Patent ID: 8232858
Filing Date: 2012-07-31
Classification: B81B,H01H,H02N

Abstract:
1. A microelectromechanical (MEM) buckling beam thermal actuator wherein a buckling direction of an elongated element is constrained to a desired direction of actuation, the actuator comprising: a substrate having a surface; a first and a second support attached to the surface of the substrate; the elongated element of substantially uniform cross-section having first and second ends, the first and second ends respectively fixedly connected to the first and second supports, the first and second supports operationally configured to support the elongated element spaced from the surface of the substrate with the elongated element being initially straight between the first and second supports: means for heating the elongated element thereby causing the elongated element to expand and eventually buckle; and, a directional constraint element fixedly attached to the substrate and disposed proximal to a midpoint of the elongated element, the directional constraint element operationally configured to constrain the buckling direction of the elongated element to the desired direction of actuation, wherein the desired direction of actuation is opposite to an initial direction towards the directional constraint element that the elongated element initially moves upon heating, by limiting movement of the elongated element in a direction which is opposite to the desired direction of actuation and re-directing the elongated element to move in the desired direction of actuation.