Micro-electromechanical switch performance enhancement
First Claim
1. A method of maintaining performance of a micro-electromechanical switch, said method comprising:
- measuring a performance parameter of the switch; and
upon detecting switch performance below a predetermined lever settable by the user of the switch, initiating corrective action by applying at least one of;
a time-varying voltage configured to induce a scrubbing action between contacts of the switch; and
a modified control voltage profile for operating the switch, wherein the modified control voltage profile comprises at least of;
a different shaped profile; and
an off voltage applied at a different magnitude.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In methods and circuits for using associated circuitry to enhance performance of a micro-electromechanical switch, one of the method embodiments is a contact conditioning process including applying a time-varying voltage to the control element of a closed switch. In another embodiment, a voltage profile applied to the control element of the switch can be tailored to improve the actuation speed or reliability of the switch. In another method embodiment, the performance of a switch may be evaluated by measuring a performance parameter, and corrective action initiated if the switch performance is determined to need improvement. An embodiment of a circuit for maintaining performance of a micro-electromechanical switch includes first and second signal line nodes, sensing circuitry coupled to the signal line nodes and adapted to sense a performance parameter value of the switch, and control circuitry operably coupled to at least one terminal of the switch.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of maintaining performance of a micro-electromechanical switch, said method comprising:
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measuring a performance parameter of the switch; and
upon detecting switch performance below a predetermined lever settable by the user of the switch, initiating corrective action by applying at least one of;
a time-varying voltage configured to induce a scrubbing action between contacts of the switch; and
a modified control voltage profile for operating the switch, wherein the modified control voltage profile comprises at least of;
a different shaped profile; and
an off voltage applied at a different magnitude. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A circuit for maintaining performance of a micro-electromechanical switch, said circuit comprising:
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first and second signal line nodes, operably coupled to first and second signal lines, respectively, wherein the first and second signal lines are coupled together when the switch is closed;
sensing circuitry operably coupled to at least one terminal of the switch and adapted to sense a performance parameter value of the switch;
a control node coupled to the sensing circuitry and operably coupled to a control element of the switch; and
control circuitry coupled to the control node and operably coupled to the at least one terminal of the switch, wherein the control circuitry is a adapted to evaluate the sensed performance parameter value and initiate corrective action upon detecting switch performance below a predetermined level, wherein, the corrective action comprises applying a varying control voltage to the control element to achieve a scrubbing action between contact elements of the switch. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A circuit for maintaining performance of a micro-electromechanical switch, said ciruit comprising:
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first and second signal line nodes, operably coupled to first and second signal lines, respectively, wherein the first and second signal lines are coupled together when the switch is closed;
sensing cirucitry operably coupled to at least one terminal of the switch and adapted to sense a performance parameter value of the switch;
a control node coupled to the sensing cirucitry and operably coupled to a control element of the switch; and
control circuitry coupled to the control node and operably coupled to the at least one terminal of the switch, wherein the control circuitry is adapted to evaluate the sensed performance parameter value and initiate corrective action upon detecting switch performance below a predetermined level, wherein the corrective action comprises applying to the control element a modified control voltage sequence comprising at least one of;
a different shaped profile; and
an off voltage applied at a different magnitude. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification