[0001] The present invention relates to an electromechanical relay. More particularly, the
present invention relates to an electromechanical relay that fits into electrical
devices with limited space or special shapes.
[0002] A known electromechanical relay typically comprises a coil that is mounted on a base
made of, for example, iron (yoke), an armature of magnetic material which is movable
with respect to the base, and a first contact element made out of electrically conductive
material and connected to the armature. The first contact element is intended to establish
or disconnect electrical contact with a second contact element, depending on whether
the coil has been charged or not. By sending a current through the coil, a magnetic
field is generated for moving the armature in such a way that the electrical contact
between the first contact element and the second contact element is established or
disconnected. Such a relay has as a disadvantage that it is not very compact, and,
therefore, difficult to integrate into small electrical devices of which the space
within the device is limited and/or of which the shape is fixed.
[0003] The aim of the present invention is to provide an electromechanical relay, the shape
of which can be adapted to any desired shape of electrical device. In particular a
relay is provided that, together with other electronic components, can fit into any
kind of electrical device shape with a limited volume, and, more in particular, a
compact relay that can form a relatively thin, flat unit.
[0004] For this purpose, an electromechanical relay according to the invention comprises
a carrier, a contact body which is connected to the carrier and which is movably mounted
with respect to the carrier, at least one electrical contact element, and at least
two coils to move the contact body with respect to the carrier, in order to disconnect
or establish an electrical contact between the contact body and the at least one electrical
contact element. The contact body is adapted to be moved as a result of a magnetic
field generated by the at least two coils. The at least two coils are provided on
or in the carrier and/or on or in the contact body. The carrier and/or the contact
body are made out of electrically insulating material, on or in which electrically
conductive tracks are provided. The carrier and/or the contact body are further adapted
for mounting electronic components thereon, which electronic components are connectable
to the electrically conductive tracks.
[0005] Embodiments of the invention are
inter alia based on the inventive insight to combine a plurality of coils with a relatively
small height next to each other between a carrier and a contact body, and to give
an additional function to the carrier and/or contact body, namely forming a mounting
surface for electronic components, like resistors, capacitors, chips, etc. In this
way, a relay can be obtained with any desired shape, and, in particular, a relatively
thin and compact relay can be provided that is easy to integrate in an electronic
circuit.
[0006] According to embodiments of the invention, the contact body is connected to the carrier
and is, therefore, not floating.
[0007] A plurality of coils may preferably be located next to each other in a plane parallel
to the carrier and/or the contact body. The axes of the coils may preferably be substantially
perpendicular to the carrier and/or the contact body. The coils can be mounted onto
the carrier and/or onto the contact body, whereby, for example, also at least a first
coil can be mounted onto the carrier and at least a second coil onto the contact body.
[0008] The carrier and/or the contact body may preferably be implemented as a printed circuit
board (PCB). The contact body and/or the carrier are preferably plate-shaped and may
preferably be thin plates so that a thin assembly can be obtained. These plates can
have any shape depending on the design of the electronic device in which the relay
is required. Furthermore, the shape of the carrier can be different from or equal
to the shape of the contact body. The carrier may preferably have a thickness of less
than 3 mm. The contact body may preferably have a thickness of less than 3 mm
[0009] According to a possible embodiment, the contact body may entirely be made out of
a magnetic material, for example an iron alloy. According to another embodiment, the
contact body may have zones of magnetic material, which are provided in such a way
that they can cooperate with the coils, to guide the magnetic flux. According to still
further embodiments, for example, one or more permanent magnets may be provided onto
or in the contact body.
[0010] According to an advantageous embodiment, at least one spring means may be provided
between the carrier and the contact body. The or each spring means may preferably
have a first end that is fixed to the carrier and a second end that is fixed to the
contact body. Using more than one coil and a spring-mounted assembly of the contact
body allows the height of the relay to be limited and/or any desired height to be
obtained. The contact body may, according to embodiments of the invention, also in
another way resilient, hingedly or otherwise movably be hung up or mounted with respect
to the carrier.
[0011] According to embodiments of the invention, the or each spring may be adapted to form
an electrically conductive path between the carrier and the contact body.
