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.

Date of Patent:
Dec. 13, 2016

Filed:

May. 21, 2013
Applicant:

Cambridge Mechatronics Limited, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, GB;

Inventors:

Robin Eddington, Cambridge, GB;

James Howarth, Cambridge, GB;

Andrew Benjamin David Brown, Cambridge, GB;

Assignee:

CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, GB;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G03B 5/02 (2006.01); F03G 7/06 (2006.01); G02B 27/64 (2006.01); H04N 5/232 (2006.01); G03B 5/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
F03G 7/065 (2013.01); G02B 27/646 (2013.01); G03B 5/00 (2013.01); H04N 5/23287 (2013.01); G03B 2205/0015 (2013.01); G03B 2205/0076 (2013.01);
Abstract

An SMA actuation apparatus moves a movable element relative to a support structure in two orthogonal directions using a total of four SMA actuator wires each connected at its ends between the movable element and the support structure and extending perpendicular to the primary axis. None of the SMA actuator wires are collinear, but the SMA actuator wires have an arrangement in which they are capable of being selectively driven to move the movable element relative to the support structure to any position in said range of movement without applying any net torque to the movable element in the plane of the two orthogonal directions around the primary axis. Accordingly, it is possible to drive movement whilst balancing the forces to limit torque around the primary axis.


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