Controllable electronic switch

• US 20050128043A1
• Filed: 07/28/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: I/O Controls Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yingco Electronic Incorporated
• Inventors: Ying, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,265,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 337/36
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 37/52 actuated due to deflection of bimetallic element
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 61/02 wherein the thermally-sensitive member is heated indirectly, e.g. resistively, inductively
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/32 Insulating body insertable between contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A controllable electronic switch for, e.g., controlling power distribution comprises a deformable member such as a bimetal arm that can be deformed to break an electrical path. The deformable member may be anchored at one end and in controllable contact with an electrical conductor at the other end. A heating element, such as a coil, can be used to selectively heat the deformable member. The controllable electronic switch can alternatively comprise a deformable member that is terminated in a wedge-shaped member. When the deformable member bends in response to being heated, the wedge-shaped member forces apart a pair of contacts thus breaking an electrical path. The wedge-shaped member and/or associated structures may be configured as a cam mechanism with multiple latching positions.

Claims

1. A controllable electronic switch, comprising:

a pair of opposing elongate deformable members for controllably separating a pair of electrical contacts and thereby connecting and disconnecting an incoming power signal from a load; and

a resting member disposed between said elongate deformable members, such that when either elongate deformable member bends, the opposing elongate deformable member is inhibited from following the bending elongate deformable member.

2. The controllable electronic switch of claim 1, wherein said pair of electrical contacts are respectively disposed on said pair of elongate deformable members.

3. The controllable electronic switch of claim 2, further comprising:

an incoming power wire connected proximate to a base of a first one of said pair of elongate deformable members; and

an electrical conductor connected proximate to the electrical contact disposed on a second one of said pair of elongate deformable members, such that power from said incoming power wire flows through said first elongate deformable member, across said pair of electrical contacts, and through the electrical conductor to the load.

4. The controllable electronic switch of claim 1, wherein one of said elongate deformable members acts as a safety arm which breaks circuit connection upon an over-current condition, and wherein the other one of said elongate deformable members acts as a control arm breaking circuit connection in response to a control signal.

5. The controllable electronic switch of claim 4, further comprising means for heating the elongate deformable member acting as a control arm in order to cause it to break circuit connection in response to said control signal.

6. The controllable electronic switch of claim 5, wherein said means for heating comprises resistive tape disposed upon said elongate deformable member acting as a control arm.

7. The controllable electronic switch of claim 5, wherein said means for heating comprises a heating coil disposed proximate to said elongate deformable member acting as a control arm.

8. The controllable electronic switch of claim 1, wherein said resting member is immobile.

9. The controllable electronic switch of claim 1, wherein said resting member is movable to override the operation of either elongate deformable member by controllably allowing the elongate deformable members to reconnect.

10. The controllable electronic switch of claim 1, wherein said resting member comprises a rotatable cam.

11. The controllable electronic switch of claim 10, wherein rotation of said rotatable cam from a normal operating position to an override position causes said opposing elongate deformable members to move towards one another and reconnect power to the load.

12. The controllable electronic switch of claim 11, wherein rotation of said rotatable cam is responsive to a manual switch.

13. The controllable electronic switch of claim 10, wherein said rotatable cam when positioned at rest comprises a body having a length and a shorter width, the body lengthwise separating said opposing elongate deformable members.

14. The controllable electronic switch of claim 1, wherein said elongate deformable members each comprise a bimetal arm.

15. The controllable electronic switch of claim 14, wherein each of said bimetal arms has a top side comprised of a first metallic substance and a bottom side comprised of a second metallic substance having different thermal properties than the first metallic substance.

16. The controllable electronic switch of claim 1, wherein power is conveyed from the incoming power signal to the load through the electrical conductor when said pair of electrical contacts are in contact with one another, and wherein no power is conveyed to the load when said pair of electrical contacts are separated from one another.