Patent ID: 7619497
Filing Date: 2009-11-17
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. An electrostatic relay comprising: a fixed contact having a contact surface; a fixed electrode having a fixed comb-shaped structure; a moving electrode having a movable comb-shaped structure movably supported and positioned away from the fixed electrode, the movable comb-structure extending in the direction opposing and parallel to the extending direction of the fixed comb-shaped structure such that the movable and fixed comb-shaped structures together form a step extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the extending direction of the fixed comb-shaped structure; a moving contact attached to the moving electrode and having a contact surface capable of being contacted with and separated from the contact surface of the fixed contact, the contact surface of the moving contact being positioned at an oblique upper position relative to the contact surface of the fixed contact in relation to the extending direction of the fixed electrode when the moving electrode is separated from the fixed electrode; wherein when a predetermined voltage is applied between the fixed electrode and moving electrode, the moving electrode moves such that the distance between the fixed and the movable comb-shaped structures is reduced and the height of the step formed by the movable and fixed comb-shaped structures is reduced and such that the contact surfaces of the moving contact and the fixed contract slidably contact each other.