A method of operating a mechanical switching device is disclosed. The switching device includes a housing, an assembly disposed in the housing, and a body. The assembly is thermally deformable and comprises a beam held in two different places by two arms secured to edges of the housing. The beam is remote from the body in a first configuration and in contact with and immobilized by the body in a second configuration. The assembly has the first configuration at a first temperature and the second configuration when one of the arms has a second temperature different from the first temperature. The method includes exposing an arm of the assembly to the second temperature, and releasing the beam using a release mechanism. The release mechanism includes a pointed element comprising a pointed region directed towards the body. The pointed element limits an open crater in a concave part of a projection.

A method of operating a mechanical switching device is disclosed. The switching device includes a housing, an assembly disposed in the housing, and a body. The assembly is thermally deformable and comprises a beam held in two different places by two arms secured to edges of the housing. The beam is remote from the body in a first configuration and in contact with and immobilized by the body in a second configuration. The assembly has the first configuration at a first temperature and the second configuration when one of the arms has a second temperature different from the first temperature. The method includes exposing an arm of the assembly to the second temperature, and releasing the beam using a release mechanism. The release mechanism includes a pointed element comprising a pointed region directed towards the body. The pointed element limits an open crater in a concave part of a projection.

A DC circuit breaker includes a case, two fixed contacts, two movable contacts, a bypass plate electrically connecting the two movable contacts, a moving block to move the bypass plate, a moving block biasing member to bias the moving block in a direction away from the fixed contacts, a thermally responsive member, a latch, a shutter, and a shutter biasing member. The thermally responsive member deforms when an installation surface equals or exceeds a prescribed temperature. The latch restricts movement of the moving block by locking the moving block when the thermally responsive member is in a pre-deformation state. The latch cancels the restriction of the movement the thermally responsive member deforms. The shutter is insertable between the fixed contacts and the movable contacts. The shutter biasing member constantly biases the shutter in a direction to be inserted between the fixed contacts and the movable contacts.

A DC circuit breaker includes a case, two fixed contacts, two movable contacts, a bypass plate electrically connecting the two movable contacts, a moving block to move the bypass plate, a moving block biasing member to bias the moving block in a direction away from the fixed contacts, a thermally responsive member, a latch, a shutter, and a shutter biasing member. The thermally responsive member deforms when an installation surface equals or exceeds a prescribed temperature. The latch restricts movement of the moving block by locking the moving block when the thermally responsive member is in a pre-deformation state. The latch cancels the restriction of the movement the thermally responsive member deforms. The shutter is insertable between the fixed contacts and the movable contacts. The shutter biasing member constantly biases the shutter in a direction to be inserted between the fixed contacts and the movable contacts.

A method for detecting orientation of an integrated circuit is disclosed. The method includes moving, in response to a gravitational force, a mobile metallic piece in an evolution zone of a housing. The housing is formed in an interconnect region of the integrated circuit. The housing includes walls defining the evolution zone. The walls are formed within multiple metallization levels of the interconnect region. The walls include a floor wall and a ceiling wall. At least one of the floor wall and ceiling wall incorporate a pointed element directing its pointed region towards the mobile metallic piece. The pointed element delimits an open crater in a concave part of a projection. The method further includes creating an electrical signal by movement of the mobile metallic piece at a plurality of electrically conducting elements positioned at boundary points of the evolution zone and detecting the electrical signal by a detector.

A method for detecting orientation of an integrated circuit is disclosed. The method includes moving, in response to a gravitational force, a mobile metallic piece in an evolution zone of a housing. The housing is formed in an interconnect region of the integrated circuit. The housing includes walls defining the evolution zone. The walls are formed within multiple metallization levels of the interconnect region. The walls include a floor wall and a ceiling wall. At least one of the floor wall and ceiling wall incorporate a pointed element directing its pointed region towards the mobile metallic piece. The pointed element delimits an open crater in a concave part of a projection. The method further includes creating an electrical signal by movement of the mobile metallic piece at a plurality of electrically conducting elements positioned at boundary points of the evolution zone and detecting the electrical signal by a detector.

An example microelectromechanical structures (MEMS) switch includes a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The body extends from a base at the first end and has a first width. The MEMS switch further includes a bridge extending laterally from the body at the second end, and a spine extending between the bridge and the base. The spine has a second width smaller than the first width. At least one of the spine or the body includes a first material with a first thermal coefficient and a second material with a second thermal coefficient different from the first thermal coefficient.

An example microelectromechanical structures (MEMS) switch includes a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The body extends from a base at the first end and has a first width. The MEMS switch further includes a bridge extending laterally from the body at the second end, and a spine extending between the bridge and the base. The spine has a second width smaller than the first width. At least one of the spine or the body includes a first material with a first thermal coefficient and a second material with a second thermal coefficient different from the first thermal coefficient.

A circuit breaker includes a set of separable contacts moveable between a closed position and an open position, an operating mechanism configured to open the set of contacts, a conductor coupled to the set of contacts, a current transformer coupled to the conductor, and a trip circuit coupled to the operating mechanism and to the current transformer and configured to cause the operating mechanism to open the set of contacts when a current through the conductor exceeds a current threshold that is greater than a saturation threshold of the current transformer. The trip circuit is further configured to vary the current threshold during an interval following a closure of the set of the contacts and to provide a fixed current threshold thereafter.

A circuit breaker includes a set of separable contacts moveable between a closed position and an open position, an operating mechanism configured to open the set of contacts, a conductor coupled to the set of contacts, a current transformer coupled to the conductor, and a trip circuit coupled to the operating mechanism and to the current transformer and configured to cause the operating mechanism to open the set of contacts when a current through the conductor exceeds a current threshold that is greater than a saturation threshold of the current transformer. The trip circuit is further configured to vary the current threshold during an interval following a closure of the set of the contacts and to provide a fixed current threshold thereafter.