To provide a high-frequency electric relay using conductive liquid for a switching mechanism.
The relay uses an actuator (122) such as a piezoelectric element, whereby a switch actuator is inserted into a cavity of a stationary contact structure (114). The cavity is provided with a pad wetted by the conductive liquid (132) at a side face and its end part. The cavity is filled with the conductive liquid such as liquid metal. By inserting the switch actuator (122) into the cavity, the conductive liquid is pushed outside to come in contact with a contact pad (124) of the switch actuator (122). A volume of the conductive liquid is selected so that the electric contact is retained by surface tension and by wetting both contact pads of the stationary contact structure and the actuator. The relay is suitable for a manufacturing using a micro-fabrication technology.
Takahiko Mizobe
Kiyoharu Nishiyama