Patent ID: 6265758
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: H02N

Abstract:
A semiconductor active electrostatic device comprising: active means for generating an output electrostatic force in response to an applied electrostatic field, the output electrostatic force having a transition point at a predetermined threshold level of the applied electrostatic field, the active means having a semiconductor region containing carriers movable in response to the applied electrostatic field, the carriers being sufficiently localized within the semiconductor region when the applied electrostatic field exceeds the predetermined threshold level to thereby increase the output electrostatic force more sharply than when the applied electrostatic field is below the predetermined threshold level; field means for generating an electrostatic field and applying the electrostatic field to the semiconductor region of the active means; and control means for controlling the strength of the electrostatic field to selectively exceed the predetermined threshold level so as to localize the carriers within the semiconductor region to thereby generate an output electrostatic force.