Microelectromechanical liquid metal current carrying system, apparatus and method
US6373356B1 · kind B1 · utility
79Cited by
14References
14Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 19, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 16, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 19, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2029/008
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A microelectromechanical power relay uses mercury, or a similar liquid metal with high surface tension, as a flexible non-degrading contact mechanism. The basic systematic requirements for the micro-relay include large current carrying capacity, high speed, use of control voltages readily available in the given application, and an acceptable hold-off voltage. The preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the novel configuration of a liquid metal current carrying switching device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.