Spring loaded bi-stable MEMS switch
First Claim
1. A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switching assembly, comprising:
- a stable structure;
a switching member including a transverse torsion member having a flexible portion, a leaf spring, and an electrically conductive cantilever having a free end, the leaf spring and cantilever extending from the flexible portion of the torsion member;
a first anchoring member mounting the torsion member to the stable structure; and
a second anchoring member mounting the leaf spring to the stable structure, wherein the leaf spring has a flexible portion between the first and second anchoring members that can be alternately flexed in opposing directions to deflect the cantilever end in the respective opposing directions.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A MEMS switch assembly comprising a substrate and a resilient switching member is provided. The resilient switching member comprises a transverse torsion member having a flexible portion, and a leaf spring and cantilever that extend from the flexible portion of the torsion member. The switching assembly further comprises a first anchoring member mounting the torsion member to the stable structure, and a second anchoring member mounting the leaf spring to the stable structure. In this manner, the leaf spring has a flexible portion between the first and second anchors that can be alternately flexed in opposing directions to deflect the cantilever end in the respective opposing directions. The leaf spring can exhibit a first stable geometry (e.g., a convex geometry) when flexed in one of the opposite directions, and a second stable geometry (e.g., a concave geometry) when flexed in another of the opposite directions. Thus, the switch can be switched between two stable states using a momentary force and can maintain these two stable states without further expenditure of energy.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switching assembly, comprising:
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a stable structure;
a switching member including a transverse torsion member having a flexible portion, a leaf spring, and an electrically conductive cantilever having a free end, the leaf spring and cantilever extending from the flexible portion of the torsion member;
a first anchoring member mounting the torsion member to the stable structure; and
a second anchoring member mounting the leaf spring to the stable structure, wherein the leaf spring has a flexible portion between the first and second anchoring members that can be alternately flexed in opposing directions to deflect the cantilever end in the respective opposing directions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switching assembly, comprising:
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a first substrate having a common terminal and a first terminal;
a second substrate having a second terminal;
a resilient switching member including a transverse torsion member having a flexible portion, a leaf spring, and an electrically conductive cantilever having a free end, the leaf spring and cantilever extending from the flexible portion of the torsion member;
a first anchoring member mounting the torsion member to the stable structure; and
a second anchoring member mounting the leaf spring to the stable structure, wherein the leaf spring has a flexible portion between the first and second anchoring members that can be alternately flexed in opposing directions to alternately deflect the cantilever end into electrical conduction with the first and second terminals. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A switching member for a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switch assembly, comprising:
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a transverse torsion member having a flexible portion;
an electrically conductive cantilever extending from the flexible portion of the torsion member, the cantilever having a free end; and
a pair of leaf springs extending from the flexible portion of the torsion member, the leaf springs straddling the cantilever, the pair of leaf springs alternately exhibiting stable first and second geometries when flexed in opposite directions to deflect the cantilever end in the respective opposing directions. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switching assembly comprising:
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a substrate;
a resilient switching member mounted to the substrate, the resilient switching member moveable between a first, flexed stable geometry and a second, flexed stable geometry, the switching member including a cantilever, the cantilever being electrically coupled to a first electrical terminal;
an actuator for moving the resilient switching member between the first, flexed stable geometry and the second, flexed stable geometry; and
a second electrical terminal, the second electrical terminal being electrically coupled to the cantilever when the resilient switching member is in the first, flexed stable geometry and not electrically coupled the cantilever when the resilient switching member is in the second, flexed stable geometry. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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Specification