Bistable Compliant Mechanisms

General Information

Bistable Compliant Mechanisms are useful in applications where two distinct positions are desired. Such applications can include: switches – on and off positions, position control – up and down positions, and valves – open and closed positions. Bistable compliant mechanisms provide several advantages over traditional mechanisms:

• Bistable – the ability to toggle between two distinct positions
• Ease of manufacture – can be made by simple manufacturing techniques reducing the overall cost
• Reduced number of parts – could be produced as a single part
• Reduced wear surfaces – few or no wear surfaces
• Power reduction – power is only required to transition between states, not to maintain state

The Market

Possible applications include switches, power buttons, containers, valves, positioning mechanisms, and any other application where two positions are desirable.

Patent Information

Patent #6,215,081

Licensing Information

For licensing information, contact the BYU Office of Technology Transfer.

Additional Resources

Jensen, B.D. and Howell, L.L., “Identification of Compliant Pseudo-Rigid-Body Four-Link Mechanism Configurations Resulting in Bistable Behavior,” Journal of Mechanical Design, Trans. ASME, Vol. 125, No. 4, pp. 701-708, 2003.

Jensen, B.D. and Howell, L.L., “Bistable Configurations of Compliant Mechanisms Modeled Using Four Links and Translational Joints,” Journal of Mechanical Design, Trans. ASME, Vol. 126, No. 4, pp. 657-666, 2004.