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. 02, 2005
Filed:
May. 29, 2002
Eric M. Prophet, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Eric M. Prophet, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Superconductor Technologies, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Abstract
A MEMS switch assembly comprising a substrate and a resilient switching member is provided. The resilient switching member comprises a transverse torsion member having a flexible portion, and a leaf spring and cantilever that extend from the flexible portion of the torsion member. The switching assembly further comprises a first anchoring member mounting the torsion member to the stable structure, and a second anchoring member mounting the leaf spring to the stable structure. In this manner, the leaf spring has a flexible portion between the first and second anchors that can be alternately flexed in opposing directions to deflect the cantilever end in the respective opposing directions. The leaf spring can exhibit a first stable geometry (e.g., a convex geometry) when flexed in one of the opposite directions, and a second stable geometry (e.g., a concave geometry) when flexed in another of the opposite directions. Thus, the switch can be switched between two stable states using a momentary force and can maintain these two stable states without further expenditure of energy.