A device for converting thermal power into electric power includes many conversion cells arranged inside and on top of a substrate. Each conversion cell includes a curved bimetal strip and first and second diodes coupled to the bimetal strip. The diodes are arranged in a semiconductor region of the substrate.

An actuator includes a first actuator fiber and a second actuator fiber that are connected to plate members, a frame member provided at a fixed distance from the plate member; and a controller that controls temperature of the first actuator fiber and temperature of the second actuator fiber. Each of the first actuator fiber and the second actuator fiber is wound spirally and stretches or contracts when temperature thereof is changed. Stretch or contraction of the first actuator fiber or the second actuator fiber based on the control of the temperature causes the plate member to be locked to the frame member or to be unlocked from the frame member.

A driving device is provided that can suppress power consumption, and is excellent in response characteristics, and also capable of appropriately adjusting a revolving angle of a target member. According to an exemplary design, the device includes a rotational shaft supported by a housing and is capable of revolving in each of a positive and counter rotation direction about a Z-axis. Shape memory alloys formed in a wire-like shape apply an external force acting in the positive rotation direction to the rotational shaft by heat shrinkage. A bias spring applies an external force acting in the counter rotation direction to the rotational shaft. Moreover, a wiper is displaced following the rotation of the rotational shaft. A power supply system including power supply terminals, a relay member, relay terminals, and lead wires separately supplies power to three or more mutually different positions of the shape memory alloys.

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.

A device including a wire element and a winding element to wind the wire element. The winding element is configured to change from a first stable state to a second stable state. A change in the state occurs either naturally or by changing an environment parameter so as to result in the wire element being wound on the winding element. In the naturally occurring state change, the energy of interaction between the wire element and the environment is higher than the energy of interaction between the wire element and the winding element. The environment parameter change results in the wire element being wound on the winding element during the change from the first state to the second state.

The present disclosure provides a camera apparatus, an SMA driving device and a manufacturing method, a driving method and a wiring method, wherein the SMA driving device further comprises a lens carrier, at least one upgoing driver, and at least one downgoing driver; wherein the lens carrier is connected to the upgoing driver, and the upgoing driver supports the lens carrier upwardly in a thermally driven manner, and pulls the lens carrier to move upward; wherein the lens carrier is connected to the downgoing driver, and the downgoing driver draws the lens carrier downwardly in a thermally driven manner, and pulls the lens carrier to move downward; and wherein the lens is disposed on the lens carrier of the SMA driving device, and the SMA driving device drives the lens to move up and down, thereby improving the focusing speed of the lens.

Disclosed is detecting the position of an actuator element of an actuator arrangement, having at least one actuator element movable in two opposing directions by two adjustment elements. The adjustment elements electrically connected via only one two-wire connection to a control unit comprise electrically controllable shape memory alloy wires. A resistance measurement circuit formed in the control unit periodically records the resistance values of the two adjustment elements. At an energization time of a currently actuated adjustment element, the resistance value of the adjustment element and, in a subsequent pause in energization, the resistance value of another adjustment element is determined and stored. The differential value of the two resistance values is compared with pairs of values which are stored in a table and describe a correlation between the resistance differential value and a position of the adjustment element, to determine the position of the actuator element.

The invention relates to a thermoelastic actuator (1) for providing a rotary actuating motion, comprising: an actuating element (4) for outputting the rotatory actuating motion; an antagonistic actuator unit (2) coupled with the actuating element (4) to convert a translational movement into the rotary actuating motion;
wherein the antagonistic actuator unit (2) comprises: at least two electrically separately activatable thermoelastic actuator elements (21, 21a, 21b), each extending in an extension direction (R) from a first end to a second end and arranged parallel to each other; a carriage element (24), which is movably guided in the direction (R), where the thermoelastic actuator elements (21, 21a, 21b) are each connected at the second end to the carriage element (24), so that upon a change of shape upon activation of one of the actuator elements (21, 21a, 21b), a pulling force is exerted on the carriage element (24) to translationally move the carriage element (24); an electrical connection between the first ends of the actuator elements (21, 21a, 21b) connected to the carriage element (24), so that a common electrical potential is applied to the actuator elements (21, 21a, 21b) via the carriage element (24).

A shape memory alloy actuation apparatus comprises a support structure (2) and a movable element (10). A helical bearing arrangement (20) supporting the movable element on the support structure guides helical movement of the movable element with respect to the support structure around a helical axis (H). At least one shape memory alloy actuator wire (60) is connected between the support structure and the movable element in, or at an acute angle to, a plane normal to the helical axis, so as to drive rotation of the movable element around the helical axis which the helical bearing arrangement converts into said helical movement.

An actuator described herein triggers twisting actuation of an elastomer skin. In one embodiment, an elastomer skin includes an elastomer substrate and a set of coated twisted and coiled polymer fishing line and resistance heating wire (TCP.sub.FL.sup.RHW) actuators embedded in the elastomer substrate. The coated TCP.sub.FL.sup.RHW actuators are unequally pre-loaded. A coating of the coated TCP.sub.FL.sup.RHW actuators includes a mixture of carbon nanotubes, metal nanoparticles, and mesoporous carbon nanoparticles.