Patent ID: 8803256

Claim:
An actuator, comprising a substantially planar actuator device, the actuator device comprising: an outer frame; a fixed frame attached to the outer frame; a moveable frame disposed parallel to the fixed frame; a motion control flexure coupling the moveable frame to the outer frame for coplanar, rectilinear movement of the moveable frame relative to the outer frame and the fixed frame; an element coupled to the moveable frame by a flexure for coplanar, rectilinear movement relative to the fixed and outer frames and for coplanar, rotational movement about a central axis of the element; and, a plurality of interdigitated teeth, a fixed portion of which is attached to the fixed frame and a moving portion of which is attached to the moveable frame, wherein the moveable frame is mechanically and/or adhesively fixed in a deployed position that is coplanar with, parallel to and spaced apart from the fixed frame at a selected distance that is greater than the length of the teeth and less than twice the length of the teeth for substantially perpendicular movement relative thereto.