US 12,216,328 B2
Actuator assembly
Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown, Cambridge (GB); Robert Langhorne, Cambridge (GB); James Howarth, Cambridge (GB); and Robin Eddington, Cambridge (GB)
Assigned to CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED, Cambridge (GB)
Appl. No. 17/762,007
Filed by CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED, Cambridge (GB)
PCT Filed Jul. 6, 2020, PCT No. PCT/GB2020/051623
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 18, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/005351, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 14, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 1909722 (GB), filed on Jul. 5, 2019; application No. 1910421 (GB), filed on Jul. 19, 2019; application No. 1910767 (GB), filed on Jul. 29, 2019; and application No. 1915364 (GB), filed on Oct. 23, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0357557 A1, Nov. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. G02B 7/09 (2021.01); F03G 7/06 (2006.01); G03B 5/02 (2021.01)
CPC G02B 7/09 (2013.01) [F03G 7/06143 (2021.08); F03G 7/064 (2021.08); F03G 7/0665 (2021.08); G03B 5/02 (2013.01); G03B 2205/0076 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An actuator assembly comprising:
first and second parts, wherein a primary axis 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, the three-dimensional movement including translational movement in three translational degrees of freedom; 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.