In at least one illustrative embodiment, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) includes a composable piezoelectric actuator electrically coupled to a terminal. In response to a voltage applied across electrodes of the actuator, a piezoelectric rod moves from an initial position to a displaced position. In an embodiment, the MEMS includes two terminals, a resistive element is coupled between the terminals, and when in the displaced position the rod contacts one of the terminals. In an embodiment, the MEMS includes three terminals, and when a threshold voltage is applied to one of the terminals, the rod moves to the displaced position and allows current to flow between the other two terminals. In an embodiment, the MEMS includes a primary set of actuators that are mechanically but not electrically connected to a secondary set of actuators. An output terminal is coupled to the second set of actuators. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A method of manufacturing a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) assembly includes mounting a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) actuator to a metal plate. An image sensor assembly is mounted to the micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) actuator. The image sensor assembly is electrically coupled to the micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) actuator, thus forming a micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) subassembly.

A micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) actuator includes a first set of actuation fingers, a second set of actuation fingers, and a first spanning structure configured to couple at least two fingers of the first set of actuation fingers while spanning at least one finger of the second set of actuation fingers.

A micro-electrical-mechanical system (MEMS) actuator includes: a MEMS actuation core, and a multi-piece MEMS electrical connector assembly electrically coupled to the MEMS actuation core and configured to be electrically coupled to a printed circuit board, wherein the multi-piece MEMS electrical connector includes: a plurality of subcomponents, and a plurality of coupling assemblies configured to couple the plurality of subcomponents together.

A light scanning apparatus includes a mirror supporting portion having a mirror on a front surface, an actuator configured to driving the mirror supporting portion, a fixed frame disposed around the mirror supporting portion and the actuator, and at least one rib disposed on a back surface side of the mirror supporting portion or the actuator, wherein the rib includes a straight portion and a contact portion having a width wider than a width of the straight portion.

A micromechanical component. The micromechanical component includes: a mount; a displaceable part; and a first serpentine spring and a second serpentine spring which is embodied mirror-symmetrically with respect to the first serpentine spring in terms of a first plane of symmetry; a first actuator device and a second actuator device being embodied in such a way that by way of the first actuator device and the second actuator device, periodic deformations, mirror-symmetrical in terms of the first plane of symmetry, of the first serpentine spring and of the second serpentine spring are excitable; the micromechanical component also encompassing a first torsion spring and a second torsion spring that each extend along a rotation axis; and the displaceable part being displaceable, at least by way of the periodic and mirror-symmetrical deformations of the first serpentine spring and of the second serpentine spring, around the rotation axis with respect to the mount.

A micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) actuator device includes a frame, and a first functional sub-structure positioned within the frame and mechanically coupled thereto by supporting elements. The first functional sub-structure is subdivided into first and second portions. The first portion is subdivided into first and second sub-portions separated from one another by a first through trench, and the second portion is subdivided into first and second sub-portions separated from one another by a second through trench. First and second piezo-electric structures are respectively carried by the first and second sub-portions of the first portion. Third and fourth piezo-electric structures are respectively carried by the first and second sub-portions of the second portion. A third through trench extends between the frame and the first functional sub-structure except for regions in which the supporting elements are present.

A fixed frame (2) is fixed to an external member. An ultrasonic oscillator (3) is disposed inside the fixed frame (2) and includes a flexible first substrate and a first piezoelectric element deposited on the first substrate in the form of a thin film. The ultrasonic oscillator (3) is warped in response to expansion or contraction of the first piezoelectric element and generates ultrasonic waves. Actuator units (4) include a flexible second substrate coupling the first substrate to the fixed frame (2) and a second piezoelectric element deposited on the second substrate in the form of a thin film. The actuator units (4) are warped in response to expansion or contraction of the second piezoelectric element and cause the ultrasonic oscillator (3) to swing relative to the fixed frame (2). The fixed frame (2), the first substrate, and the second substrate are composed of the same substrate.

An actuator including a beam configured to support an object to be driven, and a drive source to which a drive signal is input, wherein the drive signal includes a drive waveform in a shape of sawtooth waveform, a rising of the drive waveform in the shape of sawtooth waveform includes a first staircase waveform and a second staircase waveform continuing from the first staircase waveform, the first staircase waveform generates oscillation of a ringing suppressing waveform for suppressing a ringing waveform to be generated in the second staircase waveform, and the object to be driven is driven to swing in a direction of rotating around the predetermined axis by driving the drive source.

A micromechanical component including a mount, an adjustable part, and a meander-shaped spring. An outer end of the meander-shaped spring is attached to the mount and an inner end of the meander-shaped spring is attached to the adjustable part. An actuator device is formed at an outer surface of and/or in the meander-shaped spring in such a way that, using the actuator device, periodic deformations of the meander-shaped spring are excitable, by which the adjustable part is adjustable in relation to the mount around a rotational axis. The component includes a torsion spring which is situated on a side opposite to the meander-shaped spring and extends along the rotational axis and is attached at an outer end of the torsion spring to the mount and at an inner end of the torsion spring to the adjustable part. The meander-shaped spring is situated in sections on the rotational axis.