Dual position linear displacement micromechanism
First Claim
1. A micromechanism having a first stable configuration and a second stable configuration, the micromechanism comprising:
- a base member;
a leg having a base end and a shuttle end;
a pin joint coupling the base member and the base end of the leg;
a shuttle configured to slide along a substantially linear path; and
a pin joint coupling the shuttle and the shuttle end of the leg.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (1) that is capable of a first stable configuration and a second stable configuration is disclosed. The bistable mechanism (10) has a leg (30, 32) that is coupled on one end by a base member (22, 24) and on the other end by a shuttle (20). The leg (30, 32) stores potential energy as it is deflected. The potential energy stored in the leg (30, 32) has a maximum potential energy position with a low potential energy position on either side of the maximum. An apparatus and method are also disclosed for a latching mechanism (910) and the associated method. The latching mechanism (910) is comprised of a grasping member (932), a lock slider (928), and a detent slider (916). These three members (916, 928, 932) operate together to induce a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration by actuating the lock slider (928) in a single direction.
36 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A micromechanism having a first stable configuration and a second stable configuration, the micromechanism comprising:
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a base member; a leg having a base end and a shuttle end; a pin joint coupling the base member and the base end of the leg; a shuttle configured to slide along a substantially linear path; and a pin joint coupling the shuttle and the shuttle end of the leg. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A micromechanism having a first stable configuration and a second stable configuration, the micromechanism comprising:
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a first base member; a second base member; a first leg having a base end and a shuttle end, wherein the base end of the first leg is coupled to the first base member by a pin joint; a second leg having a base end and a shuttle end, wherein the base end of the second leg is coupled to the second base member by a pin joint; and a shuttle having a first attachment location and a second attachment locations, wherein the shuttle end of the first leg is coupled to the first attachment location of the shuttle via a floating pin joint and the shuttle end of the second leg is attached to the second attachment location of the shuttle via a floating pint joint. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A micromechanism having a first stable configuration and a second stable configuration, the micromechanism comprising:
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a base member; a compliant leg having a base end and a shuttle end, wherein the base end of the compliant leg is integrally connected to the base member via a compliant flexible pivot; and a solid shuttle coupled to the shuffle end of the compliant leg via a floating pin joint, wherein the solid shuttle is configured to slide along a substantially linear path. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A micromechanism having a first stable configuration and a second stable configuration, the micromechanism comprising:
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a base member; a compliant leg having a base end and a shuttle end, wherein the base end of the compliant leg coupled to the base member via a pin joint; and a solid shuttle integrally formed to the shuttle end of the compliant leg via a compliant flexible pivot. - View Dependent Claims (32)
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33. A micromechanism having a first stable configuration and a second stable configuration, the micromechanism comprising:
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a first base member; a second base member; a first set of arched legs each leg has a base end and a shuttle end, wherein the base ends of the first set of arched legs are coupled to the first base member by a plurality of pin joints; a second set of arched legs each leg has a base end and a shuttle end, wherein the base ends of the second set of arched legs are coupled to the second base member by a plurality of pin joints; and a shuttle having a first attachment side and a second attachment side, wherein the shuttle ends of the first set of arched legs are coupled to the first attachment side of the shuttle via a plurality of floating pin joints and the shuttle ends of the second set of arched legs are attached to the second attachment side of the shuttle via a plurality of floating pin joints.
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Specification