Piezoelectrically actuated liquid metal switch
First Claim
1. A piezoelectric activated relay comprising:
- an extension mode piezoelectric element;
a switch contact structure forming a cavity;
a first switch contact pad and a second switch contact pad, said first switch contact pads being constructed to line said cavity and said second switch contact pad being adhered to said piezoelectric element; and
a first portion of liquid metal filling said cavity and a second portion of liquid metal adhering to said second contact switch;
wherein said piezoelectric element extends partially into said cavity contacting said liquid metal and wherein said second switch contact pad is positioned on said piezoelectric element in close proximity to said first portion of liquid metal so that actuation of the piezoelectric element causes outward displacement of the first portion of liquid metal causing it to contact the second contact pad and the second portion of liquid metal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention uses a piezoelectric method to actuate a liquid metal relay. The method described here uses the piezoelectric element in an extension mode to cause the switch actuator to insert into a cavity in the static (i.e. nonmoving) switch contact structure. The cavity has sides and a pad on its end that are wettable by the liquid metal. The cavity is filled with liquid metal. Insertion of the switch actuator into the cavity causes the liquid metal to be displaced outward and come in contact with the contact pad on the switch actuator. The volume of liquid metal is chosen so that when the actuator returns to its rest position, the electrical contact is maintained by surface tension and by wetting of the contact pads on both the static switch contact structure and the actuator.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A piezoelectric activated relay comprising:
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an extension mode piezoelectric element;
a switch contact structure forming a cavity;
a first switch contact pad and a second switch contact pad, said first switch contact pads being constructed to line said cavity and said second switch contact pad being adhered to said piezoelectric element; and
a first portion of liquid metal filling said cavity and a second portion of liquid metal adhering to said second contact switch;
wherein said piezoelectric element extends partially into said cavity contacting said liquid metal and wherein said second switch contact pad is positioned on said piezoelectric element in close proximity to said first portion of liquid metal so that actuation of the piezoelectric element causes outward displacement of the first portion of liquid metal causing it to contact the second contact pad and the second portion of liquid metal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A piezoelectric activated relay comprising:
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a cap layer;
a piezoelectric layer positioned beneath said cap layer; and
a circuit substrate layer positioned beneath said piezoelectric layer;
wherein said piezoelectric layer comprises an extension mode piezoelectric element;
a switch contact structure forming a cavity;
a first switch contact pad and a second switch contact pad, said first switch contact pads being constructed to line said cavity and said second switch contact pad being adhered to said piezoelectric element; and
a first portion of liquid metal filling said cavity and a second portion of liquid metal adhering to said second contact switch;
wherein said piezoelectric element extends partially into said cavity contacting said liquid metal and wherein said second switch contact pad is positioned on said piezoelectric element in close proximity to said first portion of of liquid metal so that actuation of the piezoelectric element causes outward displacement of the first portion of liquid metal causing it to contact the second contact pad and the second portion of liquid metal.- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification