Ultra-low voltage capable zipper switch
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an actuation electrode mounted to a substrate;
an anchor mounted to the substrate;
a cantilever electrode supported by the anchor proximate the actuation electrode;
a contact mounted to the cantilever electrode and protruding below the cantilever electrode between the anchor and a middle of the cantilever electrode; and
signal lines positioned to form a closed circuit with the contact when an actuation voltage is applied between the actuation electrode and the cantilever electrode causing the cantilever electrode to bend towards the actuation electrode in a progressive movement starting from a distal end of the cantilever electrode.
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Abstract
An electromechanical switch includes an actuation electrode, an anchor, a cantilever electrode, a contact, and signal lines. The actuation electrode and anchor are mounted to a substrate. The cantilever electrode is supported by the anchor above the actuation electrode. The contact is mounted to the cantilever electrode. The signal lines are positioned to form a closed circuit with the contact when an actuation voltage is applied between the actuation electrode and the cantilever electrode causing the cantilever electrode to bend towards the actuation electrode in a zipper like movement starting from a distal end of the cantilever electrode.
43 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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an actuation electrode mounted to a substrate; an anchor mounted to the substrate; a cantilever electrode supported by the anchor proximate the actuation electrode; a contact mounted to the cantilever electrode and protruding below the cantilever electrode between the anchor and a middle of the cantilever electrode; and signal lines positioned to form a closed circuit with the contact when an actuation voltage is applied between the actuation electrode and the cantilever electrode causing the cantilever electrode to bend towards the actuation electrode in a progressive movement starting from a distal end of the cantilever electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating an electromechanical switch, comprising:
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propagating an radio frequency (“
RE”
) signal along an input signal line;applying an actuation voltage, between an actuation electrode and a cantilever electrode suspended above the actuation electrode by an anchor, to bend the cantilever electrode toward the actuation electrode with a zipper like movement starting from a distal end of the cantilever electrode and moving towards the anchor, wherein the actuation voltage is less than approximately 8V; close circuiting the input signal line with an output signal line through a contact mounted to the actuation electrode while the actuation voltage is applied; and propagating the RF signal from the input signal line through the contact to the output signal line. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A wireless device, comprising:
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an amplifier; an antenna; and a micro-electromechanical system (“
MEMS”
) switch including;an actuation electrode mounted to a substrate; an anchor mounted to the substrate; a cantilever electrode supported by the anchor above the actuation electrode; a contact mounted to the cantilever electrode between the anchor and a center of the cantilever electrode, the contact protruding below the cantilever electrode; an input signal line mounted to the substrate and coupled to the antenna; and an output signal line mounted to the substrate and coupled to the amplifier, the input and output signal lines positioned to form a closed circuit with the contact when an actuation voltage is applied between the actuation electrode and the cantilever electrode causing the cantilever electrode to bend towards the actuation electrode in a zipper like movement starting from a distal end of the cantilever electrode. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification