US 12,435,708 B2
SMA actuation apparatus
Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown, Cambridge (GB)
Assigned to CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED, Cambridge (GB)
Appl. No. 18/292,793
Filed by CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED, Cambridge (GB)
PCT Filed Jul. 27, 2022, PCT No. PCT/GB2022/051969
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 26, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/007157, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 2, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 2110788 (GB), filed on Jul. 27, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0337255 A1, Oct. 10, 2024
Int. Cl. G02B 27/00 (2006.01); F03G 7/06 (2006.01); G02B 27/64 (2006.01); G03B 5/00 (2021.01)
CPC F03G 7/06143 (2021.08) [G02B 27/646 (2013.01); G03B 5/00 (2013.01); G03B 2205/0007 (2013.01); G03B 2205/0076 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuation apparatus comprising:
a movable part;
a support structure;
a plurality of SMA wires arranged, on contraction, to (a) tilt the movable part relative to the support structure about at least one first axis that is perpendicular to a primary axis and that passes through the movable part, and (b) translationally move the movable part relative to the support structure perpendicular to the primary axis, wherein the primary axis is defined with reference to the support structure; and
a control circuit electrically connected to the SMA wires for supplying drive signals thereto,
wherein the control circuit is configured to generate drive signals that combine the tilting and the translational movement to cause the movable part to tilt about at least one second axis that is perpendicular to the primary axis and spaced from the at least one first axis; and
wherein the movable part comprises an electronic component.