Changing the state of a switch through the application of power
First Claim
1. A switch comprising:
- a spring;
a collapsing element;
the spring having a first state in which it is being bold in tension by a restraining element;
the spring having a second state in which it is not being held in tension because the restraining element has failed;
the collapsing element being situated such that when sufficient power is applied to the collapsing element heat from the collapsing element will cause the restraining element to fail;
a first contact coupled to the spring;
a second contact coupled to the spring;
the first contact and the second contact being separate from each other when the spring is in the first state;
the first contact and the second contact being electrically connected to each other when the spring is in the second state; and
whereina portion of the first end of the spring adjacent to where the first contact is coupled is non-conductive to electricity, anda portion of the second end of the spring adjacent to where the second contact is coupled is nonconductive to electricity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A switch includes a spring. The switch further includes a collapsing element. The spring has a first state in which it is being held in tension by a restraining element and a second state in which it is not being held in tension because the restraining element has failed. The collapsing element is situated such that when sufficient power is applied to the collapsing element heat from the collapsing element will cause the restraining element to fail. The switch further includes a first contact coupled to the spring. The switch further includes a second contact coupled to the spring. The first contact and the second contact are separate from each other when the spring is in the first state. The first contact and the second contact are electrically connected to each other when the spring is in the second state.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A switch comprising:
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a spring; a collapsing element; the spring having a first state in which it is being bold in tension by a restraining element; the spring having a second state in which it is not being held in tension because the restraining element has failed; the collapsing element being situated such that when sufficient power is applied to the collapsing element heat from the collapsing element will cause the restraining element to fail; a first contact coupled to the spring; a second contact coupled to the spring; the first contact and the second contact being separate from each other when the spring is in the first state; the first contact and the second contact being electrically connected to each other when the spring is in the second state; and wherein a portion of the first end of the spring adjacent to where the first contact is coupled is non-conductive to electricity, and a portion of the second end of the spring adjacent to where the second contact is coupled is nonconductive to electricity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
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coupling a first switch to a power line, the switch comprising; a spring; a collapsing element; the spring having a first state in which it is being held in tension by a restraining element; the spring having a second state in which it is not being held in tension because the restraining element has failed; the collapsing element being situated such that, when sufficient current of a first polarity is applied to the switch, heat from the collapsing clement will cause the restraining element to fail; a first contact coupled to the spring; a second contact coupled to the spring; the first contact and the second contact being separate from each other when the spring is in the first state; the first contact and the second contact being electrically connected to each other when the spring is in the second state; the first contact coupled to a first switch actuation line; the first switch actuation line coupled to the power line; and wherein; a portion of the first end of the spring adjacent to where the first contact is coupled is non-conductive to electricity, and a portion of the second end of spring adjacent to where the second contact is coupled is non-conductive to electricity; and applying sufficient power of the first polarity through the power line to the first switch actuation line, such that the restraining element fails and the spring moves from the first state to the second state. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed on a computer system, perform a method comprising:
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coupling a first switch to a power line, the switch comprising; a spring; a collapsing element; the spring having a first state in which it is being held in tension by a restraining element; the spring having a second state in which it is not being held in tension because the restraining clement has failed; the collapsing element being situated such that, when sufficient current of a first polarity is applied to the switch, heat from the collapsing element will cause the restraining element to fail; a first contact coupled to the spring; a second contact coupled to the spring; the first contact and the second contact being separate from each other when the spring is in the first state; the first contact and the second contact being electrically connected to each other when the spring is in the second state; the first contact coupled to a first switch actuation line; the first switch actuation line coupled to the power line; and wherein; a portion of the first end of the spring adjacent to where the first contact is coupled is non-conductive to electricity, and a portion of the second cod of the spring adjacent to where the second contact is coupled is non-conductive to electricity; and applying sufficient power of the first polarity through the power line to the first switch actuation line, such that the restraining element fails and the spring moves from the first state to the second state. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification