Patent ID: 11885428
Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  A | IPC A  F

Claim 11:
12. The valve of claim 10, wherein:
the temperature signal output by the temperature sensor is indicative of the temperature of the conductive polymer,
the conductive polymer transitions from a rigid state to the flexible state in response to being energized by the current source, and
the electronic controller moves the valve from the closed position to the open position by:
receiving the temperature signal from the temperature sensor;
energizing the conductive polymer with the current source to transition the conductive polymer from the rigid state to the flexible state;
thereafter, energizing the shape-memory wire with the current source to move the shape-memory wire from a first position to a second position;
terminating communication between the conductive polymer and the current source, thereby allowing the conductive polymer to return to the rigid state; and
thereafter, terminating communication between the shape-memory wire and the current source, wherein the conductive polymer in the rigid state substantially maintains the shape-memory wire in the second position.