Device and method for redirecting electromagnetic signals

• US 5,959,375 A
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions Of Sandia LLC (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Garcia, Ernest J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Nestor
• Assistant Examiner(s): Waks, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US08/940,841
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 359/197, 359/198, 359/212, 359/223, 310/40 MM, 310/42, 310/DIG. 6, 310/309, 29/596
• US Class Current: 310/40.0MM
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 31/005 with pawls driven by a reciprocating or oscillating transmission member F16H31/002, F16H31/004 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0816 by means of one or more reflecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 310/06 Printed-circuit motors and components

Abstract

A device fabricated to redirect electromagnetic signals, the device including a primary driver adapted to provide a predetermined force, a linkage system coupled to the primary driver, a pusher rod rotationally coupled to the linkage system, a flexible rod element attached to the pusher rod and adapted to buckle upon the application of the predetermined force, and a mirror structure attached to the flexible rod element at one end and to the substrate at another end. When the predetermined force buckles the flexible rod element, the mirror structure and the flexible rod element both move to thereby allow a remotely-located electromagnetic signal directed towards the device to be redirected.

Claims

1. A device for redirecting electromagnetic signals, the device comprising:

(a) a substrate base having a surface;

(b) a primary driver means adapted to provide a predetermined force;

(c) a linkage system coupled to the primary driver means in a gear-like fashion and adapted to amplify the force from the primary driver means;

(d) a pusher rod rotationally coupled to the linkage system;

(e) a flexible rod element coupled to the pusher rod, the flexible rod element buckling upon application of the predetermined force and unbuckling upon removal of the predetermined force, the flexible rod element adapted to move out of and into the substrate; and

(f) a mirror structure coupled to the flexible rod element at one end through a first connecting means, and coupled to the substrate through a second connecting means, the mirror structure moving out of the substrate when the flexible rod buckles and into the substrate when the flexible rod unbuckles,

the primary driver means, linkage system, pusher rod, flexible rod and mirror structure all being on the substrate base.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the primary driver means is at least one actuator adapted to convert an oscillatory motion to a rotational motion.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the primary driver means is a microengine fabricated in a micro domain.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the microengine is a micrometer-sized device adapted to drive the linkage system in gear-like fashion.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the linkage system further comprises a segmented gear pivot connected to the substrate surface, a circular hub connected to the segmented gear pivot, an outer gear, a plurality of spokes interconnecting the outer gear to the circular hub, and a drive link rotationally coupled to the circular hub.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein a first end of the drive link is curved, the first drive link end being coupled to the circular hub to prevent contact with the gear pivot.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the drive link is rotationally coupled to the circular hub at a pivot joint which approximately axially intersects a center of the circular hub.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein a first end of the drive link is rotationally connected to the circular hub at a first pivot joint, a second end of the drive link is rotationally connected to the pusher rod at a second pivot joint, the first pivot joint and the second pivot joint line up axially through a center of the segmented gear pivot.

9. The device of claim 5 further including a plurality of anchor stops fabricated upon the substrate base at predetermined locations, the locations being determined to prevent a full angular rotation of the linkage system.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the anchor stop locations are placed to limit the rotation of the linkage system between 0 to 180 angular degrees.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the anchor stop locations are placed to limit the rotation of the linkage system between 0 to 120 angular degrees.

12. The device of claim 4 wherein the pusher rod is structurally adapted to transfer an axial force from the linkage system to the flexible rod element.

13. The device of claim 4 further including a plurality of guides fabricated upon the substrate base immediately adjacent to the pusher rod to ensure that the pusher rod maintains an axial directed movement.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the plurality of guides are cam roller bearings.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein the plurality of guides are interconnected by one or more support structures to prevent the pusher rod from rising out of the substrate.

16. The device of claim 4 wherein upon an application of the predetermined force, the flexible rod element forms an arch-like structure.

17. The device of claim 4 wherein the mirror structure includes a reflective mirror integrally attached between the first connecting means and the second connecting means.

18. The device of claim 4 wherein the mirror structure includes a reflective mirror, the first connecting means and the second connecting means are hinges to allow the reflective mirror to be rotationally attached between the first connecting means and the second connecting means.

