公开(公告)号：US20230032266A1

公开(公告)日：2023-02-02

申请号：US17789094

申请日：2020-12-21

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： Stephen Matthew Bunting ,  Oliver Hart ,  David Ooi ,  Peter Van Wyk ,  Joshua Carr

IPC: G02B7/08 ,  F03G7/06

Abstract: An actuation apparatus comprising: a support structure; a movable element; a helical bearing arrangement supporting the movable element on the support structure and arranged to guide helical movement of the movable element with respect to the support structure along a helical path around a helical axis; an actuating mechanism configured to drive rotation of the movable element around the helical axis which the helical bearing arrangement converts into said helical movement; and a loading arrangement configured to exert a biasing force on the movable element in a direction that is at least substantially normal to the helical path over an operating range of the helical movement.

公开(公告)号：US10175499B2

公开(公告)日：2019-01-08

申请号：US15326865

申请日：2015-07-15

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED ,  HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED

Inventor： James Howarth ,  Robin Eddington ,  Stephen Matthew Bunting ,  Peter Francis Ladwig ,  Richard Rodger Jenneke ,  Chee Keong Lai

IPC: G02B27/64 ,  G03B3/10 ,  G03B5/02 ,  H04N5/232 ,  H04N5/225 ,  G02B7/09 ,  G02B7/08

Abstract: A camera assembly comprises a lens assembly supported on a support structure, wherein the lens assembly includes an autofocus actuator arrangement and the camera assembly includes an optical image stabilization assembly arranged to move the lens assembly in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. A flexible printed circuit tape connected between the support structure and the lens assembly and providing an electrical connection to the auto-focus actuator arrangement is bent around a corner, thereby allowing the flexible printed circuit tape to accommodate the motion of the lens assembly perpendicular to the optical axis. A crimp plate connected to the lens assembly which crimps shape memory alloy wires has features extending out of the plane of the crimp plate for reducing flexibility. At least part of the optical image stabilization assembly overlaps the lens assembly in the direction along the optical axis, thereby reducing the height of the camera assembly.

公开(公告)号：US12228115B2

公开(公告)日：2025-02-18

申请号：US18377704

申请日：2023-10-06

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： Stephen Matthew Bunting ,  Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown ,  Marc-Sebastian Scholz ,  James Howarth

IPC: F03G7/06

Abstract: Broadly speaking, the present techniques provide specific arrangements of shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator wires in SMA actuation apparatuses. In one arrangement, a single straight shape memory alloy actuator wire may be used, which may be inclined at an acute angle greater than 0 degrees with respect to a plane normal to the movement direction. In another arrangement, two straight lengths of shape memory alloy actuator wire may be used, where the SMA wires may be inclined at an acute angle greater than 0 degrees with respect to a plane normal to the movement direction.

公开(公告)号：US11762468B2

公开(公告)日：2023-09-19

申请号：US16969459

申请日：2019-02-26

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： David Kuan Wei Ooi ,  Peter Van Wyk ,  Joshua Carr ,  Thomas James Powell ,  Marc-Sebastian Scholz ,  Andreas Flouris ,  Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown ,  Stephen Matthew Bunting ,  Dominic George Webber ,  James Howarth

IPC: G06F3/01

CPC classification number: G06F3/016

Abstract: Broadly speaking, embodiments of the present techniques provide haptic button assemblies in which the haptic button has a low profile while still providing a satisfying tactile response or sensation to a user. Advantageously, the haptic button assemblies may have a profile that, for example, enables the assembly to be incorporated into the free space along an edge of a portable computing device. The haptic assemblies may, for example, be arranged to move the button perpendicularly with respect to the edge of the device.

公开(公告)号：US20230236474A1

公开(公告)日：2023-07-27

申请号：US17919027

申请日：2021-04-16

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： Stephen Matthew Bunting ,  Oliver Hart ,  Joshua Carr ,  David Ooi ,  Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown ,  James Howarth ,  Robin Eddington

IPC: G03B3/10 ,  G03B5/00

CPC classification number: G03B3/10 ,  G03B5/00 ,  G03B2205/0076 ,  G03B2205/0015

Abstract: An actuator assembly (23) includes a first part (24), a second part (25), and a bearing arrangement (26) mechanically coupling the first part (24) to the second part (25). The actuator assembly (23) also includes a drive arrangement (11, 20) including a total of four lengths of shape memory alloy wire (141, 142, 143, 144). The drive arrangement (11, 20) and the bearing arrangement (26) are configured such that the second part (25) is movable towards or away from the first part (24) along a primary axis (z), and the second part (25) is movable relative to the first part (24) along a first axis (x) and/or a second axis (y). The first and second axes (x, y) are perpendicular to the primary axis (z) and the second axis (y) is different to the first axis (x).

