Proportional micromechanical valve
First Claim
1. A microvalve comprising:
- a first layer, a second layer defining a flow area, and a third layer, the second layer disposed between the first layer and the third layer and having a stationary portion fixed to at least one of the first layer and the third layer,the first layer defines a first port there through and at least one of the first layer and the third layer defines a second port there through to permit fluid flow from the first port to the second port through the flow area defined in the second layer,a first member defined by the second layer;
a displaceable structure attached to the first member and including a first end fixed to the stationary portion of the second layer, the displaceable structure further including a second end; and
a first thermal actuator defined by the second layer and operatively coupled to the displaceable structure to displace the second end of the displaceable structure in a plane parallel to the second layer between an open state and a closed state relative to one of the first and second ports.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a proportional microvalve having a first, second and third layer, and having high aspect ratio geometries. The first layer defines a cavity with inlet and outlet ports. The second layer, doped to have a low resistivity and bonded between the first and third layers, defines a cavity having a flow area to permit fluid flow between the inlet and outlet ports. The second layer further defines an actuatable displaceable member, and one or more thermal actuators for actuating the displaceable member to a position between and including an open and a closed position to permit or occlude fluid flow. The third layer provides one wall of the cavity and provides electrical contacts for electrically heating the thermally expandable actuators. The thermal actuators and the displaceable member have high aspect ratios and are formed by deep reactive ion etching such that they are displaceable in the plane of the second layer while being very stiff out of the plane. Thus, both actuation and displacement of the displaceable member are in the plane of the layer.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A microvalve comprising:
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a first layer, a second layer defining a flow area, and a third layer, the second layer disposed between the first layer and the third layer and having a stationary portion fixed to at least one of the first layer and the third layer, the first layer defines a first port there through and at least one of the first layer and the third layer defines a second port there through to permit fluid flow from the first port to the second port through the flow area defined in the second layer, a first member defined by the second layer; a displaceable structure attached to the first member and including a first end fixed to the stationary portion of the second layer, the displaceable structure further including a second end; and a first thermal actuator defined by the second layer and operatively coupled to the displaceable structure to displace the second end of the displaceable structure in a plane parallel to the second layer between an open state and a closed state relative to one of the first and second ports. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A microvalve comprising:
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a first layer, a second layer and a third layer, the second layer disposed between the first and third layers, the first layer defines a first port there through and at least one of the first and third layers defines a second port there through to permit fluid flow from the first port to the second port through a flow area defined in the second layer, a first member suspended within a cavity region defined by the second layer and including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the first member integrally secured to the second layer; a second member suspended within a cavity region defined by the second layer and including a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the second member integrally secured to the second layer; a displaceable structure suspended within the cavity region and including a first end and a second end, the displaceable structure integrally secured to the distal end of the first suspended member and to the distal end of the second suspended member; and a first actuator unitarily formed in the second layer and operatively coupled to the first suspended member so as to displace the second end of the displaceable structure in a plane defined by the second layer and at a position between an open state and a closed state relative to one of the first and second ports; and first electrical contacts formed through the third layer and coupled to the first actuator to provide a first electrical control signal thereto. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A microvalve, comprising:
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a first layer, a second layer defining a flow area, and a third layer, the second layer disposed between the first layer and the third layer, the first layer defining a first port there through and second port there through to permit fluid flow from the first port to the second port through a flow area defined by the second layer, the second layer defines a displaceable structure and at least one actuator disposed relative to a first end of the displaceable structure to move the displaceable structure in a plane parallel to the second layer, the displaceable structure movable to place a second end portion thereof at a position between an open and a closed position relative to one of the first and the second ports; and an extension at the second end of the displaceable structure which surrounds the first port and at least partially surrounds the second port, the extension further defining the flow area defined by the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A microvalve comprising:
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a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, the second layer being disposed between the first and third layer; the first layer defining a first port therethrough and at least one of the first layer and the third layer defining a second port therethrough to permit fluid flow from the first port to the second port through a flow area defined in the second layer; a valve member disposed in the flow area of the second layer, the valve member having a portion thereof integrally secured to the second layer; an actuator coupled to the valve member for moving the valve member in a plane parallel to the second layer between an open state and a closed state relative to one of the first and second ports; and an electrical contact formed through the third layer and coupled to the actuator to provide an electrical control signal thereto. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification