Micromachined electrostatic vertical actuator
Abstract
A micromachined vertical actuator utilizing a levitational force, such as in electrostatic comb drives, provides vertical actuation that is relatively linear in actuation for control, and can be readily combined with parallel plate capacitive position sensing for position control. The micromachined electrostatic vertical actuator provides accurate movement in the sub-micron to micron ranges which is desirable in the phase modulation instrument, such as optical phase shifting. For example, compact, inexpensive, and position controllable micromirrors utilizing an electrostatic vertical actuator can replace the large, expensive, and difficult-to-maintain piezoelectric actuators. A thirty pound piezoelectric actuator with corner cube reflectors, as utilized in a phase shifting diffraction interferometer can be replaced with a micromirror and a lens. For any very precise and small amplitudes of motion` micromachined electrostatic actuation may be used because it is the most compact in size, with low power consumption and has more straightforward sensing and control options.
- Inventors:
-
- Walnut Creek, CA
- Santa Cruz, CA
- Livermore, CA
- Pleasanton, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 872600
- Patent Number(s):
- 5969848
- Application Number:
- 08/888000
- Assignee:
- Regents of University of California (Oakland, CA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02B - OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- micromachined; electrostatic; vertical; actuator; utilizing; levitational; force; comb; drives; provides; actuation; relatively; linear; control; readily; combined; parallel; plate; capacitive; position; sensing; accurate; movement; sub-micron; micron; ranges; desirable; phase; modulation; instrument; optical; shifting; example; compact; inexpensive; controllable; micromirrors; replace; expensive; difficult-to-maintain; piezoelectric; actuators; thirty; pound; corner; cube; reflectors; utilized; diffraction; interferometer; replaced; micromirror; lens; precise; amplitudes; motion; size; power; consumption; straightforward; options; position sensing; optical phase; electrostatic comb; provides accurate; diffraction interferometer; power consumption; phase shifting; phase shift; phase modulation; position control; parallel plate; vertical actuator; provides vertical; shifting diffraction; micron range; vertical actuation; actuator utilizing; corner cube; /359/73/250/310/361/
Citation Formats
Lee, Abraham P, Sommargren, Gary E, McConaghy, Charles F, and Krulevitch, Peter A. Micromachined electrostatic vertical actuator. United States: N. p., 1999.
Web.
Lee, Abraham P, Sommargren, Gary E, McConaghy, Charles F, & Krulevitch, Peter A. Micromachined electrostatic vertical actuator. United States.
Lee, Abraham P, Sommargren, Gary E, McConaghy, Charles F, and Krulevitch, Peter A. Tue .
"Micromachined electrostatic vertical actuator". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/872600.
@article{osti_872600,
title = {Micromachined electrostatic vertical actuator},
author = {Lee, Abraham P and Sommargren, Gary E and McConaghy, Charles F and Krulevitch, Peter A},
abstractNote = {A micromachined vertical actuator utilizing a levitational force, such as in electrostatic comb drives, provides vertical actuation that is relatively linear in actuation for control, and can be readily combined with parallel plate capacitive position sensing for position control. The micromachined electrostatic vertical actuator provides accurate movement in the sub-micron to micron ranges which is desirable in the phase modulation instrument, such as optical phase shifting. For example, compact, inexpensive, and position controllable micromirrors utilizing an electrostatic vertical actuator can replace the large, expensive, and difficult-to-maintain piezoelectric actuators. A thirty pound piezoelectric actuator with corner cube reflectors, as utilized in a phase shifting diffraction interferometer can be replaced with a micromirror and a lens. For any very precise and small amplitudes of motion` micromachined electrostatic actuation may be used because it is the most compact in size, with low power consumption and has more straightforward sensing and control options.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1999},
month = {10}
}