Torsion spring for electro-mechanical switches and a cantilever-type RF micro-electromechanical switch incorporating the torsion spring

• US 6,768,403 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HRL Laboratories LLC (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: HRL Laboratories LLC (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Schmitz, Adele, Loo, Robert, Hsu, Tsung-Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuyen T.
• Application Number:
  US10/097,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20020171518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 336/200, 336/232, 335/78-86, 335/128, 200/181, 200/275, 200/276, 333/262
• US Class Current: 335/78
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 5/18 due to change in inclination, e.g. by flexing, by spiral wrapping
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 5/40 Structural combinations of variable capacitors with other electric elements not covered by this subclass, the structure mainly consisting of a capacitor, e.g. RC combinations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/06 characterised by the shape or structure of the contact-making surface, e.g. grooved
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/20 Bridging contacts for circuit breakers H01H73/045
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 59/0009 making use of micromechanics
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 1/127 Strip line switches

Abstract

A torsion spring for an electro-mechanical switch is presented. The torsion spring comprises a set of tines including at least one tine extending from the free end of the armature of a switch. A terminus portion is rotatably suspended between the tines, and includes a conducting transmission line, at least a portion of which is exposed for electrical contact. The conducting transmission line has a length selected such that the exposed portion of the transmission line forms a circuit between the input and output of the micro-electro-mechanical switch when the micro-electro-mechanical switch is urged into a closed position, with the terminus portion rotating via the tines to form a conformal connection between the exposed portion of the conducting transmission line and the input and output of the switch, thus optimizing the electrical flow therebetween. The switch is also applied to MEMS devices.

Claims

1. A torsion spring for an electro-mechanical switch, where the electro-mechanical switch includes an armature having a free end and an input line and an output line, the torsion spring comprising:

a set of tines including at least one tine extending from the free end of the armature of the switch;

a terminus portion rotatably suspended from the tines, the terminus portion including a conducting transmission line, at least a portion of which is exposed for electrical contact, the conducting transmission line having a length selected such that the exposed portion of the transmission line forms a circuit between the input and output lines of the electro-mechanical switch when the electro-mechanical switch is urged into a closed position, with the terminus portion rotating via the tines to form a conformal connection between the exposed portion of the conducting transmission line and the input and output lines of the switch.

2. A torsion spring for an electro-mechanical switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the portion of the conducting transmission line exposed for electrical contact is in the form of a plurality of dimples, with a dimple corresponding to the contact to be made between the input and the output, respectively;

whereby the dimples combined with the rotatable nature of the terminus portion provide a conformal contact between the conducting transmission line and the input and the output to form a circuit therebetween.

3. A torsion spring for an electro-mechanical switch as set forth in claim 2, wherein the tines are constructed of a material selected from a group consisting of silicon nitride, Type III-V semiconductor materials, and silicon dioxide.

4. A torsion spring for an electro-mechanical switch as set forth in claim 3, wherein the conducting transmission line is formed from a titanium adhesive layer and a gold conductor layer and an anti-diffusion layer therebetween and an anti-diffusion layer therebetween.

5. A torsion spring for an electromechanical switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the conducting transmission line is formed from a titanium adhesive layer and a gold conductor layer and an anti-diffusion layer therebetween.

6. A torsion spring for an electro-mechanical switch as set forth in claim 5, wherein the portion of the conducting transmission line exposed for electrical contact is in the form of a plurality of dimples, with a dimple corresponding to the contact to be made between the input and the output, respectively;

whereby the dimples combined with the rotatable nature of the terminus portion provide a conformal contact between the conducting transmission line and the input and the output to form a circuit therebetween.

7. A torsion spring for an electro-mechanical switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tines are constructed of a material selected from a group consisting of silicon nitride, Type III-V semiconductor materials, and silicon dioxide.

8. A torsion spring for an electro-mechanical switch as set forth in claim 7, wherein the conducting transmission line is formed from a titanium adhesive layer and a gold conductor layer and an anti-diffusion layer therebetween.

9. A torsion spring for an electro-mechanical switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the set of tines includes a plurality of tines.

10. A torsion spring for an electro-mechanical switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein the set of tines includes two tines.