Patent ID: 6268995
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: H01G

Abstract:
A variable capacitor, comprising:a first electrical terminal structure;a second electrical terminal structure;a housing;a vacuum bellows disposed in said housing, said vacuum bellows having a first diameter, said vacuum bellows and at least a portion of said housing defining an interior vacuum chamber having a pressure disposed therein that is less than atmospheric pressure;a current-carrying bellows disposed in said housing, said current carrying bellows having a second diameter larger than said first diameter, said current-carrying bellows comprising a conductive material and surrounding said vacuum bellows, said current-carrying bellows being disposed in said interior vacuum chamber, said current-carrying bellows being conductively coupled to said second electrical terminal structure;a fixed-position capacitor structure conductively coupled to said first electrical terminal structure; anda variable-position capacitor structure conductively coupled to said second electrical terminal structure, said variable-position capacitor structure being movable relative to said fixed-position capacitor structure to generate a variable capacitance between said capacitor structures.