Patent ID: 6870111
Filing Date: 2005-03-22
Classification: G02B,H01H

Abstract:
1. A piezoelectric optical relay comprising: a relay housing containing a switching channel; first and second contact pads located in the switching channel and each 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; and a first piezoelectric pump comprising a first pumping chamber bounded in part by a flexible diaphragm and operable to pump actuation fluid between the pumping chamber and the switching channel, thereby causing the third liquid metal droplet to coalesce with one of the first liquid metal droplet and the second liquid metal droplet, 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.