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:
Oct. 08, 1996
Filed:
Jun. 07, 1993
Brian G Rennex, Gaithersburg, MD (US);
Stephen M Bobbio, Wake Forest, NC (US);
Other;
Abstract
This invention incorporates micro-machining fabrication techniques to achieve practical electrostatic actuation forces over a length change of the order of 20 to 50 percent. It constitutes an improvement over the prior art by virtue of array designs which yield a more versatile and stronger actuator. One basic design utilizes diamond-shaped attractive elements to transmit transverse forces for longitudinal, two-way actuation. Another basic design features interlocking, longitudinally attractive elements to achieve longitudinal, two-way actuation. Other improvements include means for locking the actuator at an arbitrary displacement as well as means for amplification of either the actuation force or length change.