Patent ID: 6879088

Claim:
An electrical relay array comprising a plurality of switching elements, a switching of the plurality of switching elements comprising: a first electrical contact, having a wettable surface; a first conducting liquid volume in wetted contact with the first electrical contact; a second electrical contact spaced from the first electrical contact and having a wettable surface; a well-support structure in close proximity to the first and second electrical contacts, the well support structure having a liquid well formed within it; a second conducting liquid volume in the liquid well in wetted contact with the second electrical contact; and an actuator having a rest position at least partially within the liquid well; wherein expansion of the actuator decreases the volume of the liquid well and displaces the second liquid, thereby causing the first and second conducting liquid volumes to coalesce and complete an electrical circuit between the first and second electrical contacts, and contraction of the actuator increases the volume of the liquid well, thereby causing the first and second conducting liquid volumes to separate and break the electrical circuit.