Current conducting devices employing mesoscopically conductive liquids
US6180873A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 2, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 30, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 2, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H29/06
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is directed to electrical devices incorporating mesoscopically conductive liquids. The devices of the present invention include switches constructed such that in one configuration a charge carrying element, such as an electrode, is insulated from a charge receiving element by a thick (super-mesoscopic) layer of a mesoscopically conductive liquid; and in another configuration, the charge carrying elements are proximate each other and the charge is conducted between the elements by a thin (sub-mesoscopic) layer of a mesoscopically conductive liquid. Preferred embodiments of the switches of the present invention are suitable substitutes for switches, relays, or other switching interfaces.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.