CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED

An actuator assembly ( 10 ) comprises: a first part ( 1 ), wherein a first (z) axis is defined with reference to the first part ( 1 ) and the extent of the actuator assembly ( 10 ) along the first (z) axis is less than the extent of the actuator assembly ( 10 ) along any axis perpendicular to the first (z) axis; a second part ( 2 ) which is movable relative to the first part ( 1 ); a drive arrangement ( 3 ) configured to rotate the second part ( 2 ) about the first (z) axis and to rotate the second part ( 2 ) about a second (x) axis perpendicular to the first (z) axis; and a bearing arrangement ( 4 ) configured to allow rotation of the second part ( 2 ) about the first (z) and second (x) axes, to constrain rotation of the second part ( 2 ) about a third (y) axis, and to constrain movement of the second part ( 2 ) along the third (y) axis, wherein the third (y) axis is perpendicular to the first (z) and second (x) axes.

An actuator assembly ( 1 ) comprising: a support structure ( 2 ); a movable part ( 10 ); a helical bearing arrangement ( 20 ) arranged to guide helical movement of the movable part relative to the support structure around a helical axis (H); a loading arrangement ( 50 ) arranged between the support structure and the movable part for loading the helical bearing arrangement; and at least one pair of actuator components ( 40 ) arranged, on actuation, to drive rotation of the movable part in opposite senses around the helical axis which the helical bearing arrangement converts into said helical movement; wherein the at least one pair of actuator components is arranged to apply an unloading torque about an axis perpendicular to the helical axis so as to reduce loading of the helical bearing arrangement.

A camera assembly comprises a lens assembly supported on a support structure, wherein the lens assembly includes an autofocus actuator arrangement and the camera assembly includes an optical image stabilization assembly arranged to move the lens assembly in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis. A flexible printed circuit tape connected between the support structure and the lens assembly and providing an electrical connection to the auto-focus actuator arrangement is bent around a corner, thereby allowing the flexible printed circuit tape to accommodate the motion of the lens assembly perpendicular to the optical axis. A crimp plate connected to the lens assembly which crimps shape memory alloy wires has features extending out of the plane of the crimp plate for reducing flexibility. At least part of the optical image stabilization assembly overlaps the lens assembly in the direction along the optical axis, thereby reducing the height of the camera assembly.

A method of generating drive signals for driving an SMA apparatus, wherein the SMA apparatus comprises two SMA actuator assemblies each comprising a respective set of one or more SMA wires, the method comprising the steps of: outputting drive signals for applying to the SMA wires of the sets of SMA wires so as to independently drive the SMA actuator assemblies; and outputting a measurement pulse for measuring an electrical characteristic of an SMA wire, and suppressing or delaying the drive signals for applying to both sets of SMA wires for the duration of the measurement pulse, such that the measurement pulse is applied in the absence of any drive signal.

A shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator comprising: a support structure ( 10 ); a moveable part ( 20 ) movable relative to the support structure; plural SMA components ( 30 ) connecting the support structure and the movable part, the SMA components are operable to controllably change the position and/or orientation of the moveable part in two or more degrees of freedom; a controller ( 12 ) for controlling the operation of the SMA components in a first operating mode during normal operation and a second operating mode in response to an event; and means configured to, during the second operating mode, maintain at least partial control of the moveable part with a subset of the plural SMA components.

An actuator assembly is disclosed. The actuator assembly comprises a support structure ( 2 ): a first movable part ( 10 ): a second movable part ( 12 ): an actuator arrangement configured to drive rotation of the first movable part around a primary axis (O) relative to the support structure: a first bearing arrangement ( 20, 21 ) configured to convert said rotation of the first movable part into helical movement of the first movable part around the primary axis relative to the support structure: a rotation control arrangement capable of limiting rotation of the second movable part around the primary axis relative to the support structure; and a second bearing arrangement ( 30, 31 ) configured such that, when the first movable part undergoes said helical movement and the second movable part undergoes said rotation limitation, the second movable part undergoes translational movement along the primary axis relative to the support structure and/or the first movable part.

An actuator assembly comprising: a support structure ( 4 ) comprising a first printed circuit board, PCB ( 10 ); an image sensor assembly ( 12 ) comprising a second PCB ( 9 ) and an image sensor ( 6 ) having a light-sensitive region ( 7 ), wherein the image sensor assembly ( 12 ) is supported on the support structure ( 4 ) to allow movement of the image sensor assembly ( 12 ) relative to the support structure ( 4 ); and an electrical interconnector ( 51 ) configured to electrically connect the first PCB ( 10 ) to the second PCB ( 9 ); wherein the first PCB ( 10 ) and the second PCB overlap ( 9 ) when viewed along at least one direction in the plane in which the first PCB ( 10 ) extends.

An actuator assembly ( 140 ) comprises first and second parts. A first axis (Z) is defined with reference to the second part. The actuator assembly ( 140 ) comprises shape-memory alloy wire ( 80 ) connected between the first and second parts for moving the first part relative to the second part in any of a set of directions that are at least partly perpendicular to the first axis (Z). The set of directions includes first and second directions. The actuator assembly ( 140 ) comprises a set of arms ( 170 ), each of which is connected between the first and second parts and extends partly around the first axis (Z). The set of arms ( 170 ) is configured to provide a biasing force that biases the first part towards a first position relative to the second part. The set of arms ( 170 ) has a first stiffness when the first part is moved away from the first position in the first direction and a second, lower stiffness when the first part is moved away from the first position in the second direction. At least one of the set of arms ( 170 ) comprises a portion ( 100 ) that is configured to decrease the first stiffness by a larger relative amount than the portion ( 100 ) decreases the second stiffness.

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 arrangement for use in a camera is disclosed. The camera comprises two or more camera elements including an image sensor and one or more optical elements for forming, or aiding forming of, an image of an object on the image sensor. The actuator arrangement comprises: a first part defining a first axis; a first actuator for providing a first type of movement of one or more of the camera elements relative to the first part; a second actuator for providing a second, different type of movement of one or more of the camera elements relative to the first part; a controller configured to (a) cause the first actuator to move one or more of the camera elements so as to provide a first optical image stabilisation (OIS) effect, and (b) cause the second actuator to move one or more of the camera elements so as to provide a second OIS effect. The first and second OIS effects combine to provide an overall OIS effect that is greater than either of the first and second OIS effects.