Patent ID: 7329930

Claim:
A micro-electro-mechanical comb-drive actuator ( 1 ), comprising: a first semiconductor layer ( 10 ) having: a movable element ( 12 ) supported by multiple hinges ( 14 ) to allow pivoting about an rotation axis and having a first and a second sets of comb electrodes ( 13 ) located on opposite sides of the axis; a stationary element ( 11 ) having a third and a fourth sets of comb electrodes ( 15 ); wherein the teeth of the first and the second sets of comb electrodes ( 13 ) are interdigitated in the same plane with the teeth of the third and the fourth sets of comb electrodes ( 15 ); an electrical insulation layer ( 20 ) which supports and insulates the semiconductor layers; and a second semiconductor layer ( 30 ) consisting a cavity ( 31 ); wherein the first and the second sets of comb electrodes ( 13 ) are coupled to a first voltage (GND), and the third and the fourth sets of comb electrodes ( 15 ) are coupled to a second voltage (AC 1 ), and wherein a first oscillating voltage difference between the first and the second voltages at around twice the resonant frequency of the application oscillates the movable element ( 13 ) about the rotation axis.