supported on a support structure, wherein the lens assembly includes an autofocus actuator arrangement and the camera assembly includes an optical image stabilization assembly arranged to move the lens assembly in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. A flexible printed circuit tape connected between the support structure and the lens assembly and providing an electrical connection to the auto-focus actuator arrangement is bent around a corner, thereby allowing the flexible printed circuit tape to accommodate the motion of the lens assembly perpendicular to the optical axis. A crimp plate connected to the lens assembly which crimps shape memory alloy wires has features extending out of the plane of the crimp plate for reducing flexibility. At least part of the optical image stabilization assembly overlaps the lens assembly in the direction along the optical axis, thereby reducing the height of the camera assembly.

Camera assembly

A shape memory alloy actuator arrangement for a movable element supporting a camera lens assembly comprises plural shape memory alloy actuator wires connected between a support structure and the movable element in an arrangement wherein the shape memory alloy actuator wires are arranged, on selective driving, to move the movable element relative to the support structure in any direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the at least one lens. At least one plain bearing bears the movable element on the support structure, allowing movement of the movable element relative to the support structure orthogonal to the optical axis.

Shape memory alloy actuator arrangement

A miniature camera having an image sensor; an actuator which includes conductive components capable of conducting a pulse width modulation drive signal for driving the actuator; and a screening component located between the conductive components of the actuator and the image sensor, the screening component being electrically isolated from the actuator.

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, United Kingdom

Robin Eddington