Patent · US Expired

Tiltable electrostatic microactuator and method for using same

US6333584A · kind A · utility

22Cited by
14References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 5, 2001
Grant dateDec 25, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 5, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02N1/008
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A tiltable electrostatic microactuator comprising a substantially planar substrate and a rotatable member overlying the substrate for rotation about an axis of rotation extending perpendicular to the planar substrate. A plurality of comb drive assemblies are provided and each has a first comb drive member mounted on the substrate and a second comb drive member coupled to the rotatable member. Each of the first and second comb drive members is provided with comb drive fingers. First and second spaced-apart springs are included in the microactuator and each has a first end portion coupled to the substrate and a second end portion coupled to at least one of the second comb drive members for suspending the second comb drive members and the rotatable member over the substrate. The second comb drive members are movable in a direction of travel about the axis of rotation between a first position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are not substantially fully interdigitated and a second position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are substantially fully interdigitated. A controller is electrically coupled to the…

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