Microelectromechanical magnetic switches having rotors that rotate into a recess in a substrate
First Claim
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1. A magnetic switch comprising:
- a substrate including therein a recess;
a rotor that includes a tail portion that overlies the recess and a head portion that extends on the substrate outside the recess, the rotor comprising unmagnetized ferromagnetic material, being configured to rotate the tail in the recess in response to a changed magnetic field and the rotor being balanced in relation to a torsional hinge used to mount the rotor to the substrate;
first and second magnetic switch contacts that are configured to make or break electrical connection between one another in response to rotation of the tail in the recess in response to the changed magnetic field, andat least one deformable beam having a fixed end attached to the substrate and a movable end extending beneath the head portion to allow for contact with the head portion in its rest position and/or to provide the torsional hinge with mechanical bias.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic switch includes a substrate having a recess therein. A rotor or rotors are provided on the substrate. The rotor includes a tail portion that overlies the recess, and a head portion that extends on the substrate outside the recess. The rotor may be fabricated from ferromagnetic material, and is configured to rotate the tail in the recess in response to a changed magnetic field. First and second magnetic switch contacts also are provided that are configured to make or break electrical connection between one another in response to rotation of the tail in the recess, in response to the changed magnetic field. Related operation and fabrication methods also are described.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A magnetic switch comprising:
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a substrate including therein a recess; a rotor that includes a tail portion that overlies the recess and a head portion that extends on the substrate outside the recess, the rotor comprising unmagnetized ferromagnetic material, being configured to rotate the tail in the recess in response to a changed magnetic field and the rotor being balanced in relation to a torsional hinge used to mount the rotor to the substrate; first and second magnetic switch contacts that are configured to make or break electrical connection between one another in response to rotation of the tail in the recess in response to the changed magnetic field, and at least one deformable beam having a fixed end attached to the substrate and a movable end extending beneath the head portion to allow for contact with the head portion in its rest position and/or to provide the torsional hinge with mechanical bias. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A magnetic switch comprising:
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a substrate including therein a recess; a rotor that includes a tail portion that overlies the recess and a head portion that extends on the substrate outside the recess, the head portion and the tail portion of the rotor comprising ferromagnetic material and being configured to rotate the tail in the recess in response to a changed magnetic field the rotor being balanced in relation to a torsional hinge used to mount the rotor to the substrate; and first and second magnetic switch contacts that are configured to make or break electrical connection between one another in response to rotation of the tail in the recess in response to the changed magnetic field, and at least one deformable beam having a fixed end attached to the substrate and a movable end extending beneath the head portion to allow for contact with the head portion in its rest position and/or to provide the torsional hinge with mechanical bias.
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40. A magnetic switch comprising:
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a substrate including therein a recess; a rotor connected to the substrate by torsional hinge means for mechanically biasing the rotor to a first position in relation to the substrate in the absence of a magnetic field, the rotor being balanced in relation to the torsional hinge, the rotor including a tail portion that overlies the recess and a head portion that extends on the substrate outside the recess, the rotor comprising unmagnetized ferromagnetic material and being configured to rotate the rotor to a second position in response to a changed magnetic field, the tail being in the recess when the rotor is in the second position; and first and second magnetic switch contacts that are configured to make or break electric connection between one another in response to rotation of the tail in the recess in response to the changed magnetic field, and at least one deformable beam having a fixed end attached to the substrate and a movable end extending beneath the head portion to allow for contact with the head portion in its rest position and/or to provide the torsional hinge with mechanical bias.
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Specification