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US 8,274,200 B2Granted
Microfabricated cantilever slider with asymmetric spring constant
AssigneeXCOM Wireless, Inc.
InventorsHuantong Zhang, Daniel Hyman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Mechanical springs and sliders as used in microfabricated actuators to provide an asymmetric spring constant are described. The asymmetric spring constant provides a propensity for deflection towards one direction, and a propensity for separation (i.e. restoration) towards the other direction. The asymmetry and slider system provides a passive mechanical means to achieve faster switching times and higher switch restoring forces.
Claims11
A cantilever armature system comprising:
- a base;
- a primary actuator armature coupled to the base;
- at least one spring element coupled to the primary actuator, the primary actuator armature and at least one spring element providing a first instantaneous spring constant in a first state in which at least one spring element does not contact the base, and a second instantaneous spring constant in a second state in which at least one spring element contacts the base;
- and
- a base slider element mounted on a face of the base opposing the primary actuator and an armature element opposite the base slider element mounted on one of the spring elements so that the armature element contacts the base slider element when the spring element is deflected in a manner allowing rotation.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- a base;
- a primary actuator armature coupled to the base;
- means for providing a first instantaneous spring constant in a first state in which at least one spring element does not contact the base, and a second instantaneous spring constant in a second state in which at least one spring element contacts the base;
- and
- a base slider element mounted on a face of the base opposing the primary actuator and an armature element opposite the base slider element mounted on one of the spring elements so that the armature element contacts the base slider element when the spring element is deflected in a manner allowing rotation.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- a base;
- a primary actuator armature coupled to the base;
- at least one spring element coupled to the primary actuator, the primary actuator armature and at least one spring element providing a first instantaneous spring constant in a first state in which at least one spring element does not contact the base, and a second instantaneous spring constant in a second state in which at least one spring element contacts the base;
- and
- sliding means mounted on a face of the base opposing the primary actuator and an armature element opposite the sliding means mounted on one of the spring elements so that the armature element contacts the sliding means when the spring element is deflected in a manner allowing rotation.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.