Title:
VARIABLE STIFFNESS ACTUATOR
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2018/193541
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Provided is a variable stiffness actuator (10) that is mounted on a flexible member (72) and provides different stiffnesses for the flexible member. The variable stiffness actuator includes a shape memory member (20) that undergoes phase transformation between a first phase and a second phase. The shape memory member assumes a low stiffness state in the first phase and assumes a high stiffness state in the second phase. The variable stiffness actuator further includes: an actuation member (30) that causes a phase transformation in the shape memory member; first conducting wires (51, 61), one end of each being connected to the actuation member; and second conducting wires (53, 63), one end of each being connected to the other end of a first conducting wire. The first conducting wires are formed from a material that has an electrical resistivity lower than that of the actuation member and have low electrical resistivity values per unit length. The second conducting wires are thicker than the first conducting wires and have electrical resistivity values per unit length that are lower than those of the first conducting wires.
Inventors:
MORISHIMA TETSUYA (JP)
Application Number:
PCT/JP2017/015694
Publication Date:
October 25, 2018
Filing Date:
April 19, 2017
Export Citation:
Assignee:
OLYMPUS CORP (JP)
International Classes:
A61B1/005
Domestic Patent References:
| WO2016185561A1 | 2016-11-24 | |||
| WO2016121060A1 | 2016-08-04 |
Foreign References:
| JPH0670879A | 1994-03-15 | |||
| JPS58101601U | 1983-07-11 |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
KURATA, Masatoshi et al. (JP)
Download PDF: