Patent · US Expired

Microswitch and method for manufacturing the same

US7372191B2 · kind B2 · utility

13Cited by
1References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 28, 2005
Grant dateMay 13, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 11, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10N30/2042
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A microswitch is provided with a movable electrode contact component including a bending displacement component having a cantilever shape, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element having a piezoelectric/electrostrictor and a voltage application electrode layers, and a substrate joined to a support portion of the movable electrode contact component and having a fixed electrode disposed on the surface thereof, wherein the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element is driven to displace the movable electrode, so that the movable electrode and the fixed electrode can be brought into a state of being electrically connected to each other or disconnected from each other. At least a thin plate of the bending displacement component is made of a ceramic material, and the thin plate, the piezoelectric/electrostrictor, and the voltage application electrode layers are integrated by firing. The microswitch can efficiently switch high-frequency signals at low power consumption and has excellent responsiveness, excellent durability, and high reliability of long term driving.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.