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:
Nov. 27, 2012
Filed:
Jan. 13, 2005
Masato Sakurai, Tokyo, JP;
Shoichi Yoshihara, Tokyo, JP;
Mitsuru Onishi, Tokyo, JP;
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Chofu-shi, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
An object of the present invention is to provide a method of driving a micromachine and a drive mechanism whereby the required drive force can be obtained and that avoid excessive load to the machine, the mechanism not being of large size and not being troublesome in terms of energy supply. In a micromachine rotary drive mechanism according to the present invention, a micro-turbine is floated on the liquid surface of Fluorinert, silicone oil is attached onto faces respectively directed in the same direction of this micro-turbine, thereby drive force of the micro-turbine is obtained from the surface tension difference convection generated at the two-fluid interface. Also, in a unidirectional drive mechanism of a micromachine according to the present invention, a minute thin sheet is floated on a Fluorinert liquid surface, silicone oil is attached to one end of this minute thin sheet, thereby drive force of this minute thin sheet is obtained from the surface tension difference convection generated at the two-fluid interface.