Inserting-finger liquid metal relay
First Claim
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1. An electrical relay comprising:
- a relay housing enclosing a switching cavity;
a first electrical contact in the switching cavity, having a wettable surface;
a second electrical contact in the switching cavity spaced from the first electrical contact and having a wettable surface;
a conducting liquid in wetted contact with the first and second electrical contacts;
a beam having a fixed end attached to the relay housing within the switching cavity and a free end;
a non-wettable switch finger, attached to the free end of the beam and moveable between the first and second electrical contacts; and
a piezoelectric actuator operable to move the beam in a lateral direction to cause the switching finger to move between a first position and second position;
wherein when the switch finger is in the first position, the conducting liquid bridges the space between the first and second contacts and completes an electrical circuit between the first and second contacts and when in the second position the switch finger separates the conducting liquid into two volumes, thereby breaking the electrical circuit between the first and second contacts.
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Abstract
An electrical relay comprising having two wettable electrical contacts supporting a conducting liquid. A non-wettable switch finger is moved between first and second positions between the electrical contacts by action of an actuator. In the first position the switch finger permits the conducting liquid to bridge the gap between the contacts and complete an electrical circuit between the contacts. In the second position the switch finger separates the conducting liquid into two volumes, breaking the electrical circuit between the contacts. The switch finger may be located at the free end of a beam that is deflected or bent by the action of piezoelectric elements.
80 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electrical relay comprising:
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a relay housing enclosing a switching cavity;
a first electrical contact in the switching cavity, having a wettable surface;
a second electrical contact in the switching cavity spaced from the first electrical contact and having a wettable surface;
a conducting liquid in wetted contact with the first and second electrical contacts;
a beam having a fixed end attached to the relay housing within the switching cavity and a free end;
a non-wettable switch finger, attached to the free end of the beam and moveable between the first and second electrical contacts; and
a piezoelectric actuator operable to move the beam in a lateral direction to cause the switching finger to move between a first position and second position;
wherein when the switch finger is in the first position, the conducting liquid bridges the space between the first and second contacts and completes an electrical circuit between the first and second contacts and when in the second position the switch finger separates the conducting liquid into two volumes, thereby breaking the electrical circuit between the first and second contacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for switching an electrical circuit formed by a bridge of conducting liquid between a first wettable contact and a second wettable contact in an electrical relay, the method comprising:
energizing an actuator to move a non-wettable finger between a first position in which the bridge of conducting liquid is complete and a second position in which the bridge of conducting liquid is broken by the non-wettable finger, wherein the relay includes a beam having a fixed end and a free end, the non-wettable finger being attached to the free end of the beam, and wherein energizing the actuator comprises;
energizing a piezoelectric actuator attached to a side of the beam to deform in a longitudinal direction along the length of the beam, thereby bending the beam and moving the non-wettable finger. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method for switching an electrical circuit formed by a bridge of conducting liquid between a first wettable contact and a second wettable contact in an electrical relay, the method comprising:
energizing an actuator to move a non-wettable finger between a first position in which the bridge of conducting liquid is complete and a second position in which the bridge of conducting liquid is broken by the non-wettable finger, wherein the relay includes a beam having a fixed end and a free end, the non-wettable finger being attached to the free end of the beam, and wherein energizing the actuator comprises;
energizing a first piezoelectric actuator attached to a first side of the beam to extend in a longitudinal direction along the length of the beam; and
energizing a second piezoelectric actuator attached to a second side of the beam to contract in a longitudinal direction along the length of the beam, thereby bending the beam and moving the non-wettable finger. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A method for switching an electrical circuit formed by a bridge of conducting liquid between a first wettable contact and a second wettable contact in an electrical relay, the method comprising:
energizing an actuator to move a non-wettable finger between a first position in which the bridge of conducting liquid is complete and a second position in which the bridge of conducting liquid is broken by the non-wettable finger, wherein the relay includes a beam having a fixed end and a free end, the non-wettable finger being attached to the free end of the beam, and wherein energizing the actuator comprises;
energizing a piezoelectric actuator in contact with the beam and a housing of the relay to deform in direction substantially perpendicular to the length of the beam, thereby deflecting the beam and moving the non-wettable finger. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
Specification