Bent switching fluid cavity

• US 6,841,746 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2003
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Botka, Julius K., Wong, Marvin Glenn, Dove, Lewis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US10/414,343
• Publication Number:
  US 20040200707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 200/182, 200187-189, 200209-219, 200233-236, 310/328, 310/331, 310/348, 310/363, 335/4, 335/47, 335/78, 385/19
• US Class Current: 200/182
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2029/008 using micromechanics, e.g. micromechanical liquid contact switches or [LIMMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2061/006 Micromechanical thermal relay
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 29/28 with level of surface of contact liquid displaced by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 61/00 Electrothermal relays thermal switches not operated by electrical input, thermal switches with anticipating electrical input H01H37/00; thermally-sensitive members H01H37/32

Abstract

A switch having first and second mated substrates that define therebetween first and second intersecting channels of a bent switching fluid cavity. A switching fluid is held within the bent switching fluid cavity and is movable between first and second switch states in response to forces that are applied to the switching fluid. More of the switching fluid is forced into the first of the intersecting channels in the first switch state, and more of the switching fluid is forced into the second of the intersecting channels in the second switch state.

Claims

1. A switch, comprising:

a) first and second mated substrates defining therebetween first and second intersecting channels of a bent switching fluid cavity; and

b) a switching fluid, held within the bent switching fluid cavity, that is movable between first and second switch states in response to forces that are applied to the switching fluid;

wherein more of the switching fluid is forced into the first of the intersecting channels in the first switch state, and wherein more of the switching fluid is forced into the second of the intersecting channels in the second switch state.

2. The switch of claim 1, further comprising:

a) a first wettable area that presents within the bent switching fluid cavity at the intersection of the first and second intersecting channels; and

b) second and third wettable areas that present within the bent switching fluid cavity on either side of the intersection of the first and second intersecting channels.

3. The switch of claim 1, wherein the first and second intersecting channels intersect at an angle of about 90°

.

4. The switch of claim, 1 further comprising:

a) a plurality of surface contacts; and

b) a plurality of conductive vias that electrically couple ones of the electrical contacts to the surface contacts.

5. A switch, comprising:

a) a channel plate defining at least a portion of a number of cavities, said number of cavities including a bent switching fluid cavity defined by at least first and second intersecting channels in the channel plate;

b) a plurality of electrical contacts exposed within the bent switching fluid cavity;

c) a switching fluid, held within the bent switching fluid cavity, that serves to open and close at least a pair of the plurality of electrical contacts in response to forces that are applied to the switching fluid; and

d) an actuating fluid, held within one or more of the cavities, that serves to apply said forces to the switching fluid.

6. The switch of claim 5, wherein:

a) one of the electrical contacts presents within the bent switching fluid cavity at the intersection of the first and second intersecting channels; and

b) different ones of the electrical contacts present within the bent switching fluid cavity on either side of the intersection of the first and second intersecting channels.

7. The switch of claim 6, wherein the electrical contacts are wetted by the switching fluid.

8. The switch of claim 5, wherein the first and second intersecting channels intersect at an angle of about 90°

.

9. The switch of claim 6, wherein the electrical contacts are ends of planar signal conductors.

10. The switch of claim 9, wherein at least one of the planar signal conductors intersects the bent switching fluid cavity at an angle, and wherein a tightest angle at which one of the planar signal conductors intersects the bent switching fluid cavity is greater than 90°

.

11. The switch of claim 10, wherein the tightest angle at which one of the planar signal conductors intersects the bent switching fluid cavity is equal to or greater than 135°

.

12. The switch of claim 10, wherein the tightest angle at which one of the planar signal conductors intersects the bent switching fluid cavity is about 135°

.

13. The switch of claim 12, wherein a path taken by one of the planar signal conductors comprises a corner, and wherein a tightest corner in a path taken by any of the planar signal conductors is greater than 90°

.

14. The switch of claim 13, wherein the tightest corner in a path taken by any of the planar signal conductors is about 135°

.

15. The switch of claim 14, further comprising planar ground conductors adjacent either side of each planar signal conductor.

16. The switch of claim 13, wherein the tightest corner in a path taken by any of the planar signal conductors is equal to or greater than 135°

.

17. A switch, comprising:

a) a channel plate defining at least a portion of a number of cavities, said number of cavities including a bent switching fluid cavity defined by at least first and second intersecting channels in the channel plate;

b) a plurality of wettable pads exposed within the bent switching fluid cavity;

c) a switching fluid, wettable to said pads and held within the bent switching fluid cavity, that serves to open and block light paths through the bent switching fluid cavity in response to forces that are applied to the switching fluid; and

d) an actuating fluid, held within one or more of the cavities, that serves to apply said forces to the switching fluid.

18. The switch of claim 17, wherein:

a) one of the wettable pads presents within the bent switching fluid cavity at the intersection of the first and second intersecting channels; and

b) different ones of the wettable pads present within the bent switching fluid cavity on either side of the intersection of the first and second intersecting channels.

19. The switch of claim 17, wherein the first and second intersecting channels intersect at an angle of about 90°

.