Apparatus and methods of manufacturing and assembling microscale and nanoscale components and assemblies
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a positioner transitional from a first positioner orientation towards a second positioner orientation and comprising a bistable member having a first substantially stable state corresponding to the first positioner orientation and a second substantially stable state corresponding to the second positioner orientation;
a coupler transitional from a first coupler orientation towards a second coupler orientation in response to transition of the bistable-member; and
a manipulation interface coupled to the positioner and including at least one flexible member configured to deflect in response to contact with a manipulation probe and thereby frictionally engage the manipulation probe.
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Abstract
An apparatus including a positioner that is transitional from a first positioner orientation towards a second positioner orientation and that comprises a bistable member having a first substantially stable state corresponding to the first positioner orientation and a second substantially stable state corresponding to the second positioner orientation. The apparatus also includes a coupler that is transitional from a first coupler orientation towards a second coupler orientation in response to transition of the bistable-member.
83 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a positioner transitional from a first positioner orientation towards a second positioner orientation and comprising a bistable member having a first substantially stable state corresponding to the first positioner orientation and a second substantially stable state corresponding to the second positioner orientation; a coupler transitional from a first coupler orientation towards a second coupler orientation in response to transition of the bistable-member; and a manipulation interface coupled to the positioner and including at least one flexible member configured to deflect in response to contact with a manipulation probe and thereby frictionally engage the manipulation probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method, comprising:
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frictionally engaging a manipulation interface of a first microcomponent with a manipulation probe, wherein the manipulation interface includes at least one flexible member configured to deflect in response to contact with the manipulation probe and thereby frictionally engage the manipulation probe; contacting a transitioner of the first microcomponent and a receptacle of a second microcomponent; and translating the first microcomponent towards the receptacle, thereby transitioning a coupler of the first microcomponent towards an engaged orientation in which the coupler and the receptacle are engaged; wherein the manipulation interface, the coupler and the transitioner are each at least indirectly coupled to a positioner comprising a bistable member having at least one substantially stable state corresponding to the engaged orientation of the coupler. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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23. A microscale apparatus in which at least one feature dimension is not greater than about 1000 microns, comprising:
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a bistable member transitional between first and second substantially stable states; coupler members unitarily formed with the bistable member and transitional between engaged and disengaged orientations corresponding to the first and second substantially stable states, wherein the coupler members cooperatively engage a receptacle when in the engaged orientation and are disengaged from the receptacle when in the disengaged orientation, wherein transition of the coupler members from the disengaged orientation towards the engaged orientation decreases a separation distance between the coupler members, and wherein the coupler members each include a guide extending therefrom and configured to extend through a corresponding aperture of the receptacle; a support unitarily formed with the bistable member and configured to abut the receptacle when the coupler members engage the receptacle; a transitioner unitarily formed with the bistable member and configured to contact the receptacle and, thereby, transition the bistable member from the second substantially stable state towards the first substantially stable state in response to translation of the coupler towards the receptacle; and a manipulation interface unitarily formed with the bistable member and including an opposing pair of flexible members configured to deflect in response to contact with a manipulation probe and thereby frictionally engage the manipulation probe.
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Specification