Patent ID: 7468646

Claim:
A bi-stable magnetic switch assembly, comprising: a stator, comprising; a plurality of upper radial teeth; and a plurality of lower radial teeth fixedly coupled to said plurality of upper radial teeth; a rotor configured for rotation with respect to said stator between a first latched position and a second latched position, said rotor comprising; a series of upper veins aligning with said plurality of upper radial teeth in the first latched position and in the second latched position; and a series of lower veins fixedly coupled to the series of upper veins, said series of lower veins aligning with said plurality of lower radial teeth in the first latched position and in the second latched position; a spring coupled to said stator for biasing said rotor toward the second latched position; at least one magnet fixedly coupled to one of said stator and said rotor, said magnet configured to produce a magnetic latching force sufficient to maintain the rotor in the first latched position; and at least one coil fixedly coupled to said stator and configured to selectively generate a magnetic flux when energized to reduce the magnetic latching force and permit said rotor to rotate into the second latched position.