A haptic actuator and method for manufacturing the same. The haptic actuator may include a slider having first interlocking sliding features and a first engagement surface; and a base having second interlocking sliding features and a second engagement surface. The second interlocking sliding features may be configured to engage with the first interlocking sliding features. The haptic actuator may also include a shape memory alloy disposed between the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface; and a pair of ohmic contacts disposed through the base and are in direct contact with the shape memory alloy. The shape memory alloy may contract and causes displacement of the slider relative to the base from a first position to a second position in response to a current applied to the shape memory alloy through the pair of ohmic contacts.

A system and method for wirelessly controlling a shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator using magnetic resonant coupling (MRC). The SMA actuator is part of a receiver circuit including an actuator coil, where the SMA actuator is configured into a certain shape. The system includes a transmitter circuit having a transmitter coil and a controller, where the transmitter coil receives an AC current that causes the transmitter coil to generate an oscillating magnetic field in resonance with the actuator coil in the receiver circuit and be magnetically coupled thereto. The current induced in the actuator coil creates heat that reconfigures the SMA actuator to provide the actuation.

Disclosed herein is a non-Inductive voltage boost-converter (NVBC) for micro-power energy harvesting systems for energy storage and delivery applications. Current devices deliver a wide-range of micro-power having only up to 0.8V peak-voltage, but nominally 0.45V in lab test conditions. This voltage is not adequate in charging storage cells such as rechargeable batteries and also driving electronic circuits. Technology is in demand where a boost-converter must operate at MOS sub-threshold voltage (Sub-V.sub.TH) limits. Disclosed herein is a novel NVBC device that has eliminated the need of an inductor coil and associated high-speed switching circuits; thus achieving higher efficiency. The disclosed invention applies a simple self-synchronizing technique to adapt the NVBC automatically to the low-frequency energy signal of a pyroelectric device. A novel NVBC is presented for stabilized output of NVBC (S-NVBC). In an embodiment, the S-NVBC achieves an efficiency of 86%.

Disclosed herein is a non-Inductive voltage boost-converter (NVBC) for micro-power energy harvesting systems for energy storage and delivery applications. Current devices deliver a wide-range of micro-power having only up to 0.8V peak-voltage, but nominally 0.45V in lab test conditions. This voltage is not adequate in charging storage cells such as rechargeable batteries and also driving electronic circuits. Technology is in demand where a boost-converter must operate at MOS sub-threshold voltage (Sub-V.sub.TH) limits. Disclosed herein is a novel NVBC device that has eliminated the need of an inductor coil and associated high-speed switching circuits; thus achieving higher efficiency. The disclosed invention applies a simple self-synchronizing technique to adapt the NVBC automatically to the low-frequency energy signal of a pyroelectric device. A novel NVBC is presented for stabilized output of NVBC (S-NVBC). In an embodiment, the S-NVBC achieves an efficiency of 86%.

A microrobot is disclosed. The microrobot includes a magnet configured to provide a motive force when magnetic force of one or more electrical coils act upon the magnet, a support member coupled to the magnet, a thermo-responsive polymer member coupled to each end of the support member at a proximal end, the thermo-responsive polymer member configured to articulate when heated, wherein the thermo-responsive polymer members configured to receive light from a microrobot structured light system and convert the received light into heat.

A microrobot is disclosed. The microrobot includes a magnet configured to provide a motive force when magnetic force of one or more electrical coils act upon the magnet, a support member coupled to the magnet, a thermo-responsive polymer member coupled to each end of the support member at a proximal end, the thermo-responsive polymer member configured to articulate when heated, wherein the thermo-responsive polymer members configured to receive light from a microrobot structured light system and convert the received light into heat.

System for converting thermal energy into electrical energy (S1) intended to be arranged between a hot source (SC) and a cold source (SF), comprising means for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy (6) and a piezoelectric material, with the means for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy (6) comprising groups (G1, G2) of at least three bimetallic strips (9, 11, 13) linked mechanically together by their longitudinal ends and suspended above a substrate (12), each bimetallic strip (9, 11, 13) comprising two stable states wherein it has in each of the states a curvature, with two directly adjacent bimetallic strips (9, 11, 13) having for a given temperature opposite curvatures, with the switching from one stable state of the bimetallic strips (9, 11, 13) to the other causing the deformation of a piezoelectric material.

Method for harvesting energy using an EAP based deformable body. The EAP based deformable body is an elastically deformable body including an arrangement of stretchable synthetic material and electrodes being arranged as a variable capacitor with a capacitance that varies as the deformable body stretches and relaxes. The method includes: looping through an energy harvesting cycle with a) stretching the deformable body from a minimal relaxed size L1 to a maximal stretched size L2; b) at the maximal stretched size electrically charging of the variable capacitor to create an electric field over the capacitor with an upper electric field level value; and subsequently c) a relaxation step from maximal stretched size to the minimal relaxed size; d) at the minimal relaxed size of the deformable body, electrically discharging the capacitor to a minimal charge level and a minimal electric field level value.

Method for harvesting energy using an EAP based deformable body. The EAP based deformable body is an elastically deformable body including an arrangement of stretchable synthetic material and electrodes being arranged as a variable capacitor with a capacitance that varies as the deformable body stretches and relaxes. The method includes: looping through an energy harvesting cycle with a) stretching the deformable body from a minimal relaxed size L1 to a maximal stretched size L2; b) at the maximal stretched size electrically charging of the variable capacitor to create an electric field over the capacitor with an upper electric field level value; and subsequently c) a relaxation step from maximal stretched size to the minimal relaxed size; d) at the minimal relaxed size of the deformable body, electrically discharging the capacitor to a minimal charge level and a minimal electric field level value.

A drive unit includes a base member having an operation base having operation recesses in a front surface, a movable member that is disposed to be opposite to the base member and has operation projections to be inserted into the operation recesses in an opposed surface, and a shape memory alloy member that is disposed between the base member and the movable member and shrinks by heat generated by passing an electric current. In conjunction with the shrinkage of the shape memory alloy member by the passage of the electric current, the movable member is moved in a direction away from the base member. The base member has a fixed portion in its middle in a core axial direction of the shape memory alloy member, to fix the middle on a support member.