Patent ID: 6158297
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
A surface micromachined discriminator mechanism comprising:a silicon-based substrate from which extend first and second Si-based pins;first and second countermeshing composite Si-based gears (CMG) adapted to rotate in the same direction about the first and second pins, wherein each of the CMG has a first portion of its circumference that is provided with continuous gear teeth that are adapted to be driven by teeth of corresponding first and second pinion gears also rotating about pins extending from the substrate and each of the CMG has a second portion of its circumference that is provided with discrimination teeth that are disposed at regular intervals about the second portion and protrude therefrom at at least one of at least three levels along a vertical surface of the edge of the gear such that, as the countermeshing gears are driven past each other in a sequence of coded partial rotations, the discrimination teeth from the first and second CMG will pass each other without interference only if the correct sequence of coded partial rotations is utilized; andmeans to drive the pinion gears in response to a coded sequence of steps.