Patent · US Active

Variable capacitor employing MEMS technology

US8039922B2 · kind B2 · utility

20Cited by
2References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 24, 2009
Grant dateOct 18, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 26, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01G5/18
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

When a positive voltage of V1 is applied to a drive capacitor with a braking voltage V2 at 0V, a moveable electrode moves toward the drive electrode, and a capacitance C of a tunable capacitor becomes smaller. When the braking voltage V2 is applied a lower portion brake electrode of the brake capacitor moves in a horizontal direction, such that the inter electrode separation distance between an upper portion brake electrode and the lower portion brake electrode becomes 0 μm. The moveable electrode configured integrally formed with the lower portion brake electrode also moves in the horizontal direction, and the inter electrode separation distance between the moveable electrode and a fixed electrode becomes 0 μm. Since the two electrodes make contact with each other with a dielectric layer interposed therebetween, the position of the moveable electrode can be stably maintained by frictional force between the electrodes.

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