Patent ID: 8499621

Claim:
A microstructured force balance that comprises: a base; a contact platform; a suspension system connected to the base and the contact platform to displaceably suspend the contact platform over the base, the contact platform being displaced by varying amounts of displacement when varying amounts of force are applied to the contact platform by contacting the contact platform; a displacement actuator to selectively apply varying amounts of force to the contact platform to selectively cause varying amounts of displacement of the contact platform with respect to the base; and an enclosure that encloses the contact platform, the suspension system, and displacement actuator, wherein: the enclosure includes a flexible membrane overlying the contact platform; the enclosure includes a main body that is connected to portions of the base outboard of the contact platform and extends upwardly and inwardly therefrom; the main body is formed with an aperture surrounding at least a portion of the contact platform; and the flexible membrane is connected to the main body so as to seal off the aperture.