Apparatus utilizing latching micromagnetic switches

• US 20050285703A1
• Filed: 12/15/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Magfusion, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Magfusion, Inc. (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Shen, Jun, Ruan, Meichun, Wheeler, Charles
• Application Number:
  US11/012,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20050285703A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/78
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2050/007 Relays of the polarised type, e.g. the MEMS relay beam having a preferential magnetisation direction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/005 using micromechanics

Abstract

An apparatus includes an electrical device and a latching micromagnetic switch that controls energy flow through the electrical device. The latching micromagnetic switch includes a cantilever, a permanent magnet, and a coil configured to latch the latching micromagnetic switch in one of two positions each time energy passes through the coil. The electrical device and the latching micromagnetic switch can be integrated on a same substrate. Otherwise, the electrical device and the latching micromagnetic switch can be located on separate substrates and coupled together. The electrical device can be a circuit, a filter, an antenna, a transceiver, or the like.

Claims

1-27. -27. (canceled)

28. A system comprising:

N branches including an electrical device in each, wherein n is a positive integer of 1 or greater;

a latching micromagnetic switch system that controls energy flow to each branch, such that only the electrical device in the branch connected to the latching micromagnetic switch system operates, the latching micromagnetic switch system having one or more latching micromagnetic switches, each including,

a cantilever,

a permanent magnet, and

a coil configured to latch said latching micromagnetic switch in one of two positions each time energy passes through the coil;

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the latching micromagnetic switch system comprises:

a first one of the latching micromagnetic switches that is coupled to a first side of each of the branches; and

a second one of the latching micromagnetic switches that is coupled to a second side of each of the branches.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein:

the first one of the latching micromagnetic switches is a 1-input-N-output switch; and

the second one of the latching micromagnetic switches is a N-input-1-output switch.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the latching micromagnetic switch system comprises:

N first ones of the latching micromagnetic switches each coupled to a first side of respective ones of the branches; and

N second ones of the latching micromagnetic switches, each coupled to a second side of respective ones of the branches.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein N is equal to or greater than 2 and the electrical devices are filters in a telephone having various frequency channels, each frequency being set using each respective one of the filters, such that a desired one of the frequency channels receives a signal corresponding to which of the branches is connected to the latching micromagnetic switch system.

33. An apparatus comprising:

an electrical device; and

a latching micromagnetic switch that controls energy flow to the electrical device to effectively turn the electrical device at least one of ON and OFF, the latching micromagnetic switch including,

a magnet proximate to a substrate, the magnet producing a first magnetic field;

a cantilever having a magnetic material and a longitudinal axis, the magnetic material making the cantilever sensitive to the first magnetic field, which is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the cantilever rotating between a first and second state based on the first magnetic field producing a torque in the magnetic material of the cantilever, the torque maintaining the cantilever in one of the first and second states;

a conductor that conducts a current, the current inducing a torque in the cantilever based on a second magnetic field, a component of the second magnetic field that is parallel to the longitudinal axis adjusts the direction of the torque produced by the first magnetic field in the magnetic material of the cantilever, such that the conductor switches the cantilever between the first and second states.

34. A system comprising:

N branches including an electrical device in each, wherein N is a positive integer of 1 or greater;

a latching micromagnetic switch system that controls energy flow to each branch, such that only the electrical device in the branch connected to the latching micromagnetic switch system operates, the latching micromagnetic switch system having one or more latching micromagnetic switches, each including,

a magnet proximate to a substrate, the magnet producing a first magnetic field;

a cantilever having a magnetic material and a longitudinal axis, the magnetic material making the cantilever sensitive to the first magnetic field, which is approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the cantilever rotating between a first and second state based on the first magnetic field producing a torque in the magnetic material of the cantilever that maintains the cantilever in one of the first and second states; and

a conductor that conducts a current, the current induces a torque in the cantilever based on a second magnetic field, a component of the second magnetic field that is parallel to the longitudinal axis adjusts the direction of the torque produced by the first magnetic field in the magnetic material of the cantilever such that the conductor switches the cantilever between the first and second states.

35. A system, comprising:

an electrical device; and

a latching micromagnetic switch that controls energy flow to the electrical device to effectively turn the electrical device at least one of ON and OFF, the latching micromagnetic switch including,

a cantilever having a longitudinal axis and including a magnetic layer;

a permanent magnet that applies a first magnetic field in a direction substantially perdendicular to said longitudinal axis; and

a coil that generates a second magnetic field by passing energy through the coil,

wherein said second magnetic field includes a component along said longitudinal axis, such that a magnetization direction of said magnetic layer is affected, and

wherein when energy is not passed through the coil, said cantilever remains latched in one of two positions due to torque created through interaction of said first magnetic field and the magnetization direction of said magnetic layer of said cantilever.