Patent ID: 6882264

Claim:
A method for fabricating a self-latching microscale switch, the method comprising: (a) depositing a first conductive layer on a substrate; (b) forming a stationary contact by removing a portion of the first conductive layer; (c) depositing a sacrificial layer on the stationary contact and the first conductive layer; (d) depositing a second conductive layer on the sacrificial layer; (e) forming a movable contact by removing a portion of the second conductive layer; (f) depositing a structural layer on the movable contact and the sacrificial layer; (g) forming a via through the structural layer to the movable contact; (h) depositing a third conductive layer on the structural layer and in the via; (i) removing a portion of the third conductive layer to form an electrothermal latch, wherein the electrothermal latch electrically communicates with the movable contact through the via; and (j) removing a sufficient amount of the sacrificial layer so as to define a first gap between the stationary contact and the movable contact.