Systems and methods for micromechanical displacement-based logic circuits

A micromechanical displacement logic, signal propagation system, the system comprising:

• a first bistable element;
• a first mounting structure arranged adjacent a first surface of the first bistable element;
• a second mounting structure arranged adjacent a second surface of the first bistable element, wherein the second surface opposes the first surface, and such that the first bistable element is disposed between the first and second mounting structures;
• a support structure;
• a compressible flexure element disposed between the support structure and the first mounting structure to apply a preload force to the first mounting structure;
• a first lever arm coupling the first surface of the first bistable element with the first mounting structure;
• a second lever arm coupling the second surface of the first bistable element to the second mounting structure;
• the first and second lever arms being generally incompressible and applying a compressive force to the first bistable element depending in part on the preload force applied using the compressible flexure element, and such that the first bistable element assumes either first or second laterally spaced apart equilibrium positions, and the first and second lever arms operate as translation bearings;
• a second bistable element arranged laterally of the first bistable element;
• a compressible coupling linkage coupling the second bistable element and the first bistable element;
• and
• wherein a stiffness (Kt) experienced by the first bistable element is influenced by the lever arms, the coupling linkage, an angle of the first lever arm relative to a reference axis, and a characteristic of the compressible coupling linkage are cooperatively configured to enable the second bistable element to be moved along with the first bistable element when the first bistable element is caused to move, in response to an initial signal, from one of the first or second laterally spaced apart equilibrium positions to the other, such that the initial signal acting on the first bistable element is propagated to the second bistable element and causes movement of the second bistable element from a first position to a second position.

A method for forming a micromechanical displacement logic circuit to propagate a signal, the method comprising:

• supporting a first bistable element using a plurality of pivotal lever arms from a spaced apart pair of mounting structures;
• applying a predetermined preload force to the first bistable element through the pivotal lever arms such that the first bistable element is displaceable between first and second spaced apart positions of equilibrium;
• coupling a second bistable element to the first bistable element using a compressible coupling linkage element;
• and
• using at least the predetermined preload force, a length of the lever arms, an axial stiffness of the lever arms, and a transverse stiffness of the lever arms, to control a sensitivity of the bistable element to movement in response to receiving an applied signal thereto, such that propagation of the applied signal to the second bistable element is controlled.