Actuator
First Claim
1. An actuator having a rotation central axis, the actuator comprising:
- a frame having an insulative property;
a pair of movable comb electrodes spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the rotation central axis, each of the pair of movable comb electrodes being provided with an electrode base which has side surfaces at both ends thereof in a direction perpendicular to the rotation central axis, and at least one set of first electrode teeth which are respectively formed on the side surfaces at the both ends of the electrode base and arranged side by side with a predetermined interval on the side surfaces thereof;
a movable portion provided between the pair of movable comb electrodes;
a pair of supporting portions provided on the frame for supporting the pair of movable comb electrodes and the movable portion;
a pair of fixed comb electrodes provided on the frame in the direction parallel to the rotation central axis at the positions which respectively correspond to the pair of movable comb electrodes, each of the pair of fixed comb electrodes being provided with one set of second electrode teeth which are arranged side by side with a predetermined interval so as to be cooperatively associated with the first electrode teeth of the corresponding movable comb electrode;
a pair of first elastic connecting portions which are directly connected between the electrode bases and the pair of supporting portions, respectively, so that each of the movable comb electrodes can rotate around the rotation central axis of the actuator with respect to the corresponding supporting portion; and
a pair of second elastic connecting portions which are directly connected between the electrode bases and the movable portion, respectively, so that the movable portion can rotate around the rotation central axis of the actuator in accordance with the rotation of the movable comb electrodes,wherein each of the pair of movable comb electrodes is driven by means of Coulomb force generated by applying an alternating voltage between each of the fixed comb electrodes and the corresponding movable comb electrode, whereby the movable portion rotates, andwherein the first electrode teeth of each of the pair of movable comb electrodes and the second electrode teeth of each of the corresponding pair of fixed comb electrodes are configured so that at least a part of the first electrode teeth of each of the movable comb electrodes overlaps with a part of the second electrode teeth of the corresponding fixed comb electrode in a state where no alternating voltage is applied therebetween.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator having a rotation central axis includes: an insulative frame; movable comb electrodes having first electrode teeth; a movable portion between the movable comb electrodes; supporting portions on the frame supporting the movable comb electrodes and the movable portion; fixed comb electrodes on the frame corresponding to the movable comb electrodes and provided with second electrode teeth; first elastic connecting portions connecting the movable comb electrodes to the supporting portions so each movable comb electrode can rotate around the rotation central axis; and second elastic connecting portions connecting the movable portion to the movable comb electrodes so that the movable portion can rotate around the rotation central axis. Each movable comb electrode is driven by an alternating voltage between each fixed comb electrode and movable comb electrode. Part of the first electrode teeth overlaps part of the second electrode teeth when no alternating voltage is applied.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An actuator having a rotation central axis, the actuator comprising:
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a frame having an insulative property; a pair of movable comb electrodes spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the rotation central axis, each of the pair of movable comb electrodes being provided with an electrode base which has side surfaces at both ends thereof in a direction perpendicular to the rotation central axis, and at least one set of first electrode teeth which are respectively formed on the side surfaces at the both ends of the electrode base and arranged side by side with a predetermined interval on the side surfaces thereof; a movable portion provided between the pair of movable comb electrodes; a pair of supporting portions provided on the frame for supporting the pair of movable comb electrodes and the movable portion; a pair of fixed comb electrodes provided on the frame in the direction parallel to the rotation central axis at the positions which respectively correspond to the pair of movable comb electrodes, each of the pair of fixed comb electrodes being provided with one set of second electrode teeth which are arranged side by side with a predetermined interval so as to be cooperatively associated with the first electrode teeth of the corresponding movable comb electrode; a pair of first elastic connecting portions which are directly connected between the electrode bases and the pair of supporting portions, respectively, so that each of the movable comb electrodes can rotate around the rotation central axis of the actuator with respect to the corresponding supporting portion; and a pair of second elastic connecting portions which are directly connected between the electrode bases and the movable portion, respectively, so that the movable portion can rotate around the rotation central axis of the actuator in accordance with the rotation of the movable comb electrodes, wherein each of the pair of movable comb electrodes is driven by means of Coulomb force generated by applying an alternating voltage between each of the fixed comb electrodes and the corresponding movable comb electrode, whereby the movable portion rotates, and wherein the first electrode teeth of each of the pair of movable comb electrodes and the second electrode teeth of each of the corresponding pair of fixed comb electrodes are configured so that at least a part of the first electrode teeth of each of the movable comb electrodes overlaps with a part of the second electrode teeth of the corresponding fixed comb electrode in a state where no alternating voltage is applied therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An actuator having a rotation central axis, the actuator comprising:
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a frame having an insulative property; a movable comb electrode provided with an electrode base having side surfaces at both ends in a direction perpendicular to the rotation central axis, and one set of first electrode teeth which are respectively formed on the side surfaces at the both ends thereof and placed side by side with a predetermined interval, the electrode base having an opening; a movable portion provided in the opening of the electrode base; a pair of supporting portions provided on the frame for supporting the movable comb electrode and the movable portion; two fixed comb electrodes provided on the frame at the positions which correspond to the movable comb electrode in the direction substantially perpendicular to the rotation central axis, each of the two fixed comb electrodes being provided with one set of second electrode teeth which are arranged side by side with a predetermined interval so as to be cooperatively associated with the at least one set of first electrode teeth of the movable comb electrode; a pair of first elastic connecting portions which are directly connected between the electrode base and the pair of supporting portions, respectively, so that the movable comb electrode can rotate around the rotation central axis of the actuator with respect to the pair of supporting portions; and a pair of second elastic connecting portions which are directly connected between the electrode base and the movable portion, respectively, so that the movable portion can rotate around the rotation central axis of the actuator in accordance with the rotation of the movable comb electrode, wherein the movable comb electrode is driven by means of Coulomb force generated by applying an alternating voltage between each of the fixed comb electrodes and the movable comb electrode, whereby the movable portion rotates, and wherein the first electrode teeth of the movable comb electrode and the second electrode teeth of each of the fixed comb electrodes are configured so that at least a part of the first electrode teeth of the movable comb electrode overlaps with a part of the second electrode teeth of each of the fixed comb electrodes in a state where no alternating voltage is applied therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification