Patent ID: 6373682
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: H01G,H01H

Abstract:
A MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) device driven by electrostatic forces, comprising:a microelectronic substrate defining a generally planar surface; a substrate signal electrode forming a layer on said substrate; a substrate control electrode forming a layer on said substrate and electrically isolated from said substrate signal electrode; a moveable composite overlying said substrate signal electrode and said substrate control electrode and having a signal electrode, a control electrode and a biasing element, said composite having a fixed portion attached to the underlying substrate, a medial portion adjacent to the fixed portion and a distal portion adjacent to the medial portion, the medial and distal portion being moveable with respect to said substrate signal electrode; and an insulator electrically isolating said substrate signal electrode from said composite signal electrode and said substrate control electrode from said composite control electrode, whereby the capacitance between said substrate signal electrode and said composite signal electrode is varied by changing the separation between said substrate and said composite.