Raytheon Company

William D Werries

Frederick B Koehler

Ward D Lyman

David J Markason

Robert Rinker

David G Anthony

Thomas E Roberts

An apparatus includes an electrical switch that includes (i) multiple first electrical contacts and (ii) a second electrical contact configured to bridge the first electrical contacts in order to form at least one electrical connection. The apparatus also includes a shape-memory actuator configured to move the second electrical contact in order to selectively open the electrical switch and break the at least one electrical connection. The shape-memory actuator may be configured to be returned to an original shape and the second electrical contact may be configured to be returned to a bridging position in order to reset the apparatus. The apparatus may further include a shutter member configured to be moved between the first electrical contacts in order to prevent re-bridging of the first electrical contacts and to extend an arc-gap between the first electrical contacts.

Shape-memory-based dead-facing mechanisms for severing electrical connections

A shape memory circuit breaker includes a shape memory substrate having first and second opposed substrate ends. The shape memory substrate is configured to transition from a strained conductive configuration to a fractured non-conductive configuration. An isolation housing is coupled with the shape memory substrate. The isolation housing includes first and second anchors coupled near the first and second substrate ends. A brace extends between the first and second anchors, and the brace statically positions the first and second anchors and the respective first and second substrate ends. The shape memory substrate is configured to transition from the strained conductive configuration to the fractured non-conductive configuration at or above a specified temperature range corresponding to a specified overload current range or voltage range, and the first substrate end fractures from the second substrate end at or above the specified temperature range resulting in an open circuit.

Shape memory circuit breakers

Embodiments of a gimbaled system with an optical coud&#xe9; path and method for transferring data are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the gimbaled system includes optical coud&#xe9; path to provide a data communication path with a gimbaled payload, an on-gimbal communication laser to transmit modulated camera data via the coud&#xe9; path, and an off-gimbal communication detector to detect the camera data received via the coud&#xe9; path. In some embodiments, the optical coud&#xe9; path may include at least two mirrors to provide a bi-directional communication path through an azimuth axis and an elevation axis of the gimbaled payload.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

William D Werries