A method of manufacturing a MEMS vibration element having a fixed electrode, a movable electrode, and an elastic supporting unit that elastically supports the movable electrode with respect to the fixed electrode includes: etching a base material having a first thickness to form the fixed electrode and the movable electrode; and etching the base material to form the elastic supporting unit having a second thickness, the second thickness being less than the first thickness.

A capacitive element using a liquid as a dielectric, whereby the capacitance is prevented from changing. The capacitive element is equipped with: a storage container that has an inlet port for introducing a liquid serving as a dielectric, has an outlet port for discharging the liquid, and is filled with the liquid; and at least one pair of electrodes that are provided in the storage container and face each other, wherein an opening section for exhausting air bubbles in the storage container is formed in an upper wall of the storage container.

A capacitive element using a liquid as a dielectric, whereby the capacitance is prevented from changing. The capacitive element is equipped with: a storage container that has an inlet port for introducing a liquid serving as a dielectric, has an outlet port for discharging the liquid, and is filled with the liquid; and at least one pair of electrodes that are provided in the storage container and face each other, wherein an opening section for exhausting air bubbles in the storage container is formed in an upper wall of the storage container.

A variable vacuum capacitor is described in which oil inside the main bellows (21) is pumped through the bellows and through the oil circuit (8) of a heat exchanger by a pump (15). Water passes through coolant channels (6) of the heat exchanger, from inlet (7) to outlet (7′). The extendable capacitor drive shaft (14) is hollow and serves as a conduit, conveying the oil to the bottom of the (bellows 21), thereby ensuring a full circulation of the oil right through the bellows and then through the heat exchanger. Pump drive means (9) may be a gerotor hydraulic motor, coupled to a gerotor oil pump (15) via magnetic coupling (22). Pumping heat transfer fluid (oil) through the bellows allows the capacitor to operate at significantly higher currents and/or lower temperatures, and significantly extends the life of the device.

A variable vacuum capacitor is described in which oil inside the main bellows (21) is pumped through the bellows and through the oil circuit (8) of a heat exchanger by a pump (15). Water passes through coolant channels (6) of the heat exchanger, from inlet (7) to outlet (7′). The extendable capacitor drive shaft (14) is hollow and serves as a conduit, conveying the oil to the bottom of the (bellows 21), thereby ensuring a full circulation of the oil right through the bellows and then through the heat exchanger. Pump drive means (9) may be a gerotor hydraulic motor, coupled to a gerotor oil pump (15) via magnetic coupling (22). Pumping heat transfer fluid (oil) through the bellows allows the capacitor to operate at significantly higher currents and/or lower temperatures, and significantly extends the life of the device.

An MEMS structure-based adjustable capacitor is provided, comprising: a lower plate A, a movable plate B, an upper plate C, a fixed apparatus D and one or more connecting conductors E; a lower end of the fixed apparatus D is fixedly connected to the lower plate A, an upper end of the fixed apparatus D is fixedly connected to the upper plate C, a structure B4 is provided at a middle part of movable plate B, and the movable plate B is able to move up and down along the fixed apparatus D; the lower plate A is provided with a lower electrode A1, and the movable plate B is provided with a movable electrode B1 and adjustment electrodes B2; the lower electrode A1 and the movable electrode B1 constitute a unit capacitor; and the upper plate C is provided with an upper electrode C1 and adjustment electrodes C2.

An MEMS structure-based adjustable capacitor is provided, comprising: a lower plate A, a movable plate B, an upper plate C, a fixed apparatus D and one or more connecting conductors E; a lower end of the fixed apparatus D is fixedly connected to the lower plate A, an upper end of the fixed apparatus D is fixedly connected to the upper plate C, a structure B4 is provided at a middle part of movable plate B, and the movable plate B is able to move up and down along the fixed apparatus D; the lower plate A is provided with a lower electrode A1, and the movable plate B is provided with a movable electrode B1 and adjustment electrodes B2; the lower electrode A1 and the movable electrode B1 constitute a unit capacitor; and the upper plate C is provided with an upper electrode C1 and adjustment electrodes C2.

Disclosed herein is an MEMS variable capacitor and its driving method, the MEMS variable capacitor including, a first electrode, a second electrode floating over the first electrode upper part, a fixed electrode separated at the second electrode side surface, and a drifting electrode placed between the second electrode and the fixed electrode, connected to the second electrode, and physically contacting the fixed electrode by a voltage applied to the fixed electrode.

The present invention relates to a vacuum capacitor (1, 30) comprising an enclosure (9) to contain a vacuum dielectric medium, a first electrode (12) and a second electrode (13) separated by said vacuum dielectric medium, the enclosure (9) comprising a first conductive collar (2) in electrical contact with the first electrode (12) and a second conductive collar (3) in electrical contact with the second electrode (13), the first conductive collar (2) and the second conductive collar (3) being separated by an insulating element (4) of the enclosure (9), wherein the enclosure (9) exhibits at least one protruding edge (6), said protruding edge (6) being in electrical contact with the closest of the first conductive collar (2) or the second conductive collar (3), wherein the vacuum capacitor (1, 30) comprises at least one protection means (7, 37) covering on the outside of the vacuum enclosure the protruding edge (6), wherein the protection means (7, 37) is made at least partially of an elastomer, wherein at least the outer surface (7b, 37b) of the protection means (7, 37) is electrically conductive and is at the same electrical potential as the closest conductive collar to the protruding edge (6), and wherein the outer surface (7b, 37b) of the protection means (7, 37) has a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the protruding edge (6).

The present invention relates to a vacuum capacitor (1, 30) comprising an enclosure (9) to contain a vacuum dielectric medium, a first electrode (12) and a second electrode (13) separated by said vacuum dielectric medium, the enclosure (9) comprising a first conductive collar (2) in electrical contact with the first electrode (12) and a second conductive collar (3) in electrical contact with the second electrode (13), the first conductive collar (2) and the second conductive collar (3) being separated by an insulating element (4) of the enclosure (9), wherein the enclosure (9) exhibits at least one protruding edge (6), said protruding edge (6) being in electrical contact with the closest of the first conductive collar (2) or the second conductive collar (3), wherein the vacuum capacitor (1, 30) comprises at least one protection means (7, 37) covering on the outside of the vacuum enclosure the protruding edge (6), wherein the protection means (7, 37) is made at least partially of an elastomer, wherein at least the outer surface (7b, 37b) of the protection means (7, 37) is electrically conductive and is at the same electrical potential as the closest conductive collar to the protruding edge (6), and wherein the outer surface (7b, 37b) of the protection means (7, 37) has a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the protruding edge (6).