Sockets for microassembly

• US 7,025,619 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2005
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zyvex Labs, Llc
• Original Assignee: Zyvex Corporation
• Inventors: Tsui, Kenneth, Geisberger, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): GUSHI, ROSS N
• Application Number:
  US11/074,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20050181636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 439/350, 439/351, 439/353, 439/357
• US Class Current: 439/353
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/13 Mechanical connectors, i.e. not functioning as an electrical connector
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 3/008 Aspects related to assembling from individually processed components, not covered by groups B81C3/001 - B81C3/002
• CPC Class Codes: B81C 99/002 Apparatus for assembling MEMS, e.g. micromanipulators micromanipulators per se B25J7/00

Abstract

An apparatus including at least three deflectable members each configured to deflect during assembly with a component, and also configured to remain in contact with the component after assembly with the component. At least one of the deflectable members and the component has a thickness not greater than about 1000 microns.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a compliant handle configured to frictionally engage a manipulation probe; and

a deflectable connection member having a first end coupled to the handle and a second end configured to deflect and thereby engage a receptacle by contacting at least three locations on the receptacle;

wherein at least one of the compliant handle, the deflectable connection member and the receptacle have a thickness that is less than about 1000 microns.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least three locations is at least four locations.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the deflectable connection member and the receptacle includes at least three elongated, deflectable members each corresponding to one of the at least three locations.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least two of the at least three elongated, deflectable members each include a barb.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

the second end of the deflectable connection member deflects in a first plane;

the receptacle includes the at least three elongated, deflectable members;

the at least three elongated, deflectable members each deflect in a second plane;

the at least three locations include first, second and third locations; and

the first location is offset from the second and third locations relative to each of the first and second planes.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second plane is substantially perpendicular to the first plane.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

at least three deflectable members each configured to;

deflect during assembly with a component; and

remain in contact with the component after assembly with the component;

wherein at least one of the deflectable members and the component has a thickness not greater than about 1000 microns.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the each of the at least three deflectable members is an elongated member substantially greater in length and thickness than width.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the at least three deflectable members includes at least four deflectable members.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the at least three deflectable members includes two first deflectable members and two second deflectable members, the second deflectable members collectively interposing the two first deflectable members.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the two first deflectable members form first mirror-images and the two second deflectable members form second mirror-images.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of the two second deflectable members have an outer profile substantially conforming to an inner profile of a corresponding one of the two first deflectable members.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein, after assembly with the component, the two first deflectable members contact at least one of:

a first surface of the component; and

an edge of the first surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein, after assembly with the component, the two second deflectable members contact at least one of:

a second surface of the component; and

an edge of the second surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first and second surfaces have no common edge.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the first and second surfaces are located on substantially opposing sides of the component.

17. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising the component.

18. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the at least three deflectable members form a receptacle, wherein the receptacle is one of a plurality of receptacles, and wherein the apparatus is one of a plurality of apparatus each including a corresponding one of the plurality of receptacles.

19. A method, comprising:

sliding a first member relative to a second member, wherein at least one of the first and second members is one of a plurality of deflectable members; and

maintaining a relative orientation of the first and second members by contact between at least three of the plurality of deflectable members and one of the first and second members that is not part of the plurality of deflectable members;

wherein a feature dimension not greater than about 1000 microns is a characteristic of at least one member selected from the group consisting of;

the first member;

the second member; and

one of the plurality of deflectable members.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the characteristic feature dimension is less than about 10 microns.