Utilization of quantum wires in MEMS actuators

• US 6,041,600 A
• Filed: 07/10/1998
• Issued: 03/28/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zamtec Limited (Memjet Limited)
• Original Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Limited
• Inventors: Silverbrook, Kia
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HOANG M
• Application Number:
  US09/113,064
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 60/527, 60/528, 60/529, 310/306, 310/307
• US Class Current: 60/528
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/14427 Structure of ink jet print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1623 bonding and adhesion
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1625 electroforming
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1628 dry etching
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1631 photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1634 laser machining
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1639 sacrificial molding
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1642 thin film formation by CVD [chemical vapor deposition]
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/1648 Production of print heads with thermal bend detached actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/17596 Ink pumps, ink valves
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/742 Carbon nanotubes, CNTs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/762 Nanowire or quantum wire, i.e. axially elongated structure having two dimensions of 100 nm or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/788 Of specified organic or carbon-based composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/833 Thermal property of nanomaterial, e.g. thermally conducting/insulating or exhibiting peltier or seebeck effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/842 for carbon nanotubes or fullerenes

Abstract

A mesh of quantum wires is utilized in a non-conductive material to improve its conductivity. The non-conductive material can be highly expansive interposed in the mesh. The expansive material is ideally polytetrafluoroethylene which has a high coefficient of thermal expansion and the wires can comprise carbon nanotubes.

Claims

1. A method of constructing one or more electrically conductive portions within a substantially non-conductive material comprising embedding quantum wires of a substantially conductive material within said portions.

2. A thermal actuator comprising a substantially non-conductive, heat expansive material having a predetermined portion thereof rendered electrically conductive by the incorporation of a series of quantum wires of a substantially conductive material.

3. An actuator as claimed in claim 2 wherein said non-conductive, heat expansive material comprise substantially polytetrafluoroethylene.

4. An actuator as claimed in either of claims 2 or 3 wherein said conductive material comprises substantially carbon.

5. A thermal actuator comprising first and second layers of substantially non-conductive, heat expansive materials, wherein one of said layers incorporates quantum wires of a substantially conductive material interposed with said substantially non-conductive, expansive material.

6. A thermal actuator as claimed in claim 5 wherein said layer incorporating said quantum wires includes predetermined non-conductive areas.

7. An actuator as claimed in either claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said layers of non-conductive, expansive material comprises substantially polytetrafluoroethylene.

8. An actuator as claimed in either claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said conductive material comprises substantially carbon.