A device for micromechanical switching of signals (Mikromekanisk omkopplare)
Germany, Great Britain, France, USA (1027714; 6,456,190)
Inventor: Gert Andersson, David Westberg
Abstract
The invention is a micromechanical switching device with at least two contact elements (11, 12, 31, 32) that are at least partly movable relative each other and, by means of thermal actuation, can be closed and opened. The contact elements (11, 12, 31, 32) consist at least partly of at least two materials (14, 15, 16, 17, 34-37) with essentially different coefficients of thermal expansion. The contact elements (11, 12, 31, 32) at excitation are arranged to displace essentially on the same level but in different directions.
Development at IMEGO
We have, together with Chalmers and IMTEK University of Freiburg, built prototypes and verified the concept. The switch is especially useful for applications that rarely switch and where it is beneficial to have a large insulation resistance. The patent covers also the same arrangement for optical switching.
