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Class 361/292 - By varying effective area of electrode


Subclass of Class 361 - Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Definition: Subject matter having means to change the capacitance of
No. of patents: 83
Last issue date: 01/17/2012


1      
NumberTitleIssue Date
8098476Fluidic electrostatic energy harvester
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a variable capacitor that operates without moving mechanical parts. In this capacitor electrically conductive electrodes are separated by an enclosed chamber filled with an electrically conductive material. The elec...
01/17/2012
7872851Fluidic based variable capacitor for use in a fluidic electrostatic energy harvester
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a variable capacitor that operates without moving mechanical parts. In this capacitor electrically conductive electrodes are separated by an enclosed chamber filled with an electrically conductive material. The elec...
01/18/2011
7808767Control unit
A control unit includes an input terminal and an output terminal for a signal to be controlled, a control input terminal and a control output terminal for a control signal, variable capacitors connected in a bridge configuration between the input terminal and contro...
10/05/2010
7440254Micro-electromechanical variable capacitor
A micro-electromechanical variable capacitor with first and second capacitor plates spaced apart to define a gap therebetween. The first plate has two control electrodes and an active electrode. The second plate is movable relative to first plate when a voltage is a...
10/21/2008
7411774Voltage variable capacitor
A charge storage device having a capacitance that is variable by alteration of the relative permittivity of the dielectric positioned between conductive electrodes within the device. The device consists of two conductive plates sandwiching a conductive grid, typical...
08/12/2008
7394642Tubular capacitor with variable capacitance and dielectrically elongated inner electrode for NMR applications
A tubular capacitor with variable capacitance, including a cylindrical tube (3) of dielectric material, a metallic outer electrode (1) which surrounds the cylindrical tube (3), and an inner electrode which can axially move in the inner bore (...
07/01/2008
7385800Micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) capacitors, inductors, and related systems and methods
According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a MEMS fixed capacitor and a method for fabricating the MEMS fixed capacitor. The MEMS fixed capacitor can include a first stationary, capacitive plate on a substrate. Further, the MEMS fixed capa...
06/10/2008
7369394Variable capacitor, circuit module, and communications apparatus
A variable capacitor includes a supporting substrate and a plurality of variable capacitance elements, and bias lines. The plurality of variable capacitance elements is formed on the supporting substrate, each of which is composed of a lower-laid first electrode lay...
05/06/2008
7324323Photo-sensitive MEMS structure
A heat-sensitive apparatus includes a substrate with a top surface, one or more bars being rotatably joined to the surface and having bimorph portions, and a plate rotatably joined to the surface and substantially rigidly joined to the one or more bars. Each bimorph...
01/29/2008
7319580Collapsing zipper varactor with inter-digit actuation electrodes for tunable filters
According to one embodiment a microelectromechanical (MEMS) switch is disclosed. The MEMS switch includes a substrate, a plurality of actuation electrodes mounted on the substrate, a plurality of bottom electrodes mounted on the substrate, a capacitor having subcomp...
01/15/2008
7283347Low cost digital variable capacitor
A digital variable capacitor package is provided as having a ground plane disposed on predetermined portion of the top surface of a substrate. An elongated signal electrode may also be disposed on the substrate and including a first end defining an input and a secon...
10/16/2007
7277267Multi-layer capacitive transducer
A capacitive transducer of multi-layer construction includes two rotor plates supported by flexible springs, the plates being spaced apart and rigidly connected by a stem. One rotor plate my be used as either a pickup electrode or a grounded target electrode for det...
10/02/2007
7242569Tunable capacitors using fluid dielectrics
Capacitors 10, 20, 40, 50, 70, 80) having a fluid dielectric material that is transported or undergoes a phase change are disclosed. The dielectric medium change results in a change in the total dielectric constant of the material between the electrodes (1...
07/10/2007
7203052Method of fabricating MEMS tunable capacitor with wide tuning range
A MEMS tunable capacitor and method of fabricating the same, includes a plurality of fixed charge plates on a substrate, the plurality of fixed charge plates having a same height, being arranged in a shape of comb-teeth and being electrically connected to one anothe...
04/10/2007
7190565Capacitor having reduced non-capacitive impedance
An adjustable capacitor has a tubular housing including a first insulating section and a second section having a conductive portion at the exterior surface thereof forming an external terminal. An external terminal conductor is joined to an exterior terminal portion...
03/13/2007
7161791Variable capacitance membrane actuator for wide band tuning of microstrip resonators and filters
A device for varying the capacitance of an electronic circuit is disclosed. The device comprises a flexible membrane located above the electronic circuit, a metal layer connected to the flexible membrane, and bias circuitry located above the membrane. Variation of t...
01/09/2007
7088567Tunable capacitors using fluid dielectrics
Capacitors (10,20,40,50,70,80) having a fluid dielectric material that is transported or undergoes a phase change are disclosed. The dielectric medium change results in a change in the total dielectric constant of the material between the electrodes (12, 1...
08/08/2006
7085121Variable capacitance membrane actuator for wide band tuning of microstrip resonators and filters
A device for varying the capacitance of an electronic circuit is disclosed. The device comprises a flexible membrane located above the electronic circuit, a metal layer connected to the flexible membrane, and bias circuitry located above the membrane. Variation of t...
08/01/2006
7085122MEMS tunable capacitor based on angular vertical comb drives
A MEMS tunable capacitor with angular vertical comb-drive (AVC) actuators is described where high capacitances and a wide continuous tuning range is achieved in a compact space. The comb fingers rotate through a small vertical angle which allows a wider tuning range...
