SWITCHING APPARATUS AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS

• US 20170278646A1
• Filed: 07/10/2015
• Published: 09/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: MORITA, Shinya
• Granted Patent: US 10,074,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/033 Comb drives
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/0136 Comb structures
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2203/051 Translation according to an axis parallel to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/0036 Switches making use of microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] for electromagnetic relays H01H50/005; for electrostatic relays H01H59/0009
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/0042 Bistable switches, i.e. having two stable positions requiring only actuating energy for switching between them, e.g. with snap membrane or by permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/0063 having electrostatic latches, i.e. the activated position is kept by electrostatic forces other than the activation force
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/0078 with parallel movement of the movable contact relative to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 59/0009 making use of micromechanics

Abstract

[Object] To be capable of promptly performing a switching operation of a switch.

[Solving Means] In a switching apparatus according to an embodiment of the present technology, a movable electrode includes a first movable electrode piece, a second movable electrode piece, and a movable contact point. A first fixed electrode includes first and second fixed electrode pieces, the first and second fixed electrode pieces facing each other with the first movable electrode piece disposed between the first and second fixed electrode pieces, the first fixed electrode piece facing the first movable electrode piece with a gap narrower than a gap between the second fixed electrode piece and the first movable electrode piece. A second fixed electrode includes third and fourth fixed electrode pieces, the third and fourth fixed electrode pieces facing each other with the second movable electrode piece disposed between the third and fourth fixed electrode pieces, the third fixed electrode piece facing the second movable electrode piece with a gap narrower than a gap between the fourth fixed electrode piece and the second movable electrode piece. A first fixed contact point is in contact with the movable contact point, the movable contact point moving in a first direction by an electrostatic attractive force between the movable electrode and the first fixed electrode. A second fixed contact point is in contact with the movable contact point, the movable contact point moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction by an electrostatic attractive force between the movable electrode and the second fixed electrode.

Claims

1. A switching apparatus, comprising:

a movable electrode that includes a first movable electrode piece, a second movable electrode piece, and a movable contact point;

a first fixed electrode that includes first and second fixed electrode pieces, the first and second fixed electrode pieces facing each other with the first movable electrode piece disposed between the first and second fixed electrode pieces, the first fixed electrode piece facing the first movable electrode piece with a gap narrower than a gap between the second fixed electrode piece and the first movable electrode piece;

a second fixed electrode that includes third and fourth fixed electrode pieces, the third and fourth fixed electrode pieces facing each other with the second movable electrode piece disposed between the third and fourth fixed electrode pieces, the third fixed electrode piece facing the second movable electrode piece with a gap narrower than a gap between the fourth fixed electrode piece and the second movable electrode piece;

a first fixed contact point that is capable of being in contact with the movable contact point, the movable contact point moving in a first direction by an electrostatic attractive force between the movable electrode and the first fixed electrode;

a second fixed contact point that is capable of being in contact with the movable contact point, the movable contact point moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction by an electrostatic attractive force between the movable electrode and the second fixed electrode; and

an elastic support portion that elastically supports the movable electrode, the movable electrode being capable of moving in the first and second directions.

2. The switching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the second movable electrode piece faces the third fixed electrode piece with a first distance, and faces the fourth fixed electrode piece with a second distance larger than the first distance in a first state in which the movable contact point is in contact with the first fixed contact point.

3. The switching apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the first movable electrode piece faces the first fixed electrode piece with the first distance, and faces the second fixed electrode piece with the second distance in a second state in which the movable contact point is in contact with the second fixed contact point.

4. The switching apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the second distance is not more than twice the first distance.

5. The switching apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising

a driving circuit that selectively performs a first driving mode and a second driving mode, operation voltage being applied between the movable electrode and the first fixed electrode to switch a state of the movable contact point to the first state in the first driving mode, the operation voltage being not more than 1.4 times pull-in voltage between the movable electrode and the first fixed electrode, operation voltage being applied between the movable electrode and the second fixed electrode to switch the state of the movable contact point to the second state in the second driving mode, the operation voltage being not more than 1.4 times pull-in voltage between the movable electrode and the second fixed electrode.

6. The switching apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the movable electrode further includes a coupling rod that commonly supports the first and second movable electrode pieces and the movable contact point, the coupling rod extending in parallel with the first and second directions.

7. The switching apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the movable contact point is placed between the first movable electrode piece and the second movable electrode piece, and

the elastic support portion is provided to both ends of the coupling rod.

8. The switching apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the movable contact point is provided to both ends of the coupling rod, and

the elastic support portion is placed between the first movable electrode piece and the second movable electrode piece.

9. A switching apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of switching mechanisms, each of the plurality of switching mechanisms including

a movable electrode that includes a first movable electrode piece, a second movable electrode piece, and a movable contact point,

a first fixed electrode that includes first and second fixed electrode pieces, the first and second fixed electrode pieces facing each other with the first movable electrode piece disposed between the first and second fixed electrode pieces, the first fixed electrode piece facing the first movable electrode piece with a gap narrower than a gap between the second fixed electrode piece and the first movable electrode piece,

a second fixed electrode that includes third and fourth fixed electrode pieces, the third and fourth fixed electrode pieces facing each other with the second movable electrode piece disposed between the third and fourth fixed electrode pieces, the third fixed electrode piece facing the second movable electrode piece with a gap narrower than a gap between the fourth fixed electrode piece and the second movable electrode piece,

a first fixed contact point that is capable of being in contact with the movable contact point, the movable contact point moving in a first direction by an electrostatic attractive force between the movable electrode and the first fixed electrode,

a second fixed contact point that is capable of being in contact with the movable contact point, the movable contact point moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction by an electrostatic attractive force between the movable electrode and the second fixed electrode, and

an elastic support portion that elastically supports the movable electrode, the movable electrode being capable of moving in the first and second directions.

10. An electronic apparatus, comprising:

a switching apparatus including

a movable electrode that includes a first movable electrode piece, a second movable electrode piece, and a movable contact point,

a first fixed electrode that includes first and second fixed electrode pieces, the first and second fixed electrode pieces facing each other with the first movable electrode piece disposed between the first and second fixed electrode pieces, the first fixed electrode piece facing the first movable electrode piece with a gap narrower than a gap between the second fixed electrode piece and the first movable electrode piece,

a second fixed electrode that includes third and fourth fixed electrode pieces, the third and fourth fixed electrode pieces facing each other with the second movable electrode piece disposed between the third and fourth fixed electrode pieces, the third fixed electrode piece facing the second movable electrode piece with a gap narrower than a gap between the fourth fixed electrode piece and the second movable electrode piece,

a first fixed contact point that is capable of being in contact with the movable contact point, the movable contact point moving in a first direction by an electrostatic attractive force between the movable electrode and the first fixed electrode,

a second fixed contact point that is capable of being in contact with the movable contact point, the movable contact point moving in a second direction opposite to the first direction by an electrostatic attractive force between the movable electrode and the second fixed electrode, and

an elastic support portion that elastically supports the movable electrode, the movable electrode being capable of moving in the first and second directions.