Patent ID: 7980671

Claim:
An electrostatic actuator comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode positioned in proximity to the first electrode and attached to the first electrode only at discrete sites so as to provide a gap between the first electrode and the second electrode, the second electrode configured to deflect toward the first electrode; and a landing post positioned in the gap and laterally between the discrete sites, wherein the landing post comprises: a patterned bump on and in surface contact with a support layer; and a conformal insulator layer extending over a greater surface of the gap than the patterned bump and formed over and in surface contact with the patterned bump and in surface contact with the support layer; wherein: the landing post protrudes out into the gap so as to limit the minimum contact spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode; and the gap is between the conformal insulator layer and the second electrode; and wherein: the support layer is the first electrode and the patterned bump physically contacts the first electrode; and the conformal insulator layer physically contacts the patterned bump and the first electrode.