Electromechanical systems device with protrusions to provide additional stable states
First Claim
1. An electromechanical systems (EMS) device, comprising:
- a substrate;
a stationary electrode over the substrate;
a movable electrode over the stationary electrode and configured to move to three or more positions across a gap by electrostatic actuation between the movable electrode and the stationary electrode;
a plurality of tethers symmetrically disposed around the edges of the movable electrode; and
a plurality of protrusions connected to and protruding from a first surface of the EMS device, the plurality of protrusions rotationally symmetric about a center of the movable electrode, wherein the movable electrode is configured to continue moving closer towards the stationary electrode when any of the protrusions makes contact with a second surface of the EMS device opposite the first surface during actuation, wherein the first surface includes one of;
a surface of the substrate facing the movable electrode, a surface of the movable electrode facing the substrate, and a surface of the plurality of tethers facing the substrate,wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the EMS device is non-rigid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for an electromechanical systems (EMS) device with one or more protrusions connected to a surface of the EMS device. In one aspect, the EMS device includes a substrate, a stationary electrode over the substrate, and a movable electrode over the stationary electrode. The movable electrode is configured to move to three or more positions across a gap by electrostatic actuation between the movable electrode and the stationary electrode. When the protrusions contact any surface of the EMS device at one of the positions across the gap, the protrusions change the stiffness of the EMS device. At least one of the surfaces in contact with the one or more protrusions is non-rigid. In some implementations, the protrusions have a height greater than about 20 nm.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An electromechanical systems (EMS) device, comprising:
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a substrate; a stationary electrode over the substrate; a movable electrode over the stationary electrode and configured to move to three or more positions across a gap by electrostatic actuation between the movable electrode and the stationary electrode; a plurality of tethers symmetrically disposed around the edges of the movable electrode; and a plurality of protrusions connected to and protruding from a first surface of the EMS device, the plurality of protrusions rotationally symmetric about a center of the movable electrode, wherein the movable electrode is configured to continue moving closer towards the stationary electrode when any of the protrusions makes contact with a second surface of the EMS device opposite the first surface during actuation, wherein the first surface includes one of;
a surface of the substrate facing the movable electrode, a surface of the movable electrode facing the substrate, and a surface of the plurality of tethers facing the substrate,wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the EMS device is non-rigid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An electromechanical systems (EMS) device, comprising:
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a substrate; a stationary electrode over the substrate; a movable electrode over the stationary electrode and configured to move to three or more positions across a gap by electrostatic actuation between the movable electrode and the stationary electrode; means for supporting the movable electrode over the substrate; means for tethering the movable electrode to the supporting means and symmetrically disposed around the edges of the movable electrode; and means for protruding from a first surface of the EMS device, the protruding means being rotationally symmetric about a center of the movable electrode, wherein the movable electrode is configured to continue moving closer towards the stationary electrode when the protruding means makes contact with a second surface of the EMS device opposite the first surface during actuation, wherein the first surface includes one of;
a surface of the substrate facing the movable electrode, a surface of the movable electrode facing the substrate, and a surface of the tethering means facing the substrate,wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the EMS device is non-rigid. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of manufacturing an electromechanical systems (EMS) device, comprising:
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providing a substrate; forming a stationary electrode over the substrate; forming a movable electrode over the stationary electrode, wherein the movable electrode is configured to move to three or more positions across a gap by electrostatic actuation between the movable electrode and the stationary electrode; forming a plurality of tethers symmetrically disposed around the edges of the movable electrode; and forming a plurality of protrusions connected to and protruding from a first surface of the EMS device, the plurality of protrusions rotationally symmetric about a center of the movable electrode, wherein the movable electrode is configured to continue moving closer towards the stationary electrode when any of the protrusions makes contact with a second surface of the EMS device opposite the first surface during actuation, wherein the first surface includes one of;
a surface of the substrate facing the movable electrode, a surface of the movable electrode facing the substrate, and a surface of the plurality of tethers facing the substrate,wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the EMS device is non-rigid. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification