A microrelay device formed on a silicon substrate wafer for use in opening
and closing a current path in a circuit. A pair of electrically
conducting latching beams are attached at their proximal ends to
terminals on the substrate. Proximal ends of the beams have complementary
shapes which releasably fit together to latch the beams and close the
circuit. A pair of shape memory alloy actuators are selectively operated
to change shapes which bend one of the beams in a direction which latches
the distal ends, or bend the other beam to release the distal ends and
open the circuit. The microrelay is bistable in its two positions, and
power to the actuators is applied only for switching it open or closed.