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.

A machine for opening drinking straws and/or other enclosed containers using temperature changes. In the drinking straw variety, the straw is made in part or in full by Nitinol (also known as nickel titanium), Shape Memory Material, or similar such material that allows for the change in the straw's shape (known as the parent phase) in the elevated temperature of a dishwashing machine or similar machine using the Nitinol's or Shape Memory Material's reversible solid-state phase change (known as a martensitic transformation). When the straw is returned to room temperature, the straw closes to its original shape (known as its daughter phase) allowing it to be used as a standard straw. The container variety uses the same method but adapts it for container shapes. This phase change allows for lodged materials in the straw and/or container to be easily dislodged by the object opening in the dishwasher.

An actuator comprises a virtual actuator main axis, two endpieces, a compression spring, and a wire that is made of a shape-memory alloy and can be controlled to implement a change in length. The compression spring elastically supports the two endpieces against one another in the direction of the actuator main axis. The wire comprises at least six contiguous length portions. Each of the contiguous length portions extends and is tensioned between the two endpieces along the actuator main axis. The length portions are arranged with regard to one another in at least one of an axially symmetric way and an rotationally symmetric way with respect to the actuator main axis; and the length portions are oriented at equally sized angles with respect to a virtual reference plane to which the actuator main axis is a surface normal.

The present disclosure provides an actuating device and a method for controlling an SMA actuator wire. The actuating device includes: a first support structure and a second support structure that are spaced from each other to define a movement space; a movable element received in the movement space; an SMA actuator wire configured to drive the movable element to move in the movement space; a detection element configured to detect movement information; and a control element configured to adjust a power state of the SMA actuator wire based on the movement information in such a manner that the SMA actuator wire is in a loose state after the SMA actuator wire drives the movable element to be fixed to the second support structure. This can alleviate the technical problem in the related art that the SMA actuator wire is prone to failure when the lens is suffering collision or falling.

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.

The present disclosure provides an actuating device and a method for controlling an SMA actuator wire. The actuating device includes: a first support structure and a second support structure that are spaced from each other to define a movement space; a movable element received in the movement space; an SMA actuator wire configured to drive the movable element to move in the movement space; a detection element configured to detect movement information; and a control element configured to adjust a power state of the SMA actuator wire based on the movement information in such a manner that the SMA actuator wire is in a loose state after the SMA actuator wire drives the movable element to be fixed to the second support structure. This can alleviate the technical problem in the related art that the SMA actuator wire is prone to failure when the lens is suffering collision or falling.

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.

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.

Disclosed are a drive structure for an OIS motor, an OIS motor, and a camera device. The key points of technical solutions are: a drive structure for an OIS motor includes a base, a conductive layer, a spring, and four SMA wires, the base is made of an insulating material, the conductive layer is disposed in the base, and terminals of the conductive layer protrude from the surface of the base; the base is provided with two first crimpers electrically connected to the conductive layer and disposed opposite to each other, the spring is provided with two second crimpers disposed opposite to each other, the four SMA wires are uniformly distributed on four sides of the base, and two ends of the SMA wires are respectively connected to the corresponding first crimpers and second crimpers.

Actuator assemblies and methods of operating actuator assemblies are provided, in particular with the aim of reducing bearing jitter. In one approach an actuator assembly (1) is provided which has: a support element (4); a movable element (20) movable relative to the support element; an SMA component (80) connected between the movable element and the support element and arranged to cause movement of the movable element relative to the support element; a bearing (100) arranged to guide the movement of the movable element; and a controller (30) arranged to control energy supplied to the SMA component to thereby cause contraction and/or relaxation of the SMA component and to control movement of the movable element relative to the support element in a first direction so as to provide an actuation function, wherein the controller is arranged to, at least whilst the movable element starts to move in the first direction, control the movable element to cause it to be moving in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.