Longitudinal piezoelectric optical latching relay
First Claim
1. A latching piezoelectric optical relay comprising:
- a first layer comprising a dielectric material;
a second layer positioned below said first layer and comprising a dielectric material;
a third layer positioned below said second layer comprising a dielectric material and a piezoelectric switching mechanism;
a fourth layer positioned below said third layer; and
an optical path running through said third layer;
wherein said piezoelectric switching mechanism comprises a chamber;
a first, second and third contact pad equally separated from each other, each of said contact pads having at least a portion within the chamber and where one of the separations between the pads intersects said optical path;
a first and second piezoelectrically element disposed in opposition to each other within said chamber, and a moveable conductive liquid within the chamber, with a first portion of the liquid wetted to the first of said of contact pads and a portion of the liquid wetted to both the second and third of said contact pads; and
wherein said portion of the liquid wetted to said second and third of said contact pads is moveable toward said portion wetted to the first of said contact pads and wherein movement of said liquid causes said optical path to be blocked.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is a piezoelectrically actuated relay that latches. The relay operates by means of the longitudinal displacement of a piezoelectric element in extension mode. The piezoelectric element displaces a liquid metal drop and causing it to wet between at least one set of contact pads and at least one other set of contact pads. Positioning of the liquid metal causes the optical path to be blocked. The same motion that causes the liquid metal drop to change position can cause the optical path to be unblocked between the fixed pad and a contact pad on the piezoelectric element or substrate close to it.
The motion of the piezoelectric element is rapid and causes the imparted momentum of the liquid metal drop to overcome the surface tension forces that would hold the bulk of the liquid metal drop in contact with the contact pad or pads near the actuating piezoelectric element. The switch latches by means of surface tension and the liquid metal wetting to the contact pads.
68 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A latching piezoelectric optical relay comprising:
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a first layer comprising a dielectric material;
a second layer positioned below said first layer and comprising a dielectric material;
a third layer positioned below said second layer comprising a dielectric material and a piezoelectric switching mechanism;
a fourth layer positioned below said third layer; and
an optical path running through said third layer;
wherein said piezoelectric switching mechanism comprises a chamber;
a first, second and third contact pad equally separated from each other, each of said contact pads having at least a portion within the chamber and where one of the separations between the pads intersects said optical path;
a first and second piezoelectrically element disposed in opposition to each other within said chamber, and a moveable conductive liquid within the chamber, with a first portion of the liquid wetted to the first of said of contact pads and a portion of the liquid wetted to both the second and third of said contact pads; and
wherein said portion of the liquid wetted to said second and third of said contact pads is moveable toward said portion wetted to the first of said contact pads and wherein movement of said liquid causes said optical path to be blocked. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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- 10. An optical piezoelectric relay comprising a first and second piezoelectrically actuated element disposed in opposition to each other in a chamber, a moveable liquid disposed between said first and second elements and an optical path intersecting said chamber, wherein actuation of said first element causes a first movement of said liquid and said first movement of said liquid causes said optical path to be blocked and actuation of said second element causes a second movement of said liquid and said second movement causes said optical path to be unblocked.
Specification