Title:
ELECTROMECHANICAL DEVICE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2014/117161
Kind Code:
A8
Abstract:
Electromechanical devices described herein may employ tunneling phenomena to function as low- voltage switches. Opposing electrodes may be separated by an elastically deformable layer which, in some cases, may be made up of a non-electrically conductive material. In some embodiments, the elastically deformable layer is substantially free of electrically conductive material. When a sufficient actuation voltage and/or force is applied, the electrodes are brought toward one another and, accordingly, the elastically deformable layer is compressed. Though, the elastically deformable layer prevents the electrodes from making direct contact with one another. Rather, when the electrodes are close enough to one another, a tunneling current arises therebetween. The elastically deformable layer may exhibit spring-like behavior such that, upon release of the actuation voltage and/or force, the separation distance between electrodes is restored. Thus, the electromechanical device may be actuated between open and closed switch positions.
Inventors:
BULOVIC VLADIMIR (US)
LANG JEFFREY H (US)
LEE HAE-SEUNG (US)
SWAGER TIMOTHY M (US)
ANDREW TRISHA L (US)
D ASARO MATTHEW ERIC (US)
DEOTARE PARAG (US)
MURARKA APOORVA (US)
NIROUI FARNAZ (CA)
SLETTEN ELLEN (US)
WANG ANNIE I-JEN (US)
LANG JEFFREY H (US)
LEE HAE-SEUNG (US)
SWAGER TIMOTHY M (US)
ANDREW TRISHA L (US)
D ASARO MATTHEW ERIC (US)
DEOTARE PARAG (US)
MURARKA APOORVA (US)
NIROUI FARNAZ (CA)
SLETTEN ELLEN (US)
WANG ANNIE I-JEN (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2014/013403
Publication Date:
August 06, 2015
Filing Date:
January 28, 2014
Export Citation:
Assignee:
MASSACHUSETTS INST TECHNOLOGY (US)
International Classes:
H01H3/02
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
TAI, Kuangshin (Greenfield & Sacks P.C.,600 Atlantic Avenu, Boston MA, US)
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