| 摘要 |
<p>This disclosure provides an electrical switch based on tunneling electric contacts. Electrodes of the switch are formed to have reciprocal apparent contact surfaces, each smooth such that a compressed (in contact) composite mean asperity height between these surfaces is significantly smaller than an electron tunneling length of the switch. A movement mechanism is used to physically move one or both electrodes to vary the gap between electrodes to be greater than/less than the electron tunneling length. In select embodiments, the movement mechanism is electrically actuated and is amenable to relatively high frequency operation. The nano smooth surfaces provide for a tunneling switch where current flow is not primarily dependent on contact force between electrodes, and leads to a highly conductive ON state exceeding high performance, high-contact force mechanical switches, while also being amenable to high frequency operation.</p> |
