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. 16, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 29, 2001
Ian Y. K. Yee, Austin, TX (US);
Teravicta Technologies, Inc., Austin, TX (US);
Abstract
In a method for forming a micromechanical device, a force associated with operation of the device is varied between locations spaced across a conductive element of the device. The method may be used to form a switch adapted such that a force associated with actuation of the switch varies between locations spaced across a contact element of the switch. The varied force may include a required closing force for the switch, an applied force during actuation of the switch, a restoring force tending to open the switch, and/or a sticking force tending to keep the switch closed. A variable-valued circuit element having a conductive element and conductive pad may also be formed, adapted such that a fraction of the conductive element which is moved to the proximity of the conductive pad is variable depending on a total magnitude of a force applied.