MEMS type thermally actuated out-of-plane lever

• US 7,692,127 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Herman, David, Deeds, Michael A., Linn, Eric H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gregory; Bernarr E
• Application Number:
  US11/729,086
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 244 31- 33, 89/11.1, 310/300, 310/306, 310/307, 310/10, 310/12.01, 310/12.03
• US Class Current: 244/3.21
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/031 Thermal actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/0109 Bridges
• 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 3/0054 For holding or placing an element in a given position
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 3/0072 For controlling internal stress or strain in moving or flexible elements, e.g. stress compensating layers
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/62 Steering by movement of flight surfaces

Abstract

A MEMS apparatus includes a substrate; electrical contacts disposed on the substrate; a thermal arch beam supported by and connected between the contacts, the thermal arch beam including a midpoint and a protrusion located at about the midpoint; a lever having an axis of rotation and a bearing surface upon which the protrusion is operable to bear, a pair of lever supports disposed on the substrate for rotatably supporting the lever about the axis of rotation, an area of contact between the protrusion and the bearing surface being positioned vertically between the axis of rotation and the plane of the substrate. A voltage difference between the electrical contacts causes the thermal arch beam to move horizontally in the plane and the protrusion to bear against the lever causing rotation of the lever out of the plane.

Claims

1. A MEMS apparatus, comprising:

a substrate defining a plane;

a pair of electrical contacts being disposed on the substrate;

a thermal arch beam being supported by and connecting between the contacts, the thermal arch beam includes a midpoint and a protrusion located at about the midpoint;

a lever including an axis of rotation and a bearing surface upon which the protrusion is operable to bear;

a pair of lever supports being disposed on the substrate for rotatably supporting the lever about the axis of rotation; and

an area of contact between the protrusion and the bearing surface being positioned vertically between the axis of rotation and the plane of the substrate,

wherein a voltage difference between the pair of electrical contacts causes horizontal movement of the thermal arch beam in the plane and the protrusion bears against the lever causing rotation of the lever out of the plane.

2. The MEMS apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lever further comprises an opening formed in one end to receive the protrusion of the thermal arch beam.

3. The MEMS apparatus of claim 1, further comprising openings in each of the pair of lever supports;

a through hole being situated in the lever; and

an axle being disposed in the through hole and the openings in the pair of lever supports,

wherein the axle is configured for free rotation with respect to the lever and the pair of lever supports.

4. The MEMS apparatus of claim 1, further comprising openings in each of the pair of lever supports and an axle being fixed to the lever,

wherein the axle is disposed in the openings in the lever supports and configured for free rotation with respect to the lever supports.

5. The MEMS apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a through hole being situated in the lever and an axle being fixed to the pair of lever supports,

wherein the axle is disposed in the through hole in the lever and configured for free rotation with respect to the lever.

6. The MEMS apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an axle being fixed to the lever and the pair of lever supports,

wherein the axle comprises a torsion spring operable to twist as the ramp rotates.

7. A projectile, comprising:

a flow surface; and

at least one MEMS apparatus comprising a substrate defining a plane;

a pair of electrical contacts being disposed on the substrate;

a thermal arch beam being supported by and connected between the contacts, the thermal arch beam includes a midpoint and a protrusion located at about the midpoint;

a lever including an axis of rotation and a bearing surface upon which the protrusion is operable to bear;

a pair of lever supports being disposed on the substrate for rotatably supporting the lever about the axis of rotation; and

an area of contact being situated between the protrusion and the bearing surface being positioned vertically between the axis of rotation and the plane of the substrate,

wherein a voltage difference between the pair of electrical contacts causes horizontal movement of the thermal arch beam in the plane and the protrusion bears against the lever causing rotation of the lever out of the plane, and

wherein said at least one MEMS apparatus is disposed at the flow surface where the lever is substantially flush with the flow surface in an off position of said at least one MEMS apparatus, and the lever extends out of a plane of the flow surface in an on position of said at least one MEMS apparatus.

8. The projectile of claim 7, further comprising openings being situated in each of the pair of lever supports;

a through hole being situated in the lever; and

an axle being disposed in the through hole and the openings in the lever supports,

wherein the axle is configured for free rotation with respect to the lever and the lever supports.

9. The projectile of claim 7, further comprising openings being situated in each of the pair of lever supports;

and an axle being fixed to the lever,

wherein the axle is disposed in the openings in said each of the pair of the lever supports for free rotation with respect to the lever supports.

10. The projectile of claim 7, further comprising a through hole being situated in the lever;

and an axle being fixed to the pair of lever supports,

wherein the axle is disposed in the through hole in the lever for free rotation with respect to the lever.

11. The projectile of claim 7, further comprising an axle being fixed to the lever and the pair of lever supports,

wherein the axle comprises a torsion spring operable to twist as the ramp rotates.

12. The projectile of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of the MEMS apparatus being disposed at the flow surface.

13. The projectile of claim 12, further comprising a guidance and control system being connected to the pair of electrical contacts.