Title:
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COUPLING MICROCOMPONENTS UTILIZING A PRESSURE FITTING RECEPTACLE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2002016255
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
A system and method which provide a general-purpose pressure-fitting receptacle (or "clamp") suitable for coupling microcomponentsare disclosed. A pressure-fitting receptacle is disclosed that is suitable for performing general assembly, including out-of-plane, 3-D assembly of microcomponents, wherein such microcomponents may be securely coupled together. That is, a pressure-fitting receptacle is disclosed which enables microcomponents to be coupled in a manner that constrains undesirable movement of the coupled components relative to each other. Preferably, such a receptacle may be pressure it with a mating component (or a portion thereof) in a manner that constrains translational and rotational degrees of freedom of the mating component relative to the receptacle. A preferred embodiment provides a "preloaded" receptacle that may be utilized to perform general assembly of microcomponents. An alternative embodiment provides a non-preloaded receptacle suitable for performing general assembly of microcomponents. Still a further alternative embodiment provides an "expansion" receptacle that is suitable for performing general assembly of microcomponents. Such pressure-fitting receptacles may be implemented as an integrated part of a microcomponent, or they may be implemented as separate, stand-alone receptacles.
Inventors:
ELLIS MATTEW D
SKIDMORE GEORGE D
SKIDMORE GEORGE D
Application Number:
PCT/US2001/024173
Publication Date:
July 11, 2002
Filing Date:
August 01, 2001
Export Citation:
Assignee:
ZYVEX CORP (US)
International Classes:
B81B7/00; (IPC1-7): B81B7/00; F16B2/20
Foreign References:
| EP0497620A2 | 1992-08-05 | |||
| US5657516A | 1997-08-19 | |||
| US4141138A | 1979-02-27 |
Other References:
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 007, no. 002 (P - 166) 7 January 1983 (1983-01-07)
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