Patent ID: 6894592

Claim:
A package for a micromagnetic latching switch, comprising: a substrate defined by opposing first and second surfaces, wherein said substrate includes a conductively filled via, wherein said via couples a trace on said first surface of said substrate to a contact pad on said second surface of said substrate; a micromagnetic switch integrated circuit (IC) chip that is mounted to said first surface, wherein a contact pad on said chip is coupled to said trace, wherein said chip includes at least one moveable micro-machined cantilever having a magnetic material and a longitudinal axis; a permanent magnet positioned closely adjacent to said chip, wherein said permanent magnet produces a first magnetic field which induces a magnetization in said magnetic material, said magnetization characterized by a magnetization vector pointing in a direction along said longitudinal axis of said cantilever, wherein said first magnetic field is anproximately perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; an electromagnet producing a second magnetic field to switch said cantilever between a first stable state and a second stable state, wherein a temporary current through said electromagnet produces said second magnetic field such that a component of said second magnetic field parallel to said longitudinal axis changes direction of said magnetization vector thereby causing said cantilever to switch between said first stable state and said second stable state; and a cap attached to said first surface, wherein an inner surface of said cap forms an enclosure to enclose said chip on said first surface.