Bi-stable micro switch
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A bi-stable micro-electro-mechanical system (“
- MEMS”
) switch comprising;
a static portion (24);
a center body (22) movable with respect to the static portion in response to operation of an actuator (34) coupled to the static portion and to the center body, the center body being further coupled to the static portion with a first pair of spring arms (28, 30) coupled to a hollow beam portion (36) of the center body.
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Abstract
A bi-stable micro-machined electromechanical system (“MEMS”) switch. In a preferred embodiment, the bi-stable MEMS switch is used in an N×N optical signal switching system. Spring arms act in conjunction with a hollow beam portion of a movable center body of the switch to accommodate strain in the arms as the switch is moved from a first position to a second position, thus avoiding buckling of the spring arms. Both the first and second switch position occur at local minimums of mechanical potential energy, thus providing two stable switch states. The center body is moved in relation to static portions of the switch by an actuator, such as an electro-static comb drive.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A bi-stable micro-electro-mechanical system (“
- MEMS”
) switch comprising;a static portion (24);
a center body (22) movable with respect to the static portion in response to operation of an actuator (34) coupled to the static portion and to the center body, the center body being further coupled to the static portion with a first pair of spring arms (28, 30) coupled to a hollow beam portion (36) of the center body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- MEMS”
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9. A bi-stable micro-electro-mechanical system (“
- MEMS”
) switch comprising;a static portion (24);
a center body (22A) having a first hollow beam portion (36A) and a second hollow beam portion (36B), and a mounting portion (95) with a mirror disposed on at least one vertical surface of the mounting portion, the center body being movable with respect to the static portion in response to operation of an electrostatic comb drive coupled to the static portion and to the center body, the center body being further coupled to the static portion with a first pair of spring arms and a second pair of spring arms wherein each of the spring arms includes at least one flexible hinge, and the first pair of spring arms is coupled to the first hollow beam portion and the second pair of spring arms is coupled to the second hollow beam portion.
- MEMS”
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10. A bi-stable micro-electro-mechanical system (“
- MEMS”
) switch comprising;a static portion;
a center body with a hollow portion, the hollow portion having a first wall and an opposite wall, the center body being coupled to the static portion by a first spring arm coupled to the first wall and a second spring arm coupled to the opposite wall, the first spring arm being attached to the first wall essentially opposite to the second spring arm at the opposite wall, the center body being movable with respect to the static portion between a first position and a second position wherein movement of the center body between the first and second position induces strain in the first spring arm and in the second spring arm and corresponding compression of the first wall and the opposite wall to avoid buckling of the first spring arm and the second spring arm.
- MEMS”
Specification