Patent ID: 7312677

Claim:
A micro-switching element comprising: a substrate; a pair of supporting members spaced from each other and fixed to the substrate; a movable beam that includes a membrane bridging between the supporting members, a movable contact electrode formed on one surface of the membrane directed away from the substrate and a movable driving electrode formed on said one surface of the membrane, the membrane including a pair of enlarged end portions corresponding in position to the pair of supporting members; a pair of stationary contact electrodes arranged to face the movable contact electrode; a stationary driving electrode cooperating with the movable driving electrode for generation of electrostatic force, wherein the supporting members are smaller than the enlarged end portions, respectively, of the membrane both with respect to width and length; and wherein the membrane is formed with an opening in facing relationship to the stationary contact electrodes, the movable contact electrode extending through and beyond the opening of the membrane to project toward the stationary contact electrodes.