Methods, devices, and mediums associated with optical lift mechanism
AssigneeIntellectual Ventures Fund 79 LLC
InventorWilliam Neil Robinson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus includes a light foil device configured to move based on radiation pressure associated with light received by the light foil device. The apparatus includes a mechanism configured to transition between operational states in response to the movement of the light foil device, or includes a valve configured to control a flow of material through a conduit based, at least in part, on the movement of the light foil device.
Claims22
An apparatus comprising:
- a light foil device configured to move in response to a presence of light received from a light source;
- pivots rotationally coupled to opposite ends of the light foil device, wherein the light foil device is configured to rotate about the pivots in response to the presence of light;
- a coupling member coupled to the pivots, wherein the light foil device is configured to move the coupling member in response to the presence of light;
- and
- a mechanism coupled to the coupling member, wherein the mechanism is configured to transition between operational states in response to the rotation of the light foil device.
A method comprising:
- reflecting, by a light foil device, light from a light source, wherein the light foil device comprises a longitudinal central axis;
- rotating, by the light foil device, around the longitudinal central axis in response to the light from the light source;
- and
- prompting, by the light foil device, a mechanism to transition between operational states in response to the rotating by the light foil device.
An apparatus comprising a light foil device configured to rotate about a center line in response to an optical lifting force produced based on a direction of light received from a light source and a direction the light is reflected and refracted by the light foil device, wherein the rotation of the light foil device is configured to transition a mechanism between operational states.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.