Low energy relay using piezoelectric bender elements
OwnerYujiro Yamamotoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A remote disconnect coupler 18 for accomplishing switching at the end of a transmission line 12 between a test apparatus 24 and normally connected equipment 20 in response to signals from a remote command apparatus 16 includes a piezo-electric switch actuator 26 and command identification apparatus 28. In preferred forms the identification apparatus times reswitching and accomplishes snap switch action with oscillatory switch actuators 150 and dual switch actuators 116, 120.
Claims29
A pair of piezo-electric deformation switches:
- means for energizing each of them to charged and deformed condition and for deenergizing each of them to discharged and relaxed condition;
- means for changing the energization of one of said switches at a controlled rate over a given time;
- and
- means for rapidly charging or discharging the other of said switches as an incident to change in a given degree in the energization of said one of said switches.
A pair of piezo-electric deformation switches:
- means for energizing each of them to charged and deformed condition and for deenergizing each of them to discharged and relaxed condition;
- means for changing the energization of one of said switches at a controlled rate over a given time;
- means for rapidly charging or discharging the other of said switches as an incident to change in a given degree in the energization of said one of said switches;
- and
- said means for changing energization of said one of said switches at a controlled rate comprising a resistive impedance connected in circuit with said one of said switches.
In a remote switching system for connecting a transmission line selectively to a normal load or to a testing apparatus, in combination:
- normal load terminals;
- line testing apparatus;
- transmission line terminals;
- switch means for connecting the transmission line terminals selectively to the line testing apparatus rather than to the normal load terminals and comprising switching contacts and a piezo-electric actuator;
- signal responsive means selectively responsive to switching signals appearing at said transmission line terminals for energizing said piezo-electric actuator to actuate said contacts such as to effect disconnection of said transmission line terminals from said normal load terminals and interconnection of said transmission line terminals with said line testing apparatus;
- and
- reconnection circuit means for causing de-energization of said piezo-electric actuator at a selected time such as to cause reconnection of said transmission line terminals to said normal load terminals.
A piezo-electric switch comprising:
- a piezo-electric switch actuator;
- switch contacts responsive to deformation and relaxation from deformation of said actuator to change switching state;
- actuator energizing and deenergizing means comprising a series circuit containing said piezo-electric actuator means for preventing current flow through said series circuit at applied unidirectional voltages less than a given voltage while permitting current flow in either direction at voltages higher than said given voltage.
A pair of piezo-electric switches each comprising an actuator which deforms upon being energized and relaxes upon being deenergized:
- circuitry for energizing and deenergizing one of said actuators;
- and
- switch contacts in said circuitry and operable by the other of said actuators to change the state of energization of said one of said actuators.
In a remote disconnect system for connection in a signal transmission line:
- a segment of transmission line;
- a switch in said line;
- a piezo-electric actuator operative to actuate said switch in response to an electrical signal transmitted along said line;
- and
- means for distinguishing said electrical signal from other signals on said line and for preventing operation of said actuator in response to other than said energization signal.
An oscillator switch comprising a piezo-electric actuator and switch contacts connected when closed to short circuit said actuator and an actuator charging circuit comprising said actuator and a series resistor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.