Reduction of bounce in the closure of contacts through damping in a magnetic field

A micro-mechanical switch has been fabricated using the LIGA process. The switch demonstrates that a momentum transfer method is viable in reducing the bounce, or chatter, in a switch. The chatter in the switch has been reduced from about 2.5 millisecond duration to about a tenth of a millisecond, with the possibility of completely eliminating it.; A momentum transfer device was used with the micro-mechanical switch to reduce the chatter of the switch. It has been demonstrated to be successful in reducing the bounce, and it's operation has been verified by the use of high-speed filming.; A process has been developed which allows the fabrication of copper parts and their incorporation into a micro-mechanical device. High aspect ratio structures have been fabricated using this process. These copper parts were subsequently assembled onto the micro-mechanical switch. The copper parts form part of a magnetic damping system.; A magnetic damping device has been fabricated along with the micromechanical switch. It has been demonstrated to provide a damping force that can reduce the momentum in a vibrating copper plunger. The chatter of the copper plunger in the switch was reduced from three recoils to just one in the presence of the damping magnetic field. This has been verified by observation with a high speed camera.