[0012] According to a possible embodiment, the carrier may have a first side on which the
at least two coils and the contact body are provided and a second side, opposite to
the first side, on which an electronic component is provided. Further, one or more
electronic components can also be provided on this first side. Furthermore, one or
more electronic components can be provided on one side of the contact body or on both
sides thereof.
[0013] The at least one contact element can be provided directly to the carrier on a side
facing the contact body, but it can also be provided at a different location, for
example at a distance from the carrier, on the other side of the contact body. The
at least one contact element can, for example, be provided between two adjacent coils
on the carrier.
[0014] According to advantageous embodiments of the invention, at least four coils may be
provided, which are placed next to each other in a plane between the carrier and the
contact body. This will allow the distance between the carrier and the contact body
to be kept relatively small, while the coils can exert a sufficiently large force
on the contact body without very high currents being required. The distance between
the carrier and the contact body, in the condition in which the at least one contact
element does not make contact with the contact body, may preferably be less than 1.5
times the diameter (1.5*d) of a coil, more preferably smaller than the diameter of
the coil, and most preferably less than 0.75 times the diameter (0.75*d) of the coil.
This distance may preferably be less than 10 mm, or more preferably less than 5 mm.
[0015] The at least one electrical contact element may, for example, comprise a spring contact
or a spherical contact. More generally, the at least one electrical contact element
can have any shape. Furthermore, contact elements of different types can be combined
in one relay.
[0016] According to an advantageous embodiment, the carrier and/or the contact body may
be a PCB, and each coil may be formed with conductive tracks of the PCB (PCB track
coil). Hereby the conductive tracks may, according to embodiments of the invention,
be provided in multiple layers of the PCB. In this way, the compactness of the relay
can be further enhanced.
[0017] According to an embodiment invention, each coil may be provided with a core of magnetic
material. Further, each coil can also be surrounded by at least one element of magnetic
material in order to, together with the at least one coil and the contact body, form
a magnetic circuit. Such an element can be mounted against the contact body or against
the carrier. Furthermore, such an element can be resilient or spring-mounted. When
the contact body, as a result of charging the at least one coil, moves in the direction
of the carrier, such a spring element of magnetic material can then be pushed in.
[0018] According to a further developed embodiment, the relay may comprise an additional
movably mounted contact body, an additional carrier, and at least two additional coils
to generate a magnetic field for moving the additional contact body with respect to
the additional carrier. The contact body and the additional contact body are hereby
facing each other and are located between the carrier and the additional carrier.
The additional carrier may be located at a fixed distance from the carrier, and the
at least one contact element may be provided on or may be formed by the additional
contact body. In this way, the relay function is thus built in between two carriers,
wherein two sets of coils located above each other are present between the carriers,
and wherein additional electronic components can be mounted onto the carriers. The
carriers may preferably be PCBs.
[0019] According to another embodiment, the relay may comprise an additional carrier at
a fixed distance from the carrier. The additional carrier is provided with at least
one contact element at a side facing a side of the contact body. Between the contact
body and the carrier, there may be a movable intermediate body, typically a separator
plate, on which or in which at least two additional coils are provided for the generation
of a magnetic field to move the contact body with respect to the intermediate body.
In this way, the distance between the contact body and the at least one contact element
(in the open position) can be increased. Also according to this embodiment two sets
of coils, which contribute to the movement of the contact body with respect to the
carrier, are provided above each other. Furthermore, other electronic components can
be provided on both the carrier and the additional carrier.
[0020] According to a possible embodiment, the at least one contact element may comprise
at least a first contact element on a first side of the contact body and at least
a second contact element on a second side of the contact body, and the contact body
may be mounted and designed so as to make electrical contact with the first contact
element in a first position and with the second contact element in a second position.
In this way, a two-way circuit can be formed, in which the contact body alternately
makes contact with the first contact element and the second contact element.
[0021] According to a possible embodiment, the contact body may be movable between a first
and a second position as a result of the generation of respectively a first and a
second magnetic field by means of the at least two coils. This is called a bi-stable
relay. To obtain a bi-stable relay, at least one permanent magnet may be provided
onto the carrier and/or the contact body in such a way that the contact body is kept
in the first position after removal of the first magnetic field and/or that the contact
body is kept in the second position after removal of the second magnetic field. According
to embodiments of the invention, the contact body may be spring-mounted with respect
to the carrier by means of at least one bi-stable spring element, whereby the at least
one bi-stable spring element is mounted in such a way that the contact body is kept
in the first position after removal of the first magnetic field and/or that the contact
body is kept in the second position after removal of the second magnetic field.
