The present invention relates to a method of actuating a shape changeable member of actuatable material. The invention further relates to a shape changeable member and to a system comprising such a shape changeable member and a magnetic field apparatus.

An actuation apparatus may include a magnetic shape memory (MSM) element configured to compress locally at a portion of the MSM element in response to a perpendicular concentrated portion of a magnetic field. The apparatus may further include a plurality of conductive coils laterally offset from the MSM element. Central axes of each conductive coil of the plurality of conductive coils may be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the MSM element. The apparatus may also include at least one permanent magnet in proximity to the MSM element. The permanent magnet may generate a significant portion of the magnetic field. By successively applying, reversing, and reducing or eliminating electrical currents applied to the conductive coils, a position of the perpendicular concentrated portion of the magnetic field may be moved relative to the MSM element.

This invention relates to an operational element and a method for manufacturing the operational element that comprises magnetic shape memory alloy. in the method at least a part of the magnetic shape memory alloy is arranged as an active region that is responsive to a magnetic field and at least one other part of the magnetic shape memory alloy is arranged as an inactive region that is unresponsive to a magnetic field.

An actuator device has at least one actuator element which at least in part is composed of a magnetically shape-shiftable material, and has a magnet unit which comprises at least one first magnetic element that is implemented as a coil unit and at least one second magnetic element that is implemented as a permanent magnet,

at least the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are configured for interacting in at least one operating state so as to cause a local deformation of the actuator element in a partial region of the actuator element.

An actuation apparatus may include a magnetic shape memory (MSM) element configured to contract locally at a portion of the MSM element in response to local exposure to a magnetic field distribution component that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the MSM element. The apparatus may further include a plurality of conductive coils laterally offset from the MSM element. Central axes of each conductive coil of the plurality of conductive coils may be substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the MSM element.

The present technology relates to a NiMnGa magnetic shape memory (MSM) alloy including twin boundaries type 2, which are deviated approximately +/2-4 degrees from (101) or equivalent crystallographic plane by rotation about [101] or equivalent crystallographic direction. This technology relates also to an actuator, sensor and harvester including MSM element of this technology.

A magnetic phase-transformation material with the formula Ni.sub.amMn.sub.bnCo.sub.m+nTi.sub.c is provided, wherein a+b+c=100, 20<a90, 5b<50, 5c30, 0ma, 0nb, 0<m+n<a+b, and wherein, any one or combination of a, b, c, m, n represent an atomic percentage content. The magnetic phase-transformation material has properties of high toughness, high deformation rate, ferromagnetism and magnetic field-driven martensitic phase transformation, which can be widely used in various fields including high-strength and high-toughness actuators, temperature and/or magnetic sensitive elements, magnetic refrigeration devices and equipments, magnetic heat pump devices, magnetic memories, micro-electromechanical devices and systems, and thermomagnetic power generators or transducers.

A fluid transport system that includes a magnetic shape memory pipe having an input end opposite an output end and an outer surface opposite an inner surface. The inner surface defines an inner diameter of the magnetic shape memory pipe and the magnetic shape memory pipe includes a magnetic shape memory alloy. The fluid transport system further includes one or more magnetic field generating devices surrounding the outer surface of the magnetic shape memory pipe and configured to generate a control magnetic field that, when applied to a region of the magnetic shape memory pipe, alters the inner diameter of the region of the magnetic shape memory pipe.

Various embodiments are generally directed to techniques for using MSM actuators to minimize the consumption of electric power and/or the quantity of components in implementing OIS in an image capture device. An apparatus may include a camera pivotally mounted within an endpiece of a casing, the camera including an image capture element to capture an image of an object along a line of sight of the image capture element; an actuator of elongate shape coupled to the camera to exert a mechanical force to pivot the camera about an axis, the elongate shape of the actuator extending into a relatively thin and elongate portion of the casing that is coupled to and extends from the endpiece; and a countering movement component to operate the actuator to pivot the camera about the axis in a countering movement to provide OIS to the camera. Other embodiments are described and claimed.