MEMS switch and method of manufacturing the MEMS switch

• US 8,390,173 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoshihara, Takaaki, Hayasaki, Yoshiki, Shirai, Takeo, Matsushima, Tomoaki, Kawada, Hiroshi, Hagihara, Yousuke
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGHERTY, THOMAS M
• Application Number:
  US12/935,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20110024274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 310/309, 310/311, 310/328, 310/344
• US Class Current: 310/328
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 2201/032 Bimorph and unimorph actuators, e.g. piezo and thermo
• CPC Class Codes: B81B 3/0021 Transducers for transforming electrical into mechanical energy or vice versa dynamo-electric machines H02K99/00; electrostatic machines H02N1/00; piezoelectric devices H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2057/006 Micromechanical piezoelectric relay
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 59/0009 making use of micromechanics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/42 Piezoelectric device making

Abstract

The MEMS switch comprises a substrate with signal-lines having fixed-contacts, a movable-plate with a movable-contact, a flexible support-member supporting the movable-plate, a static-actuator and a piezoelectric-actuator configured to contact the movable-contact with the fixed-contact. The movable-contact is provided at its longitudinal center with the movable-contact, and its both the longitudinal ends with static-movable-electrode-plate. The support-member is four strips disposed on portions outside of the both width ends of the movable plate. The strip extends along the longitudinal direction of the movable plate, provided with a first end fixed to the movable plate, and provided with a second end fixed to the substrate. The piezoelectric-element is disposed on an upper surface of the strip to be located at a portion outside of the width ends of the movable-plate. The piezoelectric-actuator is configured to develop the stress applied to the coupling-portion which is created between each the strip and the movable-plate.

Claims

1. A MEMS switch comprising:

a substrate having an upper surface;

a pair of signal wires having fixed contacts respectively, said signal wires being located in an upper side of said substrate;

a movable plate being located in an upper side of said substrate, said movable plate having a movable contact, said movable contact corresponding to said fixed contacts;

a support member having flexibility, said support member being configured to support said movable plate to be movable upward and downward relative to said substrate

a static actuator being configured to develop an electrostatic force for displacing said movable plate along a thickness direction of said substrate in order to allow said movable contact to come into contact with said fixed contacts;

a piezoelectric actuator being configured to develop stress for displacing said movable plate in the thickness direction of said substrate in order to allow said movable contact to come into contact with said fixed contacts,

wherein

said static actuator comprises a pair of static movable electrode plates and a pair of static fixed electrode plates, said static movable electrode plates being disposed on said movable plate, said static fixed electrode plates being disposed in an opposed relation to said static movable electrode plates,

said piezoelectric actuator comprising a piezoelectric element having a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode, said first electrode being disposed on one surface of said piezoelectric layer and said second electrode being disposed on the other surface of said piezoelectric layer, said piezoelectric element being configured to be deformed when voltage is applied between said first electrode and said second electrode, thereby developing said stress,

said movable plate having a length and a width, said movable plate is provided at its lengthwise center with said movable contact, said movable plate is provided at its both lengthwise ends with movable electrode holding portions, said static movable electrode plates being disposed on said movable electrode holding portions respectively,

said support member comprising four strips, each said strips having the flexibility, said strips being disposed at portions being located at outsides of both width ends of said movable plate and being located at outsides of said movable electrode holding portions,

said strips being arranged along a lengthwise direction of said movable plate, each said strip being provided with a first end and a second end, said first end is located at a longitudinal center of the substrate, said second end is opposite of said first end, each said first end being coupled to said movable plate through a coupling plate, said second end being coupled to said substrate,

each said piezoelectric element being disposed on an upper surface of each said strip, whereby each said piezoelectric element being located in an outside of the both width ends of said movable plate,

said piezoelectric elements applies the stress to coupling portions, defined by said coupling plate, between said strip and said movable plate when said piezoelectric element develops the stress.

2. The MEMS switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said static actuator having a dimension which is larger than a dimension of upper surfaces of said piezoelectric elements.

3. The MEMS switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said piezoelectric actuators are configured to have identical structures of being attached to said strips, respectively.

4. The MEMS switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein

each said fixed contact is electrically insulated from said electrodes of said piezoelectric actuator.

