Liquid electrical microswitch

Details Liquid electrical microswitch Liquid electrical microswitch

2006-02-28

2006-02-28

Lee, Richard K. (Department: 2832)

Electricity: circuit makers and breakers

Liquid contact

C200S199000, C200S214000, C200S233000, C335S078000, C335S057000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07005593

ABSTRACT:
A liquid electrical switch is disclosed that uses a plurality of droplets of conducting liquid to form an electrical path. In a first embodiment, at least a first voltage differential is used to create a separation distance between two droplets. The droplets are illustratively contained within a housing and surrounded by an immiscible, insulating liquid. In this embodiment, the at least a first voltage differential draws at least a portion of at least one of the droplets away from a second droplet, thus preventing electrical current from flowing from the at least one droplet to the second droplet. In another embodiment, the at least a first voltage differential is changed in a way such that at least one liquid droplet is made to come into contact with a second droplet, thus creating an electrical path between the two droplets.

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