Ceramic channel plate for a fluid-based switch, and method for making same

• US 20050051412A1
• Filed: 10/12/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvin Glenn Wong, Paul Thomas Carson
• Original Assignee: Marvin Glenn Wong, Paul Thomas Carson
• Inventors: Wong, Marvin Glenn, Carson, Paul Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 6,924,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/182
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/0036 Switches making use of microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] for electromagnetic relays H01H50/005; for electrostatic relays H01H59/0009
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2001/0073 Solutions for avoiding the use of expensive silicon technologies in micromechanical switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2029/008 using micromechanics, e.g. micromechanical liquid contact switches or [LIMMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 29/28 with level of surface of contact liquid displaced by fluid pressure

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a channel plate for a fluid-based switch. The channel plate is produced by 1) forming a plurality of channel plate layers in ceramic green sheet, 2) forming at least one channel plate feature in at least one of the channel plate layers, and 3) laminating the channel plate layers to form the channel plate. A method for making a switch with a ceramic channel plate is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A channel plate for a fluid-based switch, produced by:

forming a plurality of channel plate layers in ceramic green sheet;

forming at least one channel plate feature in at least one of the channel plate layers; and

laminating the channel plate layers to form the channel plate.

2. The channel plate of claim 1, wherein at least one of the channel plate features is punched from a channel plate layer, prior to lamination of the channel plate layers.

3. The channel plate of claim 1, wherein at least one of the channel plate features is laser cut into a channel plate layer, prior to lamination of the channel plate layers.

4. The channel plate of claim 1, wherein larger channel plate features are punched from one or more of the channel plate layers, and wherein smaller channel plate features are laser cut into one or more of the channel plate layers.

5. The channel plate of claim 4, wherein the larger channel plate features are defined by widths of about 200 microns or greater, and wherein the smaller channel plate features are defined by widths of about 200 microns or smaller.

6. The channel plate of claim 1, wherein the channel plate features comprise a switching fluid channel, an actuating fluid channel, and a channel that connects the switching and actuating fluid channels.

7. The channel plate of claim 6, wherein the switching and actuating fluid channels are punched from one or more of the channel plate layers, and wherein the channel that connects the switching and actuating fluid channels is laser cut into one or more of the channel plate layers.

8. The channel plate of claim 1, wherein:

a first channel plate layer serving as a base is laminated to a second channel plate layer;

the second channel plate having a switching fluid channel formed therein; and

the second channel plate layer is laminated to a third channel plate layer;

the third channel plate layer having a switching fluid channel, an actuating fluid channel, and a channel that connects the switching and actuating fluid channels formed therein.

9. A method for making a switch, comprising:

forming a plurality of channel plate layers in ceramic green sheet;

forming at least one channel plate feature in at least one of the channel plate layers;

laminating the channel plate layers to form a channel plate; and

aligning the at least one feature formed in the channel plate with at least one feature on a substrate and sealing at least a switching fluid between the channel plate and the substrate.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the channel plate features is formed by punching it from a channel plate layer, prior to lamination of the channel plate layers.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the channel plate features is formed by laser cutting it into a channel plate layer, prior to lamination of the channel plate layers.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising, punching larger channel plate features from one or more of the channel plate layers, and laser cutting smaller channel plate features into one or more of the channel plate layers.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the larger channel plate features are defined by widths of about 200 microns or greater, and wherein the smaller channel plate features are defined by widths of about 200 microns or smaller.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the channel plate features comprise a switching fluid channel, an actuating fluid channel, and a channel that connects the switching and actuating fluid channels.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising, punching the switching and actuating fluid channels from one or more of the channel plate layers, and laser cutting the channel that connects the switching and actuating fluid channels into one or more of the channel plate layers.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

laminating a first channel plate layer, serving as a base, to a second channel plate layer;

the second channel plate having a switching fluid channel formed therein; and

laminating the second channel plate layer to a third channel plate layer;

the third channel plate layer having a switching fluid channel, an actuating fluid channel, and a channel that connects the switching and actuating fluid channels formed therein.