Granted Patent
B2
US 12,248,233 · App. 18/379,105 · Granted Mar 11, 2025
Shape memory alloy actuators and methods thereof
Inventors:
Ryan N. Ruzicka (Waconia, MN); Yasushi Sakamoto (Hutchinson, MN); Mark A. Miller (Hutchinson, MN)
Assignee:
Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Abstract
SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
Claims (13)
1. An actuator comprising:
a plurality of bimorph arms configured to reduce a net friction force of the plurality of bimorph arms, wherein the plurality of bimorph arms are arranged in a reversed inline orientation, the reverse inline orientation including:
a first bimorph arm of the plurality of bimorph arms and a second bimorph arm of the plurality of bimorph arms, each of the first bimorph arm and the second bimorph arm comprising a fixed end fixed to a base and an unfixed end, the second bimorph arm arranged inline with the first bimorph arm such that the fixed end of the first bimorph arm is positioned at an end of the actuator that is opposite from an end of the actuator that is adjacent to the fixed end of the second bimorph arm.
2. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of bimorph arms includes a shape memory alloy (SMA) wire, and
the SMA wires attached to the plurality of bimorph arms are connected in series and are configured to receive current to each SMA wire to control actuation of the actuator.
3. The actuator of claim 1 , wherein the first bimorph arm is configured to have a friction force component in a direction of a fixed end of the first bimorph arm parallel to a longitudinal axis of the actuator, and
the second bimorph arm is configured to have a friction force component in a direction opposite to the first bimorph arm to reduce the net total friction to zero.
4. An actuator comprising:
a plurality of bimorph arms configured to reduce a net friction force of the plurality of bimorph arms, wherein the plurality of bimorph arms are arranged in a staggered orientation, wherein the staggered orientation includes:
a first bimorph arm of the plurality of bimorph arms and a second bimorph arm of the plurality of bimorph arms, each of the first bimorph arm and the second bimorph arm are disconnected from one another and comprising a fixed end fixed to a base and an unfixed end that is unfixed from the base, wherein the fixed end of the first bimorph arm is positioned at an end of the actuator that is opposite from an end of the actuator that is adjacent to the fixed end of the second bimorph arm.
5. The actuator of claim 4 , wherein the second bimorph arm is staggered with the first bimorph arm such that a longitudinal axis of the second bimorph arm is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the first bimorph arm.
6. The actuator of claim 5 , wherein the first bimorph arm is configured to have a friction force component in a direction of the fixed end of the first bimorph arm parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first bimorph arm, and
the second bimorph arm is configured to have a friction force component in a direction opposite to the first bimorph arm to reduce the net total friction to zero.
Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST
Recorded Oct 11, 2023
From: RUZICKA, RYAN N.; SAKAMOTO, YASUSHI; MILLER, MARK A.
To: HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 065189/0332 →
Continuity (9)
Provisional Application
63152299
· Feb 22, 2021
Provisional Application
62826106
· Mar 29, 2019
Provisional Application
62650991
· Mar 30, 2018
Provisional Application
62502568
· May 5, 2017
References Cited (231)
US 5588295A
· Brotz
· 1996
[cited by applicant]
US 6367252B1
· Hill et al.
· 2002
[cited by applicant]
US 6384514B1
· Slutskiy et al.
· 2002
[cited by applicant]
US 6698201B1
· Sarkar et al.
· 2004
[cited by applicant]
US 7256518B2
· Gummin et al.
· 2007
[cited by applicant]
US 7349236B2
· Lin et al.
· 2008
[cited by applicant]
US 7444812B2
· Kirkpatirck et al.
· 2008
[cited by applicant]
US 8448436B2
· Browne et al.
· 2013
[cited by applicant]
US 8607619B2
· Djakov et al.
· 2013
[cited by applicant]
US 8707694B2
· Olson et al.
· 2014
[cited by applicant]
US 9362853B2
· Dehe
· 2016
[cited by applicant]
US 9581147B2
· Flaschentrager et al.
· 2017
[cited by applicant]
US 20010002226A1
· Tanaka et al.
· 2001
[cited by applicant]
US 20020057148A1
· Johnson et al.
· 2002
[cited by applicant]
US 20040261411A1
· MacGregor
· 2004
[cited by applicant]
US 20070090314A1
· Van Der Wijngaart et al.
