Actuators, pumps, and optical scanners
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorHiroto Sugahara
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Abstract
An actuator includes a substrate including an insulating surface, a first electrode positioned on the insulating surface, and a flexible drive plate which opposes the insulating surface. Te actuator also includes a conductive liquid positioned between the insulating surface and the flexible drive plate, and the conductive liquid directly or indirectly contacts the insulating surface and the flexible drive surface. Moreover, the actuator includes a potential application device electrically coupled to the first electrode and configured to apply a potential to the first electrode.
Claims23
An actuator comprising:
- a substrate comprising an insulating surface;
- a first electrode positioned on the insulating surface;
- a flexible drive plate which opposes the insulating surface;
- a conductive liquid positioned between the insulating surface and the flexible drive plate, wherein the conductive liquid directly or indirectly contacts the insulating surface and the flexible drive surface;
- and
- a potential application device electrically coupled to the first electrode and configured to apply a potential to the first electrode.
A pump, comprising:
- a fluid chamber configured to store fluid therein;
- a pump body having an inlet and an outlet formed therethrough, wherein each of the inlet and the outlet are configured to be in fluid communication with the fluid chamber;
- and
- an actuator configured to alter a volumetric capacity of the fluid chamber, wherein the actuator comprises:
- a substrate comprising an insulating surface;
- a first electrode positioned on the insulating surface;
- a flexible drive plate which opposes the insulating surface;
- a conductive liquid positioned between the insulating surface and the flexible drive plate, wherein the conductive liquid directly or indirectly contacts the insulating surface and the flexible drive surface;
- and
- a potential application device electrically coupled to the first electrode and configured to apply a potential to the first electrode.
An optical scanner, comprising:
- a light reflecting portion;
- and
- an actuator configured to alter an inclination angle of the light reflecting portion, wherein the actuator comprises:
- a substrate comprising an insulating surface;
- a first electrode positioned on the insulating surface;
- a flexible drive plate which opposes the insulating surface;
- a conductive liquid positioned between the insulating surface and the flexible drive plate, wherein the conductive liquid directly or indirectly contacts the insulating surface and the flexible drive surface;
- and
- a potential application device electrically coupled to the first electrode and configured to apply a potential to the first electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.