Reduced stiffness micro-mechanical structure
AssigneeDuality Reality Energy, LLC
InventorJeffrey Paul Baugher
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Abstract
Apparatuses and method are described to create a reduced stiffness microstructure (RSM). A RSM is made by forming a first buckled membrane along a first buckling direction and forming a second buckled membrane along a second buckling direction. The second buckling direction is opposite to the first buckling direction and the first buckled membrane is in contact with the second buckled membrane over a contact area. Within an operating zone, a stiffness of the reduced stiffness microstructure spring is less than an absolute value of a stiffness of either the first buckled membrane or the second buckled membrane when the contact area translates along either one of the buckling directions. In the operating zone the stiffness can approach or equal zero.
Claims43
A method to create a reduced stiffness microstructure, comprising:
- forming a first buckled membrane along a first buckling direction;
- and
- forming a second buckled membrane along a second buckling direction, the second buckling direction is opposite to the first buckling direction, the first buckled membrane is in contact with the second buckled membrane over a contact area, within an operating zone a stiffness of the reduced stiffness microstructure is less than an absolute value of a stiffness of at least one of the first buckled membrane or the second buckled membrane when the contact area translates along either one of the buckling directions.
A method of confining energy within a microstructure, comprising:
- flexing a first buckled membrane, the flexing causes a potential energy of the first buckled membrane to increase, while simultaneously;
- flexing a second buckled membrane, the first buckled membrane is in contact with the second buckled membrane, the flexing the second buckled membrane causes a potential energy of the second buckled membrane to decrease as the membranes translate along a buckling axis;
- and
- limiting translation of the membranes, wherein kinetic energy of the membranes is contained within the microstructure.
A method to create a potential energy well within a microstructure, comprising:
- providing a first potential energy stop;
- and
- providing a second potential energy stop, wherein the first potential energy stop and the second potential energy stop are separated by a distance, such that a pair of opposing buckled membranes can flex between the first potential energy stop and the second potential energy stop as a contact area of the membranes translates along a buckling axis.
A microstructure, comprising:
- a first substrate;
- a first buckled membrane, the first buckled membrane is connected to the first substrate, the first buckled membrane has a first curved shape, a first area, and has buckled along a first buckling direction;
- and
- a second buckled membrane, the second buckled membrane is connected to a second substrate, the second buckled membrane has a second curved shape, a second area, and has buckled along a second buckling direction, the second buckling direction is opposite to the first buckling direction, wherein the first buckled membrane and the second buckled membrane are in contact over a contact area, the contact area is less than the first area or the second area, the first buckled membrane has a first membrane stiffness when loaded over the contact area and displaced opposite to the first buckling direction, the second buckled membrane has a second membrane stiffness when loaded over the contact area and displaced opposite to the second buckling direction.
A microstructure spring, comprising:
- a substrate;
- and
- two opposing buckled membranes, further comprising:
- a first buckled membrane, the first buckled membrane is part of a first buckling layer and the first buckling layer is connected to the substrate;
- a second buckled membrane, the second buckled membrane is part of a second buckling layer, the second buckling layer is connected to the substrate, and the two opposing buckled membranes buckled in opposite directions such that the opposing buckled membranes are in contact over a contact area and the contact area is less than the total area of either buckled membrane, and the contact area can translate along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a plane of the substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.