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. 15, 2014
Filed:
Nov. 30, 2009
Marco Francesco Aimi, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Shubhra Bansal, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Christopher Fred Keimel, Schenectady, NY (US);
Kuna Venkat Satya Rama Kishore, Bangalore, IN;
Sairam Sundaram, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Parag Thakre, Bangalore, IN;
Marco Francesco Aimi, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Shubhra Bansal, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Christopher Fred Keimel, Schenectady, NY (US);
Kuna Venkat Satya Rama Kishore, Bangalore, IN;
Sairam Sundaram, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Parag Thakre, Bangalore, IN;
General Electric Company, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Abstract
A device, such as a switch structure, is provided. The switch structure can include a contact and a conductive element each respectively disposed on a substrate. The conductive element can be composed substantially of metallic material, and can be configured to be deformable between a first position, in which the conductive element is separated from the contact by a separation distance, and a second position, in which the conductive element contacts the contact and stores mechanical energy. The conductive element can be further configured such that, subsequent to being deformed into the second position at a temperature between about room temperature and about half of a melting temperature of the metallic material for a cumulative time of at least 10seconds, the separation distance in the absence of external forces varies by less than 20 percent over the cumulative time. Associated methods are also provided.