Patent ID: 6842097

Claim:
A micro-electro-mechanical switch comprising: a substrate; an input line on top of the substrate; an output line on top of the substrate and separated from the input line; a substrate electrode on top of the substrate, located near but separated from the input line and the output line; and an armature comprising: a first beam structural layer having a first end mechanically connected with the substrate and a second end including a set of tines including at least one tine with a terminus portion rotatably suspended therefrom, with the terminus portion including a conducting transmission line positioned over the input and output lines, with the at least a portion of the conducting transmission line exposed for conformal contact with the input and output lines; and an armature electrode positioned directly above the substrate electrode and suspended on the armature; an insulating layer positioned between the armature electrode and the substrate electrode to prevent short-circuiting therebetween; whereby when the switch is actuated into a “closed” position, the terminus portion is free to rotate to ensure a conformal contact between the exposed portion of the conducting transmission line and the input and output lines in order to form a circuit therebetween to permit the flow of electricity.