Patents by Inventor Thierry CÔTE

Thierry CÔTE has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12671352
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a microelectromechanical system comprising a support and an actuator comprising a drive module comprising: a fixed drive portion, mounted fixedly on the support, and comprising a fixed comb with fingers, and a movable drive portion, mounted movably relative to the support, and comprising a movable comb with fingers, a latching mechanism movable between an initial unlatched configuration and a final latched configuration. The movable comb is arranged facing the fixed comb so that when the latching mechanism is in the initial unlatched configuration, the fingers of the movable comb are not engaged between the fingers of the fixed comb, and when the latching mechanism is in the final latched configuration, the fingers of the movable comb are engaged between the fingers of the fixed comb and the latching mechanism prevents disengagement of the fingers of the movable comb from between the fingers of the fixed comb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignees: SILMACH, CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (CNRS), UNIVERSITE DE FRANCHE-COMTE
    Inventors: Thierry Côte, Patrice Minotti, Gilles Bourbon, Patrice Le Moal
  • Publication number: 20240250620
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectromechanical system comprising a support and an actuator, the actuator comprising a drive module comprising: a fixed drive portion (210), mounted fixedly on the support, and comprising a fixed comb (211 with fingers (213), and a movable drive portion (220), mounted movably relative to the support, and comprising a movable comb (221) with fingers (223), a latching mechanism that is movable between an initial unlatched configuration and a final latched configuration, wherein the movable comb (221) is arranged facing the fixed comb (211) so that when the latching mechanism is in the initial unlatched configuration, the fingers (223) of the movable comb (221) are not engaged between the fingers (213) of the fixed comb (211), and when the latching mechanism is in the final latched configuration, the fingers (223) of the movable comb (221) are engaged between the fingers (213) of the fixed comb (211) and the latching mechanism (500) prevent disengagement of the fingers (223)
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Thierry CÔTE, Patrice MINOTTI, Gilles BOURBON, Patrice LE MOAL
  • Publication number: 20240243672
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microelectromechanical system (10) comprising a drive module (200) comprising: a fixed drive portion (210), a movable drive portion (220), and a suspension (230), the movable drive portion (220) being able to be moved relative to the fixed drive portion (210) in a first direction (A), as a result of an electrostatic force, which causes an elastic deformation of the suspension (230), and the movable drive portion (220) being able to be moved relative to the fixed drive portion (210) in a second direction (B), opposite to the first direction (A), as a result of an elastic return force generated by the suspension (230), the actuator (11) also comprising a stop (24) limiting the movement of the first movable portion (220) in the second direction (B) so that the elastic force generated by the suspension (230) is not cancelled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: July 18, 2024
    Inventors: Thierry CÔTE, Patrice MINOTTI, Gilles BOURBON, Patrice LE MOAL