Combination horizontal and vertical thermal actuator
First Claim
1. A horizontal and vertical thermal actuator constructed on a surface of a substrate comprising:
- at least one hot arm having a first end anchored to the surface and a free end located above the surface;
a grounding tab electrically coupling the hot arm to the substrate;
a cold arm having a first end anchored to the surface and a free end, the cold arm being located above and laterally offset from the hot arm relative to the surface; and
a member mechanically and electrically coupling the free ends of the hot and cold arms such that the actuator exhibits vertical displacement and horizontal displacement when current is applied to at least the hot arm.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A micrometer sized, single-stage, horizontal and vertical thermal actuator capable of repeatable and rapid movement of a micrometer-sized optical device off the surface of a substrate. The horizontal and vertical thermal actuator is constructed on a surface of a substrate. At least one hot arm has a first end anchored to the surface and a free end located above the surface. A cold arm has a first end anchored to the surface and a free end. The cold arm is located above and laterally offset from the hot arm relative to the surface. The cold arm is adapted to provide controlled bending near the first end thereof. A member mechanically and electrically couples the free ends of the hot and cold arms such that the actuator exhibits horizontal and vertical displacement when current is applied to at least the hot arm.
68 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A horizontal and vertical thermal actuator constructed on a surface of a substrate comprising:
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at least one hot arm having a first end anchored to the surface and a free end located above the surface;
a grounding tab electrically coupling the hot arm to the substrate;
a cold arm having a first end anchored to the surface and a free end, the cold arm being located above and laterally offset from the hot arm relative to the surface; and
a member mechanically and electrically coupling the free ends of the hot and cold arms such that the actuator exhibits vertical displacement and horizontal displacement when current is applied to at least the hot arm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A horizontal and vertical thermal actuator constructed on a surface of a substrate comprising:
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a first beam having a first end anchored to the surface and a free end located above the surface;
a second beam having a first end anchored to the surface and a free end located above the surface;
a grounding tab electrically coupling the first and second beams to the substrate;
a member electrically and mechanically coupling the free end of the first beam to the free end of the second beam;
a third beam having a first end anchored to the surface and a free end mechanically coupled to the member, the third beam being located above and laterally offset from the first and second beams relative to the surface; and
first and second electrical contacts electrically coupled to the first ends of the first and second beams, respectively, the actuator exhibiting vertical displacement and horizontal displacement when current is applied to the first and second beams. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A horizontal and vertical thermal actuator constructed on a surface of a substrate comprising:
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at least one hot arm having a first end anchored to the surface and a free end located above the surface;
a cold arm having a first end anchored to the surface and a free end, the cold arm being located above and laterally offset from the hot arm relative to the surface wherein the hot arm and the cold arm comprise a circuit through which electric current is passed; and
a member mechanically and electrically coupling the free ends of the hot and cold arms such that the actuator exhibits vertical displacement and horizontal displacement when current is applied to at least the hot arm. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification