Patent ID: 6891315
Filing Date: 2005-05-10
Classification: G02B,H01H

Abstract:
1. A piezoelectric optical relay comprising: a relay housing containing a switching channel; a first contact pad located in the switching channel and having a surface wettable by a liquid metal; a second contact pad located in the switching channel and having a surface wettable by a liquid metal; a third contact pad located in the switching channel between the first and second contact pads and having a surface wettable by a liquid metal; a first liquid metal droplet in wetted contact with the first contact pad; a second liquid metal droplet in wetted contact with the second contact pad; a third liquid metal droplet in wetted contact with the third contact pad and adapted to move within the switching channel to coalesce with one of the first liquid metal droplet and the second liquid metal droplet; a first optical path passing through the switching channel between the first and third liquid metal droplets; a first piezoelectric pump operable to pump actuation fluid into the switching channel between the second liquid metal droplet and the third liquid metal droplet, thereby causing the second and third liquid metal droplets to separate and the first and third liquid metal droplets to coalesce; and a second piezoelectric pump operable to pump actuation fluid into the switching channel between the first liquid metal droplet and the third liquid metal droplet, thereby causing the first and third liquid metal droplets to separate and the second and third liquid metal droplets to coalesce; wherein the first optical path is broken when the first and third liquid metal droplets are coalesced and is completed when the first and third liquid metal droplets are separated.