Patent ID: 6739132
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: B81B,F01B,F02G,F03G,H01H,H02N

Abstract:
A microelectromechanical structure comprising:a substrate defining a reference plane; a first beam having a proximal end and a distal end, the first beam having a first width adjacent to the proximal end and a second greater width adjacent to the distal end, the proximal end of the first beam coupled to the substrate wherein the first beam extends in a first plane parallel with the reference plane, wherein the first beam comprises three layers including a dielectric layer sandwiched between two conductive layers; a second beam having a proximate and a distal end, the proximal end of the second beam coupled to the substrate wherein the second beam extends in the first plane parallel with the reference plane; and a connector defining a distal end of the structure, the connector coupling the distal end of the first beam to the distal end of the second beam; wherein a potential difference is applied between the two conductive layers of the first beam so that current flows into one conductive layer and out the other conductive layer and no potential difference is applied across the second beam.