Abstract: A method comprising forming a structural element 115 on a surface 620 of a layer 510 via an electroless plating of nickel or cobalt 130 onto the surface, the layer being rigidly fixed to an underlying substrate 110. The method also comprises etching away a portion of the layer such that a part of the structural element is able to move with respect to the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bi-directional microelectromechanical element, a microelectromechanical switch including the bi-directional element, and a method to reduce mechanical creep in the bi-directional element. In one embodiment, the bi-directional microelectromechanical element includes a cold beam having a free end and a first end connected to a cold beam anchor. The cold beam anchor is attached to a substrate. A first beam pair is coupled to the cold beam by a free end tether and is configured to elongate when heated thereby to a greater temperature than a temperature of the cold beam. A second beam pair is located on an opposing side of the cold beam from the first beam pair and is coupled to the first beam pair and the cold beam by the free end tether. The second beam pair is configured to elongate when heated thereby to the greater temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bi-directional microelectromechanical element, a microelectromechanical switch including the bi-directional element, and a method to reduce mechanical creep in the bi-directional element. In one embodiment, the bi-directional microelectromechanical element includes a cold beam having a free end and a first end connected to a cold beam anchor. The cold beam anchor is attached to a substrate. A first beam pair is coupled to the cold beam by a free end tether and is configured to elongate when heated thereby to a greater temperature than a temperature of the cold beam. A second beam pair is located on an opposing side of the cold beam from the first beam pair and is coupled to the first beam pair and the cold beam by the free end tether. The second beam pair is configured to elongate when heated thereby to the greater temperature.

Abstract: An arm preferably for electric switches, the arm being controlled by electricity, and having a first fixed end the other end of which is movable perpendicular to the length direction of the arm. The arm comprises two parallel portions (47) separated by an air gap (17) or some other heat insulating material, and which are secured to each other at each end. At least one of the portions, being heated by electricity and, through longitudinal differential expansion with respect to the other portion, achieves said movement. The portions are so shaped that, adjacent the fixed end (at 45) with respect to the rest of the portions, they have a reduced bending resistance about an axis which is perpendicular to the length direction of the arm and with respect to said direction of movement.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an overcurrent-protective switch for household appliances such as a vacuum cleaner. The snap switch has a housing in which a contact mounting unit is mounted at one end of the housing and contains one of two current terminals of the switch. The other current terminal is mounted at the other end of the housing and is configured to define a contact-engaging surface. A resilient interrupting contact member is fixedly connected to the one current terminal and has a metal center strip by means of which it is held in one of two end positions. In the first end position, the contact member is held in contact engagement with the contact-engaging surface of the other current contact terminal and, in the second end position, it is disengaged from the contact-engaging surface. When the center resistance strip is cool, the contact member is in its first position and the current circuit between the two current terminals is closed.