08/01/2006
7081663Gate-enhanced junction varactor with gradual capacitance variation
A semiconductor junction varactor utilizes gate enhancement for enabling the varactor to achieve a high ratio of maximum capacitance to minimum capacitance. The varactor has a gate region (131 or 181) divided into multiple portions of differing zero-po...
07/25/2006
7042699Vacuum variable capacitor
A vacuum variable capacitor is includes of a vacuum container which is formed by sealing both end of a cylindrical insulator with a fixed-side end plate and a movable-side end plate, a movable conductive member which is disposed opposite to the fixed-side end plate ...
05/09/2006
7042698MEMS tunable capacitor with a wide tuning range and method of fabricating the same
A MEMS tunable capacitor and method of fabricating the same, includes a plurality of fixed charge plates on a substrate, the plurality of fixed charge plates having a same height, being arranged in a shape of comb-teeth and being electrically connected to one anothe...
05/09/2006
7023684Variable position sensor employing capacitance
A variable position sensor has a stationary portion and a moveable portion. A plurality of plates are positioned on one of the members with the surfaces of the plates forming segments of a larger surface. A single plate is mounted on the other of the two members. On...
04/04/2006
6980412Variable tunable range MEMS capacitor
The invention relates to a variable capacitor and method of making it. The variable capacitor comprises a fixed charge plate disposed in a substrate, a movable charge plate disposed above the fixed charge plate, and a stiffener affixed to the movable charge plate. T...
12/27/2005
6970340Capacitor apparatus of the capacity variable type
The present invention is directed to a capacitor apparatus of the capacity variable type. This capacitor apparatus is manufactured by Micro Electro-Mechanical System technology, and comprises an insulating substrate (2) in which at least two capacitor electro...
11/29/2005
6961228Capacitor apparatus of the capacity variable type
The present invention is directed to a capacitor apparatus of the capacity variable type. This capacitor apparatus is manufactured by Micro Electro-Mechanical System technology, and comprises an insulating substrate (2) in which at least two capacitor electro...
11/01/2005
6952337Variable capacitor
A variable capacitor is provided such that it is possible to make nonlinear distortion small and use at high power handling capability, and such that a variable rate of capacitance is not influenced by a high-frequency voltage substantially. A variable capacitor is ...
10/04/2005
6920033Variable capacitor having an increased current capacity
The invention relates to a variable capacitor which, due to its particular arrangement of electrodes, enables a significantly higher current flow than generally known constructions having the same or a similar structural shape, said capacitor also has an increased l...
07/19/2005
6897537Micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) variable capacitor apparatuses and related methods
Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) Variable Capacitor Apparatus and Related Methods. According to one embodiment, a MEMS variable capacitor is provided. The variable capacitor can include first and second electrodes being spaced apart, and at least one of the el...
05/24/2005
6885537Capacitor apparatus of the capacity variable type
The present invention is directed to a capacitor apparatus of the capacity variable type. This capacitor apparatus is manufactured by Micro Electro-Mechanical System technology, and comprises an insulating substrate (2) in which at least two capacitor electro...
04/26/2005
6865066Voltage-controlled variable-capacitance device
First and second varactors are disposed on a surface of a P-type substrate. The first varactor includes an N well disposed in the surface of the P-type substrate, a gate insulator disposed on the N well, and an N-type polysilicon layer disposed on the gate insulator...
03/08/2005
6856499MEMS variable inductor and capacitor
A variable passive component is provided for fabrication on a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device. A conductive portion is provided on a low-profile sliding dielectric sheet that cooperates with a conductive portion disposed on a substrate to provide a varia...
02/15/2005
6747863Electrostatic drive
An electrostatic drive having a plurality of mover electrodes operatively secured to a mover, and a plurality of stator electrodes operatively secured to a stator. The mover and stator are configured to move relative to each other via electrostatic force generated b...
06/08/2004
6646525Microelectro-mechanical system actuator device and reconfigurable circuits utilizing same
A microelectro-mechanical device which includes a fixed electrode formed on a substrate, the fixed electrode including a transparent, high resistance layer, and a moveable electrode formed with an anisotropic stress in a predetermined direction and dispos...
11/11/2003
6636414High power variable slide RF tuner
A high power slide tuning capacitor (200) integrated into a circuit board adapted to function at RF and microwave frequencies. The capacitor (200) includes a dielectric substrate (26) with a cavity (28) cut into a side of the substrate (26); a ground plan...
10/21/2003
6600644Microelectronic tunable capacitor and method for fabrication
A microelectronic tunable capacitor and a method for fabricating the capacitor are described. The capacitor is formed by a micro-actuator, a first fixed capacitor plate and a second swayable capacitor plate suspended over the first plate. The micro-actuat...
07/29/2003
6549394Micromachined parallel-plate variable capacitor with plate suspension
A capacitor having a bottom plate, a top plate and a support connected to the center portion of the top plate for positioning the top plate over the bottom plate and separated therefrom by a gap. The outer portion of the top plate moves relative to the bo...
04/15/2003
6504703Capacitive transducer apparatus and method of manufacture thereof for computer display user interface
A capacitive transducer apparatus converts mechanical force to electrical signal parameters by change of spacing between plates of a plurality of capacitors. The apparatus has two mechanical components. The first component includes an articulating member ...
01/07/2003
6501637Trimmer capacitor
A trimmer capacitor includes anchor portions that are arranged to be stepped down from the surface of a fixed electrode and are embedded in a stator near the upper surface of the stator at the tip portions of the fixed electrode. Because the tip portion o...
12/31/2002
6473289Vacuum variable capacitor
An improved vacuum variable capacitor can include one or more characteristics that provide advantages over previous vacuum variable capacitors. In particular, the vacuum variable capacitor can be constructed so as to enable the capacitance to be adjusted ...
10/29/2002
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