Microelectromechanical system (MEMS) with improved beam suspension
First Claim
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1. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) comprising:
- a beam supported on flexible transverse arms to move longitudinally along a substrate, wherein ends of the arms removed from the beam are connected to the substrate by flexible elements allowing transverse movement of the ends of the arms.
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Abstract
In a MEMS device employing a beam supported by transverse arms, potential bowing of the transverse arms caused by fabrication processes, temperature or local self-heating from resistive losses is accommodated by flexible terminations of the transverse arms. Alternatively, this bowing is controlled so as to provide selective biasing to the beam or mechanical advantage in the sensing of beam motion.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) comprising:
a beam supported on flexible transverse arms to move longitudinally along a substrate, wherein ends of the arms removed from the beam are connected to the substrate by flexible elements allowing transverse movement of the ends of the arms.
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2. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) comprising:
a beam supported on flexible transverse arms to move longitudinally along a substrate, wherein ends of the arms removed from the beam are connected to the substrate by flexible longitudinally extending wrist elements. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) comprising:
a beam supported on flexible transverse arms to move longitudinally along a substrate, wherein ends of the arms removed from the beam are connected to a free end of a transverse expansion element attached to the substrate only at a point proximate to the beam.
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16. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) comprising:
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a beam supported on a first pair of flexible transverse arms that are substantially aligned with one another and extend away from the beam in opposite directions;
a substrate, and a first pair of pylons supported by the substrate, wherein a respective end of each of the first pair of transverse arms is coupled to a respective one of the first pair of pylons by a respective one of a first pair of wrist components, so that the transverse arms and the beam are supported above the substrate and so that the beam is able to move in relation to the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) comprising:
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a beam having a longitudinal axis;
first, second and third pairs of flexible transverse arms, wherein the arms of first, second and third pairs extend outward from first, second, and third regions of the beam in substantially opposite directions from the first, second and third regions of the beam, respectively; and
a substrate, wherein the beam is supported above the substrate for movement along its longitudinal axis, and wherein the beam is supported by the first, second and third pairs of flexible transverse arms, which in turn are supported by first, second and third pairs of wrist components that are at least indirectly supported by the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) comprising:
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a beam having a first axis;
a pair of arms coupled to the beam and extending outward from the beam in opposite directions along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis;
a pair of flexible end portions coupled respectively to a pair of ends of the respective arms; and
a pair of supports coupled respectively to the pair of flexible end portions, the pair of supports being formed on a substrate, wherein at least a portion of each of the supports has a first width that is greater than a second width of the respective arms. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
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Specification