Variable permittivity structure based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS)
US6958664B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 2003 |
| Grant date | Oct 25, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01P5/04
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A variable permittivity structure is proposed based on composition of two different dielectrics in a transmission line. The composition is adjusted through a thermally-actuated MEMS structure, and this compositional adjustment alters the relative permittivity at least at a macro level. Adjusting the permittivity leads to tune-able impedances in the associated transmission line. The proposed invention can also be used as a variable capacitor, and it can be used to create variable capacitor, and it can be used to create variable couplers and other structures. Since the approach does not alter any conducting surfaces in the transmission line, it is believed to lead to a superior technique for impedance matching to reduced physical discontinuity.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.