Moving a free-standing structure between high and low adhesion states
US8289674B2 · kind B2 · utility
2Cited by
12References
20Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 2009 |
| Grant date | Oct 16, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2059/0063
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein generally solve a stiction problem in switching devices by using a series of pulses of force which take the switch from being strongly adhered to a landing electrode to the point where it is only weakly adhered. Once in the low adhesion state, the switch can then be pulled away from contact with a lower force provided by either the spring constant of the switch and/or the electrostatic forces resulting from low voltages applied to nearby electrodes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.