The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 18, 2006
Filed:
Oct. 31, 2001
Marvin Glenn Wong, Woodland Park, CO (US);
Arthur Fong, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
Marvin Glenn Wong, Woodland Park, CO (US);
Arthur Fong, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
Agilent Technologies, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
The present invention is a piezoelectrically actuated relay that latches. The relay operates by means of the longitudinal displacement of a piezoelectric element in extension mode. The piezoelectric element displaces a liquid metal drop and causing it to wet between at least one set of contact pads and at least one other set of contact pads. Positioning of the liquid metal causes the optical path to be blocked. The same motion that causes the liquid metal drop to change position can cause the optical path to be unblocked between the fixed pad and a contact pad on the piezoelectric element or substrate close to it. The motion of the piezoelectric element is rapid and causes the imparted momentum of the liquid metal drop to overcome the surface tension forces that would hold the bulk of the liquid metal drop in contact with the contact pad or pads near the actuating piezoelectric element. The switch latches by means of surface tension and the liquid metal wetting to the contact pads.