Solid slug longitudinal piezoelectric latching relay
First Claim
1. A latching piezoelectric relay comprising:
- a chamber;
a first, second and third contact pad equally separated from each other, each of said contact pads having at least a portion within the chamber;
a first and a second piezoelectric element disposed in opposition to each other within the chamber;
a moveable conductive liquid within the chamber, a first portion of the liquid is wetted to the first of said of contact pads and a portion of the liquid wetted to both the second and third of said contact pads; and
a solid slug imbedded with said portion of the liquid wetted to both the second and the third of said contact pads;
wherein said solid slug and said portion of the liquid wetted to said second and third of said contact pads is moveable toward said portion wetted to the first of said contact pads.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with the invention, a piezoelectrically actuated relay that switches and latches by means of a solid slug and liquid metal is disclosed. The relay operates by means of a longitudinal displacement of a piezoelectric element in extension mode displacing a liquid metal drop and causing it to wet between at least one contact pad on the piezoelectric element or substrate and at least one other fixed pad to close the switch contact. This motion of the piezoelectric element is rapid and causes the imparted momentum of the solid slug and liquid metal drop to overcome the surface tension forces that would hold the bulk of the liquid metal drop in contact with the contact pad or pads near the actuating piezoelectric element. The switch latches by means of surface tension and the liquid metal wetting to the contact pads.
74 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A latching piezoelectric relay comprising:
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a chamber;
a first, second and third contact pad equally separated from each other, each of said contact pads having at least a portion within the chamber;
a first and a second piezoelectric element disposed in opposition to each other within the chamber;
a moveable conductive liquid within the chamber, a first portion of the liquid is wetted to the first of said of contact pads and a portion of the liquid wetted to both the second and third of said contact pads; and
a solid slug imbedded with said portion of the liquid wetted to both the second and the third of said contact pads;
wherein said solid slug and said portion of the liquid wetted to said second and third of said contact pads is moveable toward said portion wetted to the first of said contact pads. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A piezoelectric relay for latching, said relay comprising;
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a cap layer, a piezoelectric layer positioned below said cap layer, and a substrate layer below said piezoelectric layer;
said piezoelectric layer comprising a chamber;
a first, second and third contact pad equally separated from each other, each of said contact pads having at least a portion within the chamber;
a first and a second piezoelectric element disposed in opposition to each other within the chamber;
a moveable conductive liquid within the chamber, a first portion of the liquid is wetted to the first of said of contact pads and a second portion of the liquid is wetted to both the second and third of said contact pads; and
a solid slug imbedded with said portion of the liquid wetted to both the second and the third of said contact pads;
wherein said solid slug and said portion of the liquid wetted to said second and third of said contact pads is moveable toward said portion wetted to the first of said contact pads. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification