Patent ID: 8227681

Claim:
An active material assembly comprising: a first and a second thermally-activated active material apparatus; a first thermoelectric device in thermal contact with the first thermally-activated active material apparatus and characterized by a first thermal differential when current flows through the first thermoelectric device; wherein the first thermally-activated active material apparatus is activated in response to the first thermal differential to alter at least one physical property of the first thermally-activated active material apparatus; a second thermoelectric device in thermal contact with the second thermally-activated active material apparatus and characterized by a second thermal differential when current flows through the second thermoelectric device; wherein the second thermally-activated active material apparatus is activated in response to the second thermal differential to alter at least one characteristic of the second thermally-activated active material apparatus; a first electronic-insulating layer surrounding each of the thermoelectric devices and the first and the second active material apparatus to thereby connect the first and the second active material apparatus as a unit; wherein the first active material apparatus is spaced from the second active material apparatus within the first electronic-insulating layer with the first electronic-insulating layer between the first and the second thermoelectric devices; a second electronic-insulating layer positioned between the first thermally-activated active material apparatus and the first thermoelectric device and having a generally electronic-insulating characteristic to insulate the first thermally-activated active material apparatus from current flow in the first thermoelectric device; and wherein the second electronic-insulating layer is a shape memory polymer configured to change length in the same direction as the first and the second thermally-activated active material apparatus in response to heat.