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.

The breaker is provided with a fixed contact, a movable piece having an elastic portion and a movable contact, a thermally-actuated element deforming with a change in the temperature so as to shift the movable piece from a conduction state to a cut-off state, a case main body housing the movable piece and the thermally-actuated element, a lid member attached to the case main body, and a plate-shaped cover piece embedded in the lid member. The case main body is provided with a first fixing surface fixed to the lid member, and the lid member is provided with a second fixing surface fixed to the case main body. The second fixing surface is provided with a protruding portion protruding toward the first fixing surface, and the protruding portion and the cover piece are overlapped with each other in the plan view as viewed in the thickness direction of the cover piece.

The breaker is provided with a fixed contact, a movable piece having an elastic portion and a movable contact, a thermally-actuated element deforming with a change in the temperature so as to shift the movable piece from a conduction state to a cut-off state, a case main body housing the movable piece and the thermally-actuated element, a lid member attached to the case main body, and a plate-shaped cover piece embedded in the lid member. The case main body is provided with a first fixing surface fixed to the lid member, and the lid member is provided with a second fixing surface fixed to the case main body. The second fixing surface is provided with a protruding portion protruding toward the first fixing surface, and the protruding portion and the cover piece are overlapped with each other in the plan view as viewed in the thickness direction of the cover piece.

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 current cut-off device includes a plate-shaped terminal piece having a contact, a movable piece including an elastic portion formed in a plate shape so as to be elastically deformed and a movable contact arranged at one end portion of the elastic portion and having the movable contact so as to be pressed against and in contact with the contact, and a thermally actuated element which biases the movable piece by deforming in accordance with a temperature change and causes a state of the movable piece to be shifted from a conductive state in which the movable contact is in contact with the contact to a cut-off state in which the movable contact is separated from the contact. When the state of the movable piece is shifted from the conductive state to the cut-off state, as the movable contact moves, it gets over the contact.

A current cut-off device includes a plate-shaped terminal piece having a contact, a movable piece including an elastic portion formed in a plate shape so as to be elastically deformed and a movable contact arranged at one end portion of the elastic portion and having the movable contact so as to be pressed against and in contact with the contact, and a thermally actuated element which biases the movable piece by deforming in accordance with a temperature change and causes a state of the movable piece to be shifted from a conductive state in which the movable contact is in contact with the contact to a cut-off state in which the movable contact is separated from the contact. When the state of the movable piece is shifted from the conductive state to the cut-off state, as the movable contact moves, it gets over the contact.

A breaker includes a fixed piece having a fixed contact, a movable piece having an elastically deformable elastic portion and a movable contact formed at a tip portion of the elastic portion and pushed to contact with the fixed contact, a thermally actuated element deformable according to a temperature change to shift the state of the movable piece from a conductive state to a cut-off state, and a case accommodating the fixed piece, the movable piece, and the thermally actuated element. The movable piece is cantilevered by the case on a base end portion side of the elastic portion, the elastic portion includes a first narrow portion having a smaller width dimension in a short direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the elastic portion than the base end portion, and the first narrow portion has an arc-shaped contour in plan view from a thickness direction of the elastic portion.

A temperature-dependent switch comprises a first stationary contact, a second stationary contact, and a temperature-dependent switching mechanism having a movable contact member. In its first switching position, the switching mechanism presses the contact member against the first contact and thereby produces an electrically conductive connection between the two contacts. In its second switching position, the switching mechanism keeps the contact member spaced apart from the first contact. The temperature-dependent switching mechanism further comprises first and second temperature-dependent snap-action parts which switch from geometric low-temperature configurations to geometric high-temperature configurations when exceeding first and second switching temperatures, respectively, and switch back when subsequently falling below first and second reset temperatures, respectively. Switching the first and/or the second snap-action part from its geometric low-temperature configuration to its geometric high-temperature configuration brings the switching mechanism from its first switching position to its second switching position.

A temperature-dependent switch comprises a first stationary contact, a second stationary contact, and a temperature-dependent switching mechanism having a movable contact member. In its first switching position, the switching mechanism presses the contact member against the first contact and thereby produces an electrically conductive connection between the two contacts. In its second switching position, the switching mechanism keeps the contact member spaced apart from the first contact. The temperature-dependent switching mechanism further comprises first and second temperature-dependent snap-action parts which switch from geometric low-temperature configurations to geometric high-temperature configurations when exceeding first and second switching temperatures, respectively, and switch back when subsequently falling below first and second reset temperatures, respectively. Switching the first and/or the second snap-action part from its geometric low-temperature configuration to its geometric high-temperature configuration brings the switching mechanism from its first switching position to its second switching position.