Patent ID: 6333584
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: H02N

Abstract:
A tiltable electrostatic microactuator comprising a substantially planar substrate, a rotatable member overlying the substrate for rotation about an axis of rotation extending perpendicular to the planar substrate, a plurality of comb drive assemblies, each of the comb drive assemblies having a first comb drive member mounted on the substrate and a second comb drive member, means for coupling the rotatable member to the second comb drive members, each of the first and second comb drive members being provided with comb drive fingers, first and second spaced-apart springs, each of the first and second springs having a first end portion coupled to the substrate and a second end portion coupled to at least one of the second comb drive members for suspending the second comb drive members and the rotatable member over the substrate, the second comb drive members being movable in a direction of travel about the axis of rotation between a first position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are not substantially fully interdigitated and a second position in which the comb drive fingers of the first and second comb drive members are substantially fully interdigitated, and a controller electrically coupled to the second comb drive members and the substrate for electrostatically tilting the rotatable member relative to the substrate about a pivot axis extending parallel to the planar substrate.