[0022] According to a further developed embodiment, the at least one contact element may
comprise a first contact element and a second contact element, and the at least two
coils are provided in such a way that, as a result of selectively charging one or
more of these coils, the first and second contact element can selectively make contact
with the contact body. In this way, compact multiple relays can be built.
[0023] The present invention will be further explained on the basis of a number of, by no
means limiting, exemplary embodiments of an electromechanical relay according to the
invention, with reference to the attached drawings.
Figure 1A schematically illustrates an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment
of a relay according to the invention;
Figure 1B schematically illustrates a side view of the embodiment of figure 1A;
Figure 1C schematically illustrates a top view of the embodiment of figure 1A;
Figure 2 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a second embodiment of a
relay according to the invention;
Figure 3 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a third embodiment of a relay
according to the invention;
Figure 4 schematically illustrates an exploded perspective view of a fourth embodiment
of a relay according to the invention;
Figure 5 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a relay
according to the invention;
Figure 6 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a relay
according to the invention;
Figure 7 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a
relay according to the invention;
Figures 8A and 8B schematically illustrate a view of a bi-stable spring element in
two different positions; and
Figures 9A and 9B schematically illustrate a view of an embodiment of a relay according
to the invention in two different positions.
[0024] A first embodiment of an electromechanical relay according to the invention is shown
in figures 1A-1C. The relay comprises a carrier 4 onto which a number of coils 1 are
mounted. According the present embodiment, the carrier 4 may be implemented in the
form of a PCB 4. The coils 1 are positioned next to each other onto the PCB 4 and
in a plane parallel to the PCB 4. In the illustrated example, sixteen coils 1 have
been provided. It has to be understood by a person skilled in the art that this number
is not meant to be limiting in any way, a relay according to embodiments of the invention
can have any number of coils 1 as required for the relevant application. A contact
body 3 is movably mounted with respect to PCB 4 by means a number of springs 5. According
to the present embodiment, the contact body 3 may be provided in the form of a contact
plate 3 made out of a magnetic material, for example an iron alloy. According to further
embodiments of the invention which have not been illustrated, the contact body 3 may
be a PCB on which or in which one or more permanent magnets are provided. Each of
the at least one coil (1) may have an axis that is oriented perpendicular to the carrier
(4) and/or the contact body (3). In the illustrated example, four springs 5 are provided
in between PCB 4 and contact plate 3 at the corners of the PCB 4 and the contact plate
3. A person skilled in the art will understand that, according to embodiments of the
invention, more or less than four springs 5 may be provided, and that the springs
5 can be provided at other positions than in the corners. These springs 5 may, according
to some embodiments of the invention, also have an additional function, for example
the function of an electrical conduction between the contact plate 3 and a conductive
path on PCB 4 which is connected to an electronic component 6 that is mounted on PCB
4. In order to keep the distance between contact plate 3 and PCB 4 small, the ends
of the springs 5 may preferably be attached directly to contact plate 3 at the one
end and to PCB 4 at the other end.
[0025] The relay furthermore comprises a number of electrical contact elements, here in
the form of a pillar-shaped electrically conductive element 2a and four electrically
conductive spring elements 2b. These contact elements 2a, 2b are intended to make
contact with the contact plate 3 in the closed position of the relay. Providing a
current through the coils 1 allows for a movement of the contact plate 3 in the direction
of the carrier 4, in order to establish an electrical contact between contact plate
3 and contact elements 2a, 2b. According to embodiments of the invention that have
not been illustrated, it is also possible that the relay is originally closed (i.e.
that an electrical contact is present between contact plate 3 and contact elements
2a, 2b) and that charging the coils 1 causes the movement of the contact plate 3 away
from the carrier 4 in such a way that the electrical contact is disconnected.
[0026] In the present embodiment, the coils 1 are provided on a flat top surface of PCB
4, but, according to alternative embodiments, the coils 1 may also be provided in
cavities in the PCB 4 or as conductive tracks of PCB 4 in the shape of so-called PCB
track coils.
[0027] In the embodiment illustrated in figures 1A-1C, the coils 1 and the contact plate
3 are provided on a top side 41 of PCB 4, and the bottom side 42 of PCB 4 is intended
for mounting additional electronic components 6. However, it is also possible to provide
additional electronic components 6 at the top side 41 of PCB 4 or at the top or bottom
of contact plate 3, see also the embodiment of figure 4 which is discussed below.
[0028] The distance D (see figure 1B) between PCB 4 and contact plate 3 may preferably be
relatively small, for example less than 5 mm in the condition in which the contact
elements 2a, 2b do not make contact with the contact plate 3, in such a way that a
thin compact unit is obtained. The distance D between PCB 4 and contact plate 3 may
preferably be less than 1.5 times the diameter d (1.5*d) of the coil 1, more preferably
smaller than the diameter d of the coil 1, and most preferably less than 0.75 times
the diameter d (0.75*d) of the coil 1.
[0029] According to embodiments of the invention, the coils 1 can be provided with a core
of magnetic material. Further, the coils 1 can be surrounded by at least one element
of magnetic material to close the magnetic circuit. In the example of figures 1A-1C,
each coil 1 may be surrounded by four beam-shaped elements 8 of magnetic material.
Further, instead of four beam-shaped elements 8, according to embodiments of the invention,
also one tubular element 8 can be provided around a coil 1 (see also figure 4), and
these elements 8 could also be attached to the contact plate 3 instead of to PCB 4.
[0030] The relay illustrated in figures 1A-C is a so-called monostable relay, i.e. a relay
of which the contact body 3 during charging of the coils 1 is kept in a first position
(here a closed position) and springs back to a second position (here the open position)
at the time that the charge is removed. It is, however, also possible to build the
relay of figures 1A-C as a so-called bi-stable relay, i.e. a relay of which the coils
1 can move the contact body 3 from a first position to a second position and vice
versa (for example, by reversing the direction of the current sent through the coils
1), and of which the contact body 3 after the removal of the charge stays in the relevant
position. For this purpose, one or more springs 5 can be implemented as so-called
bi-stable spring elements, i.e. spring elements that after spring rebound or compression
remain in the rebound or compressed position, respectively. An example of such a spring
element 5 is a leaf spring, which shows a buckling phenomenon during the spring rebound
and compression. According to embodiments of the present invention, such a bi-stable
spring element can easily be provided in the contact body 3, as is illustrated in
figures 8A and 8B. The bi-stable spring elements 15 are formed by cutting out zones
of the contact plate 3 and by creating a permanent bending deformation via a narrow
bridge zone. According to typical embodiments, the contact plate 3 may be sufficiently
thin and/or elastic so that the bending deformed zone will, when a point force is
applied, jump to the other side of the contact plate 3. Figures 8A and 8B illustrate
one bi-stable spring element 15, but a person skilled in the art will understand that
several such spring elements 15 can be installed. Figures 9A and 9B illustrate the
operation of such a bi-stable spring element 15. Figure 9A illustrates the open position.
When the contact plate 3 is attracted as a result of a magnetic field generated by
the coil 1, the bi-stable spring element 15 is pressed against the carrier 4, and
it will jump to its reversed fixed position, see figure 9B. The bi-stable spring element
15 will hereby make contact with an opposite stop 16, such that the contact plate
3 is pushed against the contact elements 2a. The contact plate 3 will remain in this
position until again a magnetic field is generated that ensures that the contact plate
3 is moved up, away from the contact elements 2a. At that time, the bi-stable spring
element 15 returns to the position of figure 9A. According to a further embodiment
that is not illustrated, the bi-stable spring elements 15 can also be provided on
the carrier 4.
[0031] According to embodiments of the invention, one or more permanent magnets (not shown
in figures 1A-C) can be provided on the carrier 4. To allow movement of the contact
body 3 from the closed position to the open position, the coils 1 are charged in such
a way that the magnetic force that is generated can overcome the magnetic force of
the permanent magnets in order to move the contact body 3 from the closed position
to the open position. This may, for example, be achieved by sending a sufficiently
high current in the reverse direction (in comparison with the direction needed to
move the contact body 3 from the open to the closed position) through the coils 1.