公开(公告)号：US20210348714A1

公开(公告)日：2021-11-11

申请号：US17283443

申请日：2019-10-10

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： Daniel John Burbridge ,  Stephen Matthew Bunting ,  Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown

IPC: F16M13/02 ,  F03G7/06 ,  H04N13/221 ,  H04N5/225 ,  G03B13/34 ,  G02B7/04

Abstract: An actuation assembly comprising: a support structure; a movable element movable relative to the support structure, the movable element having a principal axis; and an actuator arrangement for driving movement of the movable element with respect to the support structure, wherein said movement includes rotational movement of the movable element about an axis which is perpendicular to said principal axis and does not pass through the centre of the movable element, and wherein said movement also includes translational movement of the movable element in a direction perpendicular to the principal axis. The actuation assembly may be used to perform optical image stabilisation or to improve the performance of a 3D sensing system.

公开(公告)号：US20250059959A1

公开(公告)日：2025-02-20

申请号：US18728826

申请日：2023-01-13

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： Stephen Matthew Bunting ,  Daniel John Burbridge ,  Joshua Carr ,  James Howarth ,  Robert Langhorne ,  Jason Tun

IPC: F03G7/06 ,  G02B7/09 ,  G03B5/00 ,  G03B13/34

Abstract: An actuator assembly (100) comprises: a support structure (51); a movable part (10) that is movable relative to the support structure; and a set of one or more actuating units (80). Each actuating unit (80) is configured, on actuation, to apply a force on the movable part (10) that is substantially directed along a line in a plane perpendicular to a primary axis (z). Each actuating unit (10) comprises: a force-modifying mechanism (84) connected to one of the support structure (51) and the movable part (10); a coupling link (83) connected between the force-modifying mechanism (84) and the other of the support structure (51) and the movable part (10); and an SMA element (70a) connected between the force-modifying mechanism (84) and the one of the support structure (51) and the movable part (10). The SMA element (70a) is configured to exert an input force on the force-modifying mechanism (84), thereby causing the force-modifying mechanism (84) to apply an output force on the coupling link (83) and causing the coupling link (83) to apply an actuating force on the other of the support structure (51) and the movable part (10). The component of the input force along the primary axis (z) has a greater magnitude than the component of the input force in any direction perpendicular to the primary axis (z).

公开(公告)号：US12228113B2

公开(公告)日：2025-02-18

申请号：US18569309

申请日：2022-06-17

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： James Howarth ,  Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown ,  René Kist ,  Stephen Matthew Bunting ,  Alexander Doust

IPC: F03G7/06

Abstract: An SMA actuator assembly (1a) for driving or rotating a movable part (20) in a predetermined direction or sense by a plurality of repeated incremental steps is provided. The SMA actuator assembly comprises the movable part; a first engagement portion (31) for engaging the movable part; two SMA wires (41, 42) arranged to move the first engagement portion such that the first engagement portion repeatedly, for each of said incremental steps, is configured to do the following: engage with the movable part from a starting position, exert a force or torque on the movable part in the predetermined direction and disengage from the movable part and return to the starting position. The exertion of the force or torque on the movable part and the engaging or disengaging with the movable part are caused by contraction or relaxation of the two SMA wires.

公开(公告)号：US20250020111A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-16

申请号：US18710375

申请日：2022-11-15

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown ,  James Howarth ,  Robin Eddington ,  Stephen Matthew Bunting ,  Oliver Hart

IPC: F03G7/06

Abstract: An actuator assembly (1) comprising: a support structure (10) comprising a first friction surface (10f); a movable part (20) comprising a second friction surface (20f) engaging the first friction surface; one or more SMA wires (40) arranged, on contraction, to move the movable part relative to the support structure to any position within a range of movement; a biasing arrangement (30) arranged to bias the first and second friction surfaces against each other with a normal force, thereby generating a static frictional force that constrains the movement of the movable part relative to the support structure at any position within the range of movement when the one or more SMA wires are not contracted, wherein the one or more SMA wires are arranged such that the normal force between the first and second friction surfaces remains substantially constant on contraction of the one or more SMA wires.

公开(公告)号：US20240376873A1

公开(公告)日：2024-11-14

申请号：US18286489

申请日：2022-04-14

Applicant: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

Inventor： Joshua Carr ,  Daniel John Burbridge ,  Andrew Benjamin Simpson Brown ,  Stephen Matthew Bunting ,  David Richards ,  Samuel Armstrong ,  Robin Eddington

IPC: F03G7/06

Abstract: An SMA actuator assembly (2) comprising: a support structure (10); a movable part (20) that is movable relative to the support structure; and an SMA wire (30) connected at its ends to the movable part and/or the support structure and arranged to move the movable part relative to the support structure, wherein the SMA wire is arranged to be in contact between its ends with one or more contact portions of the movable part and/or support structure, and wherein each contact portion comprises a plurality of contact sections (10a, 20a) that are in direct contact with the SMA wire, wherein the plurality of contact sections are separated by one or more gaps between the contact sections.