Efficient exploding foil initiator and process for making same
OwnerAmish Desaiinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuator assembly that includes, in one example embodiment, a substrate with a bridge coupled between a first electrode and a second electrode on the substrate. A lithographically disposed flyer is positioned in proximity to the bridge. In a more specific embodiment, the actuator assembly further includes a lithographically disposed barrel that partially surrounds the flyer. A fireset is coupled to pins that extend through the substrate to the first electrode and the second electrode. The flyer further includes a three-dimensional surface adapted to flatten during flight. The flyer may be concave, convex, or may star shaped, may have perforations therein, or may exhibit another shape or other features.
Claims48
An actuator assembly comprising:
- a substrate;
- a first electrode disposed on the substrate;
- a second electrode disposed on the substrate;
- a bridge coupled between the first electrode and the second electrode;
- and
- a lithographically disposed flyer in proximity to the bridge.
An actuator assembly comprising:
- a substrate;
- a bridge coupled between a first electrode and a second electrode on the substrate;
- and
- a lithographically disposed flyer in proximity to the bridge;
- and
- a lithographically disposed barrel in proximity to the flyer.
An actuator assembly comprising:
- a substrate;
- a bridge coupled between a first electrode and a second electrode on the substrate;
- and
- a flyer having a three-dimensional surface, wherein the flyer is positioned in proximity to the bridge.
An actuator assembly comprising:
- a substrate having a portion thereof with a three-dimensional surface;
- a bridge disposed on the three-dimensional surface and coupled between a first electrode and a second electrode on the substrate;
- and
- a flyer positioned on the bridge.
An actuator assembly comprising:
- a substrate;
- a bridge disposed on a three-dimensional surface on the substrate and coupled between a first electrode and a second electrode on the substrate;
- and
- a star-shaped flyer positioned on the bridge.
An actuator comprising:
- a substrate;
- a bridge disposed on the three-dimensional surface and coupled between a first electrode and a second electrode on the substrate;
- a flyer positioned on the bridge;
- conductive pins extending through the substrate to the first electrode and the second electrode;
- and
- a fireset coupled to the conductive pins.
A method for creating an actuator assembly, the method comprising:
- depositing a conductive layer on a substrate;
- using lithography to form a first electrode, second electrode, and a bridge therebetween, resulting in a patterned substrate with the first electrode, the second electrode, and the bridge disposed thereon;
- depositing a flyer material on the patterned substrate;
- and
- using lithography to create a flyer on the patterned substrate, the flyer positioned over the bridge.
A method for using an actuator assembly, the method comprising:
- generating a first signal in response to one or more predetermined conditions;
- employing an exploding or expanding bridge to launch a lithographically formed flyer in a desired direction in response to the first signal;
- and
- generating a second signal in response to the first signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.