Patent ID: 11929219
Assignee: QATAR FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  H | IPC F  H

Claim 11:
12. A system comprising:
a first electrical circuit;
a second electrical circuit; and
an electrical switch including:
a first electrical circuit contact;
a second electrical circuit contact;
an electrically conductive element that includes a plurality of retaining features;
a shape-memory alloy actuator configured to:
upon actuation in a first state, translate the electrically conductive element into contact with the first electrical circuit contact and out of contact with the second electrical circuit contact, and
upon actuation in a second state, translate the electrically conductive element into contact with the second electrical circuit contact and out of contact with the first electrical circuit contact; and

a retention mechanism includes the first electrical circuit contact or the second electrical circuit contact positioned within at least one retaining feature of the plurality of retaining features and is configured to:
prevent the electrically conductive element from releasing contact with the first electrical circuit contact until the shape-memory alloy actuator is actuated to the second state; and
prevent the electrically conductive element from releasing contact with the second electrical circuit contact until the shape-memory alloy actuator is actuated to the first state.