Patent ID: 7473859

Claim:
A gating voltage control system for electrostatically actuating a micro-electromechanical systems switch, wherein the switch comprises an electrostatically responsive actuator movable through a gap for actuating the switch to a respective switching condition corresponding to one of a closed switching condition and an open switching condition, said gating voltage control system comprising: a drive circuit electrically coupled to a gate terminal of the switch to apply a gating voltage; and a controller electrically coupled to the drive circuit to control the gating voltage applied to the gating terminal in accordance with a gating voltage control sequence, wherein the gating voltage control sequence comprises a first interval for ramping up the gating voltage to a voltage level for producing an electrostatic force sufficient to accelerate the actuator through a portion of the gap to be traversed by the actuator to reach a respective switching condition, the gating voltage control sequence further comprising a second interval for ramping down the gating voltage to a level sufficient to reduce the electrostatic force acting on the movable actuator, thereby reducing the amount of force at which the actuator engages a switch contact for establishing a closed switching condition, or avoiding an overshoot position of the actuator while reaching an open switching condition.