Development of an integrated foil-based sensor for position sensing of magnetic shape memory alloy actuators

Abstract:
The growing demand for energy efficient and highly integrated drives has led to an increasing interest in innovative actuator concepts. By utilizing the smart capabilities of magnetic shape memory alloys, it is possible to meet these requirements. Passive magnetic shape memory alloys with internal friction can transform conventional drives into selflocking actuators, addressing the need for energy efficient miniature valves. In addition, integration density can be increased by using the stroke-dependent permeability of the alloy to determine the position of the valve actuator. The combination of these features enables the development of self-locking valves with integrated position monitoring. This paper aims to develop an integrated sensor system on a low-cost flexible printed circuit board to measure the stroke and thus the position of actuators with passive magnetic shape memory elements.