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 18:
19. An electrical switch comprising:
a first electrical circuit contact;
a second electrical circuit contact;
an electrically conductive element that includes gears; and
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 that includes the electrically conductive element and a pinion that engages with the gears of the electrically conductive element, the retention mechanism 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.