Electrical generator or motor structure – Non-dynamoelectric – Piezoelectric elements and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2005-04-12
2005-04-12
Dougherty, Thomas M. (Department: 2834)
Electrical generator or motor structure
Non-dynamoelectric
Piezoelectric elements and devices
C310S026000, C200S188000, C200S211000, C200S214000, C200S215000, C335S047000, C335S049000, C335S058000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06879088
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.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2312672 (1943-03-01), Pollard, Jr.
patent: 2564081 (1951-08-01), Schilling
patent: 3430020 (1969-02-01), Tomkewitsch et al.
patent: 3529268 (1970-09-01), Rauterberg
patent: 3600537 (1971-08-01), Twyford
patent: 3639165 (1972-02-01), Rairden, III
patent: 3657647 (1972-04-01), Beusman et al.
patent: 4103135 (1978-07-01), Gomez et al.
patent: 4200779 (1980-04-01), Zakurdaev et al.
patent: 4238748 (1980-12-01), Goullin et al.
patent: 4245886 (1981-01-01), Kolodzey et al.
patent: 4336570 (1982-06-01), Brower et al.
patent: 4419650 (1983-12-01), John
patent: 4434337 (1984-02-01), Becker
patent: 4475033 (1984-10-01), Willemsen et al.
patent: 4505539 (1985-03-01), Auracher et al.
patent: 4582391 (1986-04-01), Legrand
patent: 4628161 (1986-12-01), Thackrey
patent: 4652710 (1987-03-01), Karnowsky et al.
patent: 4657339 (1987-04-01), Fick
patent: 4742263 (1988-05-01), Harnden, Jr. et al.
patent: 4786130 (1988-11-01), Georgiou et al.
patent: 4797519 (1989-01-01), Elenbaas
patent: 4804932 (1989-02-01), Akanuma et al.
patent: 4988157 (1991-01-01), Jackel et al.
patent: 5278012 (1994-01-01), Yamanaka et al.
patent: 5415026 (1995-05-01), Ford
patent: 5502781 (1996-03-01), Li et al.
patent: 5644676 (1997-07-01), Blomberg et al.
patent: 5675310 (1997-10-01), Wojnarowski et al.
patent: 5677823 (1997-10-01), Smith
patent: 5751074 (1998-05-01), Prior et al.
patent: 5751552 (1998-05-01), Scanlan et al.
patent: 5828799 (1998-10-01), Donald
patent: 5841686 (1998-11-01), Chu et al.
patent: 5849623 (1998-12-01), Wojnarowski et al.
patent: 5874770 (1999-02-01), Saia et al.
patent: 5875531 (1999-03-01), Nellissen et al.
patent: 5886407 (1999-03-01), Polese et al.
patent: 5889325 (1999-03-01), Uchida et al.
patent: 5912606 (1999-06-01), Nathanson et al.
patent: 5915050 (1999-06-01), Russell et al.
patent: 5972737 (1999-10-01), Polese et al.
patent: 5994750 (1999-11-01), Yagi
patent: 6021048 (2000-02-01), Smith
patent: 6180873 (2001-01-01), Bitko
patent: 6201682 (2001-03-01), Mooij et al.
patent: 6207234 (2001-03-01), Jiang
patent: 6212308 (2001-04-01), Donald
patent: 6225133 (2001-05-01), Yamamichi et al.
patent: 6278541 (2001-08-01), Baker
patent: 6304450 (2001-10-01), Dibene, II et al.
patent: 6320994 (2001-11-01), Donald et al.
patent: 6323447 (2001-11-01), Kondoh et al.
patent: 6351579 (2002-02-01), Early et al.
patent: 6356679 (2002-03-01), Kapany
patent: 6373356 (2002-04-01), Gutierrez et al.
patent: 6396012 (2002-05-01), Bloomfield
patent: 6396371 (2002-05-01), Streeter et al.
patent: 6408112 (2002-06-01), Bartels
patent: 6446317 (2002-09-01), Figueroa et al.
patent: 6453086 (2002-09-01), Tarazona
patent: 6470106 (2002-10-01), McClelland et al.
patent: 6487333 (2002-11-01), Fouquet et al.
patent: 6501354 (2002-12-01), Gutierrez et al.
patent: 6512322 (2003-01-01), Fong et al.
patent: 6515404 (2003-02-01), Wong
patent: 6516504 (2003-02-01), Schaper
patent: 6559420 (2003-05-01), Zarev
patent: 6633213 (2003-10-01), Dove
patent: 6740829 (2004-05-01), Wong
patent: 6756551 (2004-06-01), Wong
patent: 20020037128 (2002-03-01), Burger et al.
patent: 20020146197 (2002-10-01), Yong
patent: 20020150323 (2002-10-01), Nishida et al.
patent: 20020168133 (2002-11-01), Saito
patent: 20030035611 (2003-02-01), Shi
patent: 0593836 (1992-10-01), None
patent: 2418539 (1979-09-01), None
patent: 2458138 (1980-10-01), None
patent: 2667396 (1990-09-01), None
patent: 2052871 (1980-05-01), None
patent: 2381595 (2002-10-01), None
patent: 2381663 (2002-10-01), None
patent: 2388471 (2003-03-01), None
patent: SHO 36-18575 (1961-10-01), None
patent: SHO 47-21645 (1972-10-01), None
patent: 63-276838 (1987-05-01), None
patent: 01-294317 (1988-05-01), None
patent: 08-125487 (1996-05-01), None
patent: 9161640 (1997-06-01), None
patent: WO 9946624 (1999-09-01), None
Jonathan Simon, “A Liquid-Filled Microrelay With A Moving Mercury Microdrop” (Sep. 1997), Journal of Microelectromechinical Systems, vol. 6, No. 3. pp 208-216.
Marvin Glenn Wong, “A Piezoelectrically Actuated Liquid Metal Switch”, May 2, 2002, patent application (pending, 12 pages of specification, 5 pages of claims, 1 page of abstract, and 10 sheets of drawings (Figs. 1-10).
Bhedwar, Homi C. et al., “Ceramic Multilayer Package Fabrication,” Electronic Materials Handbook, Nov. 1989, pp. 460-469, vol. 1 Packaging, Section 4: Packages.
“Integral Power Resistors for Aluminum Substrate.” IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Jun. 1984, US, Jun. 1, 1984, p. 827, vol. 27, No. 1B, TDB-ACC-NO: NB8406827, Cross Reference: 0018-8689-27-1B-827.
Kim, Joonwon et al, “A Micromechanical Switch with Electrostatically Driven Liquid-Metal Droplet.” Sensors and Actuators, A: Physical. v 9798, Apr. 1, 2002, 4 pages.
Fong Arthur
Wong Marvin Glenn
Agilent Technologie,s Inc.
Dougherty Thomas M.
LandOfFree
Insertion-type liquid metal latching relay array does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Insertion-type liquid metal latching relay array, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Insertion-type liquid metal latching relay array will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3408846