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:
Aug. 17, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 19, 2002
Li-Shu Chen, Ellicott City, MD (US);
Howard N. Fudem, Baltimore, MD (US);
Donald E. Crockett, Columbia, MD (US);
Philip C. Smith, Ellicott City, MD (US);
Northrop Grumman Corporation, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
A capacitive type MEMS switch having a conductor arrangement comprised of first and second RF conductors deposited on a substrate. A bridge member having a central enlarged portion is positioned over the conductor arrangement. In one embodiment, the first RF conductor has an end defining an open area in which is positioned a pull down electrode, with the end of the first RF conductor substantially surrounding the pull down electrode. In another embodiment, two opposed RF conductors, each having ends with first and second branches, define an open area in which a pull down electrode is positioned. A dielectric layer is deposited on the conductor arrangement such that when a pull down voltage is applied to the pull down electrode, the switch impedance is significantly reduced so as to allow signal propagation between the RF conductors.