Patent ID: 6698201
Filing Date: 2004-03-02
Classification: F03G

Abstract:
A rotary actuator comprising:a plurality of cascaded coupled beams having lengths aligned approximately parallel with one another, staggered in longitudinal position and disposed in at least one substantially planar folded serpentine array structure such that adjacent beams in said serpentine array structure are rigidly joined together at an end of said beam that alternates with each successive beam and such that the initial and the final beam of said serpentine array structure each have a terminal end not joined together with an adjacent beam, said plurality of beams comprising: at least two first beams operable when activated to deflect in a first direction in a plane substantially perpendicular with said substantially planar folded serpentine array structure and substantially parallel with said lengths of said beams; and at least one second beam operable when activated to remain undeflected, said folded serpentine array structure operable when activated to rotate said final terminal end relative to said initial terminal end through an angle of rotation substantially proportional to the sum of the deflections of all of said first beams in said folded serpentine array structure.