Patent ID: 8608085

Claim:
A multi-pole switch comprising: (a) a conducting substrate having a top surface; (b) at least three field electrodes mounted above, and electrically isolated from, each other and from said top surface of said conducting substrate; (c) a conductive cantilever element having a first end portion secured to said top surface of said conducting substrate, an opposite second free end portion positioned in spaced relation to said field electrodes and operable in response to an electrostatic or electrodynamic charge established between said cantilever element and said field electrodes to deflect in a direction towards said field electrodes; and (d) a plurality of contact electrode poles mounted above, and electrically isolated from, said top surface of said conducting substrate below the top of said cantilever element second free end portion and above said field electrodes and positioned to contact said cantilever element as said cantilever element is deflected in a direction defined by the net field applied by said field electrodes.