Electronically controlled squishable composite switch

US8933496B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology · US

Inventors

• Vladimir Bulovic · Lexington, US
• Jeffrey H. Lang · Sudbury, US
• Sarah Paydavosi · Winchester, US
• Annie I-Jen Wang · Cambridge, US
• Trisha L. Andrew · Cambridge, US
• Apoorva Murarka · Cambridge, US
• Farnaz Niroui · Schreiber, CA
• Frank Yaul · Bellevue, US
• Jeffrey C. Grossman · Berkeley, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 7, 2011
• Grant date: Jan 13, 2015
• Expiry date: May 16, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S977/742

Abstract

A method and apparatus for making analog and digital electronics which includes a composite including a squishable material doped with conductive particles. A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device has a channel made from the composite, where the channel forms a primary conduction path for the device. Upon applied voltage, capacitive actuators squeeze the composite, causing it to become conductive. The squishable device includes a control electrode, and a composite electrically and mechanically connected to two terminal electrodes. By applying a voltage to the control electrode relative to a first terminal electrode, an electric field is developed between the control electrode and the first terminal electrode. This electric field results in an attractive force between the control electrode and the first terminal electrode, which compresses the composite and enables electric control of the electron conduction from the first terminal electrode through the channel to the second terminal electrode.