5. The MEMS switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein

each said fixed contact is electrically insulated from said static movable electrode plate of said static actuator, and

each said fixed contact being electrically insulated from said static fixed electrode plate of said static actuator.

6. The MEMS switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said MEMS switch further comprises a ground electrode,

said piezoelectric actuator and said static actuator shares said ground electrode.

7. The MEMS switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said piezoelectric layer is made of a lead-based piezoelectric material.

8. The MEMS switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said movable plate further comprises a movable contact holding portion and coupling portions,

said movable contacts being disposed on said movable contact holding portion,

said movable contact holding portion being located between said movable electrode holding portions, said movable contact holding portion being coupled to said movable electrode holding portions via said coupling portions,

each said coupling portions has a width which is smaller than widths of said movable contact holding portions, and

each said coupling portions has the width which is smaller than widths of said movable electrode holding portion.

9. The MEMS switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said movable plate has a cutout which is shaped to expose a portion other than said fixed contacts, whereby said portion other than said fixed contacts being exposed to an upper direction.

10. The MEMS switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein

both said signal wires and said static fixed electrode plates are disposed on said substrate,

each said signal wires being disposed on the same plane of said substrate, and

said signal wires having thickness which are equal to each other.

11. The MEMS switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said MEMS switch further comprises a cover which is provided at its lower surface with a recess, said cover being cooperative with said substrate to incorporate said movable plate between said substrate and said cover,

said signal wires and said static fixed electrode plates are disposed on an inside surface of said cover.

12. A method of manufacturing the MEMS switch as set forth in claim 10, said method of manufacturing the MEMS switch comprising:

a fixed electrode forming step of forming said static fixed electrode plate on said upper surface of said substrate,

a signal wires forming step of forming a pair of said signal wires on said upper surface of said substrate, said signal wires being provided with said fixed contacts, said signal wire forming step being performed subsequent to said fixed electrode forming step,

a sacrifice layer forming step of forming a sacrifice layer on said upper surface of said substrate, said sacrifice layer being used for forming said movable plate, said sacrifice layer forming step being performed subsequent to said a sacrifice layer forming step,

a movable electrode forming step of forming said static movable electrode plate on said upper surface of said substrate, said movable electrode forming step being performed subsequent to said sacrifice layer forming step,

a movable contact forming step of forming said movable contact, said movable contact forming step being performed subsequent to said movable electrode forming step,

a movable plate forming step of forming said movable plate, said movable plate forming step being performed subsequent to said movable contact forming step,

a first electrode forming step of forming said first electrode of said piezoelectric actuator, said first electrode forming step being performed subsequent to said movable plate forming step,

a piezoelectric layer forming step of forming said piezoelectric layer, said piezoelectric layer forming step being performed subsequent to said first electrode forming step,

a second electrode forming step of forming said second electrode of said piezoelectric actuator, said second electrode forming step being performed subsequent to said piezoelectric layer forming step, and

a sacrifice layer removing step of removing said sacrifice layer.

13. A method of manufacturing the MEMS switch as set forth in claim 11, said method of manufacturing the MEMS switch comprising:

a sacrifice layer forming step of forming a sacrifice layer on an upper surface side of said substrate, said sacrifice layer being used for forming said movable plate,

a movable plate forming step of forming said movable plate on said upper surface side of said substrate, said movable plate forming step being performed subsequent to said sacrifice layer forming step,

a first electrode forming step of forming said static movable electrode plate and said first electrode of said piezoelectric actuator, said first electrode forming step being performed subsequent to said movable plate forming step,

a piezoelectric layer forming step of forming said piezoelectric layer, said piezoelectric layer forming step being performed subsequent to said first electrode forming step,

a second electrode forming step of forming said second electrode of said piezoelectric actuator, said second electrode forming step being performed subsequent to said piezoelectric layer forming step,

a movable contact forming step of forming a movable contact on said movable plate, said movable contact forming step being performed subsequent to said second electrode forming step,

a sacrifice layer removing step of removing said sacrifice layer, said sacrifice layer removing step being performed subsequent to said movable contact forming step, and

a bonding step of bonding said cover to said upper surface of said substrate, said cover being provided with said static fixed electrode plate and a pair of said signal wires with said fixed contact, said coupling step being performed subsequent to said sacrifice layer removing step.