MEMS actuators with combined force and bi-directional rotation
First Claim
1. A MEMS system, comprising:
- a first rotational actuator having a first drive mechanism configured to drive rotation of a first rotator about a first axis;
a second rotational actuator having a second drive mechanism configured to drive rotation of a second rotator about a second axis that is not perpendicular to the first axis;
a first flexible linkage;
a first linking beam coupled to the first rotator and to the flexible linkage;
a second linking beam coupled to the second rotator and to the first flexible linkage on a first side of the second rotator;
a drive beam coupled to the second rotator on a second side of the second rotator opposite the first side;
a second flexible linkage coupled to the drive beam;
a device mount coupled to the second flexible linkage, wherein the second flexible linkage is disposed between the drive beam and the device mount,wherein the first and second rotational actuators, first and second flexible linkages and first, and second, linking beams and the drive beam are configured to rotate the device mount about a device rotation axis when the first and second rotators rotate about the first and second axes, andwherein the first and second rotators, first and second flexible linkages, first and second linking beams and the drive beam are on a common side of the device rotation axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A MEMS system comprises a first rotational actuator having a first drive mechanism configured to drive rotation of a first rotator about a first axis, a second rotational actuator having a second drive mechanism configured to drive rotation of a second rotator about a second axis, first and second flexible linkages, a first drive beam coupled to the first rotator and to the first flexible linkage, a second drive beam coupled to the second rotator and to the second flexible linkage, and one or more device mounts coupled to the first and second flexible linkages. The one or more device mounts are configured to provide distributed points of attachment of a device. The rotation of the first and second rotators causes the device mount to rotate or piston.
41 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A MEMS system, comprising:
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a first rotational actuator having a first drive mechanism configured to drive rotation of a first rotator about a first axis; a second rotational actuator having a second drive mechanism configured to drive rotation of a second rotator about a second axis that is not perpendicular to the first axis; a first flexible linkage; a first linking beam coupled to the first rotator and to the flexible linkage; a second linking beam coupled to the second rotator and to the first flexible linkage on a first side of the second rotator; a drive beam coupled to the second rotator on a second side of the second rotator opposite the first side; a second flexible linkage coupled to the drive beam; a device mount coupled to the second flexible linkage, wherein the second flexible linkage is disposed between the drive beam and the device mount, wherein the first and second rotational actuators, first and second flexible linkages and first, and second, linking beams and the drive beam are configured to rotate the device mount about a device rotation axis when the first and second rotators rotate about the first and second axes, and wherein the first and second rotators, first and second flexible linkages, first and second linking beams and the drive beam are on a common side of the device rotation axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A MEMS system, comprising:
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a first rotational actuator having a first drive mechanism configured to drive rotation of a first rotator about a first axis; a second rotational actuator having a second drive mechanism configured to drive rotation of a second rotator about a second axis that is not perpendicular to the first axis; a flexible linkage; a first linking beam coupled to the first rotator and to the flexible linkage; a second linking beam coupled to the second rotator and to the flexible linkage; a drive beam coupled to the first or second rotator; and a flexible linkage coupled to the drive beam and a device mount coupled to the flexible linkage, whereby rotation of the first and/or second actuator causes the drive beam and linkage to rotate the device mount about a device rotation axis, wherein one or more of the flexible linkages is a bi-axial linkage including a first flexure beam configured to flex about a first flexure axis, a second flexure beam attached to the first flexure beam, wherein the second flexure beam is configured to flex about a second flexure axis, wherein the second flexure axis is non-parallel to the first flexure axis, the bi-axial linkage further having a third flexure beam attached to the second flexure beam in a spaced-apart substantially parallel relationship to the second flexure beam, wherein the third flexure beam is configured to flex about a third flexure axis that is substantially parallel to the second flexure axis. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A combdrive actuator, comprising:
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a rotator coupled to an anchor point by a flexible member that permits rotation of the rotator about an axis while providing a restoring force; one or more sets of rotator comb fingers attached to the rotator; and one or more sets of fixed comb fingers that interdigitate with the comb fingers, wherein the fixed comb fingers are fixed with respect to the anchor point, wherein the rotator comb fingers include first and second subsets of fingers that are at different levels on the same side of the axis and wherein the fixed comb fingers include first and second subsets of fingers that are at different levels on the same side of the axis.
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24. A MEMS system, comprising:
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a first rotational actuator having a first drive mechanism configured to drive rotation of a first rotator about a first axis; a second rotational actuator having a second drive mechanism configured to drive rotation of a second rotator about a second axis; first and second flexible linkages; a first drive beam coupled to the first rotator and to the first flexible linkage; a second drive beam coupled to the second rotator and to the second flexible linkage; and one or more device mounts coupled to the first and second flexible linkages, whereby rotation of the first and second rotators causes the device mount to rotate or piston, wherein the one or more device mounts are configured to provide distributed points of attachment of a device. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification