Tunneling Electric Contacts And Related Methods, Systems And Applications

In an electric switch having first and second electrodes that are brought relatively closer together in order to move the switch into a conductive state, and brought relatively farther apart in order to bring the electric switch into a non-conductive state, an improvement comprising:

• employing for each of the first electrode and the second electrode a conductor surface each having a mean asperity height;
• and
• employing a movement mechanism that physically moves at least one of the first surface or the second surface to move the electric switch between the conductive state and the non-conductive state in response to an electronic signal, the movement mechanism employing a throw to reduce gap between the conductor surface of the first electrode and the conductor surface of the second electrode to less than an electron tunneling length necessary for passage of current between the first surface and the second surface, such that current flows between the substantial entirety of surfaces areas of each of the respective first and second surfaces, notwithstanding the mean asperity heights, when the switch is in the conductive state, and to increase minimum gap between the conductor surface of the first electrode and the conductor surface of the second electrode to be greater than the electron tunneling length when the switch is in the non-conductive state.

A power control device, comprising:

• at least two switches, each switch including a first electrode having a first surface, a second electrode having a second surface, and a mechanism to move at least one of the first surface and the second surface between a first position and a second position to respectively open and close the electric switch, where the first surface and the second surface each have a mean asperity height, the first position characterized by a distance between the first surface and the second surface that is less than an electron tunneling length necessary for passage of current between the first surface and the second surface, such that current flows between the substantial entirety of surfaces areas of each of the respective first and second surfaces, notwithstanding the mean asperity heights, and the second position characterized by a minimum distance between the first surface and the second surface that is greater than the electron tunneling length;
• and
• circuitry to control the mechanism for each switch to move each switch between the respective first and second positions at related times.