Abstract:
L'invention concerne un dispositif formant capteur de pression comprenant : un substrat en matériau isolant électrique comprenant un premier réservoir, un deuxième réservoir en communication avec le premier réservoir et dont deux parois internes sont munies chacune d'une électrode, une membrane flexible en matériau isolant électrique, comprenant une excroissance et solidarisée au substrat pour permettre le déplacement de l'excroissance entre une position dans laquelle elle est distante d'un liquide remplissant le premier réservoir et au moins une deuxième position dans laquelle elle exerce une poussée sur le liquide en l'évacuant ainsi au moins en partie du premier réservoir vers le deuxième réservoir avec contact mécanique avec les deux électrodes, ledit contact mécanique du liquide avec les deux électrodes établissant une variation de résistance ou de capacité entre les deux électrodes. Application à la réalisation d'écran tactile.
Abstract:
Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren und eine Vorrichtung (1) zur Strombegrenzung und/oder Leistungsschaltung sowie eine Schaltanlage mit einer solchen Vorrichtung (1). Erfindungsgemäss wird ein Flüssigmetall (3) durch einen dielektrischen Fluidantrieb (12) mit einer Steuerung (11) zwischen einem ersten Strompfad für Nennstrom (I 1 ), einem zweiten Strompfad (31) zur Strombegrenzung (12) und gegebenenfalls einem dritten Strompfad (32) zur Stromabschaltung (i=0) bewegt, wobei das Arbeitsfluid (9) mit einem vorgebbaren Antriebsdruck (p 1 , p 2 ) unmittelbar auf eine Oberfläche (3b) des Flüssigmetalls (3) mechanisch einwirkt. Ausführungsbeispiele sind u.a.: Isoliergas (9) oder Isolierflüssigkeit (9) als Antriebsfluid (9); Druckantrieb (12) mit Druckbehältern (121-124) und Ventilen (10) oder Piezoantrieb (12) für das Arbeitsfluid (9); und Designkriterien für Flüssigmetall-Anordnung (3a, 4), Antriebsdruck (p 1 , p 2 ) und Piezoantrieb (12). Vorteile sind u. a.: reversible Strombegrenzung und Stromabschaltung, geeignet auch für hohe Spannungen und Ströme, schnelle Reaktionszeiten, geringer Verschleiss und wartungsfreundlich.
Abstract:
An electrical contact breaker switch has a cavity or space that forms first and second chambers and a plurality of channels. The switch also has at least two solid electrodes formed with electrode components exposed apart from each other within the cavity. A conductive fluid held within the cavity functions as a contact for putting the electrode components of two specific solid electrodes in a "closed" state when in contiguous form and in an "open" state when in non-contiguous form. A form modification unit, which includes the first and second chambers, modifies the form of the conductive fluid.
Abstract:
Fluid-based switcnes are disclosed. In one embodiment, the switch (400) comprises first (100) and second (402) mated substrates defining therebetween at least portions of a number of cavities, the first substrate defining a plurality of indentations (102, 104, 106) defined within a first one of the cavities (406), a plurality of electrical contacts (112, 114, 116), each electrical contact deposited within one of the indentations, a switching fluid (418), held within the first cavity, that serves to open and close at least a pair of the plurality of electrical contacts in response to forces that are applied to the switching fluid, and an actuating fluid (410), held within one or more of the cavities, that applies the forces to the switching fluid.
Abstract:
A switch device (10) includes first and second cavities (11, 12), a communicating passage (13) extending between the first and second cavities (11, 12), a conductive liquid (23) located in the communicating passage (13) and movable in the communicating passage (13), an actuating liquid (22) enclosed in each of the first and second cavities (11, 12) and covering inner surfaces (19) of the first and second cavities (11, 12), the actuating liquid (22) being either an insulator or having low conductivity, and an actuating gas (21) enclosed in each of the first and second cavities (11, 12) and existing as a bubble in each of the first and second cavities (11, 12), the actuating gas (21) being either an insulator or having low conductivity. In response to heating of the first cavity (11, 12), part of the actuating liquid (22) in the first cavity (11, 12) vaporizes and the actuating gas bubble (21) in the first cavity (11, 12) expands, which causes part of the actuating liquid (22) to be expelled out of the first cavity (11, 12) and the conductive liquid (23) to move in the communicating passage (13) such that an electrical path that includes the conductive liquid (23) changes from one of a connected and a disconnected state to the other of a connected state and a disconnected state. The first cavity (11, 12) includes a constriction element shaped to reduce the expansion of the actuating gas bubble (21) in the first cavity (11, 12).
Abstract:
The switch device (1) comprises a pair of cavities (51, 52), an elongate passage (2), a non-conductive fluid (53, 54) having a high electrical resistance, a conductive fluid (11, 12, 13) having a high electrical conductivity and an electrical path (e.g., 31, 32). The passage is in fluid communication with the cavities and has a substantially elliptical cross-section over at least part of its length. The non-conductive fluid is disposed in each of the cavities. The conductive fluid is located in the passage. The electrical path is changeable between a connected state and a disconnected state by the non-conductive fluid (e.g., 53) separating the conductive fluid (12, 13) in the passage into non-contiguous conductive fluid portions (12 and 13).
Abstract:
A bypass apparatus and method for series connected energy storage devices. Each of the energy storage devices coupled to a common series connection has an associated bypass unit connected thereto in parallel. A current bypass unit includes a sensor which is coupled in parallel with an associated energy storage device or cell and senses an energy parameter indicative of an energy state of the cell, such as cell voltage. A bypass switch is coupled in parallel with the energy storage cell and operable between a non-activated state and an activated state. The bypass switch, when in the non-activated state, is substantially non-conductive with respect to current passing through the energy storage cell and, when in the activated state, provides a bypass current path for passing current to the series connection so as to bypass the associated cell. A controller controls activation of the bypass switch in response to the voltage of the cell deviating from a pre-established voltage setpoint. The controller may be included within the bypass unit or be disposed on a control platform external to the bypass unit. The bypass switch may, when activated, establish a permanent or a temporary bypass current path.
Abstract:
An environmentally protected switch for activating a signalling device, such as a light source, powered by a battery and adapted for use with a conductive fluid. The switch comprises an open ended housing and a sensing element received within the housing along a longitudinal axis thereof, a tip of the sensing element being substantially flush with the open end. The sensing element is coupled to the signalling device for providing an electrical path connecting the battery and the signalling device. Upon submersion of the switch into the fluid and agitation of the switch, a surface tension at an interface between the fluid and the open end is broken and fluid penetrates the housing up to a predetermined depth to enable an electrical current to flow within the sensing element for closing the electrical path and activating the signalling device.
Abstract:
A fluid-based switch and method for producing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the switch comprises first (102) and second mated (104) substrates defining therebetween at least portions of a number of cavities (106, 108, 110), a plurality of electrodes (612, 614, 616) exposed within one or more of the cavities, a switching fluid (618), held within one or more of the cavities, that serves to open and close at least a pair of the plurality of electrodes in response to forces that are applied to the switching fluid, a reducing material contacting at least a portion of the switching fluid, the reducing material to react with oxides on the switching fluid, and an actuating fluid (620), held within one or more of the cavities, that applies the forces to said switching fluid.
Abstract:
A substrate, a method for producing a substrate, and a switch in corporating a substrate are disclosed. In one embodiment, the substrate (100) has a first layer (101), a first electrode (112) deposited on the first layer, and a second layer (103) mated to the first layer. The second layer defines a duct (104) leading from the first electrode to a surface of the second layer opposite the first electrode. A liquid electrode (122) fills at least a portion of the duct.