Patent ID: 7191509
Filing Date: 2007-03-20
Classification: H01H,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for adjusting a switch-gap between overlapping metal tongues of a reed switch contained in a glass envelope, comprising the steps of: directing a beam of radiation energy through the glass envelope onto a localised area of at least one of the metal tongues for a specific period of time; effecting thermally-induced bending of the metal tongue in question about said localised area, by delivering, with use of a radiation source, radiation energy having a wavelength in a range of about 1064 nm; absorbing part of the radiation energy by the glass envelope; and focusing and measuring the beam of radiation energy such that a proportion between an irradiated glass volume of the glass envelope and an irradiated metal area of at least one of the metal tongues that is obtained is such that a temperature of the glass envelope undergoes a temperature increase of less than 100 Kelvin during a time required for heating the at least one metal tongue to the melting point.