Adhesive microstructure and method of forming same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of establishing an adhesive force, said method comprising the steps of:
- using a flexible beam to apply a seta to a surface with a force perpendicular to said surface, wherein the beam is sufficiently flexible so as to produce a preload adhesive force of between about 0.01 and 0.10 grams;
using the flexible beam to orient said seta parallel to said surface while maintaining the preload force; and
using the flexible beam to pull said seta with a force parallel to said surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fabricated microstructure includes a plurality of protrusions. The protrusions are capable of providing substantially parallel adhesive force at a surface of between about 60 and 2000 nano-Newtons. A flexible shaft supports the protrusions, and a flexible member or beam is attached to the shaft to form a manipulator or gripper device.
-
Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A method of establishing an adhesive force, said method comprising the steps of:
-
using a flexible beam to apply a seta to a surface with a force perpendicular to said surface, wherein the beam is sufficiently flexible so as to produce a preload adhesive force of between about 0.01 and 0.10 grams; using the flexible beam to orient said seta parallel to said surface while maintaining the preload force; and using the flexible beam to pull said seta with a force parallel to said surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method of establishing an adhesive force, said method comprising the steps of:
-
using a flexible beam to apply a seta to a surface with a force perpendicular to said surface, wherein the beam is sufficiently flexible so as to produce a preload adhesive force of between about 0.01 and 0.10 grams; using the flexible beam to orient said seta parallel to said surface while maintaining the preload force; and using the flexible beam to pull said seta at a velocity to increase an adhesive force exerted by said seta on said surface.
-
-
8. A method of establishing an adhesive force, said method comprising the steps of:
-
using a flexible beam to apply a plurality of protrusions on a supporting structure to a surface with a force perpendicular to said surface, wherein the beam is sufficiently flexible so as to produce a preload adhesive force of between about 0.01 and 0.10 grams; using the flexible beam to orient said plurality of protrusions parallel to said surface while maintaining the preload force; and using the flexible beam to pull said plurality of protrusions with a force parallel to said surface. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
-
-
9. A method of establishing an adhesive force, said method comprising the steps of:
-
using a flexible beam to apply a plurality of protrusions on a supporting structure to a surface with a force perpendicular to said surface, wherein the beam is sufficiently flexible so as to produce a preload adhesive force of between about 0.01 and 0.10 grams; using the flexible beam to orient said plurality of protrusions parallel to said surface while maintaining the preload force; and using the flexible beam to pull said plurality of protrusions at a velocity to increase an adhesive force exerted by said plurality of protrusions on said surface.
-
-
12. A method of establishing an adhesive force, said method comprising the steps of:
-
using a flexible beam to apply a plurality of protrusions on a supporting structure to a surface with a force perpendicular to said surface, wherein the beam is sufficiently flexible to produce an adhesive preload force while maintaining a substantially parallel alignment of said plurality of protrusions with said surface; and using the flexible beam to pull said plurality of protrusions with a force parallel to said surface.
-
Specification