Piezoelectric relay with tapered magnetic detent

A magnetically detented piezoelectric relay comprising:

• a piezoelectric bender element having a fixed portion and a movable portion;
• means for providing an actuating voltage to deflect said bender element;
• first contact means mounted on said movable portion and second stationary contact means remote from said bender element and proximate said first contact means for selective engagement therewith in response to deflection of said bender element;
• said first contact means including a first contact member on said movable portion on the side facing said second contact means and a second contact member on the opposite side of said movable portion, and third contact means remote from said bender element and proximate said second contact member for selective engagement therewith;
• and
• magnetic circuit means including a magnet;
• a first stationary pole member;
• and a second pole member on said movable portion for magnetically adhering said movable portion to said first stationary pole member until the deflection force of said bender element exceeds the holding force of said magnetic circuit, one of said pole members being convergingly tapered toward its face.

A magnetically detented piezoelectric relay comprising:

• a piezoelectric bender element having a fixed portion and a movable portion;
• means for providing an actuating voltage to deflect said bender element;
• and
• magnetic circuit means, including a magnet;
• and first magnetic contact means mounted on said movable portion in said magnetic circuit and a second stationary magnetic contact means for selectively engaging with said first contact means in response to deflection of said bending element, one of said magnetic contacts being convergingly tapered towards its face, said contacts magnetically adhering to each other until the deflection force of said bender element exceeds the holding force of said magnetic circuit.

A magnetically detented piezoelectric relay comprising:

• a piezoelectric bender element having a fixed portion and a movable portion;
• means for providing an actuating voltage to deflect said bender element;
• first contact means mounted on said movable portion and second stationary contact means remote from said bender element and proximate said first contact means for selective engagement therewith in response to deflection of said bender element;
• and
• magnetic circuit means including a magnet;
• a first stationary pole member;
• and a second pole member on said movable portion for magnetically adhering said movable portion to said first pole member until the deflection force of said bender element exceeds the holding force of said magnetic circuit;
• one of said first and second members being convergingly tapered toward its face and having a face of reduced area relative to the area of the face of the other of said first and second pole members;
• and said first pole member being movable toward and away from said second pole member to adjust the length of the gap between them.

A magnetically detented piezoelectric relay comprising:

• a piezoelectric bender element having a fixed portion and a movable portion;
• means for providing an actuating voltage to deflect said bender element;
• first contact means mounted on said movable portion and second stationary contact means remote from said bender element and proximate said first contact means for selective engagement therewith in response to deflection of said bender element;
• and
• magnetic circuit means including a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, a first stationary pole member and a second pole member on said movable portion for magnetically adhering said movable portion to said stationary pole member until the deflection force of said bender element exceeds the holding force of said magnetic circuit;
• one of said pole members being convergingly tapered toward its face.