Patent ID: 6876047

Claim:
A microscale, electrostatically actuated switch having a movable, trilayered microcomponent, the switch comprising: (a) a substrate including a stationary electrode and a stationary contact attached thereto; (b) a resilient structural layer including at least one end fixed with respect to the substrate, a bottom surface suspended over the substrate, and a top surface opposing the bottom surface; (c) a movable electrode attached to the bottom surface of the resilient structural layer whereby the movable electrode is separated from the stationary electrode by a first gap; (e) an electrode interconnect attached to the top surface of the resilient structural layer and connected to the movable electrode for electrical communication; (f) a movable contact attached to the bottom surface of the resilient structural layer whereby the movable contact is separated from the stationary contact by a second gap and wherein the movable contact is positioned adjacent the at least one end and the movable electrode substantially covers an area of the bottom surface surrounding the movable contact; and (g) a contact interconnect formed on the top surface of the resilient structural layer and connected to the movable contact for electrical communication.