Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Method of and apparatus for protecting a switch, such as a MEMS switch, and to a MEMS switch including such a protection apparatus
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Application No.: US16035538Application Date: 2018-07-13
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Publication No.: US10855073B2Publication Date: 2020-12-01
- Inventor: Padraig Fitzgerald , Eric James Carty
- Applicant: Analog Devices Global Unlimited Company
- Applicant Address: BM Hamilton
- Assignee: Analog Devices Global Unlimited Company
- Current Assignee: Analog Devices Global Unlimited Company
- Current Assignee Address: BM Hamilton
- Main IPC: H01H59/00
- IPC: H01H59/00 ; H02H9/04 ; H01H9/54 ; H01H61/00 ; H01H9/30 ; H01H73/18
Abstract:
A method of and apparatus for protecting a MEMS switch is provided. The method and apparatus improve the integrity of MEMS switches by reducing their vulnerability to current flow through them during switching of the MEMS switch between on and off or vice versa. The protection circuit provides for a parallel path, known as a shunt, around the MEMS component. However, components within the shunt circuit can themselves be removed from the shunt when they are not required. This improves the electrical performance of the shunt when the switch is supposed to be in an off state.
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