Linearly deployed actuators
First Claim
1. A substantially planar actuator device, comprising:
- an outer frame;
a fixed frame attached to the outer frame and having a first plurality of teeth extending therefrom;
a moveable frame disposed parallel to the fixed frame and having a second plurality of teeth extending therefrom;
an element coupled to the moveable frame by a flexure for coplanar, rectilinear movement relative to the fixed and outer frames and for coplanar, rotational movement about a central axis of the element;
a motion control flexure coupling the moveable frame to the outer frame for coplanar, rectilinear movement of the moveable frame relative to the outer frame and the fixed frame;
wherein the moveable frame is mechanically and/or adhesively fixed in a deployed position that is coplanar with, parallel to, and spaced apart from the fixed frame at a selected distance for substantially rectilinear movement toward and away from the fixed frame; and
wherein at least one of the first plurality of teeth extends between first and second ones of the second plurality of teeth so that the first plurality of teeth and the second plurality of teeth are at least partially interdigitated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for making an actuator includes forming a substantially planar actuator device of an electrically conductive material, the device incorporating an outer frame, a fixed frame attached to the outer frame, a moveable frame disposed parallel to the fixed frame, a motion control flexure coupling the moveable frame to the outer frame for coplanar, rectilinear movement relative to the outer frame and the fixed frame, and an actuator incorporating a plurality of interdigitated teeth, a fixed portion of which is attached to the fixed frame and a moving portion of which is attached to the moveable frame, moving the moveable frame to a deployed position that is coplanar with, parallel to and spaced at a selected distance apart from the fixed frame and fixing the moveable frame at the deployed position for substantially rectilinear, perpendicular movement relative to the fixed frame.
161 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A substantially planar actuator device, comprising:
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an outer frame; a fixed frame attached to the outer frame and having a first plurality of teeth extending therefrom; a moveable frame disposed parallel to the fixed frame and having a second plurality of teeth extending therefrom; an element coupled to the moveable frame by a flexure for coplanar, rectilinear movement relative to the fixed and outer frames and for coplanar, rotational movement about a central axis of the element; a motion control flexure coupling the moveable frame to the outer frame for coplanar, rectilinear movement of the moveable frame relative to the outer frame and the fixed frame; wherein the moveable frame is mechanically and/or adhesively fixed in a deployed position that is coplanar with, parallel to, and spaced apart from the fixed frame at a selected distance for substantially rectilinear movement toward and away from the fixed frame; and wherein at least one of the first plurality of teeth extends between first and second ones of the second plurality of teeth so that the first plurality of teeth and the second plurality of teeth are at least partially interdigitated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for making an actuator, the method comprising:
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forming a substantially planar actuator device, the actuator device comprising; an outer frame, a fixed frame attached to the outer frame and having a first plurality of teeth extending therefrom, a moveable frame disposed parallel to the fixed frame and having a second plurality of teeth extending therefrom, a motion control flexure coupling the moveable frame to the outer frame for coplanar, rectilinear movement of the moveable frame relative to the outer frame and the fixed frame, and wherein at least one of the first plurality of teeth extends completely between first and second ones of the second plurality of teeth so that the first plurality of teeth and the second plurality of teeth are interdigitated; moving the movable frame to a deployed position that is coplanar with, parallel to and spaced apart from the fixed frame at a selected distance so that the at least one of the first plurality of teeth extends only partially between the first and second ones of the second plurality of teeth so that the first plurality of teeth and the second plurality of teeth are at least partially interdigitated; and mechanically and/or adhesively fixing the moveable frame in the deployed position for substantially rectilinear movement toward and away from the fixed frame. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification