Patent ID: 7617703

Claim:
An electromechanical latch comprising: a frame providing an anchor point; a leaf spring having a first end attached to the frame and a second end spaced from the anchor point along an axis and so that the leaf spring extends substantially perpendicular to the axis; a shape memory alloy wire having a first end attached to the anchor point and a second end attached to the second end of the leaf spring so that the wire extends along the axis, the shape memory alloy wire moving the second end of the leaf spring with respect to the anchor point upon heating of the shape memory alloy as the shape memory wire changes in length so that the leaf spring provides a tension to the shape memory alloy wire throughout the change in length of the wire; an electrical heater pressed against the shape memory alloy wire while accommodating changes in length of the shape memory alloy wire; a latch component slidable parallel to the axis; a compression spring communicating between the second end of the leaf spring and the latch component to move the latch component with changes in length of the shape memory alloy wire; wherein the shape memory alloy wire is held in substantially constant tension and deflected from a straight line by the electrical heater to press against a thermally conductive surface of the electrical heater in sliding contact.