A movable electrode in conventional electromechanical contacts often shows a bounce against the opposite electrode during a make and break operation. Frequent bounces are troublesome. We studied this phenomenon with conventional reed switches using a slowly increasing and decreasing driving current. Judging from the measured data, Coulomb's electrostatic force cannot be neglected in efforts to suppress bounce.

VI time responses of a conventional electromagnetic relay during breaking contact operations were measured. In a conventional switching circuit, unstable contact resistance, irregular bouncing, and poor reproducibility were confirmed. Using a transient current switch circuit and two sharpened contact electrodes, bouncing during a breaking operation was suppressed, and unstable contact resistance changes and reproducibility of breaking operation were also improved.