[0032] Although in the description above, it was described to charge the coils 1 simultaneously
so as to move the contact body 3 from a closed position to an open position and vice
versa, a person skilled in the art will understand that it is also possible to charge
the coils not simultaneously, so that the contact body 3 is, for example, tilted,
and not all contacts are closed. The contact elements 2a, 2b do not have to be electrically
connected to each other, and the separate control of the coils 1 will then allow the
selective contact of the contact elements 2a, 2b with the contact body 3 so that multiple
independent switching electrical circuits can be realized. This will make multi-switch
actions possible, and it will, for example, be possible to obtain an electrical two-way
circuit.
[0033] Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of a relay according to the invention. Similar
parts have been indicated with the same reference numbers as in figure 1. The relay
comprises, similar to the relay illustrated in figure 1, a contact body in the form
of a contact plate 3, a carrier in the form of a PCB 4 and at least one coil 1, in
the example given a plurality of coils 1, provided on the PCB 4. According to the
second embodiment, an additional movably mounted contact plate 3', an additional carrier
in the form of PCB 4' and at a fixed distance from PCB 4, and a number of additional
coils 1' for the generation of a magnetic field to move the additional contact plate
3' with respect to additional PCB 4', are provided. The additional coils 1' are provided
on the additional PCB 4'. Contact plate 3 and additional contact plate 3' are facing
each other and are located between PCB 4 and PCB 4'. The at least one electrical contact
element is formed here as a number of contact paths 2c which are provided on the additional
contact plate 3' on a side facing the contact plate 3. According to the present embodiment,
both coils 1 and additional coils 1' will contribute to the movement toward each other
of contact plate 3 and additional contact plate 3'. In this way, the distance between
the contact body 3 and the contact elements 2 can be increased. Furthermore, both
the top side of PCB 4' and the bottom side of PCB 4 are available for mounting electronic
components 6 thereon.
[0034] The relay illustrated in figure 2 is a monostable relay. It is, however, also possible
to build the variant of figure 2 as a so-called bi-stable relay. For this purpose,
one or more springs 5 can be implemented as so-called bi-stable spring elements, as
described for the embodiment of figure 1 and as illustrated in figures 8A, 8B, 9A
and 9B.
[0035] Also for the variant of figure 2, the coils 1 and 1' can be charged simultaneously
or separately, or group by group (for example, four at a time), depending on whether
it is desirable to obtain a single or a composed multiple relay.
[0036] Figure 3 illustrates a third embodiment of a relay according to the invention. Similar
parts have been indicated with the same reference numbers as in figure 1. The relay
comprises, similar to the relay illustrated in figure 1, a contact body in the form
of a contact plate 3, a carrier in the form of a PCB 4 and at least one coil 1, in
the example given a plurality of coils 1. According to the third embodiment, an additional
PCB 4' is provided at a fixed distance from PCB 4. The contact plate 3 is provided
in between the PCB 4 and the additional PCB 4 and at least one contact element 2d
is provided on the additional PCB 4' on a side facing a side of the contact plate
3. Between the contact plate 3 and PCB 4, a movably mounted intermediate plate 7,
for example a PCB 7, is provided onto which a plurality of coils 1" are mounted for
the generation of a magnetic field to move contact plate 3 with respect to the intermediate
plate 7. In this way, both coils 1 and 1" will contribute to the movement of contact
plate 3 in the direction of the electrical contact elements 2d. Furthermore, both
the top side of PCB 4' and the bottom side of PCB 4 are available for mounting electronic
components 6 thereon.
[0037] The relay illustrated in figure 3 is a monostable relay. It is, however, also possible
to build the variant of figure 3 as a so-called bi-stable relay. For this purpose,
one or more springs 5a, 5b can be implemented as so-called bi-stable spring elements,
as described for the embodiment of figure 1. According to embodiments of the invention,
permanent magnets can further be mounted on the bottom side of PCB 4', see also the
embodiment of figure 6.
[0038] Also for the variant of figure 3, the coils 1 and 1" can be charged simultaneously
or separately, or group by group (for example, two or four at a time), depending on
whether it is desirable to obtain a single or a composed multiple relay.
[0039] Figure 4 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a relay according to the invention. Similar
parts have been indicated with the same reference numbers as in figure 1. According
to the fourth embodiment, the contact body is formed by a frame-shaped PCB 3. At the
bottom side of PCB 3, a number of zones 18 of magnetic material are provided, which
zones 18 extend above the coils 1 which are provided on the carrier 4. Furthermore,
PCB 3 is provided with additional contact elements 13 formed of electrically conductive
material, which are intended to make contact with electrical contact elements 2b,
here implemented as spring contacts, on PCB 4. According to the fourth embodiment,
the coils 1 are provided on PCB 4 at a distance from each other, and additional electrical
components 6, 6", 6"" are provided on the top side and/or bottom side of PCB 4. Furthermore,
the opening in frame-shaped PCB 3 allows a high electronic component 6" to be provided
on PCB 4, as this component 6" can stick out through the opening. Furthermore, electrical
components 6', 6"' can for example also be provided on the bottom and the top of PCB
3.
[0040] The monostable relay illustrated in figure 4 can also be built as a so-called bi-stable
relay, as described in the embodiment of figure 1.
[0041] Also for the variant of figure 4, the coils 1 can be charged simultaneously or separately,
or in groups, depending on whether it is desirable to obtain a single or a composed
multiple relay. The two coils 1 on the left can, for example, be charged simultaneously
in order to realize a contact between contact elements 2b, 13 on the left, and the
two coils 1 on the right can be charged simultaneously in order to realize a contact
between contact elements 2b, 13 on the right, wherein the coils 1 on the left and
the coils 1 on the right can be charged independently from each other.
[0042] Figure 5 illustrates a fifth embodiment of a relay according to the invention. Similar
parts have been indicated with the same reference numbers as in figure 1. According
to the fifth embodiment, the coils 1 are relatively high and slim compared to the
rather flat coils of the embodiments illustrated in figures 1 to 4. The springs 5
are here implemented as windings around the coils 1. In this way, a space is created
between PCB 3 and PCB 4, where relatively high electronic components 6 can be provided.
The contact elements are not illustrated, but may, for example, be similar to those
of figures 1A-C or those of figure 4.
[0043] Figure 6 illustrates a sixth embodiment of a relay according to the invention. Similar
parts have been indicated with the same reference numbers as in figure 1. According
to the sixth embodiment, an additional PCB 4' is provided at a fixed distance of PCB
4. The at least one electrical contact element is here implemented as a number of
contact paths 2a, 2d, which are provided on the top side 41 of PCB 4 and at the bottom
side of additional PCB 4', respectively. These contact paths 2a, 2d are intended to
cooperate with corresponding contact paths 13a, 13d at respectively the bottom and
top of contact body 3. Both the top of PCB 4' and the bottom of PCB 4 are available
for mounting electronic components 6 thereon.
[0044] The relay furthermore comprises springs 5. According to a first possibility, the
springs 5 may be such that the contact paths 13d in a first position of rest make
contact with contact paths 2d. By charging coils 1, contact plate 3 can be moved to
a second position in which the contact paths 13a make contact with the contact paths
2a. In this way, a two-way circuit can be realized.
[0045] According to a second possibility, which is illustrated in figure 6, the springs
5 are such that the contact paths 13d in an intermediary position do not make contact
with contact paths 2d and that the contact paths 13a do not make contact with the
contact paths 2a. By charging the coils 1 in respectively a first direction and a
second direction opposite to the first direction, the contact plate 3 can be moved
to a first position in which the contact paths 13d make contact with the contact paths
2d, and to a second position in which the contact paths 13a make contact with the
contact paths 2a. Further, permanent magnets 9 may be provided at the bottom of additional
PCB 4' and/or at the top of PCB 4 in order to keep the contact plate 3 in the first
or second position in case of removal of the charge.
[0046] Figure 7 illustrates a seventh embodiment of a relay according to the invention.
Similar parts have been indicated with the same reference numbers as in figure 1.
The relay according to the seventh embodiment comprises:
- an additional PCB 4' at a fixed distance from PCB 4;
- an additional contact plate 3' spring-mounted with respect to PCB 4' by means of springs
5', at the bottom thereof; and
- additional coils 1' for moving contact plate 3' with respect to PCB 4'.
The contact plate 3 and additional contact plate 3' are provided in between the PCB
4 and PCB 4' and are facing each other. The at least one electrical contact element
is here implemented as a number of contact paths 2a, 2a', which are provided on the
top side 41 of PCB 4 and at the bottom side of additional PCB 4'. These contact paths
2a, 2a' are intended to cooperate with corresponding contact paths 13a, 13a' at the
bottom of contact plate 3 and the top of contact plate 3', respectively. Further,
the bottom side of contact plate 3' and the top side of contact plate 3 are provided
with contact paths 13b', 13b respectively. Both the top side of PCB 4' and the bottom
side of PCB 4 are available for mounting electronic components 6 thereon.
[0047] The springs 5, 5' may be such that the contact paths 13b in an intermediary position
do not make contact with contact paths 13b' and that the contact paths 13a, 13a' do
not make contact with the contact paths 2a, 2a' (situation illustrated in figure 7).
By charging the coils 1 in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the
first direction, respectively, the contact plate 3 can be moved to a first position
in which the contact paths 13a make contact with the contact paths 2a, and to a second
position in which the contact paths 13b make contact with the contact paths 13b'.
By charging the coils 1' in a first and a second opposite direction, respectively,
the contact plate 3' can be moved to a first position in which the contact paths 13a'
make contact with the contact paths 2a', and to a second position in which the contact
paths 13b make contact with the contact paths 13b'. Further, the coils 1, 1' can be
charged simultaneously or separately. A person skilled in the art will understand
that in this way a plurality of switch combinations can be realized with a very compact
relay.
[0048] Similar as in the embodiment described with respect to, for example, figures 3 and
4, both the top of PCB 4' and the bottom of PCB 4 are available for mounting electronic
components 6 thereon.
[0049] If in the embodiment illustrated in figure 7 the coils 1, 1' are charged alternately
in order to selectively close or open certain contacts, the contact plates 3, 3' will
in certain situations take a tilted position. In order to realize a proper contact
in such a position as well, the contact elements 2a, 2a', 13a, 13a', 13b, 13b' can,
for example, have a rounded shape, as schematically shown in figure 7.
[0050] The above-described electrical contact elements 2a, 2a', 2b, 2c, 2d, can, by means
of conductive tracks on the PCB 4, be connected to a circuit in which the relay function
should be provided. Similarly, contact plate 3 (first, second, third and fifth embodiment)
or contact elements 13, 13a, 13a', 13b, 13b' (fourth, sixth and seventh embodiment)
can, by means of a conductive wire or track, be connected to the circuit in which
the relay function is required. This circuit can partially or fully be provided onto
a carrier/PCB 4, 4' or a contact body/PCB 3.
[0051] In the illustrated embodiments, the coils 1 are always mounted to or in a fixed carrier
in the shape of PCB 4 or additional carrier in the shape of PCB 4'. However, it is
also possible to mount the coils 1 onto or in the contact body 3 or additional contact
body 3' and to install the necessary magnetic zones 18 on or in PCB 4 or PCB 4'.
[0052] A person skilled in the art will understand that different embodiments can be combined
with each other. For example, the frame-shaped contact plate of figure 4 can also
be used in the embodiments of figures 1A-C, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, where the contact elements
should of course be provided in locations that have been adapted to the electrically
conductive zone(s) of the contact body/PCB 3.
[0053] A person skilled in the art will understand that many modifications and additions
are possible within the framework of the present invention, which in no way is limited
by the exemplary embodiments described above. The scope of protection is only determined
by the following claims.
1. Electromechanical relay comprising:
- a carrier (4);
- a contact body (3), movably mounted with respect to the carrier (4);
- at least one electrical contact element (2a;2b;2c;2d);
- at least two coils (1) for moving the contact body (3) with respect to the carrier
(4), so as to disconnect or establish an electrical contact between the contact body
(3) and the at least one electrical contact element (2a;2b;2c;2d),
wherein the contact body (3) is adapted to move as a result of a magnetic field generated
by the at least two coils (1), wherein the at least two coils (1) are mounted on or
in the carrier (4) and/or on or in the contact body (3), and wherein the carrier (4)
and/or the contact body (3)
- are made out of an electrically insulating material, on which or in which electrically
conductive tracks are provided, and
- are adapted for providing electronic components (6) thereon, which electronic components
(6) are connectable to the electrically conductive tracks.
