Motion conversion system

• US 8,171,804 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Knipe, Richard Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS, OCTAVIA L
• Application Number:
  US11/963,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20080148884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 738/62
• US Class Current: 73/862
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/038 Microengines and actuators not provided for in B81B2201/031 - B81B2201/037
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/051 Translation according to an axis parallel to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/058 Rotation out of a plane parallel to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 3/0032 Structures for transforming energy not provided for in groups B81B3/0021 - B81B3/0029
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 5/00 Devices comprising elements which are movable in relation to each other, e.g. comprising slidable or rotatable elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 21/16 for interconverting rotary motion and reciprocating motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 21/44 for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 21/50 for interconverting rotary motion and reciprocating motion F16H23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18056 Rotary to or from reciprocating or oscillating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18568 Reciprocating or oscillating to or from alternating rotary
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1892 Lever and slide

Abstract

A motion conversion system is described. The motion conversion system comprises a first torsional member operative for rotating in a first direction. A second torsional member is offset a distance from the first torsional member, wherein the second torsional member is operative for rotating in a direction opposite from the first direction. And, a lateral member has a lower surface connected to the first and second torsional members. Wherein, translational movement of the lateral member results from rotational movement of the first and second torsional members.

Claims

1. A motion conversion system, comprising:

a first torsional member operative for rotating in a first direction;

a second torsional member offset a distance from the first torsional member, wherein the second torsional member is operative for rotating in a second direction opposite from the first direction;

a first lateral member connected to the first and second torsional members;

a third torsional member operative for rotating in a third direction;

a fourth torsional member offset a distance from the first torsional member, wherein the fourth torsional member is operative for rotating in a fourth direction opposite from the third direction;

a second lateral member connected to the third and fourth torsional members; and

a deflectable member connected to the second and fourth torsional members and operable to translate in response to rotation of the first and second lateral members;

the first torsional member having two fixed ends and coupled at a point between the two fixed ends to the first lateral member.

2. The motion conversion system of claim 1, wherein the first lateral member and the second lateral member move cooperatively.

3. The motion conversion system of claim 1, wherein the first torsional member is a fixed torsional member.

4. The motion conversion system of claim 1, wherein first and second torsional members are mobile torsional members.

5. The motion conversion system of claim 1, wherein the motion conversion system is an electro-mechanical device.

6. The motion conversion system of claim 5, wherein the electro-mechanical device is a device selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensor, speaker, accelerometer, variable capacitor, microphone, and a micro-electromechanical device.

7. A motion conversion system, comprising:

a first torsional member operative for rotating in a first direction;

a second torsional member offset a distance from the first torsional member, wherein the second torsional member is operative for rotating in a second direction opposite from the first direction;

a first lateral member connected to the first and second torsional members;

a third torsional member operative for rotating in a third direction;

a fourth torsional member offset a distance from the first torsional member, wherein the fourth torsional member is operative for rotating in a fourth direction opposite from the third direction;

a second lateral member connected to the third and fourth torsional members; and

a deflectable member connected to the second and fourth torsional members and operable to translate in response to rotation of the first and second lateral members;

the second torsional member having two ends coupled to the deflectable member and coupled at a point between the two ends to the first lateral member.

8. A motion conversion system, comprising:

a first torsional member operative for rotating in a first direction;

a second torsional member offset a distance from the first torsional member, wherein the second torsional member is operative for rotating in a second direction opposite from the first direction;

a first lateral member connected to the first and second torsional members;

a third torsional member operative for rotating in a third direction;

a fourth torsional member offset a distance from the first torsional member, wherein the fourth torsional member is operative for rotating in a fourth direction opposite from the third direction;

a second lateral member connected to the third and fourth torsional members; and

a deflectable member connected to the second and fourth torsional members and operable to translate in response to rotation of the first and second lateral members;

the third torsional member having two fixed ends and coupled at a point between the two fixed ends to the first lateral member.

9. A motion conversion system, comprising:

a first torsional member operative for rotating in a first direction;

a second torsional member offset a distance from the first torsional member, wherein the second torsional member is operative for rotating in a second direction opposite from the first direction;

a first lateral member connected to the first and second torsional members;

a third torsional member operative for rotating in a third direction;

a fourth torsional member offset a distance from the first torsional member, wherein the fourth torsional member is operative for rotating in a fourth direction opposite from the third direction;

a second lateral member connected to the third and fourth torsional members; and

a deflectable member connected to the second and fourth torsional members and operable to translate in response to rotation of the first and second lateral members;

the fourth torsional member having two ends coupled to the deflectable member and coupled at a point between the two ends to the first lateral member.