A system including two components intended to be in friction contact with each other in a given direction, wherein the friction occurs in a functional area, wherein the system is at least one of the two components including, on a surface in the functional area, a texture formed of a series of troughs of rounded shape separated by peaks or a series of bumps of rounded shape separated by troughs, the troughs extending parallel in the given direction and allowing for the evacuation of debris produced by friction and serving as a reservoir for a lubricant. A method for manufacturing at least one component or a mold by the DRIE (deep reactive ion etching) process, wherein surface defects on the sidewalls machined by the DRIE process are used to form the troughs.

The invention includes miniature dots, miniature disks or miniature cylinders and methods of making the same by dispersing a particle in or on a dissolvable, meltable or etchable layer on a substrate, a portion of the particle exposed above a surface of the dissolvable, meltable or etchable layer; depositing a mask on the particles and the dissolvable substrate; removing the particles from the layer; etching an array of nanoholes in the substrate; depositing one or more metallic layers into the nanoholes to form an array of dots, disks or cylinders; and dissolving the dissolvable layer with a solvent to expose the dots, disks or cylinders. The dots, disks or cylinders can be included with two sets of microelectrodes for ultrahigh speed rotation of miniature motors, and/or can be designed with a magnetic configuration into miniature motors for uniform rotation speeds and prescribed angular displacement. The invention also includes modified diatom frustules, and miniature motors containing modified diatom frustules.

The invention includes miniature dots, miniature disks or miniature cylinders and methods of making the same by dispersing a particle in or on a dissolvable, meltable or etchable layer on a substrate, a portion of the particle exposed above a surface of the dissolvable, meltable or etchable layer; depositing a mask on the particles and the dissolvable substrate; removing the particles from the layer; etching an array of nanoholes in the substrate; depositing one or more metallic layers into the nanoholes to form an array of dots, disks or cylinders; and dissolving the dissolvable layer with a solvent to expose the dots, disks or cylinders. The dots, disks or cylinders can be included with two sets of microelectrodes for ultrahigh speed rotation of miniature motors, and/or can be designed with a magnetic configuration into miniature motors for uniform rotation speeds and prescribed angular displacement. The invention also includes modified diatom frustules, and miniature motors containing modified diatom frustules.

A micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device, the micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement including a driven wheel; a driving actuation assembly for causing rotation of the driven wheel; an indicator assembly including an indicator; and a force absorbing assembly coupled intermediate the indicator assembly and the driven wheel; whereby a force acting upon the indicator assembly is absorbed by the force absorbing assembly so as to inhibit rotation of the driven wheel relative to the driving actuation assembly.

A micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement for an electronic device, the micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) driving arrangement including a driven wheel; a driving actuation assembly for causing rotation of the driven wheel; an indicator assembly including an indicator; and a force absorbing assembly coupled intermediate the indicator assembly and the driven wheel; whereby a force acting upon the indicator assembly is absorbed by the force absorbing assembly so as to inhibit rotation of the driven wheel relative to the driving actuation assembly.

Method of manufacturing a micromechanical component intended to cooperate with another micromechanical component, the method comprising the steps of providing a substrate, forming a mould on said substrate, said mould defining sidewalls arranged to delimit said micromechanical component, providing particles on at least said sidewalls, depositing a metal in said mould so as to form said micromechanical component, and liberating said micromechanical component from said mould and removing said particles.

In an example, a switchable display may include a movable pixel unit having a rotatable motive element. The movable pixel unit may further include a first display unit having a first display characteristic and disposed on a first side of the rotatable motive element. The movable pixel unit may further include a second display unit having a second display characteristic and disposed on a second side of the rotatable motive unit, different from the first side.

In an example, a switchable display may include a movable pixel unit having a rotatable motive element. The movable pixel unit may further include a first display unit having a first display characteristic and disposed on a first side of the rotatable motive element. The movable pixel unit may further include a second display unit having a second display characteristic and disposed on a second side of the rotatable motive unit, different from the first side.

The present subject matter relates to charge pump devices, systems, and methods in which a first plurality of series-connected charge-pump stages is connected between a supply voltage node and a first circuit node, wherein the first plurality of charge-pump stages are operable to produce a first electrical charge at the first circuit node, the first electrical charge having a first polarity; and a second plurality of series-connected charge-pump stages is connected between the supply voltage node and a second circuit node, wherein the second plurality of charge-pump stages are operable to produce a second electrical charge at the second circuit node, the second electrical charge having a second polarity.

The present subject matter relates to charge pump devices, systems, and methods in which a first plurality of series-connected charge-pump stages is connected between a supply voltage node and a first circuit node, wherein the first plurality of charge-pump stages are operable to produce a first electrical charge at the first circuit node, the first electrical charge having a first polarity; and a second plurality of series-connected charge-pump stages is connected between the supply voltage node and a second circuit node, wherein the second plurality of charge-pump stages are operable to produce a second electrical charge at the second circuit node, the second electrical charge having a second polarity.