Abstract: A control unit (1) for switching and controlling functions (6) of household appliances has a continuous control surface (2) with operational areas (3) and a printed film (5). Several piezosensors (4) are arranged on a back of a plate forming the control surface (2), connected firmly and rigidly to the plate. The piezosensors (4) can be located in a film packet (9), for example, through which the piezosensors (4) are electrically connected to a processor (12). Through an offset arrangement of the piezosensors (4) in a matrix pattern direct illumination or back lighting of the printed film (5) can be achieved, thereby improving an operator's visual recognition while permitting accurate recognition of a function by the processor (12). An input filter (15) prevents operator error due to unintentional actuation of the control unit.

Abstract: A rotary switch has a control knob (3) that is mounted on at least three balls (6) that move, guided by a cage disk (7), in a housing groove (8) formed by a radial wall (9) and an axial wall (10), against which the balls (6) are urged by an outward or inward conical bearing surface (11) or (12). The radial and axial wall bearing surfaces have contact segments and contact paths (13, 14) that are shorted by at least one of the balls (6). The control knob has a stop lug (15), an operational adjustment angle (4) of which is limited by housing lugs (16) and which, during operational adjustment, contacts at least one of two stop lugs (17) of the cage disk, which are positioned at an angle that corresponds approximately to one-half the maximum operational adjustment angle (4) and to a maximum contact adjustment angle (5). This structure results in reduced cost and functional improvement.

Abstract: Rotary potentiometers known in the art having sensitive adjustment of the control knob require a stepdown gearing and have differing moments of friction that vary between devices. By contrast, in a rotary potentiometer of this invention a control knob (3) is mounted on at least three balls (6) that move, guided by a cage disk (7), in a housing groove (8) formed by a radial wall (9) and an axial wall (10), against which the balls (6) are urged by a load pressure of a conical bearing surface (11 or 12) of the control knob (3). The radial and axial wall bearing surfaces have contact and resistive strips (13, 14) that are short circuited by the balls (6).

Abstract: In known sensors, "failure" conditions led to approximately a 10 fold amplification of the failures. Contrary to this, a rotation-angle sensor of this invention provides a rotation-angle sensor housing (5) held within a component cover (1) to have translatory movement, with a rotation-angle-sensor shaft (3) and a component shaft (6) being coupled via a coupling piece (7). Each shaft end (8, 9) of the coupling piece has flat-edge portions, with one shaft end (9) having many more of flat-edge portions than does the other shaft end (8). The rotation-angle-sensor shaft (3) and the component shaft (6) have complementary recesses for receiving the shaft ends. This rotation-angle sensor is particularly adapted to be used for monitoring brake lining of vehicles.

Abstract: By applying pressure created by a forced guidance of a sled (11) to contact springs (12-19) carried by the sled, a reduced contact friction upon insertion, as well as upon removal, of a chip card (3) results. This forced guidance is achieved by having a cut-out (7) in a circuit board (5) in which the sled is shoved by the inserted card to be guided by double slot guides (9)on each side of the sled.

Abstract: This invention relates to a switch mat with key switches. In previously disclosed switch mats, switch chambers located under dome-shaped key caps were jointly vented. This affected key operation, and allowed soiling by dust and moisture. Here, each switch chamber has a ventilating channel with a filter layer that is permeable to air, for venting to and from the outside. In this design, the filter layer is formed by a filter matting that is dust and moisture-repellent. Because each switch chamber is separately vented to and from the outside, there is no mutual influence on operating forces of the key switches.

Abstract: A diode mount for an LED (2) with a plug connector (3) and compensating resistor (4) is manufactured by injection molding a one piece housing and mounting an LED and plug connector therein. An electrical connection between the LED and the plug connector, as well as a mechanical fixing, is accomplished by an electrically-conductive paste (5). At the same time, the electrically-conductive paste forms the compensating resistor.

Abstract: An optoelectronic component for improved distribution of light in a horizontal plane has an elongated body (2) with a central hollow (6) at a top portion (3) thereof, a base (4), and an electrical connection (5). An internally emitted luminescent beam (7) is deflected by the central hollow (6) through transparent portions of the body into the horizontal plane. A height of the component (1) is thereby reduced, and light is fed into light guides more efficiently. Light distribution on all sides is made possible by a conical central hollow. The luminescent beam (7) can be concentrated into four beams by using a pyramidal hollow (6), so that the luminescent beam (7) can be efficiently fed into four light guides that cross at that location.

Abstract: A regulating apparatus for a motor vehicle air conditioner which automatically influences a cab temperature set by a vehicle operator dependent upon sunshine striking the vehicle, wherein, an intensity of sun rays is determined from, an intensity of daylight brightness and an intensity of an infrared portion of the daylight. The daylight is led to one or more sensors by one or more light conductors.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of control elements (3) on a dashboard (1) of a motor vehicle which are framed and covered by face plates (6) which are mounted after the control elements are mounted. Control element bodies of the control elements (3), are resiliently held relative to fixed attaching eyes (7), and spacings between control element bodies of individual control elements (3) and control element bodies and framing edges of the dashboard (1) are set by spacers (10) on the face plates (6). This arrangement achieves an uncomplicated mounting and a pleasing visual appearance.

Abstract: A fuel level indicator is mounted on a casing (2) in a fuel tank (1) and includes a float lever (6) connected to a lever arm (17), the float lever (6) having an elbow portion (16) passing through an opening (18) in lever arm (17) and projecting into a hole (15) in a holder (9) for rotation therein. At its lower edge (19) the lever arm (17) engages a collar (20) of holder (9) and at its upper edge (21) the lever arm (17) engages a collar (22) of holder (9). In this way, the lever arm (17), and thereby float lever (6), is guided radially and axially on the holder (9). The float lever (6) is releasably secured to the lever arm (17) by resilient snap tabs (23). Accordingly, precise support of the float lever is obtained with a simple construction and with easy assembly and disassembly of the float lever.

