Article comprising a multi-port variable capacitor

An article comprising a multi-port variable capacitor, the multi-port variable capacitor comprising:

• first and second co-planar electrically-isolated electrodes;
• a plate spaced from said first and second electrodes and not co-planar therewith, said plate movable from a neutral position towards at least the first electrode when a bias voltage is applied across the first electrode and the plate wherein, as the plate moves towards the first electrode, a first capacitance between said first electrode and the plate, and a second capacitance between said second electrode and the plate, changes;
• and
• supports in mechanical contact with said plate for spacing the plate from said first and second electrodes, wherein:
• said supports are resilient for imparting a restoring force to said plate;
• and
• the supports are conductive so that the voltage applied to the plate is delivered via the supports.

An article comprising a multi-port variable capacitor, the multi-port variable capacitor comprising:

• first and second co-planar electrically-isolated electrodes;
• a plate spaced from said first and second electrodes and not co-planar therewith, said plate movable from a neutral position towards at least the first electrode when a bias voltage is applied across the first electrode and the plate;
• and
• a connection for electrically connecting an AC signal line to the second electrode,
• wherein, as the plate moves towards the first electrode, a first capacitance between said first electrode and the plate, and a second capacitance between said second electrode and the plate, changes.

An article comprising a multi-port variable capacitor, the multi-port variable capacitor comprising:

• first and second co-planar electrically-isolated electrodes;
• a plate spaced from said first and second electrodes and not co-planar therewith, said plate movable from a neutral position towards at least said first electrode on application of a voltage across said first electrode and said plate;
• and
• a fulcrum disposed between the first and second electrodes and beneath and contacting said plate, the fulcrum functionally dividing the plate into first and second segments.

A LC circuit comprising:

• a multi-port variable capacitor, said multi-port variable capacitor comprising:
• first and second co-planar electrically-isolated electrodes;
• and
• a plate spaced from said first and second electrodes and not co-planar therewith, said plate movable from a neutral position towards at least said first electrode on application of a voltage across said first electrode and said plate;
• an inductor electrically connected to the multiport variable capacitor;
• and a signal generator.

An article comprising a multi-port variable capacitor, the multi-port variable capacitor comprising:

• a first and a second electrode, wherein said first and second electrodes are co-planar and electrically isolated from one another;
• a plate disposed in superposed and spaced relation from said first and second electrodes;
• supports for supporting the plate in said superposed and spaced relation, wherein said supports are resilient and conductive;
• a fulcrum disposed between the first and second electrodes and beneath and contacting said plate, the fulcrum functionally dividing the plate into first and second segments;
• a first connection by which a first electrical signal is connected across the plate and the first electrode;
• and
• a second connection by which a second electrical signal is connected across the plate and the second electrode.

A variable-frequency oscillator, the variable-frequency oscillator having:

• a load incorporating an LC circuit;
• a transistor electrically connected to the load;
• and
• a terminating network electrically connected to the transistor, wherein, said LC circuit comprises a multi-port variable capacitor the multi-port variable capacitor comprising:
• a first and a second electrode, wherein said first and second electrodes are co-planar and electrically isolated from one another;
• a plate disposed in superposed and spaced relation from said first and second electrodes;
• supports for supporting the plate in said superposed and spaced relation, wherein said supports are resilient and conductive;
• a first connection by which a first electrical signal is connected across the plate and the first electrode;
• and
• a second connection by which a second electrical signal is connected across the plate and the second electrode.

A method for performing logic using a plate disposed on a fulcrum and spaced from three electrodes, comprising the steps of:

• applying a first signal across the first electrode and the plate;
• applying a second signal across the second electrode and the plate;
• and
• reading a third signal from the third electrode, wherein
• the third signal is determined as a function of the first and second signals.