PIEZOELECTRIC SWITCH

摘要

A switch is provided wherein a piezoelectric bimorph element (22) is used to provide many separately controllable, closely spaced switchable contacts. The element includes at least two oppositely extending fingers (22a) connected by a common spine (22b). The element spine is mounted to a case (24) with the fingers spaced from an inner case surface (24a, 24b). Electronic circuit means (50) are mounted on the element spine for applying a separate electrical potential to each of the element fingers. A separate movable electrical contact (42) is disposed on each of the element fingers spaced from the spine and insulated from the means (32, 34) for applying the separate electrical potentials to the fingers. A separate stationary contact (44) is provided on an inner case surface opposite each of the movable contacts. In operation, a separate electrical potential is applied to each of the element fingers for selectively causing each finger to deflect and force its movable contact (42) into electrical connection with the opposing stationary contact (44).