Micromotion amplifier
First Claim
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1. A micromotion amplifier, comprising:
- an elongated microelectromechanical beam having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis;
a reference;
said first end of said beam being connected to said reference;
an actuator energizable for motion with respect to said reference; and
said actuator being connected to said second end of said beam so that energization of said actuator tends to move said actuator along said longitudinal axis to apply an axial force to said beam and to produce resultant transverse buckling of said beam to thereby convert axial motion of said actuator to amplified transverse motion of said beam in a plane of motion.
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Abstract
A microelectromechanical micromotion amplifier generates a controlled lateral motion in response to a small deformation in the axial direction of a MEM beam or body. Lateral motion is produced by buckling of one or more long slender beams, the buckling motion being relatively large with respect to the axial motion which causes such lateral motion. The beams may be designed with a slight asymmetry to achieve gradual buckling in a desired direction. The device is capable of amplifying a driving motion in the range of 1-5 micrometers to produce a transverse motion in the range of 50-200 micrometers.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A micromotion amplifier, comprising:
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an elongated microelectromechanical beam having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis; a reference; said first end of said beam being connected to said reference; an actuator energizable for motion with respect to said reference; and said actuator being connected to said second end of said beam so that energization of said actuator tends to move said actuator along said longitudinal axis to apply an axial force to said beam and to produce resultant transverse buckling of said beam to thereby convert axial motion of said actuator to amplified transverse motion of said beam in a plane of motion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A micromotion amplifier, comprising:
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first and second parallel, elongated microelectromechanical beams each having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis; a reference, said first ends of said beams being connected to said reference; a stage supported by said beams; an actuator energizable for motion with respect to said reference, said actuator being connected to said second ends of said beams so that energization of said actuator tends to move said actuator in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axes of said beams to apply an axial force to said beams and to produce resultant transverse buckling of said beam to thereby convert axial motion of said actuator to amplified transverse motion of said beams and controlled transverse motion of said stage in a plane of motion. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification