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. 31, 2009
Filed:
Oct. 09, 2007
Shinji Murata, Fukushima-ken, JP;
Shinji Murata, Fukushima-ken, JP;
ALPS Electric Co., Ltd., , JP;
Abstract
A variable capacitance element of the invention includes: a columnar vibrator formed inside a cylindrical hole of a supporting wall; a first circular driving electrode disposed above the columnar vibrator; a first circular capacitive electrode disposed in the middle of the columnar vibrator; a second circular driving electrode disposed on the periphery of the cylindrical hole of the supporting wall; and a second circular capacitive electrode disposed on an inner side surface of the supporting wall. An electrostatic force is increased or decreased sequentially in the circumferential direction of the second driving electrode that is divided into four parts by sequentially increasing or decreasing the driving voltage in the circumferential direction of the second driving electrode. As a result, the columnar vibrator is rotated to change the electrostatic capacitance between the first capacitive electrode and the second capacitive electrode.