Patent ID: 6225711
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: H03K

Abstract:
A solid state toggle switch, comprising:a silicon member having an exposed surface;first and second ungrounded, electrically isolated, and closely physically spaced, capacitor plates covered by a thin layer of said silicon member in a manner to place said exposed surface within a dielectric field-influence of said first and second capacitor plates;a solid state amplifier formed as a first portion of said silicon member, said amplifier having an ungrounded input node and an ungrounded output node;a feedback circuit connecting said first capacitor plate to said amplifier input node and said second capacitor plate to said amplifier output node, such that a signal at said output node is responsive to the presence/absence of an ungrounded object on said exposed surface;a solid state comparator formed as a second portion of said silicon member, said comparator having a noninverting input, an inverting input, and an output, said inverting input being connected to a reference voltage, and said noninverting input being connected to said amplifier output node;a solid state flip-flop formed as a third portion of said silicon member, said flip-flop having an input and an output; said comparator output being connected to said flip-flop input;said flip-flop responding to a first association of an ungrounded object with said exposed surface to assume a set condition and responding to a second association of an ungrounded object with said exposed surface to assume a reset condition.