Lorentz force assisted switch

A switching device comprising:

• a capacitive switch;
• a magnetic field source operative to apply a magnetic field across the switch;
• and an electrical conductor providing there along a path of conduction of a current in opposite directions, the electrical conductor being juxtaposed with the capacitive switch and extending transversely to the magnetic field for triggering the capacitive switch between an on- and off-state in accordance with a direction of current flow along the electrical conductor,
• wherein the capacitive switch is an electrostatic switch, the switching device being a microelectromechanical Lorentz-force assisted switching device,
• wherein the electrostatic switch is configured to have a pull-down electrode continuously supported by a substrate and a bridge straddling the pull-down electrode and being operative to move towards and away from the pull-down electrode in accordance with the direction of current flow along the electrical conductor to selectively set the on- and off-state of the capacitive switch,
• wherein the electrical conductor is provided on a top surface of the bridge, and
• wherein the electrical conductor has a frame configured to have a pair of spaced-apart strips or wires attached to the bridge of the electrostatic switch and end supports bridging the spaced apart strips or wires and formed on the substrate.

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch comprising:

• a substrate;
• multiple contacts spaced from one another and supported by the substrate;
• and
• a capacitive switching assembly provided on the substrate and positionable in magnetic and electrical fields extending coplanar with but transversely to one another to generate a Lorentz force applied to the capacitive switching assembly to selectively short the multiple contacts,
• wherein the capacitive switching assembly is an electrostatic switch including
• a pull-down electrode fixed to the substrate,
• a flexible bridge having opposite ends, which flank the pull-down electrode, and a central body extending between the opposite ends and facing the pull-down electrode, and
• a flexible conductor extending on top of and coupled to the bridge so that the coupled flexible conductor and bridge provide a path of conduction of a current between the multiple contacts, the magnetic filed extending coplanar with the flexible bridge but transversely to the path of conduction, whereas the Lorentz force is produced and extends in a plane lying substantially perpendicular to a plane of the flexible bridge.