Micro-gripper device using shape-memory alloy and optical fiber

This technology is a micro-gripper mechanism that uses an optical fiber connected to a gripper made of shape-memory alloy, which is actuated and deformed by Joule heating generated by light transmitted from a light source.

Conventional micro-grippers suffer from complex drive structures that make manufacturing difficult, as well as structural inconveniences and high power consumption due to the need for separate power supply units.

This technology proposes a structure that can be operated without separate electrical wiring by delivering heating energy to the gripper via light emitted through an optical fiber. By utilizing a Nitinol shape-memory alloy gripper processed with a focused ion beam and a photocurable polymer adhesive, both miniaturization and precise manipulation can be achieved. It offers a wireless, operable gripper for ultra-precise tasks such as semiconductor processing, biological sample manipulation, and micro-assembly, opening up new possibilities for micro-scale automation.

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Key Features:

• A gripper unit that deforms to grasp objects
• An energy supply unit that provides energy to the gripper to induce deformation
• An optical fiber formed in a tubular shape with an internal passage for light transmission
• An adhesive unit provided between the optical fiber and the gripper to bond the gripper to the optical fiber