A zero-power plasmonic microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device is capable of specifically sensing electromagnetic radiation and performing signal processing operations. Such devices are highly sensitive relays that consume no more than 10 nW of power, utilizing the energy in detected electromagnetic radiation to detect and discriminate a target without the need of any additional power source. The devices can continuously monitor an environment and wake up an electronic circuit upon detection of a specific trigger signature of electromagnetic radiation, such as vehicular exhaust, gunfire, an explosion, a fire, a human or animal, and a variety of sources of radiation from the ultraviolet to visible light, to infrared, to terahertz radiation.

A zero-power plasmonic microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device is capable of specifically sensing electromagnetic radiation and performing signal processing operations. Such devices are highly sensitive relays that consume no more than 10 nW of power, utilizing the energy in detected electromagnetic radiation to detect and discriminate a target without the need of any additional power source. The devices can continuously monitor an environment and wake up an electronic circuit upon detection of a specific trigger signature of electromagnetic radiation, such as vehicular exhaust, gunfire, an explosion, a fire, a human or animal, and a variety of sources of radiation from the ultraviolet to visible light, to infrared, to terahertz radiation.

A switch device includes a phase change switch and a memory for storing a target state of the phase change switch. A controller determines a phase state of the phase change switch, and, if the state of the phase change switch does not correspond to the target state, controls a heater of the phase change switch to change the state of the phase changes switch to the target state.

A switch device includes a phase change switch and a memory for storing a target state of the phase change switch. A controller determines a phase state of the phase change switch, and, if the state of the phase change switch does not correspond to the target state, controls a heater of the phase change switch to change the state of the phase changes switch to the target state.

An expansion system for temperature detection by means of thermomechanical expansion and movement has an expansion receptacle, an elongate fluid line which is connected in a fluid-conducting manner thereto, and a switching means which is mechanically operatively connected to the expansion receptacle for the purpose of actuation of a switching process of the switching means at a settable actuation point. A working fluid is contained in the expansion receptacle and in the fluid line. Furthermore, an activation material which is formed to change, upon contact with the working fluid or upon mixing with the working fluid, said working fluid with regard to its volume and/or its flowability is contained in the expansion system.

An expansion system for temperature detection by means of thermomechanical expansion and movement has an expansion receptacle, an elongate fluid line which is connected in a fluid-conducting manner thereto, and a switching means which is mechanically operatively connected to the expansion receptacle for the purpose of actuation of a switching process of the switching means at a settable actuation point. A working fluid is contained in the expansion receptacle and in the fluid line. Furthermore, an activation material which is formed to change, upon contact with the working fluid or upon mixing with the working fluid, said working fluid with regard to its volume and/or its flowability is contained in the expansion system.

A temperature-controlled device for switching off a heating device at a limit temperature has a thermo-mechanical temperature sensor device, a switch-off device, and manual reactivation means. The switch-off device has switching means which are activated by a trigger for switching off the heating device. The manual reactivation means have a movable handle and transmission means for transmitting a force of an operator for reactivating the switching means after switching off the heating device by the trigger. The transmission means have a click spring which at the beginning is in a basic position and, when an operating force acting on said click spring exceeds a certain limit force, clicks to a deflected position. Said click spring in the basic position enables reactivating or re-switching on, respectively, of the switching means. Said click spring in the deflected position releases so much movement path on the transmission means for the switching means that said switching means by the temperature sensor device and by the switch-off device above the limit temperature are activatable and switchable by the trigger.

A temperature-controlled device for switching off a heating device at a limit temperature has a thermo-mechanical temperature sensor device, a switch-off device, and manual reactivation means. The switch-off device has switching means which are activated by a trigger for switching off the heating device. The manual reactivation means have a movable handle and transmission means for transmitting a force of an operator for reactivating the switching means after switching off the heating device by the trigger. The transmission means have a click spring which at the beginning is in a basic position and, when an operating force acting on said click spring exceeds a certain limit force, clicks to a deflected position. Said click spring in the basic position enables reactivating or re-switching on, respectively, of the switching means. Said click spring in the deflected position releases so much movement path on the transmission means for the switching means that said switching means by the temperature sensor device and by the switch-off device above the limit temperature are activatable and switchable by the trigger.

A zero-power plasmonic microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device is capable of specifically sensing electromagnetic radiation and performing signal processing operations. Such devices are highly sensitive relays that consume no more than 10 nW of power, utilizing the energy in detected electromagnetic radiation to detect and discriminate a target without the need of any additional power source. The devices can continuously monitor an environment and wake up an electronic circuit upon detection of a specific trigger signature of electromagnetic radiation, such as vehicular exhaust, gunfire, an explosion, a fire, a human or animal, and a variety of sources of radiation from the ultraviolet to visible light, to infrared, to terahertz radiation.

A zero-power plasmonic microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device is capable of specifically sensing electromagnetic radiation and performing signal processing operations. Such devices are highly sensitive relays that consume no more than 10 nW of power, utilizing the energy in detected electromagnetic radiation to detect and discriminate a target without the need of any additional power source. The devices can continuously monitor an environment and wake up an electronic circuit upon detection of a specific trigger signature of electromagnetic radiation, such as vehicular exhaust, gunfire, an explosion, a fire, a human or animal, and a variety of sources of radiation from the ultraviolet to visible light, to infrared, to terahertz radiation.