Phase change material switch device and related methods
AssigneeInfineon Technologies AG
InventorsValentyn Solomko, Dominik Heiss, Hans Taddiken
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A phase change material switch device is provided. In one implementation, the phase change material switch device includes a phase change material and a heater device thermally coupled to the phase change material. During heating phases, a coupling device provides a first electrical impedance between a power source and the heater device. Outside the heating phases, the coupling device provides a second, higher, impedance.
Claims16
A phase change material switch device, comprising:
- a phase change material;
- a heater device thermally coupled to the phase change material;
- a power source;
- and
- a coupling device electrically coupled between the power source and the heater device,
- wherein the coupling device is configured to:
- provide a first electrical impedance between the power source and the heater device in a first state in which current is supplied to the heater device from the power source for heating the phase change material;
- and
- provide a second electrical impedance between the power source and the heater device higher than the first electrical impedance in a second state which is outside heating phases of the heater device.
A method of operating a phase change material switch device including a phase change material and a heater device thermally coupled to the phase change material, the method comprising:
- providing a first electrical impedance between a power source and the heater device in a first state where current is supplied to the heater device from the power source for heating the phase change material;
- and
- providing a second electrical impedance between the power source and the heater device higher than the first electrical impedance in a second state outside heating phases of the heater device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.