Abstract: Electrical input devices can be produced using a multi-material 3D-printing process. The electrical input devices can include a non-conductive material portion and a conductive material portion. The non-conductive and conductive material portions are integrally formed during a single 3D-printing process. Deformation of the electrical input devices cause an electrical variance of the conductive material portion that is responsive to the deformation. Some electrical input devices described provide digital responses, and some electrical input devices described provide analog responses. The described techniques can be used to manufacture complex finished devices in a single 3D-print run, and, in some examples, without the need for post-processing or assembly.

Abstract: A keyboard includes a backlight module, a base plate, a membrane circuit disposed on the base plate, and a plurality of key structures disposed on the membrane circuit. The backlight module includes a light source, a reflective layer, a light guide layer, and a shielding layer. The light source is disposed corresponding to the light guide layer. The light guide layer is located between the shielding layer and the reflective layer. The light guide layer has a through-hole. The shielding layer and the reflective layer are in contact with each other in the through-hole of the light guide layer. The base plate is disposed on the shielding layer. The base plate has a positioning portion disposed corresponding to the through-hole of the light guide layer, which protrudes toward the reflective layer or the membrane circuit.

Abstract: An operation device includes an operation knob that is operable by a pull-up operation and a push-down operation about a shaft and includes a front-end operation region on a front-end side far from the shaft and a rear-end operation region on a rear end side close to the shaft, a contact detection unit to detect contact of a user with the front-end operation region and the rear-end operation region, an operation detection unit to detect the pull-up operation and the push-down operation performed on the operation knob, and a determination unit that determines an operation performed by combining contact with the front-end operation region and the rear-end operation region detected by the contact detection unit and the pull-up operation and the push-down operation detected by the operation detection unit, and also determines that at least an operation performed on the rear-end operation region is invalid when the contact is detected.

Abstract: A keycap includes a keycap body with a top surface and a top periphery region extending around the top surface. A recessed area extends across the top surface inward of the top periphery region, with the top periphery region being elevated relative to the recessed area. The keycap also includes a set of grooves extending from the recessed area and across at least a portion of the top periphery region.

Abstract: An irreversible power switch which is operational from the outside after lamination of laminated communication device and the like, includes a substrate, electrodes disposed on the substrate, a brittle member disposed so as to face the electrodes and apart from the electrodes and a conductive adhesive portion disposed on the brittle member at a side to face the electrodes thereof. The electrodes and the conductive adhesive portion are irreversibly and electrically bonded by brittle fracture of the brittle member under the external pressing force in the thickness direction of the laminated communication device.

Abstract: A controller includes a key top, a substrate, and an elastic member. The elastic member includes a pressed portion, a base, a skirt portion, and a pressing member. The substrate includes a contact. When viewed in the first direction, the pressing member is surrounded by an outer peripheral edge of a prescribed region. In the second direction, a distance between an end of the outer peripheral edge of the prescribed region on a side of a swing center of the key top and an end of a top surface on the side of the swing center is longer than a distance between an end of the outer peripheral edge of the prescribed region opposite to the swing center and an end of the top surface opposite to the swing center. In the second direction, the contact is located closer to the swing center than the top surface.

Abstract: A switching device includes a first enclosure containing a switch, a rod-shaped second enclosure having a second end connected to the first enclosure, a detector unit in the second enclosure, and a float disposed around the second enclosure and capable of moving along it. As the float moves from the first end of the second enclosure toward the second end, when the float enters a first position range, a first position sensor senses the float and transmits a first sensing signal to a detection circuit; when the float enters a second position range, a second position sensor senses the float and transmits a second sensing signal to the detection circuit. The detection circuit close a switch in response to the second sensing signal to turn on an external appliance. The switching device is flexible, reliable, and inexpensive to produce.

Abstract: A push switch contains a circuit substrate, two fixed contacts disposed on the circuit substrate, a dome-shaped spring which is disposed above the two fixed contacts and can be displaced between a first position in which the two fixed contacts are in a non-conductive state and a second position in which the two fixed contacts are in a conductive state and a conductive elastic member disposed on a surface of the dome-shaped spring facing the circuit substrate and having a surface facing the two fixed contacts. At least the surface of the conductive elastic member facing the two fixed contacts has conductivity. When the dome-shaped spring is displaced to the second position, the two fixed contacts are in the conductive state through the conductive elastic member.

Abstract: A door handle including a capacitance sensor configured to detect an operation body is provided. The capacitance sensor includes a substrate formed of an insulator and having a surface, at least one first sensor electrode disposed on the surface of the substrate, a plurality of second sensor electrodes disposed on the surface of the substrate, and a controller. The number of the plurality of second sensor electrodes is greater than the number of the at least one first sensor electrode. The controller applies a voltage to the plurality of second sensor electrodes and detects a coordinate position of the operation body, in a case where a capacitance between the operation body and the at least one first sensor electrode is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A fixing module is for fixing a push button or emergency stop button or rotary actuator of a control and signaling device. In an embodiment, the fixing module is constructed from a top housing part and a bottom housing part, each including a cuboidal structure with a top side, an underside and four side parts connecting the top side to the underside. In at least one embodiment, on the top side of the bottom housing part, a material that extends at least partially in this plane and has a grounding function is formed or an electrically conductive component made of metal with a grounding function is arranged.

