Granted Patent B2

US 12,591,102 · App. 17/871,780 · Granted Mar 31, 2026

Inventor: Mark A. Miller (Hutchinson, MN)

Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated

G02B7/02G02B7/09

Abstract

Claims (30)

1 . A buckler wire actuator assembly comprising:

a first buckler frame mounted onto a first side of a base of the buckler wire actuator assembly and including:

a first isolated conductor circuit, a second isolated conductor circuit, and a first insulator layer disposed between and electrically isolating the first isolated conductor circuit and the second isolated conductor circuit;

a first SMA wire in electrical connection to a first isolated electrical conductor electrically connected to the first isolated conductor circuit at a first end of the first SMA wire; and

a second SMA wire opposite the first SMA wire, the second SMA wire in electrical connection to the second isolated electrical conductor at a first end of the second SMA wire;

a first pair of actuator arms that include a fixed end that are connected to the first isolated electrical conductor and the second isolated electrical conductor, respectively; and

a second buckler frame mounted onto a second side of the base, the second buckler frame including:

a third isolated conductor circuit, a fourth isolated conductor circuit, and a second insulator layer disposed between and electrically isolating the third isolated conductor circuit and the fourth isolated conductor circuit, a third isolated electrical conductor electrically connected to the third isolated conductor circuit, and a fourth isolated electrical conductor electrically connected to the fourth isolated conductor circuit; and

a second pair of actuator arms that include a fixed end that are connected to the third isolated electrical conductor and the fourth isolated electrical conductor, respectively, wherein the first and second SMA wires are arranged in series to enable both the first and second SMA wires to receive equal current from a current input.

2 . The buckler wire actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second buckler frame comprises a unibody metal material in electrical connection with the first and second SMA wires.

3 . The buckler wire actuator assembly of claim 1 , further comprising at least one flat slide bearings positioned at each corner of the base and each configured to constrain relative motion and reduce friction between moving components.

4 . The buckler wire actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second SMA wire is crimped to the second isolated conductor using at least one of a resistance weld crimp or mechanical crimp.

5 . The buckler wire actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein an electrical current passes across the second isolated conductor of the first buckler frame to a ground output.

6 . The buckler wire actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the current input is configured to receive an electrical current, which passes across the first isolated electrical conductor to the first SMA wire.

7 . The buckler wire actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first SMA wire is crimped to one of the first isolated electrical conductor using at least one of a resistance weld crimp or mechanical crimp.

8 . The buckler wire actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first buckler frame includes at least one electrical via through the first insulating layer to the first isolated electrical conductor.

9 . The buckler wire actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first buckler frame includes a protective cover coat layer provided on the first isolated conductor circuit.

10 . The buckler wire actuator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first buckler frame further includes a first electrical via adjacent to the first isolated conductor and a second via adjacent to the second isolated conductor.

11 . A buckler wire actuator assembly comprising:

a first buckler frame mounted onto a first side of a base of the buckler wire actuator assembly, the first buckler frame including a first isolated conductor circuit, a second isolated conductor circuit, and a first insulator layer disposed between and electrically isolating the first isolated conductor circuit and the second isolated conductor circuit;

a first SMA wire in electrical connection to the first isolated conductor circuit; and

a second SMA wire opposite the first SMA wire and electrically connected to the second isolated conductor circuit,

wherein the first and second SMA wires are arranged in series to enable both the first and second SMA wires to receive equal current from a current input.

12 . The buckler wire actuator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first buckler frame includes at least one isolated electrical conductor.

13 . The buckler wire actuator assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first SMA wire is in electrical connection to a first isolated electrical conductor in electrical contact with the first isolated conductor circuit.

14 . The buckler wire actuator assembly of claim 13 , wherein the first SMA wire is crimped to the first isolated electrical conductor using at least one of a resistance weld crimp or mechanical crimp.

15 . The buckler wire actuator assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a second buckler frame mounted onto a second side of the base of the buckler wire actuator assembly, opposite the first buckler frame, wherein the second buckler frame includes:

a third isolated conductor circuit, a fourth isolated conductor circuit, and a second insulator layer disposed between and electrically isolating the third isolated conductor circuit and the fourth isolated conductor circuit; and

a second pair of actuator arms that include a fixed end that are connected to the third isolated electrical conductor circuit and the fourth isolated electrical conductor circuit, respectively.

16 . The buckler wire actuator assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second SMA wire is crimped to a second isolated conductor using at least one of a resistance weld crimp or a mechanical crimp.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (4)

References Cited (191)