Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Switching systems – With operation facilitating feature
Reexamination Certificate
2007-03-13
2007-03-13
Deberadinis, Robeert L. (Department: 2836)
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Switching systems
With operation facilitating feature
Reexamination Certificate
active
10983539
ABSTRACT:
In methods and circuits for using associated circuitry to enhance performance of a micro-electromechanical switch, one of the method embodiments is a contact conditioning process including applying a time-varying voltage to the control element of a closed switch. In another embodiment, a voltage profile applied to the control element of the switch can be tailored to improve the actuation speed or reliability of the switch. In another method embodiment, the performance of a switch may be evaluated by measuring a performance parameter, and corrective action initiated if the switch performance is determined to need improvement. An embodiment of a circuit for maintaining performance of a micro-electromechanical switch includes first and second signal line nodes, sensing circuitry coupled to the signal line nodes and adapted to sense a performance parameter value of the switch, and control circuitry operably coupled to at least one terminal of the switch.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4356730 (1982-11-01), Cade
patent: 5523633 (1996-06-01), Imaizumi et al.
patent: 6020564 (2000-02-01), Wang et al.
patent: 6058027 (2000-05-01), Vargha et al.
patent: 6160230 (2000-12-01), McMillan et al.
patent: 6231227 (2001-05-01), Andersen
patent: 6232790 (2001-05-01), Bryan et al.
patent: 6307169 (2001-10-01), Sun et al.
patent: 6583374 (2003-06-01), Knieser et al.
patent: 6642067 (2003-11-01), Dwyer
patent: 6720851 (2004-04-01), Hallbjorner et al.
patent: 6798315 (2004-09-01), Schaefer
patent: 40 42 184 (1992-07-01), None
patent: 1 146 532 (2001-10-01), None
patent: 1 156 504 (2001-11-01), None
patent: 95/01624 (1995-01-01), None
patent: 01/67476 (2001-09-01), None
patent: 02/23207 (2002-03-01), None
Patent Abstracts of Japan, publication No. 02297818, published Dec. 10, 1990.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, publication No. 04058429, published Feb. 25, 1992.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, “Nonvolatile Micromechanical Memory Cell,” vol. 36, No. 7, Jul. 1993, pp. 45-46.
Goldsmith et al., “Lifetime Characterization of Capacitive RF MEMS Switches,” 2001 IEEE MTT-S Digest, pp. 227-230.
IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, “Three-Terminal Latching Micromechanical Switch,” vol. 30, No. 6, Nov. 1987, pp. 393-394.
Schimkat, “Contact Materials for Microrelays,” 11th Annual Workshop on Micro Electrical Mechanical Systems, Heidelberg, Germany, Jan. 1998, pp. 190-194.
Hilbert Claude
Ivanciw Dan A.
Daffer Kevin L.
Daffer McDaniel LLP
Deberadinis Robeert L.
Lettang Mollie E.
Teravicta Technologies, Inc.
LandOfFree
Micro-electromechanical switch performance enhancement does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Micro-electromechanical switch performance enhancement, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Micro-electromechanical switch performance enhancement will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3781364