Compliant bistable micromechanism
US7075209B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 18, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 11, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 18, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2001/0042
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method for designing and optimnizing compliant mechanisms is provided, in addition to bistable compliant mechanism designs. According to the method, a selected compliant structure may be modeled analytically, and the characteristics of the analytical model may be optimized. Multiple recursive optimization algorithms may be used, for example, to determine the general location of a global optimum, and then to determine the values of the analytical model characteristics that obtain the global optimum or a feasible configuration for the selected compliant structure. Geometric characteristics of the selected compliant structure may be derived from the values of the analytical model characteristics. Bistable compliant designs may have a shuttle disposed between a pair of base members. The shuttle (20) may be linked to the base members (22, 24) by a pair of legs (30, 32), via flexural pivots. The base members may have cantilevered mounting beams to create deformable mounts that receive and store potential energy. The stable configurations are those in which the stored potential energy is at a relative minimum.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.