Abstract:
A heat-sensitive apparatus includes a substrate with a top surface, one or more bars being rotatably joined to the surface and having bimorph portions, and a plate rotatably joined to the surface and substantially rigidly joined to the one or more bars. Each bimorph portion bends in response to being heated. The one or more bars and the plate are configured to cause the plate to move farther away from the to p surface in response to the one or more bimorph portions being heated.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a bi-directional microelectromechanical element, a microelectromechanical switch including the bi-directional element, and a method to reduce mechanical creep in the bi-directional element. In one embodiment, the bi-directional microelectromechanical element includes a cold beam having a free end and a first end connected to a cold beam anchor. The cold beam anchor is attached to a substrate. A first beam pair is coupled to the cold beam by a free end tether and is configured to elongate when heated thereby to a greater temperature than a temperature of the cold beam. A second beam pair is located on an opposing side of the cold beam from the first beam pair and is coupled to the first beam pair and the cold beam by the free end tether. The second beam pair is configured to elongate when heated thereby to the greater temperature.
Abstract:
Apparatus including substrate, pusher assembly, and flexor assembly adjacent to pusher assembly. Pusher assembly includes hot and cold pusher arms. First ends of hot and cold pusher arms are anchored over substrate. Second ends of hot and cold pusher arms are coupled together and suspended for lateral displacement over substrate. Flexor assembly includes flexor arm, and conductor having actuator contact. First end of flexor arm is anchored over substrate. Pusher assembly is configured for causing lateral displacement of second end of flexor arm and of actuator contact over the substrate. Method includes providing apparatus and causing pusher assembly to laterally displace second end of flexor arm and actuator contact over substrate.
Abstract:
An apparatus includes a mechanical switch. The mechanical switch includes a bilayer (10, 24) with first and second stable curved states. A transformation of the bilayer from the first state to the second state closes the switch.
Abstract:
A representative embodiment of the invention provides an infrared (IR) imaging system (300) adapted to (i) convert an IR image of an object into mechanical displacements of a plurality of movable plates (304,306), (ii) use the mechanical displacements to impart a corresponding spatial phase modulation pattern onto a beam of visible light, and (iii) apply spatial filtering to convert the spatial phase modulation pattern into a visible image of the object.
Abstract:
Apparatus including substrate, pusher assembly, and flexor assembly adjacent to pusher assembly. Pusher assembly includes hot and cold pusher arms. First ends of hot and cold pusher arms are anchored over substrate. Second ends of hot and cold pusher arms are coupled together and suspended for lateral displacement over substrate. Flexor assembly includes flexor arm, and conductor having actuator contact. First end of flexor arm is anchored over substrate. Pusher assembly is configured for causing lateral displacement of second end of flexor arm and of actuator contact over the substrate. Method includes providing apparatus and causing pusher assembly to laterally displace second end of flexor arm and actuator contact over substrate.
Abstract:
An apparatus comprising a substrate (125) and a MEM device (105) . The MEM includes a comb capacitor (110) and a magnetic element (117) physically connected to one electrode of the comb capacitor. The magnetic element is capable of moving the one electrode in a manner that alters a capacitance of the comb capacitor. The apparatus also includes at least one spring (130) physically connecting the magnetic element to the substrate.