HIGH VOLTAGE SWITCHES HAVING ONE OR MORE FLOATING CONDUCTOR LAYERS

摘要

This patent document discloses high voltage switches that include one or more electrically floating conductor layers that are isolated from one another in the dielectric medium between the top and bottom switch electrodes. The presence of the one or more electrically floating conductor layers between the top and bottom switch electrodes allow the dielectric medium between the top and bottom switch electrodes to exhibit a higher breakdown voltage than the breakdown voltage when the one or more electrically floating conductor layers are not present between the top and bottom switch electrodes. This increased breakdown voltage in the presence of one or more electrically floating conductor layers in a dielectric medium enables the switch to supply a higher voltage for various high voltage circuits and electric systems.

主权项

1. A high voltage switch, comprising:
a first switch electrode; a second switch electrode that is spaced from the first switch electrode to provide a space between the first and second switch electrodes; a dielectric material that occupies at least a portion of the space between the first and second switch electrodes; a conductor layer located in the space between the first and second switch electrodes, wherein the conductor layer is not connected to the first switch electrode or the second switch electrode; and a switch control circuit coupled to the first and second switch electrodes to supply a switch control voltage across the first and second switch electrodes to create a conductive path between the first and second switch electrodes when the switch control voltage is at or above a switch-on voltage.