Patent ID: 7916879

Claim:
An electrostatic acoustic transducer comprising a diaphragm formed on a first substrate; one or more electrically conductive cantilevers attached to the center section of said diaphragm, the other end of said cantilevers being free to move; means for providing an air gap between said cantilevers and diaphragm; an electrically conductive counter electrode formed on a second substrate; means for attaching said second substrate to said first substrate; an electrically insulating layer on said counter electrode or said cantilevers, positioned to prevent electrical connection between said cantilevers and counter electrode in case said cantilevers and counter electrode are in mechanical contact; a cavity formed in said counter electrode to realize an initial gap between said cantilevers and counter electrode; one or more venting holes formed in said second substrate in areas that overlay said diaphragm to allow air to flow to and from said cavity; means for providing electrical connection to apply and vary an electric potential between said counter electrode and cantilevers causing an electrostatic attraction force between cantilevers and counter electrode, causing said cantilevers to collapse on to said counter electrode, causing a transfer of force to said diaphragm, thereby creating a deflection of said diaphragm; and means for the reduction of stiction between said cantilevers and counter electrode when in mechanical contact, thereby allowing the diaphragm and cantilever restoring forces to separate said cantilevers from the counter electrode when the applied electrical potential is reduced or removed.