A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) transfer switch is disclosed. The transfer switch comprises a single-pole, N-throw switch section having N selectable switches. Each selectable switch of the N selectable switches has an input, a control terminal and an output. An electrically conductive line is coupled to each of the selectable switches of the N selectable switches. The transfer switch includes a single-pole, M-throw switch section having M selectable switches coupled to the conductive line, each selectable switch of the M selectable switches having an output, a control terminal and an input. The single-pole, N-throw switch section and the single-pole, M-throw switch section are packaged in a single micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) die. The N and M are numbers between two and eight and the N selectable switches and the M selectable switches are different switches.

A circuit interrupter includes a temperature detection system that is configured to detect a measured temperature of at least one of a line conductor, a load conductor, a movable contact, and a stationary contact during operation of the circuit interrupter. The measured temperature is representative of an extent of wear of the set of separable contacts. In one embodiment the temperature detection system includes a temperature sensor that is an infrared sensor. In another embodiment, the temperature detection system includes a temperature sensor that is in physical contact with an electrically conductive structure within the circuit interrupter and therefore additionally employs a voltage filter that filters a line voltage from the signal from the temperature sensor. In another embodiment, the temperature detection system employs a temperature sensor that is in physical contact with an electrically conductive structure, but a wireless transceiver is used to wirelessly communicate the measured temperature.

Circuit interrupters with opto-electronic and/or acoustic systems that can measure displacement over time, optionally along with interrupt current measurements, during an opening and closing event with signal data collected when triggered by a “breaker open” or “breaker close” event.

The present invention is notably directed to methods for estimating a degradation of an electronically controlled electro-mechanical switch. The methods comprise determining a change of state of the contactor. They also comprise, computing, for each determined change of state, a wear increment W.sub.I of the contactor by: identifying a wear coefficient using a mapping between a last measured current through the contactor and a current range associated with a given wear coefficient; computing the actual wear W.sub.N of the contactor by adding the computed wear increment W.sub.I to a former known wear W.sub.I1 of the contactor.

An approach includes a method of fabricating a switch. The approach includes forming a first cantilevered electrode, forming a second cantilevered electrode over an electrode and operable to contact the first cantilevered electrode upon an application of a voltage to the electrode, and forming an arm on the first cantilevered electrode with an extending protrusion extending upward from an upper surface of the arm.

An apparatus and method, the apparatus including a channel; at least one pair of electrodes provided within sides of the channel; a conductor configured to move through the channel such that when the conductor is positioned between the at least one pair of electrodes a current path is provided through the at least one pair of electrodes and the conductor; and wherein the at least one pair of electrodes are configured such that the position of the conductor within the channel controls the length of the current path and enables a time varying voltage to be provided.

There is disclosed a device and method for fabricating such a device. The device includes cavities formed in a substrate. A laminated membrane is mounted to the substrate and spans the cavities. The laminated membrane includes a layer of a flexible material, typically a polymer, and a layer of a two-dimensional material that is typically graphene.

Provided is an acceleration sensor having a large mass in a movable portion, and realizing high impact resistance. An acceleration sensor element 10a includes an upper substrate 20, a lower substrate 21 spaced apart from the upper substrate 20, and an intermediate substrate 19 provided between the upper substrate 20 and the lower substrate 21. Each of a first movable portion 16, a second movable portion 17, a frame portion 12, a fixed portion 13, and a spring portion 14 constituting the intermediate substrate 19 is configured with two layers of an upper layer and a lower layer, and a stopper portion 18 is provided at one end of the frame portion 12. A distance 31 between an end portion of the first movable portion 16 or the second movable portion 17 and an end portion of the stopper portion 18 in the upper layer and a distance 32 between an end portion of the first movable portion 16 or the second movable portion 17 and an end portion of the stopper portion 18 in the lower layer are different from each other.

Method for detecting a state of a switching unit, the switching unit comprising an element that is movable between a first position and a second position.

A power contact health assessor system includes a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a set of switchable contact electrodes of a power contact and a contact separation detector configured to determine a time of separation of the set of switchable contact electrodes during deactivation of the power contact. The system includes a controller circuit operatively coupled to the pair of terminals and the contact separation detector. The controller circuit is configured to determine within a first observation window, a plurality of contact stick durations and an average contact stick duration. One or more additional observation windows with corresponding average contact stick durations are configured. A health assessment for the set of switchable contact electrodes may be based on a subsequent contact stick duration for a contact cycle after the first observation window and the corresponding average contact stick durations for the one or more additional observation windows.