Variable capacitor with wobble motor disc selector
First Claim
1. A wobble disc capacitor, comprising:
- a substantially planar stator having a substrate with a central pivot;
an annular contact mounted on the substrate of the stator substantially concentric with the central pivot;
an annular array of drive elements mounted on the substrate of the stator substantially concentric between the central pivot and the contact;
at least one stationary capacitor electrode mounted to the substrate of the stator radially inward of the contact;
a circular, substantially planar, electrically conductive rotor mounted to the central pivot such that a center point of the rotor is axially spaced-apart from a center point of the stator, the rotor having an outer perimeter and being substantially concentric with the stator, the rotor also being tilted about the central pivot relative to the stator such that the perimeter is aligned and touches the contact at all times; and
whereinin response to the activation of at least one drive element, the rotor is movable to a plurality of positions about the stator to define a gap between the rotor and the capacitor electrode to establish a variable capacitance value therewith for circuit application.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices for use in highly integrated radio frequency transceivers utilize micro-electro-mechanical systems, or wobble motors, to form superior switches and to select and vary components that determine different frequencies of operation. Each device has a substrate with concentric rings of electrodes and contacts. A circular rotor is centrally pivoted or wobbled to engage the contacts along its circumferential edge. The rotor may be mechanically or materially modified to create symmetric or asymmetric forms which interact with one or more stationary capacitor electrodes on the substrate. The positioning of the rotor forms in terms of rotation, overlap and separation, relative to the capacitor electrodes, varies the capacitance.
100 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A wobble disc capacitor, comprising:
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a substantially planar stator having a substrate with a central pivot; an annular contact mounted on the substrate of the stator substantially concentric with the central pivot; an annular array of drive elements mounted on the substrate of the stator substantially concentric between the central pivot and the contact; at least one stationary capacitor electrode mounted to the substrate of the stator radially inward of the contact; a circular, substantially planar, electrically conductive rotor mounted to the central pivot such that a center point of the rotor is axially spaced-apart from a center point of the stator, the rotor having an outer perimeter and being substantially concentric with the stator, the rotor also being tilted about the central pivot relative to the stator such that the perimeter is aligned and touches the contact at all times; and
whereinin response to the activation of at least one drive element, the rotor is movable to a plurality of positions about the stator to define a gap between the rotor and the capacitor electrode to establish a variable capacitance value therewith for circuit application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A wobble disc variable capacitor, comprising:
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a substantially planar stator having a substrate with a central pivot; an annular contact mounted on the substrate of the stator substantially concentric with the central pivot; an annular array of drive elements mounted on the substrate of the stator substantially concentric between the central pivot and the contact; at least one stationary capacitor electrode mounted to the substrate of the stator radially inward of the contact; a circular, substantially planar, electrically conductive rotor mounted to the central pivot such that a center point of the rotor is axially spaced-apart from a center point of the stator, the rotor having an outer perimeter and being substantially concentric with the stator, the rotor also being tilted about the central pivot relative to the stator such that the perimeter is aligned and touches the contact at all times; a conductive capacitor coupling surface on the rotor; and
whereinin response to the activation of at least one drive element, the rotor is movable to a plurality of positions about the stator to define a gap between the rotor and the capacitor electrode to establish a variable capacitance value therewith for circuit application; and
whereinan amount of overlap between the capacitor coupling surface and the capacitor electrode is manipulated by cycling the rotor between the positions to further vary the capacitive value therewith for circuit application. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A wobble disc variable capacitor, comprising:
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a substantially planar stator having a substrate with a central pivot; an annular contact mounted on the substrate of the stator substantially concentric with the central pivot; an annular array of drive elements mounted on the substrate of the stator substantially concentric between the central pivot and the contact; at least one stationary capacitor electrode mounted to the substrate of the stator radially inward of the contact; a circular, substantially planar, electrically conductive rotor mounted to the central pivot such that a center point of the rotor is axially spaced-apart from a center point of the stator, the rotor having an outer perimeter and being substantially concentric with the stator, the rotor also being tilted about the central pivot relative to the stator such that the perimeter is aligned and touches the contact at all times; a hole in an underside of the rotor; and
whereinin response to the activation of at least one drive element, the rotor is movable to a plurality of positions about the stator to define a gap between the rotor and the capacitor electrode to establish a variable capacitance value therewith for circuit application; and
whereinan amount of overlap between the hole in the rotor and the capacitor electrode is manipulated by cycling the rotor between the positions to further vary the capacitive value therewith for circuit application. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification