Patent ID: 7630120

Claim:
A microelectromechanical device, comprising: a substrate; a first electrode formed in a layer of a known thickness disposed on top of and separated from the substrate, said first electrode including a first hinge having a length and a width both substantially greater than the thickness of the layer, the first electrode having a plurality of spaced apart extensions extending from opposing sides of the first electrode, the spaced apart extensions defining a plurality of grooves interspersed with the extensions; a pair of additional electrodes fixedly formed on the substrate adjacent to the opposing sides of the first electrode, the additional electrodes having a plurality of spaced apart extensions; wherein the first electrode can move substantially parallel to the surface of the substrate such that the extensions of a first side of the first electrode substantially overlaps the extensions of one of the additional electrodes in a first state and the extensions of a second side of the first electrode substantially overlap the extensions of the other additional electrode in a second state; and a second hinge having one or more first posts fixedly coupled to the substrate and one or more second posts coupled to the first electrode, such that movement of the first electrode between the additional electrodes causes a twisting of the first and second hinges.