Patent ID: 11927206
Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 13:
14. A method of actuating a hybrid actuation device, the method comprising:
actuating a shape memory alloy wire that is coupled to a first plate of a plate pair further comprising a second plate, thereby drawing the first plate and the second plate together, placing the hybrid actuation device in an actuated state, wherein a first alignment aid is positioned between the first plate and an artificial muscle positioned between the first plate and the second plate, the artificial muscle comprising:
a housing having an electrode region and an expandable fluid region; and
an electrode pair comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, each positioned in the electrode region of the housing; and

applying a voltage to the electrode pair, thereby electrostatically attracting the first electrode and the second electrode together to hold the hybrid actuation device in the actuated state.