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. 18, 1995
Filed:
May. 23, 1994
Stephen M Bobbio, Wake Forest, NC (US);
Thomas D DuBois, Charlotte, NC (US);
Farid M Tranjan, Charlotte, NC (US);
Youssef Bousaba, Albuquerque, NM (US);
James D Jacobson, Durham, NC (US);
Scott H Goodwin-Johansson, Pittsboro, NC (US);
Kerstin McKay, Durham, NC (US);
MCNC, Research Triangle Park, NC (US);
Abstract
A microelectromechanical transducer including a plurality of parallel electrically conductive strips maintained in closely spaced relation by a plurality of spacers can generate useful displacements and forces. The transducer can be strengthened by arranging the conductive strips in cells surrounded by unidirectional cell stiffening members and unidirectional displacement limiting members. The unidirectional cell stiffening members may include notches. The unidirectional displacement limiting members may include unidirectional buckling straps or flexible arches. The cells of electrically conductive strips can be organized in modular or fractal arrays.