Micro electro-mechanical device having an integrated movement sensor
AssigneeSilverbrook Research Pty Ltd
InventorKia Silverbrook
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A micro electromechanical device includes a support structure and an arm moveable relative to the support structure under the influence of a heat inducing electrical current flowing through a part of the arm. The device includes a movement sensor having at least a portion integral or mounted on the moveable arm. The movement sensor detects the amount of movement, the rate of movement or a predetermined amount of movement of the arm relative to the substrate. This may be achieved by providing two electrical contacts, one on the arm and the other on the support structure that are engaged with each other when the arm moves.
Claims4
A micro electro-mechanical device including:
- a support structure;
- an arm moveable relative to the support structure under the influence of heat inducing electrical current flow through at least part of the arm;
- and
- a movement sensor for determining movement of the arm relative to the support structure, the movement sensor including a first portion integral with or mounted on the arm,
- wherein the movement sensor further includes a second portion integral or mounted on the support structure and movement of the arm is determined utilising relative movement of the first and second portions, and wherein a predetermined amount or movement of the arm causes the first and second portions to contact each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.