The present invention relates in a first aspect to an actuator subassembly comprising a shape memory alloy wire (15), a biasing spring (16) and magnetic responsive elements (17, 17′) to couple the movement of a first movable element (13) and a second movable element (14) provided with a terminal (18), and in a second aspect to a fluidic valve comprising a plunger whose terminal part controls its opening and closing and where the plunger movement is controlled by the action of a shape memory alloy wire, a biasing element and magnetic responsive elements.

Disclosed magnetic shape-memory compositions that comprise a polymer matrix and a population of hard-magnetic particles dispersed within the polymer matrix. In some embodiments, the magnetic shape-memory compositions can further comprise a population of auxiliary magnetic particles (e.g., ferrite particles) dispersed within the polymer matrix. The compositions can exhibit 1) reversible, fast, and controllable transforming deformation, 2) shape-locking, and 3) reprogramming capabilities.

The present invention relates in a first aspect to an actuator subassembly comprising a shape memory alloy wire (15), a biasing spring (16) and magnetic responsive elements (17, 17′) to couple the movement of a first movable element (13) and a second movable element (14) provided with a terminal (18), and in a second aspect to a fluidic valve comprising a plunger whose terminal part controls its opening and closing and where the plunger movement is controlled by the action of a shape memory alloy wire, a biasing element and magnetic responsive elements.

Multi-stable SMA actuator comprising two shape memory alloy wires (1, 2) in antagonistic configuration that allow to define multiple stable positions of a movable element (12), said positions being maintained by movable stoppers to lock the movable element, that do not require power and are disengaged by the shape memory alloy wires (1, 2) upon actuation thereof.

A rigidity variable apparatus includes: one or a plurality of coil units including a spiral-shaped coil portion in which a plurality of SMA element wires made of a shape-memory alloy are wound around an axis at a first pitch in a state where the SMA element wires are overlapped with each other in a predetermined axis direction, each of the SMA element wires memorizing a spiral shape with a pitch narrower than the first pitch, one of the plurality of SMA element wires starting to deform to the memorized spiral shape with a predetermined pitch when at a predetermined temperature or higher, another of the plurality of SMA element wires starting to deform to the spiral shape with a different pitch; and an electrothennal heater configured to heat the coil portion.

A transport device (100) comprises a housing (110), an actuator (130) and a drive (150). The housing has a fluid inlet (111, 113) and a fluid outlet (113, 111). The actuator (130) comprises a magnetic shape-memory alloy, and the actuator (130) is arranged at least in sections in the housing (110). The actuator (130) can be deformed by the drive (150) in such a way that at least one cavity (135, 135′) for the fluid is formed in the actuator (130), which cavity can be moved by the drive (150 in order to transport the fluid in the cavity (135, 135′) from the fluid inlet (111, 113) to the fluid outlet (113, 111). At least one section of the actuator (130) has a separation layer (1380) by which a direct contact between the fluid and the actuator (130) is prevented in said section of the actuator (130).

A magnetic shape memory (MSM) microfluidic device may include a flexible membrane positioned between a channel and an MSM element. The MSM element may engage the flexible membrane to deform the channel at portions of the flexible membrane that are adjacent to non-contracted portions of the MSM element. The flexible membrane may prevent contact between a fluid within the channel and the MSM element. Magnetic field components may be applied to the MSM element and moved along the MSM element enable fluidic flow within the channel while. The device may include an upper portion including the flexible membrane and a lower portion including the MSM element. The upper portion may be interchangeable with additional upper portions.

The invention relates to a transport device (100) comprising a housing (110), an actuator (130), a drive (150) and a sealing element (170). The housing has a fluid inlet (111, 113), a fluid outlet (113, 111), and a partially contains the actuator (130), which comprises a magnetic shape-memory alloy. The actuator (130) can be deformed by the drive (150) in such a way to form a cavity (135) for the fluid in order to transport the fluid in the cavity (135) from the fluid inlet (111, 113) to the fluid outlet (113, 111). The sealing element (170) is arranged between the actuator (130) and the housing (110) in such a way that the cavity (135) is edge-sealed or end-sealed during the transport of the fluid from the fluid inlet (111, 113) to the fluid outlet (113, 111).

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 for adjusting an element to be moved in a beam path of an optical arrangement contains the element to be moved, a carrier and at least one SM element, the SM element being connected to the element to be moved and designed such that it is supported on the carrier, so that when the dimension of the SM element changes, a directed force effect is produced between the element to be moved and the carrier.