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US 7,645,952 B2Granted
Mechanical switch with melting bridge
AssigneeAlcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
InventorsCristian A Bolle, Brijesh Vyas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanical switch includes a pair of conducting contacts, metal located on and between the conducting contacts, a heater, and an electro-mechanical actuator. The heater is operable to apply heat that melts the metal. The electro-mechanical actuator is capable of moving one or both of the conducting contacts in a manner that causes the metal to either start physically bridging the conducting contacts or to stop physically bridging the conducting contacts.
Claims14
A mechanical switch, comprising:
- a pair of conducting contacts;
- metal located on and between the conducting contacts, the metal having a melting temperature that is higher than room temperature and is lower than about 350° C.;
- a variable heater operable to apply heat that melts the metal;
- and
- an electro-mechanical actuator being capable of moving one or both of the conducting contacts in a manner that causes the metal to either start physically bridging the conducting contacts or to stop physically bridging the conducting contacts;
- and
- wherein the electrical switch is configured to cause the variable heater to melt the metal in transitions from a closed-switch state of the switch to an open-switch state of the switch, the metal forming a solid metal bridge physically connecting the conducting contacts in the closed-switch state.
4 more elements
A mechanical switch, comprising:
- a pair of conducting contacts;
- metal located on and between the conducting contacts;
- a heater operable to apply heat that melts the metal;
- and
- an electro-mechanical actuator being capable of moving one or both of the conducting contacts in a manner that causes the metal to either start physically bridging the conducting contacts or to stop physically bridging the conducting contacts;
- and
- wherein the mechanical switch is in a closed-switch state in response to the metal physically bridging the conducting contacts and is in an open-switch state in response to the metal not physically bridging the conducting contacts;
- and
- wherein the electro-mechanical actuator includes a metal bar configured to expand or contract in a manner that moves one of the conducting contacts in response to an electrical current passing through the metal bar.
6 more elements
A method, comprising:
- moving a first conducting contact towards a second conducting contact such that metal bridges the conducting contacts, and
- heating the metal, the heating causing the metal to be melted when the first conducting contact has moved towards the second conducting contact;
- and
- allowing the melted metal to solidify into a solid metal bridge that physically connects the conducting contacts;
- and
- wherein the moving causes a mechanical switch to be in a conducting state, the conducting contacts being configured to carry a current through the mechanical switch in the conducting state;
- and
- wherein the heating includes heating the metal to a temperature higher than room temperature, the metal having a melting temperature that is lower than about 350° C.
5 more elements
A method, comprising:
- moving a first conducting contact towards a second conducting contact such that metal bridges the conducting contacts;
- heating the metal, the heating causing the metal to be melted when the first conducting contact has moved towards the second conducting contact, the moving causing a mechanical switch to be in a conducting state, the conducting contacts being configured to carry a current through the mechanical switch in the conducting state;
- allowing the melted metal to solidify into a solid metal bridge that physically connects the conducting contacts;
- and
- passing an electrical current through the switch while the metal forms the solid metal bridge.
2 more elements
A method, comprising:
- moving a first conducting contact towards a second conducting contact such that a solid metal bridge physically connects the conducting contacts,
- heating the metal, the heating causing the metal to be melted when the first conducting contact has moved towards the second conducting contact, the moving causing a mechanical switch to be in a conducting state, the conducting contacts being configured to carry a current through the mechanical switch in the conducting state;
- heating the solid metal bridge such that metal therein remelts;
- and
- then, moving one or both of the conducting contacts such that the metal does not bridge the conducting contacts;
- and
- wherein one of the acts of moving includes passing a current through a metal bar to thermally expand the bar in a manner that moves one of the contacts.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.