Patent ID: 6621139
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A tunable, 3-dimensional solenoid comprising:a pre-processed semiconductor substrate having a silicon dioxide layer on top; two spaced-apart lower electrodes embedded in said silicon dioxide layer; two curved arms each having a free end spaced-apart from a top surface of said silicon dioxide layer and a fixed end attached to said top surface of the silicon dioxide layer, each of said two curved arms being formed of a bi-layer metal laminate wherein a bottom metal layer is formed of a first metal and a top metal layer is formed of a second metal having a coefficient of thermal expansion smaller than, or a residual stress larger than, that of the first metal such that the ends of said curved arms curve upwardly away; an inductor coil formed of a conductive metal having two ends each connected to one of said free ends of the curved arms, respectively, for providing electrical communication between said two fixed ends of said curved arms; and an inductance control means for feeding a voltage to said two lower electrodes and said two curved arms to control a deflection of said two curved arms away from said substrate.