Patent ID: 8891223

Claim:
A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) variable capacitor comprising: a substrate comprising a semiconductor material, the substrate including a surface; first and second feed lines extending on the surface of the substrate; a first capacitive plate spaced apart from the first and second feed lines and movable with respect to the first and second feed lines; and a second capacitive plate spaced apart from the first and second feed lines and movable separately from the first capacitive plate with respect to the first and second feed lines, wherein the first and second capacitive plates are separately movable with respect to the first and second feed lines for varying the capacitance between the first and second feed lines over a predetermined capacitance range; first and second actuation components being movable with respect to the first and second feed lines, wherein the first and second capacitive plates are attached to the first and second actuation components, respectively; and a shielding material positioned within the substrate and in an area substantially beneath the feed lines and capacitive plates but not beneath the first and second actuation components, the shielding material having a shape that is contoured to substantially match a shape of the first and second feed lines and of the first and second capacitive plates for reducing one of RF interference and loss coupled to the semiconducting material of the substrate.