Liquid armature switch

Claim 2

A switch comprising: a switch housing containing a chamber; means for generating a magnetic field within said chamber; a pair of signal electrodes mounted within said chamber; a nonmagnetic, liquid conductor globule located within said chamber in contact with one of said signal electrodes; a pair of control electrodes mounted within said chamber between said signal electrodes in such manner as to maintain continuous contact with said globule irrespective of the position of said globule in said chamber; and means for providing a potential difference between said control electrodes for generating a current through said globule to produce a force on said globule by the interaction of said current with said magnetic field for moving said globule into contact with said second signal electrode.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein the electrodes of said pair of control electrodes are mounted on opposite sides of said chamber with a gap between said control electrodes sufficiently small to restrict movement of said globule except when said globule is moved by said force resulting from the interaction of said switching current with said magnetic field.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 wherein said electrodes of said pair of control electrodes are mounted midway between said signal electrodes.

Claim 5

A switch comprising; a switch housing containing a chamber; means for generating a magnetic field within said chamber; a pair of signal electrodes mounted in said chamber; a nonmagnetic, liquid globule armature of a selected size located within said chamber in contact with one of said signal electrodes; a pair of control electrodes mounted in said chamber a selected distance apart opposite each other and between said signal electrodes; where said pair of control electrodes is always in contact with said armature; means for applying a difference in potential between said control electrodes for generating a switching current flow in a selected direction through said armature; where the force on said armature resulting from the interaction of said switching current and said magnetic field moves said armature between said control electrodes to change the state of said switch by putting said armature in contact with the other of said signal electrodes; and where the distance of separation of said control electrodes is selected to sufficiently constrict the passageway between said control electrodes, used by said armature in moving into contact with the other of said signal electrodes, to maintain the new state of said switch after said difference in potential is removed.

Claim 6

A switch comprising; a switch housing containing a chamber; means for generating a magnetic field within said chamber; a pair of signal electrodes mounted in said chamber; a nonmagnetic, liquid globule armature of a selected size located within said chamber in contact with one of said signal electrodes; a pair of control electrodes mounted in said chamber a selected distance apart opposite each other and between said signal electrodes; where said pair of control electrodes is always in contact with said armature; means for applying a difference in potential between said control electrodes for generating a switching current flow in a selected direction through said armature; where the force on said armature resulting from the interaction of said switching current and said magnetic field moves said armature between said control electrodes to change the state of said switch by putting said armature in contact with the other of said signal electrodes; and where the distance of separation of said control electrodes is selected to sufficiently constrict the passageway between said control electrodes, used by said armature in moving into contact with the other of said signal electrodes, to maintain the new state of said switch after said difference in potential is removed.