Patent ID: 8427429

Claim:
An active interface control adapted for use by a user, selectively shiftable between, and presenting a selected one of first and second stable configurations, said control comprising: a manipulable component configured to facilitate manual engagement by the user; and an actuator further comprising at least one active material element operable to undergo a reversible change in functional dimension when exposed to or occluded from an activation signal, wherein the element is drivenly coupled to the component, such that the change causes the component to displace; and a bi-stable mechanism intermediate the component and element, driven by said at least one element, drivenly coupled to the component, and operable to magnify the displacement of the component, so as to result in an actuator stroke length greater than the change in dimension, wherein the element and mechanism are cooperatively configured to cause the control to shift to the other of said stable configurations, so as to further facilitate manual engagement by the user, wherein the mechanism includes at least one rigidly bent member defining anchored end points, presenting a bowed concave profile in the first configuration, and a bowed convex profile in the second configuration, so as to define a center-line of flexure.