MEMS actuator with lower power consumption and lower cost simplified fabrication
First Claim
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1. An actuator array device, comprising:
- a plurality of generally parallel sheets bonded together in a predetermined pattern to form an array of unit cells; and
selected sheets having a single electrode layer, to form a plurality of electrodes associated with said array of unit cells.
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Abstract
A microactuator device is disclosed that includes a plurality of generally parallel thin flexible sheets bonded together in a predetermined pattern to form an array of unit cells. Preferably, each of the sheets has only a single electrode layer located on one side of the sheet. Pairs of such sheets are then bonded together at spaced bonding locations with the electrode layers facing one another. Several sets of such sheet pairs can then be bonded together to form a microactuator device.
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Citations
39 Claims
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1. An actuator array device, comprising:
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a plurality of generally parallel sheets bonded together in a predetermined pattern to form an array of unit cells; and
selected sheets having a single electrode layer, to form a plurality of electrodes associated with said array of unit cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An actuator as recited in claim I wherein the generally parallel sheets lie generally along a curved surface.
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10. An actuator, comprising:
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a plurality of sheet pairs having a sheet pair length;
said sheet pairs including a first sheet and a second sheet each having a sheet length, wherein said first and second sheets have a front surface and a back surface;
said first and second sheets have a substrate layer disposed toward said back surface, a dielectric layer disposed toward said front surface, and a conductive layer disposed between said substrate layers and said dielectric layers;
said first and second sheet front surfaces being secured together at spaced bonding regions along said sheet length, such that said first and second sheets have non-bonded regions formed between said plurality of spaced bonded regions; and
said sheet pair back surfaces being secured to adjacent sheet pair back surfaces at spaced pair-to-pair bonding regions along the sheet pair lengths. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29)
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19. An actuator array device, comprising:
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a plurality of first sheets having sheet lengths;
a plurality of second sheets having sheet lengths;
wherein each of said first and second sheets have a single electrode layer;
pairs of said first and second sheets are operably secured together at spaced bonding regions to form a plurality of sheet pairs; and
adjacent sheet pairs are operably secured together.
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27. A method for forming an actuator array device comprising:
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providing a plurality of sheets;
applying a thin conductive film on only one side of said sheets and depositing a thin dielectric film over said conductive film to locate and pattern one or more electrodes on said sheet surface; and
bonding the plurality of sheets together such that said dielectric layers face each other, in a predetermined pattern to form an array of unit cells.
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30. An actuator, comprising:
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a plurality of sheet pairs having a sheet pair length;
said sheet pairs including a first sheet and a second sheet each having a sheet length, wherein said first and second sheets have a front surface and a back surface;
said first and second sheets have a substrate layer disposed toward said back surface, a dielectric layer disposed toward said front surface, and a conductive layer disposed between said substrate layers and said dielectric layers;
said first and second sheet front surfaces having one or more trenches defined therein at spaced bonding regions, and an adhesive disposed in selected trenches;
said first and second sheet front surfaces being secured together at the spaced bonding regions by the adhesive in the trenches, such that said first and second sheets have non-bonded regions formed between said plurality of spaced bonded regions; and
said sheet pair back surfaces being secured to adjacent sheet pair back surfaces at spaced pair-to-pair bonding regions along the sheet pair lengths.
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31. A method for forming an actuator array device comprising:
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providing a first sheet having a front surface and a back surface;
providing a second sheet having a front surface and a back surface;
applying a thin conductive film on said first sheet and second sheet, and applying a dielectric film over said conductive film to locate and pattern one or more electrodes on said first and second sheets; and
defining a first trench in the front surface of the first sheet;
providing an adhesive in the first trench;
positioning the front surface of the first sheet adjacent the front surface of the second sheet so that the first trench is adjacent the second sheet; and
moving the first sheet into engagement with the second sheet. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification