Method for fabricating side drive electrostatic micromotor
First Claim
1. A method of fabricating an electrostatic micromotor comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate in a plane;
providing on the substrate a first structural layer patterned over a first sacrificial layer such that the sacrificial layer separates portions of the first structural layer from the substrate, the first structural layer patterned to form a first member and a second member spaced across a micron wide gap from each other in a common plane parallel to the plane of the substrate, the second member being connected to the substrate;
providing electrical means for selectively generating and sustaining an operational strength electrostatic field across the micron wide gap between the first and second members in the common plane; and
etching the first sacrificial layer to free the first member such that the second member provides a stator and the first member provides a moveable member with respect to the stator under generated electrostatic forces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrostatic micromotor employs a side drive design. The stator operates in a plane above a substract and a moveable member lies and moves in the plane of the stator. An electrostatic field of operational strength is generated and sustained without breakdown in the plane between the stator and edges of the moveable member. Three fabrication processes enable formation of a moveable member in the plane of operation of the stator and spaced apart from the stator by a micron amount. One fabrication process deposits and patterns a structural layer to form the stator and moveable member over a sacrificial layer. A second fabrication process etches channels in a first structural layer to outline a stator, moveable member, and if desired, a bearing. A substrate is connected to the side of the structural layer through which the channels are etched and the opposite side is ground down to the ends of the channels to form salient stator, rotor and, if desired, bearing structures. The third fabrication process grows a sacrificial layer by local oxidation in an etched cavity of the substrate. A structural layer is then deposited and patterned over the substrate and sacrificial layer to form the stator and moveable member in a common plane. A harmonic side drive micromotor is also provided by the fabrication processes.
120 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method of fabricating an electrostatic micromotor comprising the steps of:
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providing a substrate in a plane; providing on the substrate a first structural layer patterned over a first sacrificial layer such that the sacrificial layer separates portions of the first structural layer from the substrate, the first structural layer patterned to form a first member and a second member spaced across a micron wide gap from each other in a common plane parallel to the plane of the substrate, the second member being connected to the substrate; providing electrical means for selectively generating and sustaining an operational strength electrostatic field across the micron wide gap between the first and second members in the common plane; and etching the first sacrificial layer to free the first member such that the second member provides a stator and the first member provides a moveable member with respect to the stator under generated electrostatic forces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification