Reed switch
AssigneeC.P. Clare Corporation
InventorBradley E. Shutes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reed switch employs contact blades which have enhanced flexibility and performance, as a result of the selective removal of material from one or more of the blades without work hardening the remaining blade material. The blades are masked and acid etched in predetermined patterns to provide either a contact region, a hinge or fulcrum region, or one or more of both. The contact region of the blade optimizes the alignment and magnetic coupling of the switch while minimizing the electrical capacitance in the space between the blades when the switch is open. The hinge or fulcrum region improves blade compliance and flexibility under an applied load. Various geometries of the contact region can be employed to improve the performance and longevity of the switch.
Claims25
A reed switch, comprising:
- A plurality of reed switch contact blades, each blade having at least one unthinned portion of a nominal thickness and a predetermined grain structure and being made of a substantially electrically conductive material;
- A capsule made of a substantially electrically insulating material and enclosing a void region, wherein the blades are fixedly mounted in the capsule with portions of the blades extending into the void region and defining a contact region of the blades, wherein the portions of the blades in the void region of the capsule are adapted for relative movement, wherein the blades in the void region of the capsule are spaced apart from, and overlap, one another at least partially to define a gap therebetween in the contact region;
- and
- Means for selectively closing the gap between the blades to establish an electrical connection therebetween;
- wherein at least one portion of at least one of the blades is thinner than each unthinned portion of the blade as a result of selective removal of material therefrom in a predetermined pattern wherein each thinner portion has the same grain structure as each unthinned portion of the blade.
A reed switch contact blade, comprising:
- An elongated segment of an electrically conductive material having at least one unthinned portion of a nominal thickness and a predetermined grain structure and extending along a principal axis between a mounting end and a contact end,
- wherein at least one portion of the segment is thinner than each unthinned portion of the segment as a result of selective removal of material therefrom in a predetermined pattern, wherein each thinner portion has the same grain structure as each unthinned portion of the segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.