Abstract: A universal remote control system is disclosed. The universal remote control includes a receiver that has a wireless signal receiver unit, an electric motor that drives a mechanical arm and a microprocessor. When the receiver receives a control signal from a wireless signal transmitter, the microprocessor will energize the motor which drives the mechanical arm toward a pushbutton switch of a controlled device, such as a garage door opener, and depresses the push button, therefore activating the garage door opener. A feedback signal, for example, from the mechanical arm or the motor, may be provided to the microprocessor to inform the microprocessor when the pushbutton switch is sufficiently depressed and is in an engaged state. When the switch is in the engaged state, the motor will reverse its direction, causing the mechanical arm to raise and move back to a standby position.

Abstract: A surgical power tool has an actuation assembly which comprises a force sensor and a switch. The force sensor is provided to determine an actuation force produced by the user, and the switch is transferred by the actuation force from a first switching state to a second switching state. A combined evaluation of the force sensor signal and of the switching state enables, for example, a plausibility check for increasing the operational reliability of the power tool.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lens operation device connected to a lens apparatus and adapted to operate a function which the lens apparatus has. The structure of the lens operation device includes: a plurality of switches including an auxiliary switch; and a controller for detecting the function of the lens apparatus and for assigning execution of the function to the auxiliary switch.

Abstract: A programmable push button having a microcontroller located therewithin to provide a switching signal to operate an electronic switch and thereby enable power to be supplied from a source of power to a load to initiate an external event. The push button also has a piezoelectric assembly which is responsive to one or a sequence of manually applied pushing forces at a push button cap. The microcontroller is interconnected with the piezoelectric assembly on a printed circuit board so that output voltage signals generated by the piezoelectric assembly are applied to the microcontroller as a series of digital pulses. The microcontroller can be programmed by applying a particular sequence of pushing forces to the push button cap so that one or more times can be set during which the external event will be initiated or to require a predetermined security code to be entered before the external event can be initiated.