Did You Know...
...that the inventor of the electric motor was a blacksmith named Thomas Davenport? Described as "a brilliantly unsuccessful inventor", Davenport invented the first rotary electric motor. In 1836 he headed out -- on foot -- from his Vermont home to file a patent application at the Patent Office in Washington, D.C. By the time he got there, he had squandered away his money and couldn't afford the $30 filing fee so he turned around and went home. When he later mailed in his application with money he'd raised, the Patent office was destroyed in a fire. He did finally get credit for his invention on Feb. 5, 1837.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8110761 | Switching device and communication apparatus and method related thereto A switching device includes a stationary portion, a movable portion having a movable land portion, and a first beam portion and a second beam portion that couple the movable land portion and the stationary portion with each other. A first signal line extends over th... | 02/07/2012 |
| 8003906 | Crossbar device constructed with MEMS switches Embodiments of crossbar devices constructed with Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) switches are disclosed herein. A crossbar device may comprise m input terminals, n output terminals, n control lines and m×n MEMS switches coupled to the n control lines to sel... | 08/23/2011 |
| 7960662 | Radiofrequency or hyperfrequency micro-switch structure and method for producing one such structure The micro-switch structure comprises, on a substrate 1 coated with a passivation layer 2, a first signal line LS-IN and a second signal line LS-OUT disposed in the projected extension of one another, separa... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7952041 | Active-matrix device, electro-optical display device, and electronic apparatus An active-matrix device includes a substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes provided on a first surface of the substrate; a plurality of switching elements provided to correspond to each of the pixel electrodes, each of the switching elements including a fixed ele... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7928333 | Switch structures A device, such as a switch structure, is provided, the device including a contact and a conductive element. The conductive element can be configured to be selectively moveable between a non-contacting position, in which the conductive element is separated from the c... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7906738 | Shaped MEMS contact A MEMS switch fabrication process and apparatus inclusive of a bulbous rounded surface movable contact assembly that is integral with the switch movable element and achieving of long contact wear life with low contact electrical resistance. The disclosed process is ... | 03/15/2011 |
| 7759591 | Pneumatic MEMS switch and method of fabricating the same A pneumatic micro electro mechanical system switch includes a substrate, a pneumatic actuating unit disposed on the substrate; the pneumatic actuating unit having a plurality of variable air cavities communicating such that when one of the plurality of variable air ... | 07/20/2010 |
| 7754986 | Mechanical switch that reduces the effect of contact resistance A switch structure substantially reduces the effect of contact resistance by placing two mechanical switches in parallel between a source and a load, and sequentially closing and opening the mechanical switches so that one switch closes before the other switch, and ... | 07/13/2010 |
| 7745747 | Microswitch with a first actuated portion and a second contact portion A microswitch which is electrostatically actuated, which has a first open position and a second closed position in which said switch closes at least a contact line (30); the microswitch comprising a movable part (10) ... | 06/29/2010 |
| 7737376 | Mechanical switch Apparatus including a substrate and a mechanical switch, the mechanical switch located over the substrate, the mechanical switch including: a first electrical contact over the substrate; a support over the substrate, the support including a region moveable relative ... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7714240 | Microfabricated triggered vacuum switch A microfabricated vacuum switch is disclosed which includes a substrate upon which an anode, cathode and trigger electrode are located. A cover is sealed over the substrate under vacuum to complete the vacuum switch. In some embodiments of the present invention, a m... | 05/11/2010 |
| 7709757 | Microsystem comprising a deformable bridge The invention relates to a microsystem comprising a deformable bridge, the ends of which are connected to a substrate. According to the invention, at least one actuation electrode, which is solidly connected to the bridge, is disposed between the center of the bridg... | 05/04/2010 |
| 7705254 | Micro switch device and manufacturing method A micro switch device includes a switch substrate, an electrostatic cover which is separated from the switch substrate, and a bezel which limits a movable area of the electrostatic cover. An input terminal, an output terminal, a first driving electrode, and a second... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7473859 | Gating voltage control system and method for electrostatically actuating a micro-electromechanical device A gating voltage control system and method are provided for electrostatically actuating a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) device, e.g., a MEMS switch. The device may comprise an electrostatically responsive actuator movable through a gap for actuating the dev... | 01/06/2009 |
| 7449649 | Liquid switch An apparatus comprising a liquid switch. The liquid switch comprises a substrate having a surface with first and second regions thereon and a fluid configured to contact both of the regions. The regions each comprise electrically connected fluid-support-structures, ... | 11/11/2008 |
| 7432788 | Microelectromechanical magnetic switches having rotors that rotate into a recess in a substrate A magnetic switch includes a substrate having a recess therein. A rotor or rotors are provided on the substrate. The rotor includes a tail portion that overlies the recess, and a head portion that extends on the substrate outside the recess. The rotor may be fabrica... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7420447 | Latching micro-magnetic switch with improved thermal reliability A micro-magnetic switch includes a permanent magnet and a supporting device having contacts coupled thereto and an embedded coil. The supporting device can be positioned proximate to the magnet. The switch also includes a cantilever coupled at a central point to the... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7420320 | Piezoelectric thin film device and method for manufacturing the same A piezoelectric thin film device includes an amorphous metal film disposed on a substrate and a piezoelectric film disposed on the amorphous metal. One of crystal axis of the piezoelectric film is aligned in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the amorphous me... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7420135 | Micro electro-mechanical system switch and method of manufacturing the same A micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switch and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The MEMS switch includes a substrate; signal lines formed on the substrate; main electrodes spaced apart by a distance and formed over the substrate; an actuating b... | 09/02/2008 |
| 7414500 | High-reliability micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) switch apparatus and method A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) slotline switch includes a slotline transmission line structure defined on top of substrate, a doubly-anchored conductive beam disposed perpendicular to, and above slotline so that there is a certain spacing between the beam ... | 08/19/2008 |
| 7405641 | Micro-electro-mechanical switch A micro-electro-mechanical switch is described. The switch comprises a substrate, with a signal transmission portion and an activation portion attached with the substrate. The activation portion includes an armature activation electrode positioned above a substrate ... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7391090 | Systems and methods for electrically coupling wires and conductors A first device includes a micrometer-scale or smaller geometry first conductor. A second device includes a micrometer-scale or smaller second conductor. An actuator the first and second devices relative to each other between first and second positions. Signals are s... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7391290 | Micro magnetic latching switches and methods of making same A latching micro magnetic switch includes a magnet located proximate to a supporting structure. The magnet produces a first magnetic field with field lines symmetrically spaced about a central axis or non-uniform field lines. The switch also includes a cantilever su... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7382218 | Micromechanical switch and production process thereof The micromechanical switch comprises a deformable bridge (1), attached via its ends to a substrate (2), and actuating means (3) to deform the deformable bridge (1) so as to make an electric contact between a first conducting element (4... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7381583 | MEMS RF switch integrated process A capacitance coupled, transmission line-fed, radio frequency MEMS switch and its fabrication process using photoresist and other low temperature processing steps are described. The achieved switch is disposed in a low cost dielectric housing free of undesired elect... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7373717 | Method of manufacturing a self-sustaining center-anchor microelectromechanical switch Provided is a manufacturing method of self-sustaining center-anchor microelectromechanical switch driven by an electrostatic force used for controlling a signal transmission in an electronic system, which can suppress deformation of a movement plane generated during... | 05/20/2008 |
| 7372191 | Microswitch and method for manufacturing the same A microswitch is provided with a movable electrode contact component including a bending displacement component having a cantilever shape, a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element having a piezoelectric/electrostrictor and a voltage application electrode layers, and... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7372348 | Stressed material and shape memory material MEMS devices and methods for manufacturing Disclosed is a MEMS device which comprises at least one shape memory material such as a shape memory alloy (SMA) layer and at least one stressed material layer. Examples of such MEMS devices include an actuator, a micropump, a microvalve, or a non-destructive fuse-t... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7372349 | Apparatus utilizing latching micromagnetic switches An apparatus includes an electrical device and a latching micromagnetic switch that controls energy flow through the electrical device. The latching micromagnetic switch includes a cantilever, a permanent magnet, and a coil configured to latch the latching micromagn... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7368311 | Method and system for fabrication of integrated tunable/switchable passive microwave and millimeter wave modules An interconnect module and a method of manufacturing the same. The method of making an interconnect module on a substrate comprises forming an interconnect section on the substrate. The interconnect section comprises at least two metal interconnect layers separated ... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7362199 | Collapsible contact switch Embodiments of the invention describe a contact switch, which may include a bottom electrode structure including a bottom actuation electrode and a top electrode structure including a top actuation electrode and one or more stoppers able to maintain a predetermined ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7362605 | Nanoelectromechanical memory cells and data storage devices Nanoelectromechanical (NEM) memory cells are provided by anchoring a conductive nanometer-scale beam (e.g., a nanotube) to a base and allowing a portion of the beam to move. A charge containment layer is provided in the vicinity of this free-moving portion. To read ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7358579 | Reducing the actuation voltage of microelectromechanical system switches A microelectromechanical system switch may include a relatively stiff cantilevered beam coupled, on its free end, to a more compliant or flexible extension. A contact may be positioned at the free end of the cantilevered beam. The extension reduces the actuation vol... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7357017 | Wafer level capped sensor A sensor has a die (with a working portion), a cap coupled with the die to at least partially cover the working portion, and a conductive pathway extending through the cap to the working portion. The pathway provides an electrical interface to the working portion. | 04/15/2008 |
| 7355258 | Method and apparatus for bending electrostatic switch An electronic circuit is formed by closely spacing metallic gate and drain interconnects to a flexible portion of a source interconnect. A gate voltage results in electrostatic attraction and lateral mechanical movement of the flexible source interconnect portion an... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7354787 | Electrode design and positioning for controlled movement of a moveable electrode and associated support structure A MEMS system including a fixed electrode and a suspended moveable electrode that is controllable over a wide range of motion. In traditional systems where an fixed electrode is positioned under the moveable electrode, the range of motion is limited because the supp... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7352266 | Head electrode region for a reliable metal-to-metal contact micro-relay MEMS switch A head electrode region for an electromechanical device is presented, comprising a first insulating layer having electrode region edges; and a head electrode, where the head electrode comprises a locking portion, with the locking portion surrounding the electrode re... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7348870 | Structure and method of fabricating a hinge type MEMS switch A hinge type MEMS switch that is fully integratable within a semiconductor fabrication process, such as a CMOS, is described. The MEMS switch constructed on a substrate consists of two posts, each end thereof terminating in a cap; a movable conductive plate having a... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7342472 | Bistable micromechanical switch, actuating method and corresponding method for realizing the same A deformable suspension bridge is attached to a substrate by two legs arranged in such a manner as to transversally subdivide the bridge into a medial segment arranged between the legs and into two outwardly projecting peripheral segments. Peripheral actuators and m... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7342473 | Method and apparatus for reducing cantilever stress in magnetically actuated relays Methods, systems, and apparatuses are disclosed for magnetically-actuated relays/switches that suppress cantilever and/or hinge deformation. A permanent magnet produces a first magnetic field. A movable element is held between a pair of axially-aligned, rotationally... | 03/11/2008 |
