Electromechanical element, driving method of the electromechanical element and electronic equipment provided with the same

• US 8,217,738 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2008
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Naito, Yasuyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad, Elvin G
• Assistant Examiner(s): TALPALATSKI, ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US12/121,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20080283374A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 335/78, 200/181
• US Class Current: 335/78
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/06 characterised by the shape or structure of the contact-making surface, e.g. grooved
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/18 with subsequent sliding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 59/0009 making use of micromechanics

Abstract

An electromechanical element includes a first electrode which is provided on a substrate, and a second electrode and a third electrode which are provided via a gap with respect to the first electrode. The first electrode contacts with the second electrode when an attracting force is applied between the first electrode and the third electrode. The first electrode has a bending portion.

Claims

1. An electromechanical element, comprising:

a first electrode which is provided on a substrate; and

a second electrode and a plurality of third electrodes which are provided via a gap with respect to the first electrode,

wherein the first electrode contacts with the second electrode when an attracting force is applied between the first electrode and each of the third electrodes;

wherein the first electrode has a bent portion which is a V shaped portion;

wherein the third electrodes are arranged with space therebetween;

wherein the V shaped portion is disposed at a position opposite to the space and protrudes toward the space between the third electrodes; and

wherein the second electrode is not positioned between the third electrodes.

2. The electromechanical element according to claim 1, wherein the V shaped portion is provided in a part of the first electrode other than a front end of the first electrode.

3. The electromechanical element according to claim 1, wherein a contact point between the first electrode and the second electrode is displaced in a horizontal direction with respect to the substrate.

4. The electromechanical element according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode has a plurality of the bent portions.

5. The electromechanical element according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the third electrodes are provided.

6. The electromechanical element according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is expanded or contracted when the first electrode is separated from the second electrode.

7. An electronic equipment provided with the electromechanical element according to claim 1.

8. The electromechanical element according to claim 1, wherein an insulation film is formed on a surface of the first electrode opposed to the third electrode and a surface of the third electrode opposed to the first electrode.

9. A driving method of an electromechanical element including a first electrode which has a bent portion which is a V shaped portion and is provided on a substrate, and a second electrode and a plurality of third electrodes which are provided via a gap with respect to the first electrode, wherein the third electrodes are arranged with space therebetween, wherein the V shape portion is disposed at a position opposite to the space between the third electrodes and protrudes toward the space between the third electrodes, and wherein the second electrode is not positioned between the third electrodes, the driving method comprising:

contacting the first electrode with the second electrode by applying an attracting force between the first electrode and the third electrodes; and

releasing a contact state of the first electrode with the second electrode by an expanding or contracting force of the bent portion of the first electrode.

10. The driving method according to claim 9, wherein in the contacting process, the first electrode is displaced on the second electrode at a contact position between the first electrode and the second electrode by an expanding or contracting force of the bent portion.

11. The driving method according to claim 9, wherein in the releasing process, the first electrode is displaced on the second electrode at a contact position between the first electrode and the second electrode by an expanding or contracting force of the bent portion.

12. The driving method according to claim 9, wherein in the releasing process, an attracting force is instantaneously applied between the first electrode and the third electrode before the contact state of the first electrode with the second electrode is released.

13. The driving method according to claim 9, wherein in the releasing process, the contact state of the first electrode with the second electrode is released by a restoring force of the bent portion.