Electromagnetic energy controlled low actuation voltage microelectromechanical switch
First Claim
1. A microelectromechanical switch that controls a flow of signals, the switch comprising:
- a ground plane;
a signal line;
a conductive pad responsive to an actuation voltage for controlling the flow of signals in said signal line by selectively making and breaking electrical contact between said conductive pad and said ground and said signal line, without substantially deforming said conductive pad;
brackets to guide said conductive pad when said conductive pad makes and breaks electrical contact;
an electrode for attracting said conductive pad when said actuation voltage is applied to said electrode; and
a photovoltaic source electrically connected to said electrode to supply said actuation voltage in response to electromagnetic energy.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is an electromagnetic energy, e.g., visible light, controlled low actuation voltage MEMS switch. Stimulation of photovoltaic diodes causes a switching that controls the flow of a signal. A metal or other suitable conductive pad moves freely up and down within brackets, without the need for deformation, in response to the diodes to either ground a signal or permit it to pass. The low activation voltage of the bracketed pad structure permits the use of a reasonable number of photovoltaic diodes to develop sufficient voltage for actuation of the switch, allowing the realization of the present electromagnetic energy, e.g., visible light, controlled MEMS switch in a minimized chip area. The photovoltaic diodes do not require an independent DC power source to operate the switch of the invention. Use of different wavelengths to excite different sets of diodes allows turning on and off of the switch of the invention.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A microelectromechanical switch that controls a flow of signals, the switch comprising:
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a ground plane;
a signal line;
a conductive pad responsive to an actuation voltage for controlling the flow of signals in said signal line by selectively making and breaking electrical contact between said conductive pad and said ground and said signal line, without substantially deforming said conductive pad;
brackets to guide said conductive pad when said conductive pad makes and breaks electrical contact;
an electrode for attracting said conductive pad when said actuation voltage is applied to said electrode; and
a photovoltaic source electrically connected to said electrode to supply said actuation voltage in response to electromagnetic energy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A microelectromechanical switch that controls a flow of signals, the switch comprising:
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waveguides including a signal line and at least one ground plane;
a conductive pad responsive to an actuation voltage, said conductive pad electrically connecting said signal line and said ground plane when located in a relaxed position to send signals from said signal line to ground, and when actuated, allowing signals to flow through said signal line;
an electrode for attracting said conductive pad to said stimulated position when said actuation voltage is applied to said electrode;
brackets for guiding said conductive pad when said conductive pad moves between said relaxed position and a stimulated position due to said actuation voltage;
a photovoltaic source electrically connected to said electrode to supply said actuation voltage in response in response to electromagnetic energy. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A microelectromechanical switch that controls a flow of signals, the switch comprising:
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a substrate base;
a ground plane formed on said substrate base;
a signal line formed on said substrate base;
a set of brackets on said substrate base;
a conductive pad moveably positioned within said brackets to contact both of said signal line and ground plane when in a first position and to contact neither said signal line or said ground plane when in a second position;
a first electrode disposed to attract said conductive pad to said first position when a voltage is applied to said first electrode;
a second electrode disposed to attract said conductive pad to said second position when a voltage is applied to said first electrode;
a first set of photovoltaic diodes disposed on said substrate and in electrical contact with said first electrode; and
a second set of photovoltaic diodes disposed on said substrate in electrical contact with said second electrode.
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Specification