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. 26, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 30, 2002
David K. Biegelsen, Portola Valley, CA (US);
Warren B. Jackson, San Francisco, CA (US);
Lars-Erik Swartz, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Andrew A. Berlin, San Jose, CA (US);
Patrick C. Cheung, Castro Valley, CA (US);
Xerox Corporation, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
An actuator including a pneumatically distended elastomer membrane that is pressurized and depressurized using electrostatically actuated flap valves laminated onto a printed circuit board. The flap valves close only at zero pressure gradients and flows so that elevated closing and hold-off pressures are achieved. Fluid expelled from the elastomer membranes during collapse are vented through a wall of the actuator. An air jet object mover utilizes an array of the pneumatic actuators as valves to open and close air jet vents. A fiber optic micro-switch utilizes pneumatic actuators to position a mirror.