The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 02, 2019
Filed:
Jul. 30, 2014
National University Corporation Shizuoka University, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, JP;
Omron Corporation, Kyoto-Shi, Kyoto, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Saginomiya Seisakusho, Nakano-ku, Tokyo, JP;
Masato Suzuki, Hamamatsu, JP;
Akito Mori, Mitoyo, JP;
Gen Hashiguchi, Hamamatsu, JP;
Tatsuhiko Sugiyama, Hamamatsu, JP;
Hiroshi Imamoto, Kyoto, JP;
Masatoshi Oba, Kyoto, JP;
Hiroyuki Mitsuya, Koganei, JP;
Hisayuki Ashizawa, Tokorozawa, JP;
Kazunori Ishibashi, Sayama, JP;
National University Corporation Shizuoka University, Shizuoka-shi, JP;
OMRON Corporation, Kyoto-Shi, JP;
KABUSHIKI KAISHA SAGINOMIYA SEISAKUSHO, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An actuator includes: an electrostatic actuation mechanism including a stationary electrode and a movable electrode; a first movable part driven by the electrostatic actuation mechanism; a first elastic support part that elastically supports the first movable part; an electret formed in at least one of the stationary electrode and the movable electrode; and a drive control unit that controls application of voltage to the electrostatic actuation mechanism. In the actuator a plurality of stable states are set in which the first movable part is positioned at a stable position at which an electrostatic force generated by the electret matches with an elastic force exerted by the first elastic support part or at a stable position near such stable position. By applying a voltage to the electrostatic actuation mechanism, the first movable part may be displaced from any stable position to another stable position.