Bistable actuation techniques, mechanisms, and applications
US6911891B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 18, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jun 28, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2061/006
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A bistable structure provided by the invention is characterized as including a deflection element that has mechanically constrained end points and a compliant span between the end points that is substantially free to deflect between two stable positions when a force is applied at a point along the span. The deflection element span is provided, as-fabricated, curved in one of the two stable positions and in a mechanically unstressed condition along the length of the span. The as-fabricated curve of the deflection element span includes a curve maxima at a point along the span length that is at least about ¼ of the span length from the end points of the span. The deflection element span is constrained to substantially prohibit development of a second bending mode that is characteristic for the span as the element deflects between the two stable positions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.