Controlled cilia for object manipulation
US5979892A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2555/41
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Controlled cilia are provided to move an object. Each of the cilia, which are made of an elastic material, are fixed over a substrate and moved between a relaxed position away from the substrate and a retracted position near the substrate to move an object relative to the substrate. The cilia are moved between the relaxed and retracted positions by an electrostatic force or heating of the cilia. The cilia are formed from a material that is initially fixed to a substrate and has an inherent stress gradient. A portion of the material is released from the substrate and the inherent stress gradient forces a free portion of the cilia away from the substrate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.