MICROELECTROMECHANICAL (MEMS) SWITCHING APPARATUS
First Claim
1. A microelectromechanical (MEMS) switch apparatus comprising:
- an anchor attached to a substrate;
an electrically conductive beam attached to the anchor and in electrical contact therewith, the beam comprising;
a tapered portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being attached to the anchor, an actuation portion attached to the distal end of the tapered portion, a tip attached to the actuation portion, the tip having a contact dimple thereon; and
an actuation electrode attached to the substrate and positioned between the actuation portion and the substrate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This application discloses a microelectromechanical (MEMS) switch apparatus comprising an anchor attached to a substrate and an electrically conductive beam attached to the anchor and in electrical contact therewith. The beam comprises a tapered portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being attached to the anchor, an actuation portion attached to the distal end of the tapered portion, a tip attached to the actuation portion, the tip having a contact dimple thereon. The switch apparatus also includes an actuation electrode attached to the substrate and positioned between the actuation portion and the substrate. Additional embodiments are also described and claimed.
28 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A microelectromechanical (MEMS) switch apparatus comprising:
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an anchor attached to a substrate;
an electrically conductive beam attached to the anchor and in electrical contact therewith, the beam comprising;
a tapered portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being attached to the anchor, an actuation portion attached to the distal end of the tapered portion, a tip attached to the actuation portion, the tip having a contact dimple thereon; and
an actuation electrode attached to the substrate and positioned between the actuation portion and the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A microelectromechanical (MEMS) switching apparatus comprising:
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a beam array comprising an anchor attached to a substrate and having a plurality of electrically conductive beams connected thereto and in electrical contact therewith, each of the plurality of beams comprising;
a tapered portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being attached to the anchor, an actuation portion attached to the distal end of the tapered portion, and a tip attached to the actuation portion, the tip having a contact dimple thereon; and
an actuation electrode attached to the substrate and positioned between the substrate and the actuation portion of each beam. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A microelectromechanical (MEMS) switch apparatus comprising:
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a first anchor and a second anchor, both anchors being attached to a substrate;
an electrically conductive beam attached to the first and second anchors and in electrical contact therewith, the beam comprising;
a first tapered portion having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being attached to the first anchor, a second tapered portion having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being attached to the second anchor, and a suspended portion connected to the distal end of the first tapered portion and the distal end of the second tapered portion, the suspended portion comprising an actuation portion and a contact portion, each contact portion having a contact dimple thereon; and
an actuation electrode attached to the substrate and positioned between the actuation portion and the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A microelectromechanical (MEMS) system comprising:
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a signal source;
a signal destination connected to the signal source by a signal line; and
a MEMS switch positioned in the signal line, the MEMS switch comprising;
an anchor attached to a substrate;
an electrically conductive beam attached to the anchor and in electrical contact therewith, the beam comprising;
a tapered portion having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being attached to the anchor, an actuation portion attached to the distal end of the tapered portion, a tip attached to the actuation portion, the tip having a contact dimple thereon; and
an actuation electrode attached to the substrate and positioned between the actuation portion and the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A microelectromechanical (MEMS) system comprising:
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a signal source;
a signal destination connected to the signal source by a signal line; and
a MEMS switch positioned in the signal line, the MEMS switch comprising;
a first anchor and a second anchor, both anchors being attached to a substrate;
an electrically conductive beam attached to the first and second anchors and in electrical contact therewith, the beam comprising;
a first tapered portion having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being attached to the first anchor, a second tapered portion having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being attached to the second anchor, and a suspended portion connected to the distal end of the first tapered portion and the distal end of the second tapered portion, the suspended portion comprising an actuation portion and a contact portion, each contact portion having a contact dimple thereon; and
an actuation electrode attached to the substrate and positioned between the actuation portion and the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification