Flexible circuit piezoelectric relay

Abstract

An arrangement of a flex circuit relay 7 is provided. The flex circuit relay 7 has a first substrate 10 . A first connective member 24 is connected on the first substrate 10 . A second flexible substrate 20 is provided having a contact portion 30 spaced away from the first substrate 10 in a first position and being spaced adjacent to the first substrate 10 in a second position. A second conductive member 26 is provided on the second substrate 20 for making contact with the first conductive member 24 . A piezoelectric actuator 28 is connected with the second substrate 20 to cause the second substrate contact portion 30 to move between the first and second positions.

1 - 27 . (canceled).  
   
   
       28 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay comprising: 
 a first substrate;    a first conductive member connected on said first substrate;    a second flexible substrate having a contact portion in a first position spaced away from said first substrate and said contact portion in a second position being spaced adjacent to said first substrate;    a second conductive member connected on said second substrate for making contact with said first conductive member; and    a piezoelectric film actuator connected with said second substrate to cause said second substrate contact portion to move between said first and second positions.    
   
   
       29 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 28 , wherein when said actuator is non-excited, said contact portion of said second substrate is in said first position.  
   
   
       30 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 28 , wherein when said actuator is excited, said contact portion of said second substrate is in said second position.  
   
   
       31 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 28 , wherein said first substrate is rigid.  
   
   
       32 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 28  wherein said second substrate is cantileverly supported on said first substrate.  
   
   
       33 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 32 , wherein said second substrate is supported on a conductive elevator located on said first substrate.  
   
   
       34 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 33 , wherein said elevator is a surface mounted device.  
   
   
       35 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 28 , wherein one of said conductive members is a surface mounted device.  
   
   
       36 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 28 , wherein said actuator is on a side of said second substrate generally opposite said first substrate.  
   
   
       37 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay wherein said actuator is on a side of said second substrate adjacent to said first substrate.  
   
   
       38 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 28 , having multiple film piezoelectric actuators.  
   
   
       39 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 28 , wherein said second substrate is supported as a beam and bows to move between said first and second positions.  
   
   
       40 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 28 , wherein said first substrate is a flexible substrate.  
   
   
       41 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 28 , wherein there is a third conductive member on one of said first and second substrates gapped from one of said first and second conductive members and wherein said other one of said first and second conductive member electrically connects said third conductive member with said one of said first and second conductive members.  
   
   
       42 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 41 , wherein said third conductive member is gapped from said first conductive member on said first substrate and wherein said second conductive member electrically connects said first and third conductive members.  
   
   
       43 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 28 , wherein said relay forms a conductive circuit between said second conductive member and said first conductive member.  
   
   
       44 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 40 , wherein said first substrate has an actuator for moving a contact portion of said first substrate between a first position spaced away from said second substrate contact portion and a second position being spaced adjacent to said second substrate contact portion.  
   
   
       45 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay comprising: 
 a first substrate;    a pair of conductive members gapped from one another connected on said first substrate;    a conductive elevator connected on said first substrate;    a second flexible substrate having one end cantileverly supported on said elevator, said second flexible substrate having a contact portion in a first position spaced away from said first substrate and said contact portion in a second position being spaced adjacent to said first substrate for making contact with said pair of said conductive members on said first substrate; and    a piezoelectric actuator connected on said second substrate to cause said second surface substrate contact portion to move between said first and second positions.    
   
   
       46 . An arrangements of a flex circuit relay comprising: 
 a pair of conductive members connected on said first substrate having a gap there between;    two conductive elevators connected on said first substrate;    a second flexible substrate supported in on a beam like manner from said first and second elevators, said second substrate having a contact portion in a first position spaced away from said first substrate and said contact portion in a second position being spaced adjacent to said first substrate;    a second conductive member connected on said second substrate for making electrical connection between said pair of conductive members on said first substrate; and    a film piezoelectric actuator connected with said second substrate to cause said second substrate contact portion to move between said first and second positions.    
   
   
       47 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay a first flexible substrate cantileverly supported; 
 a first conductive member connected on said first substrate;    a second flexible substrate cantileverly supported;    a second conductive member connected on a said second substrate;    a first film piezoelectric actuator for moving said first flexible substrate between a first position spacing said first conductive member away from said second conductive member and a second position placing said first conductive member adjacent to said second conductive member; and    a second film piezoelectric actuator connected on said second substrate to cause said second substrate to move said second conductive member from a first position spaced away from said first conductive member and a second position wherein said second conductive member is spaced adjacent to said first conductive member.    
   
   
       48 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay comprising: 
 a first flexible substrate having a first integral tab portion;    a first conductive member connected on said first substrate tab portion;    a second flexible substrate having a second integral tab portion;    a second conductive member connected on said second substrate second tab portion;    a first piezoelectric actuator for moving said first substrate tab portion between a first position spacing said first conductive member away from said second conductive member and a second position placing said first conductive member adjacent to said second conductive member; and    a second piezoelectric actuator for moving said second substrate tab portion between a first position spaced away from said first conductive member and a second position placing said second conductive member adjacent to said first conductive member.    
   
   
       49 . An arrangement of a flex circuit relay as described in  claim 40 , wherein said first and second substrates are formed from a continuous member.  
   
   
       50 . A method of electrically connecting two circuit devices comprising: 
 connecting on a first substrate a first conductive member;    connecting on a second flexible substrate a second conductive member and spacing said second flexible substrate in a first position spaced away from said first substrate and spacing said second flexible substrate in a second position being spaced adjacent to said first substrate; and    piezoelectrically actuating said second substrate between said first and second positions utilizing a film piezoelectric actuator.    
   
   
       51 . A method of electrically connecting two circuit devices as described in  claim 50 , further comprising: 
 connecting a third conductive member on one of said first and second substrates gapped from one of said first and second conductive members and wherein said other one of said first and second conductive members electrically connects said third conductive member with said one of said first and second conductive members.    
   
   
       52 . A method of electrically connecting two circuit devices as described in  claim 50 , further comprising forming a conductive circuit between said second conductive member and said first conductive member.