Driving mechanism using shape memory alloys including a magnetic latch
US7723896B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 19, 2005 |
| Grant date | May 25, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG09B21/007
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A driving mechanism using shape memory alloys comprises a first and a second shape memory alloys coils (1, 2), a pin-like drive member (3) connected to each of the shape memory alloys coils (1, 2) extending in the axis direction, a substrate (4) having a wiring pattern (11) and a drive circuit (4a) to supply current to the shape memory alloys coils (1, 2), and a magnetic latch part (9) to hold the drive member (3), and the magnetic latch part (9) has a latch position in the axis direction of the drive member (3), the drive circuit (4a) selectively current-drives the first and the second shape memory alloys coils (1, 2), the driven first or second shape memory alloys coils (1, 2) is heated and compressed to move the drive member (3) in the axis direction, and magnetic bodies (9a, 9b) provided to the drive member (3) is magnetically fixed at the latch position, thereby fixed and held in the axis direction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.