Importance

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Abstract

A method of making a microceramic electromagnetic light shutter, includes forming a micromolded bottom ceramic portion in the green state with a sacrificial fiber having a first and second end portion and being shaped in the form of a coil, mounted on its surface; forming a micromolded top ceramic portion in the green state having surface features that include a pair of bearing structures, at least one stop structure, and a first and second through-hole; assembling the top and bottom micromolded ceramic portions with the first and second ends of the sacrificial fiber being drawn through the first and second through-holes, respectively, and sintering such assembled structure to form a unitary ceramic body; etching through the first and second through-holes to etch away the sacrificial fiber to thereby provide an embedded coil receiving cavity. The method further includes filling the coil receiving cavity with a conductive material to form an embedded coil; providing a light aperture through the unitary ceramic body and a first and second recess in the unitary ceramic body; mounting a ferromagnetic element in the first recess; and mounting a shutter drive mechanism, having a shutter blade in the second recess and in operative relationship to the embedded coil and the ferromagnetic element, and such shutter blade being movable between light blocking and light passing positions relative to the light aperture so that when a drive voltage is applied to the coil, a field is created which provides a driving force to the shutter drive mechanism to move the shutter blade to the light passing position and when the voltage is discontinued the ferromagnetic element provides a torque on the shutter drive mechanism to return it to the light blocking position.

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First Claim