Patent · US Expired

Electrostatic microactuator and method for use thereof

US5998906A · kind A · utility

115Cited by
28References
27Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 17, 1998
Grant dateDec 7, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 17, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/3584
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An electrostatic microactuator comprising a substrate and at least one comb drive assembly having first and second comb drive members. Each of the first and second comb drive members is provided with comb drive fingers. The first comb drive member is mounted on the substrate. The at least one comb drive assembly is disposed between the first and second spaced-apart, beam-like spring members. The second comb drive member overlies the substrate. Each of the first and second beam-like members have a first end portion secured to the substrate and a second end portion secured to the second comb drive member for suspending the second comb drive member over the substrate. The second comb drive member is movable between a first position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are spaced apart and a second position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are interdigitated.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.