Patent ID: 6917276

Claim:
A shape memory alloy (SMA) switch comprising: a substrate; a continuous SMA element attached to said substrate at first and second locations and having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion contracting to place said SMA element in a first conformation upon being heated above a predetermined temperature and said second portion contracting to place said SMA element in a second conformation upon being heated above said predetermined temperature; a cursor attached to said SMA element at a location substantially intermediate said first and said second portions to reciprocate between a first position when said SMA element is in said first conformation and a second position when said SMA element is in said second conformation; and means for separately applying sufficient heat to said first and said second portions of said SMA element to reciprocate said cursor between said first and said second positions wherein said means for separately applying heat comprises a first electrical circuit that includes said first portion of said SMA element and a second electrical circuit that includes said second portion of said SMA element, said first and second circuits sharing a common ground fixedly attached to a mounting surface upon which said substrate is mounted.