ACTUATOR

摘要

An actuator is arranged such that an operation stroke is obtained by a shape memory element made of a shape memory alloy member for recovering a memorized shape when the shape memory alloy member is heated, and that shape recovery control of the shape memory element is performed by Joule heat generated by a current supplied thereto. The shape memory element of this actuator has a mechanism such as conductive layers made of copper-plated layers covering part of the surface of the shape memory alloy. This mechanism decreases an electrical resistance of at least one portion of the element such that it is smaller than the electrical resistance of any other portion thereof. The conductive layers contribute to the partial shape recovery control of the shape memory element with high precision.