Bi-stable optical element actuator device
US6381080B1 · kind B1 · utility
7Cited by
6References
22Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 21, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 30, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 28, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B15/04
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention is a bistable optical element actuator device utilizing a powered means to move an actuation arm, to which an optical element is attached, between two stable positions. A non-powered means holds the actuation arm in either of the two stable positions. The optical element may be a electromagnetic (EM) radiation or particle source, an instrument, or EM radiation or particle transmissive reflective or absorptive elements. A bearing is used to transfer motion and smoothly transition the actuation arm between the two stable positions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.