EP1203391A1 - Microrelais electromecanique et son procede de production - Google Patents

Microrelais electromecanique et son procede de production

Info

Publication number
EP1203391A1
EP1203391A1 EP00958315A EP00958315A EP1203391A1 EP 1203391 A1 EP1203391 A1 EP 1203391A1 EP 00958315 A EP00958315 A EP 00958315A EP 00958315 A EP00958315 A EP 00958315A EP 1203391 A1 EP1203391 A1 EP 1203391A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
spring
contact
relay according
fixed contacts
switching
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP00958315A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Helmut Schlaak
Martin Hanke
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
Original Assignee
Tyco Electronics Logistics AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tyco Electronics Logistics AG filed Critical Tyco Electronics Logistics AG
Publication of EP1203391A1 publication Critical patent/EP1203391A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H59/00—Electrostatic relays; Electro-adhesion relays
    • H01H59/0009—Electrostatic relays; Electro-adhesion relays making use of micromechanics
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01G—CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES, LIGHT-SENSITIVE OR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE
    • H01G5/00—Capacitors in which the capacitance is varied by mechanical means, e.g. by turning a shaft; Processes of their manufacture
    • H01G5/16—Capacitors in which the capacitance is varied by mechanical means, e.g. by turning a shaft; Processes of their manufacture using variation of distance between electrodes
    • H01G5/18—Capacitors in which the capacitance is varied by mechanical means, e.g. by turning a shaft; Processes of their manufacture using variation of distance between electrodes due to change in inclination, e.g. by flexing, by spiral wrapping
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01G—CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES, LIGHT-SENSITIVE OR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE
    • H01G5/00—Capacitors in which the capacitance is varied by mechanical means, e.g. by turning a shaft; Processes of their manufacture
    • H01G5/40—Structural combinations of variable capacitors with other electric elements not covered by this subclass, the structure mainly consisting of a capacitor, e.g. RC combinations
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/14—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by abutting
    • H01H1/20—Bridging contacts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H59/00—Electrostatic relays; Electro-adhesion relays
    • H01H59/0009—Electrostatic relays; Electro-adhesion relays making use of micromechanics
    • H01H2059/0081—Electrostatic relays; Electro-adhesion relays making use of micromechanics with a tapered air-gap between fixed and movable electrodes

