Patent ID: 7367359

Claim:
A microvalve comprising: a first layer, a second layer defining a flow area, and a third layer, the second layer disposed between the first layer and the third layer and having a stationary portion fixed to at least one of the first layer and the third layer, the first layer defines a first port there through and at least one of the first layer and the third layer defines a second port there through to permit fluid flow from the first port to the second port through the flow area defined in the second layer, a first member defined by the second layer; a displaceable structure attached to the first member and including a first end fixed to the stationary portion of the second layer, the displaceable structure further including a second end; and a first thermal actuator defined by the second layer and operatively coupled to the displaceable structure to displace the second end of the displaceable structure in a plane parallel to the second layer between an open state and a closed state relative to one of the first and second ports.