Patent ID: 6985650
Filing Date: 2006-01-10
Classification: B81B,G02B

Abstract:
1. A thermal actuator ( 500 ) 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 widths 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 widths corresponding to successive beam segments do not decrease and at least sometimes increase, and along the beam length from the beam mid-point to the second support, beam segment widths corresponding to successive beam segments do not increase and at least sometimes decrease.