Patent ID: 7499257
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: H01G,H02N

Abstract:
1. A micro-electro-mechanical system varactor, comprising: a substrate; a lower bias conductor partially overlaying the substrate; a first signal conductor partially overlaying the substrate; a dielectric layer at least partially overlaying the first signal conductor; a support structure coupled to the substrate; and a flexible structure coupled to the support structure, suspended over the substrate, comprising an upper bias conductor overlaying at least part of the lower bias conductor and a top conductor overlaying at least part of the first signal conductor, configured to deflect in response to a bias voltage applied between the upper bias conductor and the lower bias conductor, configured for separation between the top conductor and the dielectric layer by an initial separation distance if the bias voltage is zero, configured for physical contact between the top conductor and the dielectric layer if the magnitude of the bias voltage is greater than a specified value, and configured for separation between the top conductor and the dielectric layer by greater than zero and less than the initial separation distance if the bias voltage has magnitude greater than zero and less than the specified value.