Piezoelectric relay with magnetic detent
AssigneePiezo Electric Products, Inc.
InventorsEric A. Kolm, Henry H. Kolm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A magnetically detented piezoelectric relay including a piezoelectric bender element having a fixed portion and a movable portion; means for providing an actuating voltage to deflect the bender element; first contact means mounted on the movable portion; second stationary contact means remote from the bender element and proximate the first contact means for selective engagement therewith in response to deflection of the bender element; and magnetic circuit means including a magnet, pole means, and magnetic means on the movable portion of the bender element for magnetically adhering the movable portion to the pole means until the deflection force of the bender element exceeds the holding force of the magnetic circuit.
Claims12
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 an electromagnet, pole means, magnetic means on said movable portion for magnetically adhering said movable portion to said pole means until the deflection force of said bender element exceeds the holding force of said magnetic circuit, and means for varying the current to said electromagnet to control the voltage at which said bender element is actuated.
A magnetically detented piezoelectric relay comprising:
- a piezoelectric bender element having a fixed portion and a movable portion;
- means for providing an acutuating 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, pole means, magnetic means on said movable portion for magnetically adhering said movable portion to said pole means until the deflection force of said bender element exceeds the holding force of said magnetic member, said second contact means being mounted on said pole means, and means for varying the current to said electromagnet to control the voltage at which said bender is actuated.
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, pole means, magnetic means on said movable portion for magnetically adhering said movable portion to said pole means until the deflection force of said bender element exceeds the holding force of said magnetic circuit, and means for varying the current to said electromagnet to control the voltage at which said bender element is actuated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.