19. A method of selectively redirecting electromagnetic signals, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) fabricating a substrate to produce a primary driver means adapted to provide a predetermined force, a linkage system coupled to the primary driver means in a gear-like fashion, a pusher rod rotatably connected to the linkage system by a curved drive link within the linkage system, a flexible rod element interconnected to the pusher rod and a mirror structure attached to the pusher rod at one end and attached to the substrate at another end, the mirror structure having a reflective mirror which is substantially in the substrate;

(b) engaging the primary driver means to generate the predetermined force on the linkage system to cause the linkage system to partially rotate-,

(c) transferring the predetermined force from the linkage system to the pusher rod by a curved drive link,

(d) transferring the predetermined force from the pusher rod to the flexible rod element, the flexible rod element buckling in arch-like fashion with the application of the predetermined force and unbuckling with a removal of the predetermined force;

(e) transferring the predetermined force from the flexible rod element to the mirror structure;

(f) and moving the mirror structure and the flexible rod element out of and into the substrate to achieve a predefined angle of the mirror structure with respect to the substrate.

20. The method of claim 19 further including the steps of:

(a) allowing a remote electromagnetic source to direct an electromagnetic signal to the reflective mirror in the mirror structure; and

(b) redirecting the electromagnetic signal.

21. An apparatus upon in the microdomain for changing the coordinate direction of electromagnetic signals sent to the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a first wafer;

(b) a microengine on the first wafer to generate a predetermined force;

(c) a linkage system on the first wafer, the microengine coupled to the linkage system in a gear-like fashion;

(d) an elongated pusher rod on the first wafer and rotationally coupled to the linkage system;

(e) a flexible means on the first wafer, the flexible means buckling to form an arch-like structure when the predetermined force is applied, the flexible means attached to the pusher rod; and

(f) a means for redirecting electromagnetic signals on the first wafer, the means for redirecting coupled to the means for buckling at one end through a first connecting means, and coupled to the substrate through a second connecting means,

the linkage system and the pusher rod both adapted to transfer the predetermined force to the means for buckling and to the means for redirecting to allow the flexible means and the means for redirecting to move out of and into the first wafer.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the means for redirecting further includes a reflective mirror.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 further including at least one anchor stop upon the first wafer at predetermined locations, each of the locations determined to prevent a full angular rotation of the linkage system.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the first wafer is a single silicon crystal.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, further including a second wafer having at least one second electrical circuit thereon, the second wafer being disposed adjacent to the first wafer by at least one spacer, the first wafer further including at least one electrical circuit first thereon and in an electrical communication with the means for redirecting electromagnetic signals, wherein when the predetermined force is transferred from the linkage system and the pusher rod to the means for buckling, the means for redirecting moves out of the first wafer into the second wafer'"'"'s plane of fabrication to make an electrical contact with the second electrical circuit.

26. A device for redirecting electrical signals on a single wafer, the device comprising:

(a) a wafer;

(b) a primary driver means on the wafer to generate a predetermined force,

(c) a linkage system on the wafer coupled to the primary driver means in a gear-like fashion and adapted to amplify the force from the primary driver means;

(d) a pusher rod on the wafer and rotationally coupled to the linkage system;

(e) a flexible rod element on the wafer and coupled to the pusher rod, the flexible rod element buckling upon application of the predetermined force and unbuckling after a removal of the predetermined force, the flexible rod element moving within the wafer,

(f) a contact structure on the wafer and coupled to the flexible rod element at one end through a first connecting means, the contact structure adapted to move within the wafer;

(g) a first electrical circuit on the wafer and electrically attached to the contact structure; and

(h) a second electrical circuit adjacent to the contact structure on the wafer,

wherein when the predetermined force is transferred from the linkage system and the pusher rod to the flexible rod element, the contact structure moves within the wafer to make electrical contact with the second electrical circuit on the wafer.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein the primary driver means is a microengine.

28. The device of claim 27 further including a plurality of anchor stops fabricated upon the wafer at predetermined locations, the locations selected to prevent a full angular rotation of the linkage system.

29. The device of claim 27 further including a plurality of guides fabricated upon the wafer adjacent to the pusher rod to ensure an axial direction of the pusher rod.