Longitudinal electromagnetic latching relay
AssigneeAgilent Technologies, Inc.
InventorsArthur Fong, Marvin Glenn Wong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an electrical relay in which a solid slug is moved within a channel and used to make or break an electrical connection. The solid slug is moved by electromagnets. In the preferred embodiment, the slug is wetted by a conducting liquid, such as liquid metal, that also adheres to wettable contact pads within the channel to provide a latching mechanism. The relay is amenable to manufacture by micro-machining techniques.
Claims19
An electromagnetic relay, comprising:
- a relay housing containing a switching channel;
- a solid slug adapted to move within the switching channel;
- a first contact located in the switching channel and having a surface wettable by a liquid;
- a second contact located in the switching channel and having a surface wettable by a liquid;
- a third contact located in the switching channel between the first and second contacts and having a surface wettable by a liquid;
- an electrically conducting liquid in wetted contact with the solid slug;
- a first electromagnetic actuator operable to move the solid slug to a first position where it is in wetted contact with the first and third contacts;
- and
- a second electromagnetic actuator operable to move the solid slug to a second position where it is in wetted contact with the second and third contacts.
A method for switching an electrical circuit between a first contact and a second contact in a electromagnetic relay having solid slug wetted by a conducting liquid, the method comprising:
- if the electrical circuit is to be completed:
- energizing a first electromagnetic actuator to move the solid slug along a switching channel to a first position where it is in wetted contact with the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact;
- and
- if the electrical circuit is to be broken:
- energizing a second electromagnetic actuator to move the solid slug along the switching channel to a second position where it is in wetted contact with the second electrical contact and a third contact.
A method for switching between a first electrical circuit, between a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, and a second electrical circuit, between the second electrical contact and a third electrical contact, in a electromagnetic relay having solid slug wetted by a conducting liquid, the method comprising:
- if the first electrical circuit is to be completed:
- energizing a first electromagnetic actuator to move the solid slug along a switching channel to a first position where it is in wetted contact with the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact;
- and
- if the second electrical circuit is to be completed:
- energizing a second electromagnetic actuator to move the solid slug along the switching channel to a second position where it is in wetted contact with the second electrical contact and the third electrical contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.