Patent ID: 6985651
Filing Date: 2006-01-10
Classification: B81B,G02B

Abstract:
1. A thermal actuator ( 900 ) comprising: a substrate having a surface; a first support and a second support disposed on the surface and extending orthogonally therefrom; a beam ( the beam comprised of a plurality of beam segments ( wherein the plurality of beam segment neutral axes corresponding to the beam vary along the beam length based on a predetermined pattern; so that a heating of the beam causes a beam buckling and the beam mid-point to translate in a predetermined direction ( wherein the predetermined pattern is characterized in that, along the beam length from the first support to the beam mid-point, beam segment neutral axes corresponding to successive beam segments are not offset towards the first side and at least sometimes are offset towards the second side, and along the beam length from the beam mid-point to the second support, beam segment neutral axes corresponding to successive beam segments are not offset towards the second side and at least sometimes are offset towards the first side.