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:
Feb. 21, 2006
Filed:
Apr. 20, 2004
Jan E. Vandemeer, Mesa, AZ (US);
Bishnu P. Gogoi, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Jonathan H. Hammond, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Jan E. Vandemeer, Mesa, AZ (US);
Bishnu P. Gogoi, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Jonathan H. Hammond, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
A micro-electromechanical (MEM) device has a folded tether spring in which each fold of the spring is surrounded by a rigidly fixed inner structure and outer structure. The fixed inner structure increases restoring force of the spring. The rigidly fixed inner and outer structures each have a major surface that include a plurality of notches of fixed width relative to a distance between the major surface and the spring. Additionally in one form extensions from the major surface of the rigidly fixed inner and outer structures are provided at distal ends thereof to make initial contact with the spring. The notches of the MEM device both reduce surface area contact with the spring and wick moisture away from the spring to minimize stiction.