Patent · US Expired

Thermal microplatform

US6091050A · kind A · utility

44Cited by
12References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 17, 1997
Grant dateJul 18, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 17, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05B2203/003
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A micromachined platform structure includes a substrate having a major surface and a platform positioned over the major surface. Plural support beams are tethered between the substrate and the platform, with each support beam including at least a first layer exhibiting a first thermal coefficient of expansion (TCE) and a second layer with a second TCE, the first TCE greater than the second TCE. The first layer is deposited on the second layer at a temperature that is higher than an ambient temperature at which the platform is to be used. Thus, at the ambient use temperature, the first layer is in a contraction/tension state relative to the second layer and causes a flexure of the support beams and an elevation of the platform away from the substrate's major surface.

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