Abstract: A piezoelectric switch comprises a housing having an inner surface and an outer surface. A piezoelectric element is mounted on the inner surface of the housing. The piezoelectric element has a top layer made of piezo crystal and a bottom layer made of a conductive metal such as brass. A printed circuit board is disposed within the housing for controlling the state of the switch. The printed circuit board is electrically connected to the piezoelectric element by an electrical conductor. In one embodiment, the electrical conductor is in the form of a flex circuit which has a positive terminal, a negative terminal and a printed circuit board overlay portion that is affixed to the printed circuit board. The flex circuit sandwiches the piezoelectric element therewithin so that the positive terminal contacts the top layer and the negative terminal contacts the bottom layer.

Abstract: A socket for an electronic component having conductors for making electrical connection, the socket comprising a base member, a plurality of resilient contacts that are mounted on the base member at contact support portions and have free contact ends for engaging the conductors of the component, the contacts also having inwardly-directed first cam surfaces, and a component support that is slidably mounted with respect to the base member and contacts along an axis and has outwardly directed second cam surfaces that act to displace the contacts transversely to the axis as the component support is moved along the axis.