2. Electromechanical relay according to claim 1, wherein the carrier (4) and/or the contact
body (3) is a printed circuit board (PCB).
3. Electromechanical relay according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least two coils
(1) are placed next to each other, seen in a plane parallel to the carrier (4) and/or
the contact body (3).
4. Electromechanical relay according to any of the previous claims, wherein the or each
coil (1) has an axis that is oriented perpendicular to the carrier (4) and/or the
contact body (3).
5. Electromechanical relay according to any of the previous claims, wherein the contact
body (3)
- has been fully made out of a magnetic material; or
- comprises zones (18) of magnetic material; and/or
- is provided with one or more permanent magnets (9).
6. Electromechanical relay according to any of the previous claims, wherein at least
one spring means (5;5a,5b) is provided between the carrier (4) and the contact body
(3).
7. Electromechanical relay according to claim 6, wherein the or each spring means (5;5a,5b)
has a first end that is attached to the carrier (4) and a second end that is attached
to the contact body (3).
8. Electromechanical relay according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the or each spring means
(5;5a,5b) is adapted to form an electrically conductive path between the carrier (4)
and the contact body (3).
9. Electromechanical relay according to any of the previous claims, the carrier (4) having
a first side (41) and a second side (42) and the contact body (3) having a first side
and a second side, wherein an electronic component (6,6",6"") is mounted on the first
side (41) and/or on the second side (42) of the carrier (4); and/or
wherein an electronic component (6',6"') is mounted on the first and/or on the second
side of the contact body (3).
10. Electromechanical relay according to any of the previous claims, wherein the distance
(D) between the carrier (4) and the contact body (3), in the condition in which the
at least one contact element (2a;2b;2c;2d) does not make contact with the contact
body (3), is less than 5 mm.
11. Electromechanical relay according to any of the previous claims, further comprising
an additional movably mounted contact body (3'), an additional carrier (4'), and at
least two additional coils (1') for the generation of a magnetic field to move the
additional contact body (3') with respect to the additional carrier (4'), in which
the contact body (3) and the additional contact body (3') are facing each other and
are situated between the carrier (4) and the additional carrier (4'), wherein the
additional carrier (4') is provided at a fixed distance from the carrier (4), and
wherein the at least one contact element (2c) is provided on or is formed by the additional
contact body (3').
12. Electromechanical relay according to any of claims 1 to 10, further comprising an
additional carrier (4') at a fixed distance from the carrier (4), on which additional
carrier (4') the at least one contact element (2d) is provided on a side facing a
side of the contact body (3), wherein a movably mounted intermediate body (7) is provided
between the contact body (3) and the carrier (4), on which or in which at least two
coils (1") are provided for the generation of a magnetic field to move the contact
body (3) with respect to the intermediate body (7).
13. Electromechanical relay according to any of the previous claims, wherein the at least
one contact element comprises at least a first contact element (2a) on a first side
of the contact body (3) and a second contact element (2d; 13b') on a second side of
the contact body (3), and the contact body (3,13a, 13d; 3, 13a, 13b) is mounted and
adapted to make electrical contact with the first contact element (2a) in a first
position and with the second contact element (2d; 13b') in a second position.
14. Electromechanical relay according to any of the previous claims, wherein the contact
body (3) is movable between a first and a second position as a result of the generation
of respectively a first and a second magnetic field by the at least two coils (1),
and at least one permanent magnet (9) is provided on the carrier (4) and/or the contact
body (3) in such a way that the contact body (3) is kept in the first position after
removal of the first magnetic field and/or that the contact body (3) is kept in the
second position after removal of the second magnetic field.
15. Electromechanical relay according to any of the previous claims, wherein the at least
one contact element comprises a first contact element and a second contact element,
and the at least two coils (1) are provided in such a way that, as a result of selectively
charging one or more coils (1), the first and second contact element can selectively
make contact with the contact body (3).