Patent ID: 7876026

Claim:
A piezoelectric microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) actuator that produces piezoelectric actuation bending moments to generate lateral actuator displacements, said actuator comprising an actuator beam comprising: oppositely positioned distal ends; a silicon substrate having a first thickness and attached to one of said distal ends; a dielectric layer having a second thickness less than said first thickness and positioned above said silicon substrate; a first electrode having a third thickness less than said first thickness and positioned above said dielectric layer; a piezoelectric layer having a fourth thickness greater than the second and third thicknesses and positioned above said first electrode; a second electrode having a fifth thickness substantially equal to or less than said third thickness and positioned above said piezoelectric layer; and a conductive structural layer having a sixth thickness greater than said third thickness and positioned above said second electrode, wherein a central region of said actuator beam produces a first piezoelectric actuation bending moment in a first direction, wherein said distal ends produce a second piezoelectric actuation bending moment equal to said first piezoelectric bending moment and in a second direction equal and opposite to said first direction, wherein the first and second piezoelectric actuation bending moments generate lateral displacements of said actuator beam, and wherein said actuator beam comprises positive and negative deflection regions.