Patent ID: 7175258

Claim:
A thermal actuator for a micro-electromechanical device comprising: (a) a base element formed with a depression having opposing anchor edges; (b) a deformable element attached to the base element at the opposing anchor edges residing at a first position, the deformable element constructed as a planar lamination including a first layer of a first material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and a second layer of a second material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion, the deformable element having anchor portions adjacent the anchor edges and a central portion between the anchor portions wherein the flexural rigidity of the anchor portions is substantially less than the flexural rigidity of the central portion; and (c) apparatus adapted to apply a heat pulse to the deformable element, causing a sudden rise in the temperature of the deformable element, the deformable element bowing in a direction toward the second material, and then relaxing to the first position as the temperature decreases thereof.