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. 19, 2011
Filed:
Jun. 06, 2006
Peter J. Nystrom, Webster, NY (US);
Donald J. Drake, Rochester, NY (US);
Peter M. Gulvin, Webster, NY (US);
Joseph A. Degroot, Rochester, NY (US);
Jun MA, Penfield, NY (US);
Nancy Y. Jia, Webster, NY (US);
Andrew W. Hays, Fairport, NY (US);
Peter J. Nystrom, Webster, NY (US);
Donald J. Drake, Rochester, NY (US);
Peter M. Gulvin, Webster, NY (US);
Joseph A. DeGroot, Rochester, NY (US);
Jun Ma, Penfield, NY (US);
Nancy Y. Jia, Webster, NY (US);
Andrew W. Hays, Fairport, NY (US);
Xerox Corporation, Norwalk, CT (US);
Abstract
The present application is directed to electrostatic actuators, and methods of making electrostatic actuators. In one embodiment, an electrostatic actuator of the present application comprises a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode is positioned in proximity to the first electrode so as to provide a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode is capable of being deflected toward the second electrode. A dielectric structure comprising a dielectric landing post is positioned in the gap between the first electrode and the second electrode, the dielectric structure extending over a greater surface of the gap than the landing post. The landing post protrudes out into the gap so as to limit the minimum contact spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode.