Class 361/207 - Electrostatic

Subclass of Class 361 - Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Definition: Subject matter having electrostatic means.
No. of patents: 36
Last issue date: 04/03/2012

Number	Title	Issue Date
8149559	Piezoelectric actuator driving device and method A driving device for a piezoelectric actuator supplies charges and discharges the piezoelectric actuator through a charging switch and a discharging switch, respectively. The charging switch is repeatedly turned on and off thereby to charge and expand the piezoelect...	04/03/2012
7692914	Microsystem A microsystem consists of at least one sensor and/or actuator, a signal processor and/or control mechanism linked therewith, a timer, and an electrical energy storage unit providing a current source for at least the signal processor and/or control mechanism. The sig...	04/06/2010
7599163	System and method for driving an industrial control device A process control apparatus including an actuator configured to effect changes in an industrial process, a power supply, a plurality of current switches coupled between the actuator and the power supply and a controller coupled to the plurality of current switches. ...	10/06/2009
7573695	Snapdown prevention in voltage controlled MEMS devices An architecture and method are provided for preventing snapdown in a voltage controlled MEMS device having a movable actuator with an actuator electrode coupled to a high voltage power supply (HVPS) through a drive circuit, the movable actuator suspended over a cavi...	08/11/2009
7394639	System and method for driving an industrial control device A process control apparatus including an actuator configured to effect changes in an industrial process, a power supply, a plurality of current switches coupled between the actuator and the power supply and a controller coupled to the plurality of current switches. ...	07/01/2008
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
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
7332835	Micro-electromechanical system based switching module serially stackable with other such modules to meet a voltage rating MEMS-based switching module, as may be electrically connected to other such modules in a series circuit, to achieve a desired voltage rating is provided. A switching array may be made up of a plurality of such switching modules (e.g., used as building blocks of the ...	02/19/2008
7271700	Thin film resistor with current density enhancing layer (CDEL) A thin film resistor device and method of manufacture includes a layer of a thin film conductor material and a current density enhancing layer (CDEL). The CDEL is an insulator material adapted to adhere to the thin film conductor material and enables the said thin f...	09/18/2007
7218499	Charge control circuit A charge control circuit includes a switch circuit having an input node configured to receive a reference voltage at a selected voltage level and configured to respond to a charge signal to pre-charge the input node with a pulse charge at the selected voltage level....	05/15/2007
7130177	Drive circuit of switch and relay circuit A drive circuit and relay circuit using this drive circuit are provided, the drive circuit including: a first terminal connected to a drive electrode located at one side of a mechanical switch contact driven by static electricity; a second terminal connected to a dr...	10/31/2006
7113386	Electrostatic actuator An electrostatic actuator includes a movable piece provided on a substrate via supporting beams such that the movable piece can be displaced in the Y-axial direction. The movable piece is displaced by an electrostatic force between movable and stationary electrodes ...	09/26/2006
7088566	Charge control of micro-electromechanical device A charge control circuit for controlling a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) device having variable capacitor formed by first conductive plate and a second conductive plate separated by a variable gap distance. The charge control circuit comprises a switch circu...	08/08/2006
7084724	MEMS fabrication on a laminated substrate Systems and methods are provided that facilitate the formation of micro-mechanical structures and related systems on a laminated substrate. More particularly, a micro-mechanical device and a three-dimensional multiple frequency antenna are provided for in which the ...	08/01/2006
7075209	Compliant bistable micromechanism A method for designing and optimnizing compliant mechanisms is provided, in addition to bistable compliant mechanism designs. According to the method, a selected compliant structure may be modeled analytically, and the characteristics of the analytical model may be ...	07/11/2006
6996051	Data storage module suspension system having primary and secondary flexures A micro-electro-mechanical device includes a moveable mass supported within a frame. To support the mass within the frame, a first flexure extends between the mass and the frame. An angle softening element is positioned between a first end of the first flexure and t...	02/07/2006
6924966	Spring loaded bi-stable MEMS switch A MEMS switch assembly comprising a substrate and a resilient switching member is provided. The resilient switching member comprises a transverse torsion member having a flexible portion, and a leaf spring and cantilever that extend from the flexible portion of the ...	08/02/2005
6788520	Capacitive sensing scheme for digital control state detection in optical switches Disclosed is an apparatus and method for detecting whether rotatable MEMS elements are in the “on” or “off” position. Embodiments of the invention have application in devices switches that employ mirrors that move between an “on” or “off” position, w...	09/07/2004
6731492	Overdrive structures for flexible electrostatic switch A MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) electrostatically operated high voltage switch or relay device is provided. These devices can switch high voltages while using relatively low electrostatic operating voltages. The MEMS device comprises a substrate, a substrat...	05/04/2004
6661637	Apparatus and method to angularly position micro-optical elements A micro-opto-electro-mechanical transducer in which an optical element is angularly positioned by electrical field coupling. Movable electrodes of two orthogonally disposed, differential variable capacitors are coupled to the optical element constrained b...	12/09/2003
6635837	MEMS micro-relay with coupled electrostatic and electromagnetic actuation A microelectromechanical relay and a method of fabricating the same that combines electrostatic actuation with electromagnetic actuation. The relay has very low contact resistance when the relay is in its ON state and enhanced contact-to-contact isolation...	10/21/2003
6549437	Voltage converter Two sets of two relay switches, which charge a pump capacitor and a reservoir capacitor of a charge pump type voltage converter, are formed respectively by a set of plural piezo-electric relays, and both the capacitors are formed together with the piezo-e...	04/15/2003
6486425	Electrostatic microrelay An electrostatic microrelay is disclosed. The electrostatic microrelay includes a fixed substrate having a fixed electrode and a fixed terminal on its upper surface and a moveable substrate having a moveable electrode and a moveable terminal on its lower ...	11/26/2002
6229683	High voltage micromachined electrostatic switch A MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical System) electrostatically operated high voltage switch or relay device is provided. This device can switch high voltages while using relatively low electrostatic operating voltages. The MEMS device comprises a microelectro...	05/08/2001
6198145	Method for manufacturing a semiconductor material integrated microactuator, in particular for a hard disc mobile read/write head, and a microactuator obtained thereby The integrated microactuator has a stator and a rotor having a circular extension with radial arms which support electrodes extending in a substantially circumferential direction and interleaved with one another. For the manufacture, first a sacrificial r...	03/06/2001
5994750	Microstructure and method of forming the same There is provided a microstructure comprising a substrate, support members, a lever and an electrode formed on the lever is characterized in that said support members support said substrate and said beam and/or the electrode section with a void interposed...	11/30/1999
5895958	Input protection circuit for use in semiconductor device having an improved electrostatic breakdown voltage In an input protection circuit, a bipolar protection device is constituted of a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type, a first diffused layer of a second conductivity type formed in the substrate and connected to an input signal pad, a seco...	04/20/1999
5666258	Micromechanical relay having a hybrid drive A micromechanical relay is provided having a cantilevered armature (53) which is etched out from an armature substrate (52). The armature is in the form of a tongue, is elastically connected to the armature substrate, and forms an electrostatic drive with...	09/09/1997
5544001	Electrostatic relay An electrostatic relay comprises at least one fixed base having a fixed electrode and an actuator frame having a movable electrode. The fixed base carries a pair of fixed contacts insulated from the fixed electrode. The movable electrode carries a movable...	08/06/1996
5278368	Electrostatic relay An electrostatic relay essentially comprises a fixed electrode with a fixed contact insulated therefrom, a movable electrode plate with a movable contact insulated therefrom, and a fixed pair of oppositely charged electrets. The movable electrode plate is...	01/11/1994
4857757	Drive circuit for a two layer laminated electrostriction element A drive circuit of a two-laminated electrostriction element, wherein a common junction of two sheets of electric distortion elements is connected to one of the driving power source through a first switching means, and the other terminal of the one electro...	08/15/1989
4819126	Piezoelectic relay module to be utilized in an appliance or the like A piezoelectric relay module having a plurality of relays of different load ratings is disclosed. Each relay is constructed from a portion of a single bimorph structure by cutting the bimorph structure to form bimorph actuators. The widths of the various ...	04/04/1989
4626698	Zero crossing synchronous AC switching circuits employing piezoceramic bender-type switching devices Zero crossing synchronous AC switching circuits are provided which employ piezoelectric ceramic bender-type switching devices for use in supplying loads of a resistive, inductive or capacitive nature. The circuits include zero crossing sensing sub-circuit...	12/02/1986
4078183	Control devices of the relay type The invention relates to devices of the relay type, but using an electrostatic force, rather than a magnetic force, for moving the mobile element. A device according to the invention allows to produce a modification in one or several controlled circuits u...	03/07/1978
3989964	Piezoelectric switch activating means At least three pairs of opposing electrodes on the two major faces of a poelectric or electrostrictive transducer element having a gap which is adapted to change in response to selected control voltages applied across the three pairs of electrodes. The p...	11/02/1976

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Class 361/207 - Electrostatic