Volume adjustment apparatus and method for use

• US 6,743,990 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2002
• Issued: 06/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Wong, Marvin Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad, Elvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLAUS, LISA NHUNG
• Application Number:
  US10/317,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20040112724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 200/182, 200/188, 200/185, 200/193, 200/214, 200/233, 200/221, 200/227, 200/228, 335/78, 335/47, 335/57, 335/58, 335/50-56, 361/704, 361/700, 361/699, 310/328, 310/363, 310/365
• 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 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

A volume adjustment apparatus for a switch. One embodiment of the volume adjustment apparatus may comprise a plate member sized to fit over a main channel in the switch displaces an excess of a liquid switching element from the main channel of the switch. At least one collection chamber is formed in the plate member overlapping the main channel of the switch to receive the displaced excess liquid switching element.

Claims

1. A volume adjustment apparatus for a switch, comprising:

a plate member sized to fit over a main channel in the switch, said plate member displacing an excess of a liquid switching element from the main channel of the switch;

at least one collection chamber formed in said plate member, said at least one collection chamber overlapping the main channel of the switch to receive the displaced excess liquid switching element.

2. The volume adjustment apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one collection chamber is wettable by the liquid switching element.

3. The volume adjustment apparatus of claim 1, wherein said at least one collection chamber has a substantially elliptical shape.

4. The volume adjustment apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a displacement tab aligned adjacent said at least one collection chamber on said plate member.

5. The volume adjustment apparatus of claim 4, wherein said displacement tab is wettable by the liquid switching element.

6. The volume adjustment apparatus of claim 4, wherein said displacement tab extends at least partially into the main channel of the switch when said plate member abuts the switch.

7. The volume adjustment apparatus of claim 4, wherein said displacement tab aligns between separate volumes of liquid switching element in the main channel of the switch.

8. The volume adjustment apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plate member with the excess liquid switching element is removable from the switch.