Patent ID: 6781075
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A liquid metal micro-switch, comprising:a first substrate; a first ground plane attached to the first substrate; a first dielectric layer attached to the first ground plane; a conductive signal layer attached to the first dielectric layer and patterned so as to define first and second signal conductors having respectively first and second micro-switch contacts; a second dielectric layer attached to the signal layer conductors and to the first dielectric layer; a second ground plane attached to the second dielectric layer; a second substrate attached to the second dielectric layer and having a cavity; a third ground plane attached to the second substrate; a heater positioned inside the cavity; a main channel partially filled with a liquid metal, wherein the main channel encompasses the micro-switch contacts; a sub-channel connecting the cavity and main channel, wherein a gas fills the cavity and sub-channel and wherein heater activation forces a change in electrical connectivity between first and second micro-switch contacts.