Electro-mechanical Logic Gates Using Shape Memory Alloy Actuator

Inhalt:
Realising digital logic functionalities using shape memory alloy (SMA) is felt promising, owing to the favour of its bistable states which resembles the two state logic of electronic digital domain. The proposed structures of the logic gates consist of copper strips through which DC voltage of 5 V can be conducted through an electro actuated SMA cantilever, which works as ON/OFF switch corresponding to logic 1 and logic 0. Such switches are configured in a combination to form the logic gates, allowing the electrical signal to pass through when the SMA is activated electrically. Therefore, the switches can be electrically operated in ON/OFF cycles through conduction or blocking the electrical excitation, similar to logic 1 and logic 0. The series and parallel combinations of these switches results in a response that is similar to the conventional digital logic gates through electric control (input) of SMA cantilever based ON-OFF switches.