The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 30, 1999
Filed:
Jan. 28, 1998
Subhas Bothra, San Jose, CA (US);
Jayarama N Shenoy, Santa Clara, CA (US);
VLSI Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention is a micro-electromechanical voltage shifter. According to one embodiment, the voltage shifter of the present invention comprises a capacitor and micro-electromechanical means for changing a capacitance of the capacitor. The capacitor is initially charged and then electrically isolated. When the capacitance is altered, potential difference across the capacitor is shifted accordingly. In one embodiment of the present invention, the micro-electromechanical means includes a gear wheel driven by a micro-motor. The gear wheel preferably includes a plurality of teeth protruding along a circumference of the gear wheel. Further, the gear wheel is positioned next to the capacitor and configured to move the teeth into and out of a gap between the capacitor plates. As the teeth is preferably made of dielectric material, the voltage across the capacitor is changed as a tooth enters or leaves the gap. In another embodiment, the teeth may be made of a conducting material. The thickness of the teeth may also vary to provide a wide range of voltage levels.