US 2002/0054466 A1 · VARIABLE CAPACITORS INCLUDING TANDEM MOVERS/BIMORPHS AND ASSOCIATED OPERATING METHODS

Abstract

A variable capacitor is provided having first and second capacitor plates, a tandem mover and an actuator. The first and second capacitor plates are positioned such that the first and second capacitor plates face one another in a spaced apart relationship. The tandem mover is configured to move the first and second capacitor plates in tandem in response to changes in ambient temperature to maintain a consistent spaced apart relationship between the capacitor plates. The actuator is then configured to vary the spaced apart relationship between the first and second capacitor plates in response to an external input. The capacitance of the variable capacitor can therefore be varied by increasing and decreasing the spaced apart relationship between the first and second capacitor plates.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A variable capacitor, comprising:

a substrate;
a first bimorph member that is spaced apart from the substrate;
a first capacitor plate that is mechanically coupled to the first bimorph member;
a second bimorph member that is spaced apart from the substrate;
a second capacitor plate that is mechanically coupled to the second bimorph member, and positioned in a spaced apart relationship to the first capacitor plate;
and
an actuator associated with at least one of the first and second bimorph members and that is configured to vary the spaced apart relationship between the first and second capacitor plates.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Variable capacitors including tandem movers/bimorphs and associated operating methods

Life of this patent

Variable capacitors including tandem movers/bimorphs and associated operating methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29