Patent ID: 6730866
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
An electrical relay array comprising a plurality of switching elements, a switching element of the plurality of switching elements comprising:a first electrical contact, having a wettable surface; a first signal conductor, electrically coupled to the first electrical contact; a first conducting liquid droplet in wetted contact with the first electrical contact; a second electrical contact, spaced from and aligned with the first electrical contact and having a wettable surface facing the wettable surface of the first electrical contact; a second signal conductor, electrically coupled to the second electrical contact; a second conducting liquid volume in wetted contact with the second electrical contact; and a first actuator in a rest position, coupled to the first electrical contact and operable to move the first electrical contact towards the second electrical contact, to cause the first and second conducting liquid droplets to coalesce and complete an electrical circuit between the first and second electrical contacts, and away from the second electrical contact, to cause the first and second conducting liquid droplets to separate and break the electrical circuit.