Patent ID: 7898153

Claim:
An actuator comprising: a) a support beam ( 10 ); b) a first means for placing said support beam ( 10 ) in compression without causing flexure of said support beam; c) a first layer of material ( 90 ) directly or indirectly adhered to a first surface of said support beam ( 10 ), wherein at least on the side of the first layer of material facing away from the support beam a stiff facing ply ( 110 ) is applied and further wherein between the first layer of material ( 90 ) and the stiff facing ply ( 110 ) a separating non-stick layer ( 100 ) is applied; and d) a second means for causing movement of said first layer of material to cause a flexure of said layer of material and said support beam, wherein said first layer of material ( 90 ) evidences a thermal coefficient of expansion that is different than a thermal coefficient of expansion of said support beam ( 10 ), characterized in that the actuator is designed to operate at a first working temperature whilst in a preceding manufacturing process the first layer of material ( 90 ) is structurally connected to the support beam ( 10 ) at a second temperature wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature so as to cause that at the first temperature the said support beam ( 10 ) is in compression without causing flexure thereof.