Microswitch with a first actuated portion and a second contact portion

• US 7,745,747 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 138 East LCD Advancements Limited (Vector Capital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Carmona, Manuel, Pallares, Jofre
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer; Michael A
• Application Number:
  US11/725,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20080011593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 200/181, 335/78, 333/105, 333/262, 310330-332
• US Class Current: 200/181
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/20 Bridging contacts for circuit breakers H01H73/045
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/0084 with perpendicular movement of the movable contact relative to the substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 59/0009 making use of micromechanics

Abstract

A microswitch which is electrostatically actuated, which has a first open position and a second closed position in which said switch closes at least a contact line (30); the microswitch comprising

• • a movable part (10) which has at least a first actuated portion (11) and a second contact portion (12), which are mechanically connected by means of at least a connection element (13);
  • said contact line/s (30) being placed between said first and second portions; wherein in the rest position of the microswitch the actuated portion is at a first distance d1 from the contact line and the contact portion is at a second distance d2 from the contact line;
    wherein the operation of the microswitch is the following:
  • the first actuated portion is actuated by at least an actuating electrode (20), and
  • in response to said actuation and via the connection element (13) the second contact portion (12) is arranged to contact said contact line (30) reducing said second distance d2 to zero.

Claims

1. A microswitch which is actuated using electrostatic actuation, said microswitch having a first rest or open position and a second actuated or closed position in which said switch closes at least one contact line,

wherein the microswitch comprises:

a movable part which has at least a first actuated portion and a second contact portion which are mechanically connected by at least one connection element;

said at least one contact line being placed between said first and second portions;

wherein in the rest position of the microswitch, the first actuated portion is at a first distance d1 from the contact line and the second contact portion is at a second distance d2 from the contact line;

wherein operation of the microswitch is as follows;

the first actuated portion is actuated by at least one actuating electrode, and

in response to said actuation by the actuating electrode and via the at least one connection element the second contact portion is arranged to contact said contact line reducing said second distance d2 to zero; and

wherein the at least one actuating electrode forms an integral part of the movable part of the microswitch.

2. The microswitch according to claim 1, wherein d1 and d2 are substantially the same.

3. The microswitch according to claim 1, wherein d1 is larger than d2.

4. The microswitch according to claim 1, wherein there are at least two connection elements.

5. The microswitch according to claim 1, wherein said at least one connection element is made of dielectric material.

6. The microswitch according to claim 1, wherein further electrodes are placed for actuating over the movable part in order to open the switch.

7. The microswitch according claim 6, wherein said further electrodes to open the switch are an integral part of the movable part of the switch.