Abstract: A rotary knob switch can include: a knob head; a fixing mount disposed below the knob head and configured to allow at least a portion of the bottom of the knob head to pass through it; cam located at the bottom of the fixing mount and to be mated with the bottom of the knob head, a side of the cam forming at least one protruding control curved surface; and a slider, said slider being coaxial with the cam, ramp with different heights being provided along edge of the slider, wherein, when the cam rotates, the control curved surface of the cam presses the ramp of the slider, such that the slider slides along axial direction towards the bottom of the rotary knob switch, the knob head comprises an indicator block, the lower part of the indicator block is provided with an axial light guide column.

Abstract: A rotary operating device includes a case, a rotating shaft member, an operation member, and a sensor. The case has a cavity having an annular shape with an opening at a top. The rotating shaft member is rotatable with respect to the case. The operation member rotates together with the rotating shaft member. The sensor is disposed within the cavity to detect rotation of the rotating shaft member. The case has an inner peripheral wall. The operation member has an inner cylindrical portion. The rotating shaft member has a peripheral wall that extends downward and along an outer peripheral surface of the inner peripheral wall. A first gap between the inner peripheral wall of the case and the peripheral wall of the rotating shaft member is smaller than a second gap between an inner peripheral surface of the rotating shaft member and the inner cylindrical portion of the operation member.

Abstract: In a rocker arm of an electric switch, the electric switch is actuated by the rocker arm for setting definable positions. The rocker arm of an embodiment includes a first part, for setting the definable positions, and a second part, movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position of the second part, the first part can be moved into the definable positions; and in the second position of the second part, the movement of the first part is blocked.

Abstract: An intermediate disconnect section includes a utility power breaker and an alternate power breaker. A switching mechanism opens and closes the utility power breaker and the alternate power breaker, so as to be in one of a first, second or third state. The utility power breaker is closed and the alternate power breaker is open while in the first state. The utility power breaker is open and the alternate power breaker is closed while in the second state. The utility power breaker is open and the alternate power breaker is open while in the third state.

Abstract: A button mechanism includes a button, a module, and a thin sheet spring. The thin sheet spring is in physical communication with the button and with the module. The thin sheet spring exerts a tension force on the button and the module to bias the button toward a normal position. In response to a force greater than the tension force being exerted on the button, a portion of the thin sheet stretches to enable the button to be placed in a contact position. In response to the force being removed from the button, the tension force causes the thin sheet to snap back to an original position and biases the button toward the normal position.

Abstract: A trigger switch according to one or more embodiments may include a first conductive plate (movable electrode) movable in response to movement of a trigger receiving a depressing operation, and a second fixed electrode (fixed electrode) located adjacent to a movable range of the first conductive plate with a space in between. The second fixed electrode forms a capacitor together with the first conductive plate. The capacitor formed by the first conductive plate and the second fixed electrode has a capacitance that changes as the first conductive plate moves.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of switches, and particularly provides a switch for a vehicle and a vehicle. The invention aims to solve the problems of switch zero drift and shaking caused by the existence of a dimensional deviation of a switch of an existing vehicle.

Abstract: A pressure switch includes an actuation unit disposed within a body of the pressure switch and biased in a first direction by a spring arrangement and accessible at a fitting end of the pressure switch to be movable in a second direction against the bias of the spring by fluid at the fitting end. The actuation unit includes a limiter trapped in a pocket to limit the range of travel of the actuation unit, thereby safeguarding the electrical switch element from sustaining damage due to excessive travel. The pocket may be formed by the cooperation of two separate pieces. The spring arrangement may be biased by another piece disposed within a body of the pressure switch.

Abstract: An input device includes a detection surface configured to be operated by an operation body, a first fixed electrode, a movable electrode, first and second terminals configured to be connected to an outside of the input device, and a direct-connection line electrically connecting the movable electrode to the second terminal via no capacitor. The movable electrode has a lower surface facing an upper surface of the first fixed electrode to be capacitively coupled to the first fixed electrode. The movable contact is displaceable to approach the first fixed electrode in response to a pressing of the detection surface by the operation body. The first terminal is configured to output, to the outside of the input device, a first electric signal containing a change in a capacitance between the first fixed electrode and the movable electrode.

Abstract: A key module includes a keycap, an indicator light source, a first backlight source and a second backlight source. The keycap includes an indication area and a character area. The indicator light source is configured to emit an indicating light of a first color toward the indication area. The first backlight source is configured to emit a first backlight of the first color toward the character area. The second backlight source is configured to emit a second backlight of a second color toward the character area, wherein the second color is different from the first color. As a result, the key module could display the light of different colors based on different operations, thereby being distinguishable from the color of the light emitted by the adjacent key module.