Patent ID: 7362199

Claim:
A device comprising: a contact switch comprising: a bottom electrode structure including a bottom actuation electrode; and a top electrode structure including: a generally rigid top actuation electrode; one or more stoppers positioned on said top actuation electrode and able to maintain a predetermined gap between said top actuation electrode and said bottom actuation electrode when said switch is in a collapsed state; a non-rigid support beam operably attached to said bottom electrode structure to support said top actuation electrode; a non-rigid contact beam attached to said top actuation electrode and distal from said support beam; and a first electrical contact positioned on said contact beam and able to be electrically connected with a second electrical contact positioned on said bottom electrode structure when said switch is in a closed state, wherein said contact beam is deflected when said switch is in said closed state, and wherein a spring constant of said contact beam is bigger than a spring constant of said support beam.