Patent ID: 8454751

Claim:
A surface debris removal system, comprising: a signal transmitting/receiving device with a surface having debris thereon; a conductive memory wire; a two-position snap spring with a moveable portion configured to be at one of a retracted position and an extended position; a power source coupled to the conductive memory wire and configured to provide power to the conductive memory wire, where in response to providing the power to the conductive memory wire, a length of the conductive memory wire decreases, where in response to decreasing the length of the conductive memory wire, the moveable portion of the two-position snap spring is pulled from the extended position to the retracted position, where in response to removing the power to the conductive memory wire, the length of the conductive memory wire increases so that the moveable portion of the two-position snap spring is able to move from the retracted position to the extended position, a mechanical actuator with a lever arm; and an electronic actuator coupled to the mechanical actuator, wherein actuation of the electronic actuator causes the lever arm of the mechanical actuator to engage the moveable portion of the two-position snap spring, and where in response to engaging the lever arm, the moveable portion of the two-position snap spring moves from the retracted position to the extended position, where in response to the moving of the moveable portion of the two-position snap spring from the retracted position to the extended position, an energy is generated and transferred to the surface that dislodges the debris from the surface.