Patent ID: 6903287
Filing Date: 2005-06-07
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An 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; a first heater comprising: a second heater comprising: 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.