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US 12,704,568 B2Granted
Low-loss switching for circuits, low-loss switching for nuclear magnetic resonance radio frequency coils, methods of use, methods of making, systems, and devices
AssigneeThe Texas A&M University System
InventorsEdith Touchet-Valle, Seelay Tasmim, Mary P. McDougall, Taylor Ware
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present provides for a stimuli-responsive switches, circuits including a stimuli-responsive switch, systems include the circuit, method of switching frequencies in a nuclear magnetic resonance system, and the like. The stimuli-responsive switch can be made of a stimuli-responsive material, where a conductive material can be moved and brought in contact with disconnected conductive paths by the stimuli-responsive material so that upon stimulation a conductive path can be achieved.
Claims20
A device comprising:
- a stimuli-responsive switch and a first conductor of a circuit and a second conductor of the circuit, wherein the first conductor includes a first end of the first conductor and the second conductor includes a first end of the second conductor, wherein the stimuli-responsive switch includes a stimuli-responsive material, wherein the stimuli-responsive switch includes a conductive material disposed on the stimuli-responsive material of the stimuli-responsive switch, wherein the stimuli-responsive switch has the characteristic of being responsive to a stimuli, wherein the stimuli-responsive switch is in a first state and the conductive material is not in contact with the first end of the first conductor and the first end of the second conductor and wherein there is an area between the first end of the first conductor and the first end of the second conductor so the first end of the first conductor and the first end of the second conductor are not in contact with one another and wherein there is an area between the conductive material and each of the first end of the first conductor and the first end of the second conductor so that the conductive material is not in contact with the first end of the first conductor and the first end of the second conductor, wherein the stimuli-responsive switch is in a second state and is in electrical connection with the first end of the first conductor and the first end of the second conductor two conductors via the conductive material.
A method of activating a switch in a circuit comprising:
- providing a stimuli-responsive switch in a first state, wherein the stimuli-responsive switch is between a first pair of conductors in the circuit, wherein the first pair of conductors comprises a first conductor of the circuit and a second conductor of the circuit, wherein the first conductor includes a first end of the first conductor and the second conductor includes a first end of the second conductor, wherein when the stimuli-responsive switch is in a first state, the stimuli-responsive switch is not in contact with the first end of the first conductor and the first end of the second conductor and wherein there is an area between the first end of the first conductor and the first end of the second conductor so the first end of the first conductor and the first end of the second conductor are not in contact, and
- stimulating the stimuli-responsive switch with a stimulus, wherein the stimuli-responsive switch changes from the first state to a second state, wherein when the stimuli-responsive switch is in a second state, the stimuli-responsive switch is in electrical connection with the first pair of conductors.
A nuclear magnetic resonance system, comprising:
- a circuit, wherein the circuit is configured to change an operation frequency of a radiofrequency coil of the magnetic resonance system from a first frequency to a second frequency, wherein the first frequency and the second frequency are different frequencies, wherein the circuit includes a stimuli-responsive switch in a first state, wherein when the stimuli-responsive switch is in the first state, the operation frequency of the radiofrequency coil is at the first frequency, wherein the circuit is configured to switch from the first state to a second state upon stimulation of the stimuli-responsive switch by a stimulus, wherein when the stimuli-responsive switch is in the second state, the operation frequency of the radiofrequency coil is at the second frequency,
- wherein the circuit includes the stimuli-responsive switch and a first conductor of a circuit and a second conductor of the circuit, wherein the first conductor includes a first end of the first conductor and the second conductor includes a first end of the second conductor, wherein the stimuli-responsive switch includes a stimuli-responsive material, wherein the stimuli-responsive switch includes a conductive material disposed on the stimuli-responsive switch, wherein when the stimuli-responsive switch is in a first state, the conductive material of the stimuli-responsive switch is not in contact with the first end of the first conductor and the first end of the second conductor and wherein there is an area between the first end of the first conductor and the first end of the second conductor so the first end of the first conductor or the first end of the second conductor are not in contact and wherein there is an area between the conductive material and each of the first end of the first conductor or the first end of the second conductor so that the conductive material is not in contact with the first end of the first conductor and the first end of the second conductor, wherein when the stimuli-responsive switch is in the second state, the conductive material of the stimuli-responsive switch is in electrical connection with the first end of the first conductor and the first end of the second conductor via the conductive material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.