Non-linear actuator suspension for microelectromechanical systems
First Claim
1. A suspension assembly for use in supporting a first actuation element of a microelectromechanical system and allowing movement of said first actuation element relative to a base substrate, said first actuation element comprising a moveable comb of a comb drive including a number of comb fingers interconnected by a comb beam, wherein said suspension assembly comprises:
- a longitudinal center bar comprising elongate first and second lateral sides;
a first plurality of first lateral arms extending out from said center bar, wherein, when said center bar of said suspension assembly is actuated, at least one of said plurality of said first lateral arms are stretched; and
a second plurality of second lateral arms, separate from and interconnected to said first actuation element, extending out from said center bar, wherein said first actuation element is suspended on said substrate by serial interconnection of said second plurality of arms, said center bar and said first plurality of arms.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is generally directed to a method and assembly for supporting an actuation apparatus (e.g. a movable electrostatic comb) of a microelectromechanical (MEM) system. A suspension assembly of the present invention generally resists actuation forces inherent to electrostatically controlled MEM systems by utilizing an opposingly-directed non-linear tensile force. This can be accomplished by utilizing a suspension assembly of the invention including a longitudinal center beam and a plurality of first and second lateral beams extending out from lateral sides of the center beam. When the center beam of the suspension assembly is drawn in a first direction due to the actuation force(s), either or both of the plurality of first lateral beams and the plurality of second lateral beams are stretched to exert a non-linear tensile force having a force vector component generally oriented in a second direction generally opposite the first direction.
15 Citations
36 Claims
-
1. A suspension assembly for use in supporting a first actuation element of a microelectromechanical system and allowing movement of said first actuation element relative to a base substrate, said first actuation element comprising a moveable comb of a comb drive including a number of comb fingers interconnected by a comb beam, wherein said suspension assembly comprises:
-
a longitudinal center bar comprising elongate first and second lateral sides;
a first plurality of first lateral arms extending out from said center bar, wherein, when said center bar of said suspension assembly is actuated, at least one of said plurality of said first lateral arms are stretched; and a second plurality of second lateral arms, separate from and interconnected to said first actuation element, extending out from said center bar, wherein said first actuation element is suspended on said substrate by serial interconnection of said second plurality of arms, said center bar and said first plurality of arms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A suspension assembly for use in supporting a first actuation element of a microelectromechanical system and allowing movement of said first actuation element relative to a base substrate, said first actuation element comprising a moveable comb assembly of a comb drive including a number of comb fingers interconnected by a comb beam, wherein said suspension assembly comprises:
-
a longitudinal center bar comprising elongate first and second lateral sides; and
a first plurality of first lateral arms and a second plurality of second lateral arms extending out from said center bar, wherein, when said center bar of said suspension assembly is actuated, said plurality of said first lateral beams are stretched, and said plurality of said second lateral beams are flexed, wherein said first and second arms are separate from and interconnected to said first actuation element and said first actuation element is suspended on said substrate by serial interconnection of said first arms, said center bar and said second arms. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A suspension assembly for use in supporting a first actuation element of a microelectromechanical system and allowing movement of said first actuation element of a microelectromechanical system relative to a base substrate, said first actuation element comprising a moveable comb assembly of a comb drive including a number of comb fingers interconnected by a comb beam, wherein said suspension assembly comprises:
-
a longitudinal center bar comprising elongate first and second lateral sides;
first, second, third, and fourth lateral arms extending out from said center bar, wherein said first and second lateral arms extend from said first lateral side of said center bar and wherein said third and fourth lateral arms extend out from said second lateral side of said center bar, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth lateral arms comprise respective first, second, third, and fourth attachment ends attached to said center bar and respective first, second, third, and fourth peripheral ends disposed most remote from corresponding said first, second, third, and fourth attachment end; and
fifth and sixth lateral arms, separate from and interconnected to said first actuation element via interconnecting structure, extending out from said center bar;
wherein said first, second, third, and fourth peripheral ends of respective said first, second, third, and fourth lateral arms are anchored to the base substrate, wherein, when said center bar of said suspension assembly is in a resting position, each of said first, second, third, and fourth lateral arms comprises a nominal length, wherein, when said center bar of said suspension assembly is in a displaced position, each of said first, second, third, and fourth lateral arms comprises a stretched length, and wherein said stretched length is longer than said resting length of each of said first, second, third, and fourth lateral arms. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
-
36. A suspension assembly for use in supporting a first actuation element of a microelectromechanical system and allowing movement of said first actuation element relative to a base substrate, said first actuation element comprising a moveable comb assembly of a comb drive including a number of comb fingers interconnected by a comb beam, wherein said suspension assembly comprises:
-
a longitudinal bar comprising elongate first and second lateral sides;
a first plurality of first later arms extending out from said longitudinal bar, wherein, when said longitudinal bar of said suspension assembly is actuated so as to move relative to a longitudinal axis thereof, at least one of said plurality of said first lateral arms are stretched; and
a second plurality of second lateral arms, separate from and interconnected to said first actuation element, extending out from said longitudinal bar, wherein said first actuation element is suspended on said substrate by serial interconnection of said second plurality of arms, said longitudinal bar and said first plurality of arms.
-
Specification