Patent ID: 7191823
Filing Date: 2007-03-20
Classification: B82Y,F28F,H01H,H01S

Abstract:
1. A thermal switch for switchably providing either a relatively low or relatively high thermal impedance between a heat source side of the thermal switch and a heat sink side of the thermal switch, the thermal switch comprising: a channel having a first location between the heat source and heat sink sides of the thermal switch and a second location; a thermally conductive fluid within the channel, the fluid having a surface tension such that it remains substantially as a single dronlet and does not flow spontaneously along the channel; a pair of electrodes extending in a plane through the length of the channel such that the droplet of thermally conductive fluid, which is also electrically conducting, provides an electrical path between the electrodes; and a pair of magnetic poles arranged to provide a magnetic field in a direction orthogonal to the plane containing the pair of electrodes and a longitudinal axis of the channel, whereby provision of electric current through the pair of electrodes and through the droplet of thernally conductive fluid causes a force to be exerted on the droplet of thermally conductive fluid to move it along the channel between the first and second locations.