Electrostatic relay

• US 6,115,231 A
• Filed: 11/20/1998
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TDK Corporation
• Original Assignee: TDK Corporation
• Inventors: Shirakawa, Yukihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): FLEMING, FRITZ M
• Application Number:
  US09/196,128
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 361/233-235, 200/181
• US Class Current: 361/233
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/20 Bridging contacts for circuit breakers H01H73/045
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/50 Means for increasing contact pressure, preventing vibration of contacts, holding contacts together after engagement, or biasing contacts to the open position
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/0084 with perpendicular movement of the movable contact relative to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2059/0054 Rocking contacts or actuating members
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2059/0063 with stepped actuation, e.g. actuation voltages applied to different sets of electrodes at different times or different spring constants during actuation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 59/0009 making use of micromechanics

Abstract

An electrostatic relay comprises: a torsional elasticity portion supported on a substrate such that a gap is maintained from the substrate and arranged to have a beam shape; a movable structure portion which can be rotated by dint of elastic support of the torsional elasticity portion; at least one movable contact provided for at least an end of the movable structure portion; a movable electrode disposed between a fulcrum P of rotation of the movable structure portion and the movable contact; at least one fixed contact formed on the substrate at a position opposite to the movable contact such that contact is permitted; and a fixed electrode formed on the substrate at a position opposite to the movable electrode, wherein at least a portion between the fulcrum P of rotation of the movable structure portion and the movable contact is formed into an elastic connection portion.

Claims

1. An electrostatic relay comprising:

a substrate;

a torsional elasticity portion supported on said substrate such that a gap is maintained from said substrate and arranged to have a beam shape;

a movable structure portion rotatably supported by said torsional elasticity portion;

at least one movable contact provided at an end of said movable structure portion;

a movable electrode disposed between a fulcrum of rotation of said movable structure portion and said movable contact;

at least one fixed contact formed on said substrate at a position opposite to said movable contact such that contact is permitted; and

a fixed electrode formed on said substrate at a position opposite to said movable electrode;

wherein at least one portion between the fulcrum of rotation of said movable structure portion and said movable contact is formed into an elastic connection portion.

2. An electrostatic relay according to claim 1, wherein said elastic connection portion is formed between said movable electrode and said movable contact of said movable structure portion, and when voltage is applied between said movable electrode and said fixed electrode, elastic deformation causes said movable contact and said fixed contact to be brought into contact with each other in a parallel state.

3. An electrostatic relay according to claim 1, wherein said elastic connection portion is formed between said fulcrum of rotation of said movable structure portion and said movable electrode, when voltage is applied between said movable electrode and said fixed electrode, elastic deformation causes said movable electrode to be sucked in parallel with said fixed electrode or into an approach state near the parallel state.

4. An electrostatic relay according to claim 1, wherein said elastic connection portion is portionally deformed.

5. An electrostatic relay according to claim 1, wherein said elastic connection portion is deflectively deformed.

6. An electrostatic relay according to claim 1, wherein said movable electrode is formed on a lower surface of the movable structure portion.

7. An electrostatic relay according to claim 6, wherein a dielectric layer is interposed between said movable electrode and said fixed electrode.

8. An electrostatic relay according to claim 1, wherein said movable electrode is formed on an upper surface of the movable structure portion.

9. An electrostatic relay according to claim 1, wherein said movable structure portions extend to both sides of said torsional elasticity portion, said movable contact is provided for at least either side with respect to said fulcrum of rotation, said movable electrodes are provided for both sides, and said fixed electrodes are formed on said substrate at positions opposite to said movable electrodes.

10. An electrostatic relay comprising:

a substrate;

a torsional elasticity portion supported on said substrate such that a gap is maintained from said substrate and arranged to have a beam shape;

a movable structure portion disposed to intersect said torsional elasticity portion and rotatably supported by said torsional elasticity portion;

movable electrode portions rotatively provided for both sides of a fulcrum of rotation of said movable structure portion through elastic connection portions;

movable electrodes constituted by said movable electrode portions or provided for said movable electrode portions;

fixed electrodes disposed on said substrate at positions opposite to said movable electrodes;

at least one movable contact provided for at least an end of said movable structure portion; and

a fixed contact disposed on said substrate at a position opposite to said movable contact such that contact is permitted.

11. An electrostatic relay according to claim 10, wherein a movable end of each of said movable electrode portions is disposed adjacent to said fulcrum of rotation of said movable structure portion.

12. An electrostatic relay according to claim 10, wherein said elastic connection portion has a structure with which said movable electrode is caused to approach said fixed electrode by dint of elastic deformation when voltage is applied between said movable electrode and said fixed electrode.

13. An electrostatic relay according to claim 10, wherein said movable electrode is formed on a lower surface of the movable structure portion.

14. An electrostatic relay according to claim 11, wherein a dielectric layer is interposed between said movable electrode and said fixed electrode.

15. An electrostatic relay according to claim 10, wherein said movable electrode is formed on an upper surface of the movable structure portion.