Shear mode liquid metal switch
First Claim
1. A piezoelectric optical relay comprising:
- a relay housing containing a switching channel;
a first contact pad located in the switching channel and having a surface wettable by a liquid metal;
a second contact pad located in the switching channel and having a surface wettable by a liquid metal;
a third contact pad located in the switching channel between the first and second contact pads and having a surface wettable by a liquid metal;
a first liquid metal droplet in wetted contact with the first contact pad;
a second liquid metal droplet in wetted contact with the second contact pad;
a third liquid metal droplet in wetted contact with the third contact pad and adapted to move within the switching channel to coalesce with one of the first liquid metal droplet and the second liquid metal droplet;
a first optical path passing through the switching channel between the first and third liquid metal droplets;
a first piezoelectric pump operable to pump actuation fluid into the switching channel between the second liquid metal droplet and the third liquid metal droplet, thereby causing the second and third liquid metal droplets to separate and the first and third liquid metal droplets to coalesce; and
a second piezoelectric pump operable to pump actuation fluid into the switching channel between the first liquid metal droplet and the third liquid metal droplet, thereby causing the first and third liquid metal droplets to separate and the second and third liquid metal droplets to coalesce;
wherein the first optical path is broken when the first and third liquid metal droplets are coalesced and is completed when the first and third liquid metal droplets are separated.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A piezoelectric relay is disclosed in which a liquid metal droplet is moved within a switching channel formed in relay housing. A signal path passing through the switching channel is blocked or unblocked by motion of the liquid metal droplet that coalesces with one of two additional liquid metal droplets. Motion of the liquid metal droplets is controlled by piezoelectric pumps that control the flow of actuation fluid between a fluid reservoir and the switching channel. The liquid metal droplets are held in place by surface tension acting on wettable contact pads within the switching channel. The surface tension of the liquid provides a latching mechanism for the relay.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A piezoelectric optical relay comprising:
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a relay housing containing a switching channel;
a first contact pad located in the switching channel and having a surface wettable by a liquid metal;
a second contact pad located in the switching channel and having a surface wettable by a liquid metal;
a third contact pad located in the switching channel between the first and second contact pads and having a surface wettable by a liquid metal;
a first liquid metal droplet in wetted contact with the first contact pad;
a second liquid metal droplet in wetted contact with the second contact pad;
a third liquid metal droplet in wetted contact with the third contact pad and adapted to move within the switching channel to coalesce with one of the first liquid metal droplet and the second liquid metal droplet;
a first optical path passing through the switching channel between the first and third liquid metal droplets;
a first piezoelectric pump operable to pump actuation fluid into the switching channel between the second liquid metal droplet and the third liquid metal droplet, thereby causing the second and third liquid metal droplets to separate and the first and third liquid metal droplets to coalesce; and
a second piezoelectric pump operable to pump actuation fluid into the switching channel between the first liquid metal droplet and the third liquid metal droplet, thereby causing the first and third liquid metal droplets to separate and the second and third liquid metal droplets to coalesce;
wherein the first optical path is broken when the first and third liquid metal droplets are coalesced and is completed when the first and third liquid metal droplets are separated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for switching an optical path in a piezoelectric optical relay having a first liquid metal droplet moveable within a switching channel, the method comprising:
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coupling an input optical signal to an input optical waveguide of the piezoelectric optical relay, the input optical waveguide being optically aligned with an output optical waveguide to form the optical path;
if the optical path is to be completed;
energizing a first piezoelectric pump to move actuation fluid into the switching channel and thereby move the first liquid metal droplet out of the optical path, whereby the input optical waveguide is optically coupled to the output optical waveguide; and
if the optical path is to be broken;
energizing a second piezoelectric pump to move actuation fluid into the switching channel and thereby move the first liquid metal droplet into the optical path, whereby the input optical waveguide is optically decoupled from the output optical waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A piezoelectric relay comprising:
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a relay housing containing a switching channel;
a first contact pad located in the switching channel and having a surface wettable by a liquid metal;
a second contact pad located in the switching channel and having a surface wettable by a liquid metal;
a third contact pad located in the switching channel between the first and second contact pads and having a surface wettable by a liquid metal;
a first liquid metal droplet in wetted contact with the first contact pad;
a second liquid metal droplet in wetted contact with the second contact pad;
a third liquid metal droplet in wetted contact with the third contact pad and adapted to move within the switching channel to coalesce with one of the first liquid metal droplet and the second liquid metal droplet;
a first electrical path operable to be coupled to the first contact pad and the third contact pad;
a second electrical path operable to be coupled to the second contact pad and the third contact pad;
a first piezoelectric pump operable to pump actuation fluid into the switching channel between the second liquid metal droplet and the third liquid metal droplet, thereby causing the second and third liquid metal droplets to separate and the first and third liquid metal droplets to coalesce; and
a second piezoelectric pump operable to pump actuation fluid into the switching channel between the first liquid metal droplet and the third liquid metal droplet, thereby causing the first and third liquid metal droplets to separate and the second and third liquid metal droplets to coalesce;
wherein the first electrical path is completed when the first and third liquid metal droplets are coalesced and the second electrical path is completed when the second and third liquid metal droplets are coalesced. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method for switching one or more electrical signal paths in a piezoelectric relay having a first liquid metal droplet moveable within a switching channel, the method comprising:
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coupling an input electrical signal to a first contact pad and a third contact pad of the piezoelectric relay;
if a first electrical signal path is to be completed;
energizing a first piezoelectric pump to move actuation fluid into the switching channel and thereby move the first liquid metal droplet, so that the first liquid metal droplet is coupled to the third contact pad and the first contact pad; and
if a second electrical signal path is to be broken;
energizing a second piezoelectric pump to move actuation fluid into the switching channel and thereby move the first liquid metal droplet, so that the first liquid metal droplet is coupled to the third contact pad and a second contact pad. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification