Compliant Rotary Mechanism and Method

• US 20060254362A1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Luharuka, Rajesh, Hesketh, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,220,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/649
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 11/02 by magnetic means, e.g. reluctance
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 13/00 Measuring resonant frequency

Abstract

Disclosed are various systems and methods to generate rotary motion. In one embodiment, a system is provided, which comprises one or more anchors, and a mass configured for rotary motion. Also, one or more compliant two-position mechanisms are attached to the mass and to the one or more anchors. The compliant two-position mechanisms restrict the rotary motion of the mass from a first angular position to a second angular position.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

at least one anchor;

a mass configured for rotary motion; and

at least one compliant two-position mechanism attached to the mass and to the at least one anchor, wherein the compliant two-position mechanism restricts the rotary motion of the mass from a first angular position to a second angular position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one compliant two-position mechanism is a bi-stable mechanism, the bi-stable mechanism being in a first stable state of equilibrium when the mass is in the first angular position, and the bi-stable mechanism being in a second stable state of equilibrium when the mass is in the second angular position.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one compliant two-position mechanism is in a stable state of equilibrium in the first angular position, and the at least one compliant two-position mechanism is in a quasi stable state of equilibrium in the second angular position.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one compliant two-position mechanism is in a stable state of equilibrium in the first angular position, and the at least one compliant two-position mechanism is in an unstable state in the second angular position.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a plurality of anchors and a corresponding plurality of compliant two-position mechanisms, wherein the plurality of compliant two-position mechanisms are arranged in a cyclically symmetric geometry relative to a center of rotation of the mass.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one anchor is affixed to a substrate, and the mass is suspended over the substrate by the at least one compliant two-position mechanism.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one compliant two-position mechanism is positioned outside an external perimeter of the mass.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one compliant two-position mechanism is positioned in a layer that is adjacent to a layer within which the mass is suspended.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one compliant two-position mechanism is positioned inside an internal opening defined in the mass.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein a portion of the mass substantially covers at least one port when the mass is in the first angular position.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the mass includes a pin that is compatible with a hole in a substrate, the pin and the hold forming a pin joint, and, the rotary motion of the mass is about the pin joint.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least two pairs of diametrically opposing posts that are positioned relative to corresponding fingers extending from the mass, wherein an actuation of the posts causes the mass to rotate from a first one of the first and second angular positions to a second one of the first and second angular positions.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a rotation of the mass is caused by a driver selected from the group consisting of a magnetic field, an electrostatic field, thermal expansion, surface tension, a chemical reaction, and a mechanical actuator.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one compliant two-position mechanism further comprises a pair of compliant beams, each of the compliant beams being coupled to an end of a C-shaped beam.

15. A method, comprising the steps of:

suspending a mass above a substrate using at least one compliant two-position mechanism attached to the mass and to at least one anchor protruding from the substrate;

generating a force that is applied to a mass that results in a rotational motion of the mass; and

restricting the rotational motion between a first angular position and a second angular position based upon a compliance of the at least one compliant two-position mechanism.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of arranging a plurality of the compliant two-position mechanisms in a cyclically symmetric geometry relative to a center of rotation of the mass.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of substantially covering at least one port with a portion of the mass when the mass is in the first angular position.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of rotating the mass from the first angular position to the second angular position, wherein the at least one compliant two-position mechanism is a bi-stable mechanism, the bi-stable mechanism being in a first stable state of equilibrium when the mass is in the first angular position, and the bi-stable mechanism being in a second stable state of equilibrium when the mass is in the second angular position.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of rotating the mass from the first angular position to the second angular position, wherein the at least one compliant two-position mechanism is in a stable state of equilibrium in the first angular position, and the at least one compliant two-position mechanism is in an unstable state in the second angular position.

20. A system, comprising:

at least one anchor;

a mass configured for rotary motion;

at least one compliant two-position mechanism attached to the mass and to the at least one anchor, wherein the compliant two-position mechanism restricts the rotary motion of the mass from a first angular position to a second angular position; and

means for driving a rotation of the mass from the first angular position to the second angular position.