Magnetic microactuator

摘要

A selectively actuatable microstructure is provided having a base, a cantilevered element supported by at least one mechanical attachment attached to the base which permits the element to change its orientation, and at least one layer of magnetically-active material placed on one or more regions of a surface of the cantilevered element. A selectively applied magnetic field can apply torque to the cantilevered element and cause it to move. A voltage source causes a Coulombic attractive force for holding the cantilevered element against movement in the presence of an applied magnetic field. A number of the selectively actuatable microstructures may be provided in an array so that each of the microstructures may be individually actuated by the selective switching of the corresponding voltage sources.