Patent ID: 7857996

Claim:
A temperature switch comprising a material which melts at a predetermined temperature and concomitantly undergoes a change in an electrical characteristic at the predetermined temperature, and at least two electrical contacts for detecting the change in the electrical characteristic, wherein the material comprises an organic cation and an anion; the cation is 1-methyl-tridecafluorooctyl-imidazolium; the change in the electrical characteristic occurs as the material melts; the predetermined temperature is less than 200° C.; and the at least two electrical contacts comprise: an electrically conductive sheath and an electrically conducting wire within and spaced from the sheath, the material lying between the sheath and the wire, and in contact with both the sheath and the wire; two wires which extend, spaced from one another, through a sheath; or two plates spaced from one another.