B81B2203/058

MEMS Electrothermal Actuator for Large Angle Beamsteering
20200096761 · 2020-03-26 ·

An actuator element of a MEMS device on a substrate is provided to create large, out-of-plane deflection. The actuator element includes a metallic layer having a first portion contacting the substrate and a second portion having an end proximal to the first portion. A distal end is cantilevered over the substrate. A first insulating layer contacts the metallic layer on a bottom contacting surface of the second cantilevered portion from the proximal to the distal end. A second insulating layer contacts the metallic layer on a portion of a top contacting surface at the distal end. The second portion of the metallic layer is prestressed. A coefficient of thermal expansion of the first and second insulating layers is different than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the metallic layer. And, a Young's modulus of the first and second insulating layer is different than a Young's modulus of the metallic layer.

LINEARIZED MICROMECHANICAL SENSOR

A micromechanical sensor includes a substrate having a cavity; a flexible diaphragm that spans the cavity; and a lever element that spans the diaphragm and has a first and a second end section, the end sections lying on opposite sides of a center section. A first joint element is fitted between the first end section and the substrate and a second joint element is fitted between the center section and the diaphragm, so that the lever element is able to be pivoted due to a deflection of the diaphragm. In addition, two capacitive sensors are provided, each having two electrodes, one electrode of each sensor being mounted at one of the end sections of the lever element, and the other being mounted on the substrate. The electrodes of the sensors are disposed in such a way that distances between the electrodes of different sensors are influenced oppositely when the lever element is pivoted. Moreover, the sensor includes an actuator for applying an actuating force between the lever element and the substrate.

Mechanical component and manufacturing method for a mechanical component

A mechanical component has: a mounting; a movable part which, with the aid of at least one first spring and one second spring, is connected to the mounting in such a way that the movable part is movable about a rotational axis extending through a first anchoring area of the first spring on the mounting and a second anchoring area of the second spring on the mounting; a first sensor device with at least one first resistor which is situated on and/or in the first spring; and a second sensor device with at least one second resistor situated on and/or in the second spring. The first sensor device includes a first Wheatstone half bridge and the second sensor device includes a second Wheatstone half bridge. The first and second Wheatstone half bridges are connected to form a Wheatstone full bridge.

Actuator device

An actuator device includes a support portion, a movable portion, a connection portion which connects the movable portion to the support portion on a second axis, a first wiring which is provided on the connection portion, a second wiring which is provided on the support portion, and an insulation layer which includes a first opening exposing a surface opposite to the support portion in a first connection part located on the support portion in one of the first wiring and the second wiring and covers a corner of the first connection part. The rigidity of a first metal material forming the first wiring is higher than the rigidity of a second metal material forming the second wiring. The other wiring of the first wiring and the second wiring is connected to the surface of the first connection part in the first opening.

Five degrees of freedom MEMS actuator for autofocus, optical image stabilization, and super resolution imaging in miniature cameras
10582100 · 2020-03-03 ·

A MEMS electrostatic actuator that provides 5 degrees of freedom (5-DOF) motion is disclosed. The actuator comprises of an inner, a middle, and an outer MEMS structures that are nested with respect to each other. Each of the structures comprise of a plurality of rotors and stators. The rotors further comprise a plurality of moving capacitive electrodes which engage with a plurality of fixed capacitive electrodes in the stators to provide a variety of translational and rotational motions.

MOVABLE REFLECTIVE ELEMENT
20200049978 · 2020-02-13 ·

An actuator includes an arm starting end having a piezoelectric element, a first end of the arm starting end connected to an inner side of a fixed frame the arm starting end extending in a straight line, along a Y-axis direction through a gap between the fixed frame and a mirror surface, from the first end to beyond a middle point of an outer side of the mirror surface; an arm terminating end including a first end connected to the middle point of the outer side of the mirror surface, the arm terminating end extending parallel to the arm starting end; and an arm relay that connects a second end of the arm starting end to a second end of the arm terminating end, the arm relay being formed in a zigzag.

MICROMECHANICAL MIRROR DEVICE
20200049976 · 2020-02-13 ·

A micromechanical mirror device has: a plate-shaped mirror having a reflecting surface for reflecting light, the reflecting surface being configured to be planar; a closed frame structure supporting the plate-shaped mirror and completely framing an edge of the plate-shaped mirror; a spring arrangement having at least two spring structures arranged mirror-symmetrically and connecting the closed frame structure to a stationary support structure, the spring arrangement being configured such that the closed frame structure and the plate-shaped mirror can be brought into a resonant vibrational state with respect to the support structure; and a connecting arrangement having at least four connecting spring structures arranged mirror-symmetrically and each connecting the plate-shaped mirror to the closed frame structure; the connecting spring structures being configured to be elastically deformable and arranged such that they deform back and forth in the resonant vibrational state so that the plate-shaped mirror is partially mechanically decoupled from the closed frame structure.

MICROMECHANICAL COMPONENT, IN PARTICULAR, INERTIAL SENSOR, INCLUDING A SEISMIC MASS, A SUBSTRATE, AND A CAP
20240103035 · 2024-03-28 ·

A micromechanical component, in particular, an inertial sensor, including a seismic mass, a substrate, and a cap. The component includes a reference electrode, which is in a first electrode layer and is connected to the substrate, and a further reference electrode, which is in a second electrode layer and is connected to the cap. The seismic mass is deflectable on two sides, in a direction perpendicular to the major plane of extension of the reference electrode. The seismic mass includes a flexible limit stop in the direction of deflection towards the first electrode layer. The flexible limit stop is connected to the main part of the seismic mass using a spring element. The spring element is in an elastic layer, which is positioned between a layer of the main part of the seismic mass and the first electrode layer.

Curved cantilever design to reduce stress in MEMS actuator

The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip structure including a MEMS actuator. The MEMS actuator includes an anchor having a first plurality of branches extending outward from a central region of the anchor. The first plurality of branches respectively include a first plurality of fingers. A proof mass surrounds the anchor and includes a second plurality of branches extending inward from an interior sidewall of the proof mass. The second plurality of branches respectively include a second plurality of fingers interleaved with the first plurality of fingers as viewed in a top-view. One or more curved cantilevers are coupled between the proof mass and a frame wrapping around the proof mass. The one or more curved cantilevers have curved outer surfaces having one or more inflection points as viewed in the top-view.

Optical device
11899199 · 2024-02-13 · ·

An optical device includes a support portion, a first movable portion having an optical surface, a second movable portion having a frame shape and surrounding the first movable portion, a first coupling portion coupling the first movable portion and the second movable portion to each other, a second coupling portion coupling the second movable portion and the support portion to each other, and a softening member which has a softening characteristic and to which stress is applied when the first movable portion swings around a first axis. When viewed in a direction perpendicular to the optical surface, the softening member is provided to a portion of the second movable portion, the portion extending between a drive element and the first coupling portion, and is not electrically connected to an outside.