Abstract: A scissor mount for a large, multi-contact key of a keyboard, prevents key tilt upon off-center actuation of the key. Such keys are often lifted from immovable portions of keyboards and then remounted in order to change contacts that are activated by the keys. When this is improperly carried out, guide slits can become deformed and the entire apparatus becomes unusable. In the arrangement of this invention, scissor arms (7), whose guide pins (8) ride in guide slots (10) of fixed keyboard parts, are formed as springs, with ends of the guide pins being inclined for engaging and sliding over guide-slot walls during installation so that the scissor arms can spring inwardly until the guide pins snap into the guide slots. With this arrangement deformation of guide-slot walls is avoided and an easier mounting is made possible.

Abstract: A snap-engaging apparatus for use in a rotatable electrical component, particularly a rotatable switch or a rotatable resistor, makes it easier to find operational positions. The snap-engaging apparatus includes a rotor (3) which is formed as a hollow body to have an axial opening and a radial, or circumferential, wall (7). A leaf spring (8) is tensioned to have a U-shape with its ends (9, 11) being self supported against diametrically positioned parts of the circumferential wall (7). A snap-engaging contour wall surface (19) coaxially surrounds the rotor, with a snap-engaging nose (15), formed on an extension (14) of one end of the leaf spring, being springingly urged thereagainst in a radial direction. The circumferential wall (7) has an opening (17) through which the snap-engaging nose (15) extends.

Abstract: A keyboard for cash registers and other registers of a type having long and short stroke keys (3) allows a structural reconfiguration for meeting various needs of customers. The keyboard, with all keys (3) thereof being at uniform key spacings, includes short-stroke rocker key assemblies (5) with short key moment arms (7) and a long switch moment arms (8) and long-stroke rocker key assemblies (4) with long key moment arms (7') and short switch moment arms (8'). When mounted, a key of a long-stroke rocker key assembly (4) is within a bifurcated end of a forked lever (9) of a respective adjacent long-stroke rocker key assembly. By making the long-stroke rocker key assemblies with forked levers in which keys of adjacent long-stroke rocker key assemblies are positioned, the keyboard can be adapted to meet customers desires with less expense.

Abstract: A keyboard has a protective foil which is a formed part to have dome-shaped vaults extending upwardly from a foil floor at respective individual keys of the keyboard. The protective foil is inverted (dome interiors open downwardly) so that the keys are respectively arranged relative to the vaults (8) and replaceable caps (9) are snapped onto the vaults and keys.

Abstract: A push button switch (3) encounters, during a stroke of a push rod (6) thereof, a pressure point (D), a switching (contact-making) movement, and a return tension. A one-piece spring element (16) is provided for achieving this with an uncomplicated structure, with a short stroke, and with a reliable contact once the pressure point has been overcome. The one-piece spring element has, between a contact arm (26) and a return arm (21), hairpin-shaped bent guide legs (17, 18). A sloping step (24) formed on at least one of the guide legs creates the pressure point.

Abstract: A push button switch, particularly a power supply switch, has contacts (4, 5) attached to a housing and a movable contact bridge (8) which is moved by means of a spring plunger (10'). A spring switching mechanism (26) transmits force between the spring plunger (10') and a manually-actuated switch actuator (22'). The switch actuator (22') is alternately latched and unlatched by a locking linkage (27, 28) which alternately holds the switch actuator in "switched-on" and "switched-off" positions when the switch actuator is repeatedly pushed. Additionally, a switching rocker (51) is provided between the switch actuator (22') and the spring plunger (10') to improve switching action. The switching rocker (51), at the beginning of "switching-on" and "switching-off" operations, forcibly carries the spring plunger (10') in its respective switching direction through a partial path of its contact stroke (H).

Abstract: In order to be able to produce smaller units whenever needed from a keyboard that consists of an integral multiple key-guiding arrangement (3), a gummous mat (4) with resetting domes for keys (1) and a contact level (8), structural features are disclosed which particularly simplify a division of the multiple key-guiding arrangement (3). The structural features are such that the multiple key-guiding arrangement is divided into segments and the segments are interconnected with one another by connecting bars (17), and the connecting bars (17) can be divided by means of tools.

Abstract: In an apparatus for the transfer of information in motor vehicle traffic between a fixed-position transmitter-building element near a roadway and a receiver arranged in a vehicle, the transmitter-building element emits a coded information signal and the receiver of the vehicle driving past the transmitter-building element displays information from the information signal in the vehicle. In order to make shielding measures unnecessary, with an uncomplicated supply of energy to the transmitter-building element and small construction costs therefor, the transmitter-building element (1) is built into roadway pavement (12). The energy necessary for transmitting the information signal is received by the transmitter-building element (1) from the vehicle (13) which is driving above it.

Abstract: A push button switch, particularly a master switch, has housing-affixed contacts (4, 7) and at least one contact bridge (8, 9) movable by a spring plunger (10). A spring-switching mechanism (24, 25, 26) is operatively coupled between the spring plunger and a manually-movable sliding switch, or switch actuator, (22). A guiding, or sliding, locking linkage apparatus for the sliding switch (22), which includes two locking parts, a first of which is a track (27) and a second of which is a follower lever (28) for engaging the track. Upon alternate depressions of the sliding switch, the sliding switch alternately moves between "on" and "off" positions. In order to prevent damage to the locking apparatus upon a pulling of the sliding switch in a direction opposite to a direction of depression of the sliding switch, the first and second locking parts release from the housing to follow movement of the sliding switch.