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.

Date of Patent:
Nov. 16, 2004

Filed:

Feb. 10, 2003
Applicant:
Inventors:

Michael Meixner, Erlangen, DE;

Leena Paivikki Buchwalter, Hopewell Junction, NY (US);

Jennifer Louise Lund, Brookeville, MD (US);

Hariklia Deligianni, Tenafly, NJ (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01H 5/700 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01H 5/700 ;
Abstract

Microswitch, comprising a base element (G) with a contact surface (KG) and an electrode (EG), and a switching element (S) with a contact surface (KS) and an electrode (ES) disposed opposite the electrode (EG) of the base element (G) at a distance (g). The switching element (S) is provided with a spring constant and is connected at least with a part of its edge portion with the base element (G) in a fixed manner. The contact surfaces (KG, KS) form a switching contact which is closable against a reaction force caused by the spring constant by means of a voltage applied to the electrodes (EG, ES). The base element (G) and the switching element (S) each comprise an auxiliary electrode (HG, HS) at a distance (a) from the electrode (EG, ES), to which a voltage can be applied. For opening the switching contact the electrodes (EG, ES) have a first voltage potential (U ) and the auxiliary electrodes have a second voltage potential (U ) of the voltage. The voltage potentials (U , U ) effect an accumulation of positive and negative charge carriers on the surface portions of the electrodes (EG, ES) and the auxiliary electrodes (HG, HS) such that surface portions with positive and negative charge carriers are opposite each other in a lateral direction and surface portions with the same charge carriers are opposite each other in an orthogonal direction.


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