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a relay, in particular a micro relay, with a bridge closer contact.
  • the invention also relates to a method for producing the relay.
  • a micromechanically producible icro relay which consists of an etched silicon spring tongue, which is pre-curved, and a flat counter electrode.
  • the spring tongue forms a wedge-shaped capacitor with the counter electrode.
  • the spring tongue is stretched until the free end of the spring contacts the work contact on the 'counter electrode by applying a control voltage between the elastic tongue of the flat counter electrode.
  • the curved spring tongue rolls on the counter electrode and thus forms a traveling wedge.
  • relays in which a normally open contact makes a bridge contact via two fixed contacts are desirable.
  • the bridge closer contact offers a higher dielectric strength and, in the case of high-frequency load current signals, a lower crosstalk capacity and thus a higher frequency response.
  • bridge closer contacts however, the problem arises that the fixed contacts can wear to different extents, and the switching strokes of the individual fixed contacts thus have different sizes. As a result, different contact forces occur at the two fixed contacts. In the event of heavy one-sided wear, contact would no longer be possible.
  • the object of the present invention to provide a relay which can be miniaturized and which, even with different heights of the fixed contacts, establishes a secure bridge contact.
  • the invention further relates to a method for producing the microrelay.
  • the invention provides a relay comprising a base element with two fixed contacts and a switch spring.
  • the switching spring is fastened with an edge section along a fastening line and is movable between two positions, an open and a closed one. Furthermore, the switching spring has a contact spring.
  • a movable contact is arranged on the contact spring, which bridges the fixed contacts when the switching spring is closed.
  • the relay further comprises a drive element which moves the switching spring and the contact spring between the open and the closed position.
  • the contact spring is designed as a torsion spring which can be rotated about an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation lies in the plane of the contact spring in the middle between the two fixed contacts.
  • the projection of the axis of rotation onto the base element intersects the connecting line of the fixed contacts essentially vertically.
  • the contact spring can be produced in a particularly advantageous manner from the switching spring by etching away areas of the switching spring. Such a procedure offers in particular the possibility of using the structuring methods known from silicon technology, possibly transferred to a metallic switching spring.
  • a contact spring which can be rotated about an axis of rotation can be achieved in a particularly simple and therefore advantageous manner by providing a contact part and one or more spring parts in the contact spring.
  • the contact part is the carrier of the movable contact and extends transversely to the axis of rotation to cover the fixed contacts.
  • This contact part is connected to the switching spring by one or more spring parts, the spring parts being connected to the contact part in the region of the axis of rotation of the torsion spring. This ensures that the contact spring is a torsion spring and at the same time is resiliently coupled to the switching spring.
  • an embodiment of the relay according to the invention is particularly advantageous in which the shape of the spring parts follows multiple curved paths.
  • the spring parts are arranged on two opposite sides of the switching part, which ensures that the axis of rotation does not tilt due to one-sided fastening of the contact part.
  • the relay in a form in which the switching spring is attached to the base element and curved away from it. This enables the realization of a relay with bridge contact with the traveling wedge mentioned at the beginning.
  • an electrostatic drive as the drive element for the relay. This consists in that a first electrode arranged on the side of the switching spring facing the base element and a second electrode arranged on the base element with respect to the first electrode are connected to a DC voltage source. Such a drive only needs energy briefly for switching, while the closed position alone 01/09911
  • a relay is particularly advantageous in which the switching spring is made of silicon and the base element is made of silicon or glass.
  • Such a relay can be easily implemented using the structuring and manufacturing methods known from silicon technology.
  • the invention also provides a method for producing such a relay, which comprises the following steps:
  • the second electrode and the fixed contacts are deposited on the base substrate forming the base element and subsequently structured.
  • a silicon wafer with a doped silicon layer on the side of the wafer facing the base substrate is bonded to the base substrate.
  • the latter is etched back, for example by KOH etching, until the doped silicon layer which is to form the switching spring remains.
  • the contact spring is made from the switching spring or
  • Such a method has the advantage that miniaturized relays can be produced very easily.
  • Figure 1 shows the switch spring of a relay according to the invention, in which the connecting line of the fixed contacts runs parallel to the mounting line, in a schematic plan view.
  • Figure 2 shows the switching spring of a relay according to the invention, in which the connecting line of the fixed contacts is perpendicular to the fastening line, in a schematic plan view.
  • Figure 3 shows an inventive relay with traveling wedge in the open state in a schematic longitudinal section.
  • Figure 4 shows an inventive relay with traveling wedge in the closed state in a schematic longitudinal section.
  • FIG. 1 shows the switching spring 3 of a relay according to the invention, which is fastened along the fastening line 11.
  • the switching spring 3 has a contact spring 4, which consists of the contact part 6 and the spring parts 7.
  • the shape of the spring parts 7 follows curved paths several times. As a result, the torsional rigidity can be set to a desired, arbitrarily low value.
  • the spring parts connect this to the switching spring 3, which ensures that the axis of rotation 12 does not tilt due to one-sided fastening of the contact part 6.
  • the movable contact 5 (FIG. 3) is arranged on the underside of the contact part 6.
  • the fixed contacts 2 of the base element, not shown, are arranged below the contact part 6.
  • the contact part 6 is rotatable about the axis of rotation 12.
  • the axis of rotation 12 is perpendicular to the fastening line 11.
  • the fixed contacts 2 are arranged on both sides of the axis of rotation 12 under the contact part 6.
  • FIG. 2 shows the switching spring 3 of a relay according to the invention, which is fastened along the fastening line 11.
  • the switching spring 3 has a contact spring 4 which the contact part 6 and the spring parts 7.
  • the shape of the spring parts 7 follows curved paths several times. This allows the torsional rigidity to be set to the desired low value.
  • the spring parts connect this to the switching spring 3, which ensures that the axis of rotation 12 does not tilt due to one-sided fastening of the contact part 6.
  • the movable contact 5 (FIG. 3) is arranged on the underside of the contact part 6.
  • the fixed contacts 2 are arranged below the contact part 6.
  • the contact part 6 is rotatable about the axis of rotation 12.
  • the axis of rotation 12 is parallel to the fastening line 11.
  • the fixed contacts are arranged on both sides of the axis of rotation 12 under the contact part.
  • Figure 3 shows an inventive relay with traveling wedge in the open state.
  • the traveling wedge is formed from the base element 1 and the switching spring 3 curved away therefrom, which is otherwise designed according to FIG.
  • the fixed contacts 2 and the second electrode 9 with an insulating layer 10 are arranged on the base element 1.
  • the switching spring 3 is firmly connected to the base element 1 on the left edge.
  • the switching spring 3 has a first electrode 8 and the spring part 7 and the contact part 6 of the contact spring.
  • the contact part 6 can be rotated about the axis of rotation 12.
  • the contact part 6 also has a movable contact 5 on its underside.
  • the rotatable contact part 6 can easily adapt to different high fixed contacts 2 and thus mediate a reliable contact.
  • the fixed contacts 2 are arranged in such a way that their connecting line is perpendicular to the fastening line 11. This causes the left and then the right of the fixed contacts 2 to be contacted when the relay closes. In addition, the contact distance of the left fixed contact 2 is always smaller than the contact distance of the right fixed contact 2 (except when closed).
  • Figure 4 shows the relay of Figure 3 in the closed state.
  • the switching spring 3 rests on the base element 1. Via the switching spring 3, the contact part 6 rests on the fixed contacts 2.
  • the spring parts 7 connect the switching spring to the contact spring and establish the contact force between the movable contact 5 and the fixed contacts 2.
  • the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown, but is defined in its most general form by claim 1.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Micromachines (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Manufacture Of Switches (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un relais, notamment un relais électrostatique miniaturisé, comportant un contact à fermeture à pont. Le ressort de contact est conçu sous forme de ressort à torsion qui est relié à un ressort de commande (3) par des éléments élastiques (7) incurvés plusieurs fois. Cela permet notamment de compenser les différences de hauteurs des contacts fixes (2). L'invention concerne également un procédé de production de ce relais comme relais micromécanique électrostatique.
EP00958315A 1999-07-29 2000-07-28 Microrelais electromecanique et son procede de production Withdrawn EP1203391A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19935819A DE19935819B4 (de) 1999-07-29 1999-07-29 Relais und Verfahren zu dessen Herstellung
DE19935819 1999-07-29
PCT/EP2000/007316 WO2001009911A1 (fr) 1999-07-29 2000-07-28 Microrelais electromecanique et son procede de production

