Back to results
US 6,665,109 B2Granted
Compliant mechanism and method of forming same
AssigneeNP Photonics, Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Little, Thomas S. Tyrie, William P. Eaton, John J. Lyon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a compliant mechanism that can be used to make a variety of devices, such as tunable optical devices that are more reliable, more cost effective and/or exhibit better performance than prior art devices.
Claims42
An apparatus, comprising:
- an island member comprising a top, a bottom, and an island perimeter;
- a non-rigid material attached to the island perimeter;
- and
- a support member surrounding the island perimeter and attached to the non-rigid material, wherein the non-rigid material enables movement of the island member with respect to the support member.
1 more element
A movable mechanism, comprising:
- a spring comprising a sleeve of elastic material with an outer surface and an inner surface, wherein the inner surface defines an aperture through an axis of the spring;
- a planar member comprising a planar body with an outer edge, wherein the planar member is disposed in the aperture of the spring and the outer edge of the planar member is attached to the inner surface of the spring;
- and
- a substantially rigid support member surrounding the spring and affixed to the outer surface of the spring.
1 more element
An actuated mechanism, comprising:
- a movable mechanism, comprising:
- an island member having a top, a bottom and an island perimeter,
- a non-rigid material attached to the island perimeter, and
- a support member surrounding the island perimeter and attached to the non-rigid material, wherein the non-rigid material enables movement of the island member with respect to the support member;
- and
- an actuator configured and positioned to move the island member in response to a control signal.
3 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- an island member comprising a top, a bottom and an island perimeter;
- a support member at least partially surrounding the island perimeter;
- and
- a volume of non-rigid material molded to at least supportion of the island perimeter and molder to at least a portion of said support member, wherein the non-rigid material enables movement of the island with respect to the support member.
1 more element
A method of forming an apparatus, comprising the steps of:
- providing a substrate comprising a first material;
- removing a volume of said first material to form an island and a support member in such substrate;
- filling at least a portion of said volume with a non-rigid second material, wherein the second material enables movement of the island member with respect to the support member and also provides a restoring force tending to restore the island to an initial position.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a layer comprising a first material and a second material,
- said first material comprising,
- an island member comprising a top, a bottom, and an island perimeter, and
- a support member at least partially surrounding the island perimeter,
- said second material comprising a volume of non-rigid material attached to at least a portion of the island perimeter and attached to at least a portion of said support member, wherein the non-rigid material enables movember of the island member with respect to the support member.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.