Insertion-type liquid metal latching relay array
First Claim
1. An electrical relay array comprising a plurality of switching elements, a switching of the plurality of switching elements comprising:
- a first electrical contact, having a wettable surface;
a first conducting liquid volume in wetted contact with the first electrical contact;
a second electrical contact spaced from the first electrical contact and having a wettable surface;
a well-support structure in close proximity to the first and second electrical contacts, the well support structure having a liquid well formed within it;
a second conducting liquid volume in the liquid well in wetted contact with the second electrical contact; and
an actuator having a rest position at least partially within the liquid well;
wherein expansion of the actuator decreases the volume of the liquid well and displaces the second liquid, thereby causing the first and second conducting liquid volumes to coalesce and complete an electrical circuit between the first and second electrical contacts, and contraction of the actuator increases the volume of the liquid well, thereby causing the first and second conducting liquid volumes to separate and break the electrical circuit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical relay array using conducting liquid in the switching mechanism. The relay array is amenable to manufacture by micro-machining techniques. Each element of the relay array uses an actuator, such as a piezoelectric element, to cause a switch actuator to insert into a cavity in a static switch contact structure. The cavity has sides and a pad on its end that are wettable by the conducting liquid. The cavity is filled with the conducting liquid, which may be liquid metal. Insertion of the switch actuator into the cavity causes the conducting liquid to be displaced outward and come in contact with the contact pad on the switch actuator. The volume of conducting liquid 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. When the switch actuator retracts away from the static switch contact structure, the available volume for conducting liquid inside the fixed switch contact structure increases and the combination of the movement of the conducting liquid into the cavity and the contact pad on the switch actuator moving away from the bulk of the conducting liquid causes the conducting liquid connection between the fixed and moving contact pads to be broken. When the switch actuator returns to its rest position, the contact remains electrically open because there is not enough conducting liquid to bridge the gap without being disturbed. The high frequency capability is provided by the additional conductors in the assembly, which act to make the switch a coaxial structure.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An electrical relay array comprising a plurality of switching elements, a switching of the plurality of switching elements comprising:
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a first electrical contact, having a wettable surface;
a first conducting liquid volume in wetted contact with the first electrical contact;
a second electrical contact spaced from the first electrical contact and having a wettable surface;
a well-support structure in close proximity to the first and second electrical contacts, the well support structure having a liquid well formed within it;
a second conducting liquid volume in the liquid well in wetted contact with the second electrical contact; and
an actuator having a rest position at least partially within the liquid well;
wherein expansion of the actuator decreases the volume of the liquid well and displaces the second liquid, thereby causing the first and second conducting liquid volumes to coalesce and complete an electrical circuit between the first and second electrical contacts, and contraction of the actuator increases the volume of the liquid well, thereby causing the first and second conducting liquid volumes to separate and break the electrical circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for completing an electrical circuit between a first contact and a second contact selected from a plurality of second contacts in a relay array, the first contact supporting a first conducting liquid droplet and each of the plurality of second contacts supporting a second conducting liquid droplet, the method comprising:
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for each second contact of the plurality of second contacts that is not selected;
energizing an actuator to withdraw from a well of conducting liquid, thereby drawing conducting liquid into the well and causing the first and second conducting liquid droplets to separate and break the electrical circuit; and
for the selected second contact;
energizing the actuator to insert into the well of conducting liquid, thereby displacing conducting liquid from the well and causing the first and second conducting liquid droplets to coalesce and complete the electrical circuit. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification