Electrostatic microactuator and method for use thereof
First Claim
1. An electrostatic microactuator comprising a substrate, at least one comb drive assembly having first and second comb drive members, each of the first and second comb drive members being provided with comb drive fingers, the first comb drive member being mounted on the substrate, first and second spaced-apart, beam-like spring members, the at least one comb drive assembly being disposed between the first and second beam-like spring members, the second comb drive member overlying the substrate, each of the first and second beam-like members having a first end portion secured to the substrate and a second end portion secured to the second comb drive member for suspending the second comb drive member over the substrate, the second comb drive member being movable between a first position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are spaced apart and a second position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are interdigitated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrostatic microactuator comprising a substrate and at least one comb drive assembly having first and second comb drive members. Each of the first and second comb drive members is provided with comb drive fingers. The first comb drive member is mounted on the substrate. The at least one comb drive assembly is disposed between the first and second spaced-apart, beam-like spring members. The second comb drive member overlies the substrate. Each of the first and second beam-like members have a first end portion secured to the substrate and a second end portion secured to the second comb drive member for suspending the second comb drive member over the substrate. The second comb drive member is movable between a first position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are spaced apart and a second position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are interdigitated.
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Citations
27 Claims
- 1. An electrostatic microactuator comprising a substrate, at least one comb drive assembly having first and second comb drive members, each of the first and second comb drive members being provided with comb drive fingers, the first comb drive member being mounted on the substrate, first and second spaced-apart, beam-like spring members, the at least one comb drive assembly being disposed between the first and second beam-like spring members, the second comb drive member overlying the substrate, each of the first and second beam-like members having a first end portion secured to the substrate and a second end portion secured to the second comb drive member for suspending the second comb drive member over the substrate, the second comb drive member being movable between a first position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are spaced apart and a second position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are interdigitated.
- 17. A method for operating a comb drive assembly having first and second comb drive members with respective comb drive fingers in which the second comb drive member is movable relative to the first comb drive member between a first position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are spaced apart and a second position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are interdigitated comprising the steps of oscillating the second comb drive member at resonance to move the second comb drive member to the second position and retaining the second comb drive in the second position.
- 21. An electrostatic microactuator comprising a substrate, at least one comb drive assembly having first and second comb drive members, each of the first and second comb drive members being provided with comb drive fingers, the first comb drive member being mounted on the substrate and the second comb drive member overlying the substrate, and at least one beam-like spring member having a first end portion secured to the substrate and a second end portion secured to the second comb drive member, the second comb drive member being movable in a direction between a first position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are not substantially fully interdigitated and a second position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are substantially fully interdigitated, the at least one beam-like spring member having a stiffness in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the second comb drive member and being movable between a first position in which the at least one beam-like spring member is in a nonlinear configuration and occurring when the second comb drive member is in the first position and a second position in which the at least one beam-like spring member is in a linear configuration extending perpendicular to the direction of movement and occurring when the second comb drive member is in the second position whereby the stiffness of the at least one beam-like spring member in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement increases as the second comb drive member moves from its first position to its second position.
- 25. An electrostatic microactuator comprising a substrate, at least one comb drive assembly having first and second comb drive members, each of the first and second comb drive members being provided with comb drive fingers, the first comb drive member being mounted on the substrate and the second comb drive member overlying the substrate and being movable in a direction between a first position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are not substantially fully interdigitated and a second position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are substantially fully interdigitated, and spring means having a first end portion secured to the substrate and a second end portion secured to the second comb drive member for providing stiffness in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the second comb drive member which increases as the second comb drive member moves from its first position to its second position.
Specification