Switching device, in particular for optical applications
First Claim
1. A switching device comprising:
- a mobile element that is able to move back and forth along a defined trajectory between a zero position and at least one predetermined switching position;
an elastic member connecting said mobile element to a base, said elastic member allowing said mobile element to at least move back and forth between said zero position and said at least one predetermined switching position; and
at least one stationary actuating electrode located in the vicinity of said at least one predetermined switching position for producing electrostatic forces to cause said mobile element to move to and/or away from said at least one predetermined switching position. wherein said at least one stationary actuating electrode is disposed to act on at least one edge of said mobile element that is substantially parallel to the mobile element'"'"'s trajectory, and wherein the geometry of said mobile element, said elastic member and said at least one stationary actuating electrode is such that said mobile element cannot come into contact with said actuating electrode and that said at least one predetermined switching position is defined by an equilibrium point between lateral electrostatic forces produced on said mobile element by said at least one stationary actuating electrode and mechanical springs forces produced by said elastic member, the force resulting from the sum of said lateral electrostatic forces and said mechanical spring forces having opposite directions around said equilibrium point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is described a switching device comprising a mobile element (2) that is able to at least move back and forth along a defined trajectory between a zero position (O) and at least one predetermined switching position (A, B), an elastic member (3, 30, 32) connecting the mobile element to a base (4) and at least one stationary actuating electrode (5, 6) located in the vicinity of the predetermined switching position for producing electrostatic forces to cause the mobile element to move to and/or away from the predetermined switching position.
The stationary actuating electrode is disposed to act on at least one edge (20a) of the mobile element which is substantially parallel to the mobile element'"'"'s trajectory. The geometry of the mobile element, elastic member and actuating electrode is such that the mobile element cannot come into contact with the actuating electrode and that the switching position is defined by an equilibrium point (E) between lateral electrostatic forces produced on the mobile element by the stationary actuating electrode and mechanical springs forces produced by the elastic member.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A switching device comprising:
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a mobile element that is able to move back and forth along a defined trajectory between a zero position and at least one predetermined switching position;
an elastic member connecting said mobile element to a base, said elastic member allowing said mobile element to at least move back and forth between said zero position and said at least one predetermined switching position; and
at least one stationary actuating electrode located in the vicinity of said at least one predetermined switching position for producing electrostatic forces to cause said mobile element to move to and/or away from said at least one predetermined switching position. wherein said at least one stationary actuating electrode is disposed to act on at least one edge of said mobile element that is substantially parallel to the mobile element'"'"'s trajectory, and wherein the geometry of said mobile element, said elastic member and said at least one stationary actuating electrode is such that said mobile element cannot come into contact with said actuating electrode and that said at least one predetermined switching position is defined by an equilibrium point between lateral electrostatic forces produced on said mobile element by said at least one stationary actuating electrode and mechanical springs forces produced by said elastic member, the force resulting from the sum of said lateral electrostatic forces and said mechanical spring forces having opposite directions around said equilibrium point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for actuating a switching device comprising:
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a mobile element that is able to move back and forth along a defined trajectory between a zero position and at least one predetermined switching position;
an elastic member connecting said mobile element to a base, said elastic member allowing said mobile element to at least move back and forth between said zero position and said at least one predetermined switching position; and
at least one stationary actuating electrode located in the vicinity of said at least one predetermined switching position for producing electrostatic forces to cause said mobile element to at least move to and/or away from said at least one predetermined switching position, said method comprising the steps of;
placing said stationary actuating electrodes to act on at least one edge of said mobile element which is substantially parallel to the mobile element'"'"'s trajectory; and
selecting the geometry of said mobile element, said elastic member and said at least one stationary actuating electrode so that said mobile element cannot come into contact with said actuating electrode and that said at least one predetermined switching position is defined by an equilibrium point between lateral electrostatic forces produced on said mobile element by said at least one stationary actuating electrode and mechanical springs forces produced by said elastic member, the force resulting from the sum of said lateral electrostatic forces and said mechanical spring forces having opposite directions around said equilibrium point.
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Specification