The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 16, 2025
Filed:
Jan. 13, 2023
Cambridge Mechatronics Limited, Cambridge, GB;
Stephen Matthew Bunting, Cambridge, GB;
Daniel John Burbridge, Cambridge, GB;
Joshua Carr, Cambridge, GB;
James Howarth, Cambridge, GB;
Robert Langhorne, Cambridge, GB;
Jason Tun, Cambridge, GB;
CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED, Cambridge, GB;
Abstract
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).