Abstract: Apparatus for use with a vehicle includes an optical switch configured to furnish an electrical output. A mechanical control has a selectable position for controlling a function of the vehicle. The mechanical control has a shutter constructed and arranged to control the electrical output of the optical switch based on the position of the control.

Abstract: A socket connector which can accommodate a first plug connector or a second plug connector has a cylindrical cavity with a first plurality of socket contacts and a second plurality of socket contacts. The second plurality of socket contacts are shorter than the first plurality of socket contacts. The first plug connector has a number of plug contacts arranged for mating engagement with both the first plurality of socket contacts and the second plurality of socket contacts. The second plug connector contains a number of plug contacts arranged only for mating engagement with the first plurality of socket contacts.

Abstract: A snap-action switch includes a housing having a pair of terminal studs at the rear connected to stationary contact blades inside the housing located in a common plane. A pair of rotatable contact blades are supported upon a contact shaft that is rotatable in the housing and attached to a contact shaft driving insulator. A pair of coil springs around the switching shaft urge the rotatable blades together. The driving insulator is formed with notches for engagement with tabs extending from a saddle that is rotatable about a key shaft and adjacent to a cam plate driven by the key shaft. A pair of latching springs cantilevered from respective stop pins in the housing engage respective tangs on the saddle when the saddle is in a corresponding one of the two stable switch positions. An action spring around the keying shaft between the contact shaft driving insulator and the saddle plate has its ends extending through arcuate grooves in the saddle and cam plate.

Abstract: According to the invention, there are a plurality of insulatedly separated fixed contact means for connection to external circuits, movable contact means for selectively interconnecting predetermined ones of the fixed contact means, armature means movable in first and second opposed directions for coacting with the movable contact means for establishing a predetermined interconnecting relationship among the fixed contact means, and means coupling the movable contact means to the armature means responsive to movement of the armature means in the first and second directions for establishing first and second different interconnecting relationships, respectively, among the fixed contact means.