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1203391A1 true EP1203391A1 (fr) 2002-05-08

Family

ID=7916587

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00958315A Withdrawn EP1203391A1 (fr) 1999-07-29 2000-07-28 Microrelais electromecanique et son procede de production

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US6639325B1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1203391A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2003506822A (fr)
CN (1) CN1212637C (fr)
CA (1) CA2387251A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE19935819B4 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001009911A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1374267A1 (fr) * 2001-03-12 2004-01-02 HRL Laboratories Ressort de torsion pour interrupteur electromecanique et interrupteur microelectromecanique le comprenant
US6768403B2 (en) 2002-03-12 2004-07-27 Hrl Laboratories, Llc Torsion spring for electro-mechanical switches and a cantilever-type RF micro-electromechanical switch incorporating the torsion spring
US6731492B2 (en) 2001-09-07 2004-05-04 Mcnc Research And Development Institute Overdrive structures for flexible electrostatic switch
JP2003181799A (ja) * 2001-12-14 2003-07-02 Omron Corp 接点支持機構、接点開閉器、計測装置及び無線機
CN1314111C (zh) * 2003-07-01 2007-05-02 广达电脑股份有限公司 内建有散热鳍片的功能模块
CN100451737C (zh) * 2004-04-23 2009-01-14 研究三角协会 柔性静电激励器
CN100399486C (zh) * 2004-12-13 2008-07-02 台达电子工业股份有限公司 微型切换器
JP4265542B2 (ja) * 2005-01-25 2009-05-20 パナソニック電工株式会社 マイクロリレー
DE102005033801B4 (de) * 2005-07-13 2010-06-02 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. Torsionsfeder für mikromechanische Anwendungen
JP4720760B2 (ja) * 2007-02-28 2011-07-13 パナソニック電工株式会社 マイクロリレー

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5463233A (en) 1993-06-23 1995-10-31 Alliedsignal Inc. Micromachined thermal switch
DE4437261C1 (de) * 1994-10-18 1995-10-19 Siemens Ag Mikromechanisches elektrostatisches Relais
DE4437259C1 (de) * 1994-10-18 1995-10-19 Siemens Ag Mikromechanisches Relais
FR2742917B1 (fr) 1995-12-22 1998-02-13 Suisse Electronique Microtech Dispositif miniature pour executer une fonction predeterminee, notamment microrelais
US6094116A (en) * 1996-08-01 2000-07-25 California Institute Of Technology Micro-electromechanical relays
EP1394826B1 (fr) * 1996-08-27 2005-11-02 Omron Corporation Micro-relais et son procédé de fabrication
JP3493974B2 (ja) * 1997-10-01 2004-02-03 オムロン株式会社 静電マイクロリレー
US6236300B1 (en) * 1999-03-26 2001-05-22 R. Sjhon Minners Bistable micro-switch and method of manufacturing the same
US6057520A (en) * 1999-06-30 2000-05-02 Mcnc Arc resistant high voltage micromachined electrostatic switch

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0109911A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2003506822A (ja) 2003-02-18
US6639325B1 (en) 2003-10-28
CA2387251A1 (fr) 2001-02-08
CN1212637C (zh) 2005-07-27
DE19935819B4 (de) 2004-08-05
CN1365504A (zh) 2002-08-21
DE19935819A1 (de) 2001-03-08
WO2001009911A1 (fr) 2001-02-08

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