Patent ID: 6084281
Filing Date: 2000-07-04
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A magnetic microactuator comprising;a ferromagnetic substrate;a plurality of magnetic poles located on a surface of the substrate;a plurality of coils respectively wound around each pole, each coil having at least one winding;the windings being connected together to combine the fluxes generated across the poles;a movable contact assembly including(a) a support frame located over the substrate surface;(b) a spacer intermediately positioned between the substrate surface and the frame;(c) a cantilevered flexible bar having a longitudinal axis and secured at a first end thereof between the frame and the spacer for locating the bar parallel to the substrate surface when the coils are not energized;(d) a ferromagnetic core mounted along the axis of the flexible cantilevered bar and movable therewith;(e) a contact located along the axis and integrally fixed to the core and movable therewith; and(f) a stationary contact mounted to the substrate surface in alignment with the contact fixed to the core, the fixed and movable contacts normally maintaining a gap and contacting one another upon energization of the coils.