· 2007
[cited by applicant]
US 20110026148A1
· Tanimura et al.
· 2011
[cited by applicant]
US 20110107758A1
· Kotanagi et al.
· 2011
[cited by applicant]
US 20110217031A1
· Eromaki
· 2011
[cited by applicant]
US 20120108980A1
· Shilling et al.
· 2012
[cited by applicant]
US 20120174571A1
· Villanueva et al.
· 2012
[cited by applicant]
US 20160187613A1
· Seo et al.
· 2016
[cited by applicant]
US 20200150443A1
· Ebert
· 2020
[cited by applicant]
US 20240125306A1
· Miller
· 2024
[cited by applicant]
CA 2018302A1
· 1991
[cited by applicant]
CN 1333178A
· 2002
[cited by applicant]
CN 101896719A
· 2010
[cited by applicant]
CN 101923633A
· 2010
[cited by applicant]
CN 102055890A
· 2011
[cited by applicant]
CN 102099939A
· 2011
[cited by applicant]
CN 103168264A
· 2013
[cited by applicant]
CN 103670980A
· 2014
[cited by applicant]
CN 104364699A
· 2015
[cited by applicant]
CN 105164413A
· 2015
[cited by applicant]
CN 105487194A
· 2016
[cited by applicant]
CN 107735712A
· 2018
[cited by applicant]
CN 110709757A
· 2020
[cited by applicant]
CN 112654786A
· 2021
[cited by applicant]
CN 111396274B
· 2022
[cited by applicant]
EP 1243793A2
· 2002
[cited by applicant]
EP 1630416A1
· 2006
[cited by applicant]
EP 2262095A1
· 2010
[cited by applicant]
EP 2551523A1
· 2013
[cited by applicant]
GB 2577203A
· 2020
[cited by applicant]
JP 4337222A
· 1992
[cited by applicant]
JP 2000137155A
· 2000
[cited by applicant]
JP 200298911A
· 2002
[cited by applicant]
JP 2009251244A
· 2009
[cited by applicant]
JP 2016501338A
· 2016
[cited by applicant]
JP 201928439A
· 2019
[cited by applicant]
KR 1020200003864A
· 2020
[cited by applicant]
TW 201106039A
· 2011
[cited by applicant]
WO WO0058980A1
· 2000
[cited by applicant]
WO WO2009072748A1
· 2009
[cited by applicant]
WO WO2012020212A1
· 2012
[cited by applicant]
WO WO2016189314A1
· 2016
[cited by applicant]
WO WO2018204888A1
· 2018
[cited by applicant]
WO WO2020205453A1
· 2020
[cited by applicant]
Beyer et al., “Resistance Welding of TiNi-Shape Memory Alloys”, European Symposium on Martensitic Transformations (ESOMAT), pp. 199-206, 1989.
[cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion in International Application No. PCT/US2018/031256 dated Oct. 15, 2018.
[cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability in International Application No. PCT/US2018/031256 dated Nov. 14, 2019.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in Chinese Patent Application No. 201880029763.5 dated Apr. 29, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in Chinese Patent Application No. 201880029763.5 dated Dec. 20, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in Chinese Patent Application No. 201880029763.5 dated May 20, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Granting Patent Right for Invention in Chinese Patent Application No. 201880029763.5 dated Aug. 23, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
Examination Report in United Kingdom Application No. 1917208.9 dated Aug. 13, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
Examination Report in United Kingdom Application No. 1917208.9 dated Oct. 22, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
Examination Report in United Kingdom Application No. 1917208.9 dated Mar. 8, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
Search Report in United Kingdom Application No. 1917208.9 dated Mar. 30, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Preliminary Rejection in Korean Application No. 10-2019-7035566 dated Jan. 4, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in Korean Application No. 10-2019-7035566 dated Jul. 1, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Combined Search and Examination Report in United Kingdom Application No. 2206304.4 dated May 17, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion in International Application No. PCT/US2020/025065 dated Jun. 23, 2020.
[cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability in International Application No. PCT/US2020/025065 dated Oct. 14, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in Chinese Patent Application No. 202080004847.0 dated Jul. 1, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in Chinese Patent Application No. 202080004847.0 dated Jan. 28, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Examination Report in United Kingdom Application No. 2113598.3 dated Jun. 23, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-557623 dated Dec. 5, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in Taiwan Patent Application No. 109110412 dated Sep. 11, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion in International Application No. PCT/US2021/037947 dated Sep. 23, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability in International Application No. PCT/US2021/037947 dated Jan. 5, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Examination Report in United Kingdom Application No. 2219080.5 dated Dec. 12, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion in International Application No. PCT/US2021/036211 dated Sep. 8, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability in International Application No. PCT/US2021/036211 dated Dec. 22, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
Examination Report in United Kingdom Application No. 2218440.2 dated Nov. 29, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Combined Search and Examination Report in United Kingdom Application No. 2114527.1 dated Mar. 9, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in Chinese Utility Model Application No. 202121424905.3 dated Oct. 27, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion in International Application No. PCT/US2022/017100 dated Jun. 2, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability in International Application No. PCT/US2022/017100 dated Aug. 31, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in Chinese Patent Application No. 202111072217.X dated Dec. 1, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in Chinese Utility Model Application No. 202222023197.3 dated Oct. 11, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion in International Application No. PCT/US2022/032259 dated Sep. 22, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability in International Application No. PCT/US2022/032259 dated Dec. 21, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in Chinese Patent Application No. 202111072378.9 dated Dec. 1, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in Chinese Patent Application No. 202111072378.9 dated Apr. 28, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 15/971,995 dated Aug. 22, 2019.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 15/971,995 dated Nov. 20, 2019.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 15/971,995 dated Apr. 28, 2020.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 15/971,995 dated Sep. 30, 2020.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/146,213 dated Nov. 22, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 16/775,207 dated Jun. 5, 2020.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 16/775,207 dated Jun. 9, 2020.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 16/775,207 dated Sep. 30, 2020.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 16/775,207 dated Jan. 11, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 16/775,207 dated Apr. 28, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/412,030 dated Sep. 21, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/412,030 dated Dec. 22, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 16/859,929 dated Jun. 9, 2020.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 16/859,929 dated Sep. 24, 2020.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 16/859,929 dated Apr. 16, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 16/859,929 dated Aug. 3, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/549,348 dated Oct. 28, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/549,348 dated Apr. 14, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 17/549,348 dated Aug. 23, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/195,497 dated May 17, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/195,497 dated Sep. 8, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 17/195,497 dated Dec. 14, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/339,797 dated Nov. 17, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/339,797 dated Mar. 7, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 17/339,797 dated May 16, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 17/714,069 dated Jan. 24, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/207,530 dated May 27, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/207,530 dated Sep. 8, 2021.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 17/207,530 dated Jan. 18, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/729,877 dated Oct. 13, 2022.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 17/729,877 dated Feb. 14, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/569,268 dated Jan. 27, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/569,268 dated May 25, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 17/569,268 dated Aug. 1, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 18/103,725 dated Jun. 14, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 18/103,725 dated Oct. 4, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 18/103,725 dated Jan. 19, 2024.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 18/103,745 dated Jun. 14, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 18/103,745 dated Sep. 22, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/831,318 dated Apr. 20, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 17/831,318 dated Aug. 14, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 18/142,471 dated Sep. 19, 2023.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 18/142,471 dated Jan. 18, 2024.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Reasons for Rejection in Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-557623 dated Jul. 2, 2024.
[cited by applicant]
Decision of Rejection in Taiwan Patent Application No. 109110412 dated Mar. 13, 2024.
[cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion in International Application No. PCT/US2023/035154 dated Mar. 22, 2024.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/146,213 dated Mar. 19, 2024.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 17/146,213 dated Jul. 25, 2024.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 17/412,030 dated Apr. 9, 2024.
[cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance in U.S. Appl. No. 18/103,725 dated Apr. 24, 2024.
[cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion in International Application No. PCT/US2024/022084 dated Aug. 7, 2024.
[cited by applicant]
Combined Search and Examination Report in United Kingdom Application No. 2406075.8 dated Sep. 17, 2024.
[cited by applicant]
Office Action in U.S. Appl. No. 18/407,667 dated Aug. 9, 2024.
[cited by applicant]