Motion Conversion System

• US 20080148884A1
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Knipe, Richard Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,171,804 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/25
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/038 Microengines and actuators not provided for in B81B2201/031 - B81B2201/037
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/051 Translation according to an axis parallel to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/058 Rotation out of a plane parallel to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 3/0032 Structures for transforming energy not provided for in groups B81B3/0021 - B81B3/0029
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 5/00 Devices comprising elements which are movable in relation to each other, e.g. comprising slidable or rotatable elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 21/16 for interconverting rotary motion and reciprocating motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 21/44 for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 21/50 for interconverting rotary motion and reciprocating motion F16H23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18056 Rotary to or from reciprocating or oscillating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18568 Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1892 Lever and slide

Abstract

A motion conversion system is described. The motion conversion system comprises a first torsional member operative for rotating in a first direction. A second torsional member is offset a distance from the first torsional member, wherein the second torsional member is operative for rotating in a direction opposite from the first direction. And, a lateral member has a lower surface connected to the first and second torsional members. Wherein, translational movement of the lateral member results from rotational movement of the first and second torsional members.

Claims

1. A motion conversion system, comprising:

a first torsional member operative for rotating in a first direction;

a second torsional member offset a distance from the first torsional member, wherein the second torsional member is operative for rotating in a direction opposite from the first direction; and

a lateral member having a lower surface connected to the first and second torsional members, wherein

translational movement of the lateral member results from rotational movement of the first and second torsional members.

2. The motion conversion system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third torsional member operative for rotating in a third direction;

a fourth torsional member offset a distance from the first torsional member, wherein the second torsional member is operative for rotating in a direction opposite from the third direction; and

a second lateral member having a lower surface connected to the third and fourth torsional members, wherein

translational movement of the second lateral member results from rotational movement of the first and second torsional members.

3. The motion conversion system of claim 2, wherein the first lateral member and the second lateral member move cooperatively.

4. The motion conversion system of claim 1, wherein the first torsional member is a fixed torsional member.

5. The motion conversion system of claim 1, wherein first and second torsional members are mobile torsional members.

6. The motion conversion system of claim 1, wherein the motion conversion system is an electromechanical device.

7. The motion conversion system of claim 6, wherein the electromechanical device is a device selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensor, speaker, accelerometer, variable capacitor, microphone, and a micro-electromechanical device.

8. An offset torsion hinge, comprising:

first and second supports for rotating in opposite directions;

a lever coupled to first and second supports, wherein the level is rotatably coupled to at least one of the supports; and

a lateral member connected to and extending from the lever, wherein rotation of the lever translationally displaces the lateral member.

9. The offset torsion hinge of claim 8, wherein at least one of the supports has right angle junctions.

10. The offset torsion hinge of claim 8, wherein the torsion hinge comprises a semi-conducting material.

11. The offset torsion hinge of claim 8, wherein the torsion hinge is formed in a layer adjoining a first device layer.

12. The offset torsion hinge of claim 8, wherein the offset torsion hinge is formed in a first device layer.

13. The offset torsion hinge of claim 8, wherein the offset torsion hinge is integrated into a device selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensor, speaker, accelerometer, variable capacitor, microphone, and a micro-electromechanical device.

14. The offset torsion hinge of claim 8, wherein the offset torsion is integrated in an electromechanical device.

15. A motion conversion technique, comprising:

positioning a first support;

pivotably coupling a lever to the first support;

positioning a second support at an offset distance from the first support;

coupling an extender to the lever, wherein rotational movement of the lever correspondingly moves the extender; and

coupling a translational member to the extender, wherein movement of the extender correspondingly moves the translational member.

16. The motion conversion technique of claim 15, further comprising rotating the lever in a first direction.

17. The motion conversion technique of claim 15, further comprising:

positioning a third support;

pivotably coupling a second lever to the third support;

positioning a fourth support at an offset distance from the third support;

coupling a second extender to the second lever, wherein rotational movement of the second lever correspondingly moves the second extender; and

coupling the translational member to the second extender, wherein movement of the second extender correspondingly moves the translational member.

18. The motion conversion technique of claim 17, wherein the first and second extender move cooperatively for displacing the translational member.

19. The motion conversion technique of claim 15, wherein rotational movement of the lever vertically displaces the extender.

20. The motion conversion technique of claim 19, wherein vertical displacement of the lever vertically displaces the translational member.