Thin membrane alignment method using patterned nanomagnets
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsWilliam J. Arora, Fernando Castano, Anthony J. Nichol, George Barbastathis
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Abstract
A passive nanomagnet alignment method is described to self-align a membrane to another surface. The membrane and the surface each have a plurality of nanomagnets patterned on it, wherein the nanomagnets are magnetized based on an applied external magnetic field. The membrane is brought into close proximity and coarse alignment to the surface by a positioning mechanism (e.g., an actuation force), such that the nanomagnets on the membrane attract to and self-align with the nanomagnets on said surface based on the nanomagnet magnetizations.
Claims35
A passive nanomagnet alignment method to self-align a membrane to a surface, said membrane and surface each having a plurality of nanomagnets patterned on it, said membrane connected to said surface by a hinge, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) applying an external magnetic field to said nanomagnets on said membrane and said surface, said nanomagnets magnetized based on an applied external magnetic field;
- and (b) applying an actuation force to fold said membrane at said hinge, bringing said membrane into close proximity to said surface, said nanomagnets on said membrane self-aligning with nanomagnets on said surface based on nanomagnet magnetizations.
A passive nanomagnet alignment method to self-align a membrane to another surface, said membrane and surface each having a plurality of nanomagnets patterned on it, said method comprising:
- (a) applying an external magnetic field to said nanomagnets on said membrane and said surface, said membrane held by a positioning mechanism and said nanomagnets magnetized based on said applied external magnetic field;
- and (b) bringing said membrane into close proximity and coarse alignment to said surface by said positioning mechanism, such that said nanomagnets on said membrane attract to and self-align with said nanomagnets on said surface based on the nanomagnet magnetizations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.