MICROELECTROMECHANICAL SYSTEM (MEMS) ANALOG ELECTRICAL ISOLATOR
First Claim
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1. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) analog isolator, comprising:
- a substrate;
an element supported from the substrate for movement between a first and second position with respect to the substrate, where at least a portion of the element between a first and second location on the element is an electrical insulator to electrically isolate the first and second locations from each other;
an actuator attached to the first portion of the element to receive an input electrical signal and exert a force dependent on the input electrical signal urging the element toward the second position;
a control element attached to the element to exert a force dependent on the displacement of the element toward one of the first position and the second position; and
a sensor assembly communicating with the second portion of the element to provide an output electrical signal dependent on movement of the element between the first position and the second position.
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Abstract
A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) analog isolator may be created in which an actuator such as an electrostatic motor drives a beam against an opposing force set, for example, by another electrostatic motor. Motion of the beam may be sensed by a sensor also attached to the beam. The beam itself is electrically isolated between the locations of the actuator and the sensor. The structure may be incorporated into integrated circuits to provide on-chip isolation.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) analog isolator, comprising:
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a substrate;
an element supported from the substrate for movement between a first and second position with respect to the substrate, where at least a portion of the element between a first and second location on the element is an electrical insulator to electrically isolate the first and second locations from each other;
an actuator attached to the first portion of the element to receive an input electrical signal and exert a force dependent on the input electrical signal urging the element toward the second position;
a control element attached to the element to exert a force dependent on the displacement of the element toward one of the first position and the second position; and
a sensor assembly communicating with the second portion of the element to provide an output electrical signal dependent on movement of the element between the first position and the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27)
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23. An isolated circuit module comprising:
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a substrate;
a plurality of interconnected solid-state electronic devices formed on the substrate into an integrated circuit having analog input and output points;
a mechanical analog isolator also formed on the substrate and electrically attached to at least one of the integrated circuit input and output points, the mechanical analog isolator including;
a substrate;
an element supported from the substrate for movement between a first and second position with respect to the substrate, where at least a portion of the element between a first and second location on the element is an electrical insulator to electrically isolate the first and second locations from each other;
an actuator attached to the first portion of the element to receive an input electrical signal and exert a force dependent on the input electrical signal urging the element toward the second position;
a control element attached to the element to exert a force dependent on the displacement of the element toward the first position;
a sensor assembly communicating with the second portion of the element to provide an output electrical signal dependent on movement of the element between the first positions. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification