Abstract: Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices that include a reset lockout mechanism are provided. The GFCI comprises a reset button which is selectively blocked from resetting the GFCI.

Abstract: An input key of the present invention, which is assigned a plurality of information items to be inputted, and which is assigned each of the information items to be inputted, according to a direction of a force exerted on the input key. And the input key includes a push detecting means for detecting a push on the input key, and a direction detecting means for, when the push detecting means detects a push on the input key, detecting a strain occurring in the input key and thereby detecting a direction of a force exerted on the input key.

Abstract: A normally closed (on) switch with an on-off fixed structure comprises at the center a seat having a sleeve inside which a push part and an elastic component; a top cover provided on the seat, of which the center is formed with a piercing hole corresponding to the sleeve; a movable ring provided in the hole, of which one end is formed with a flange around that is provided with a guidance groove corresponding to each pillar, and inside which more than one recessed portions are formed; and a movable button provided in the ring and associated with the push part, of which one end is formed with a raised part corresponding to more than one recessed portion formed inside the fringe of ring and the other end is formed with a groove. The button is pushed, rotated at a certain angle, and released to enable and disable the switch.

Abstract: A pin anchoring structure for button switches has a wiring space in an insulation seat to hold a first pin and a second pin that are separated. Through a pressing action, the first pin and the second pin form an electric connection via a conductive connection member. The second pin has a pressed coupling section which is formed in a bulged curve. The seat has a bottom which also is formed in another bulged curve corresponding to the pressed coupling section. Thereby the second pin can be anchored securely on the bottom of the seat.

Abstract: A push-on switch in which dome-like movable contacts are placed in an invertible manner in two or upper and lower stages in an accommodating portion of an insulative body having plural stationary contacts. In order to fix the lower movable contact without using a dedicated pressing member, and enhance cost reduction and production efficiency, a leg portion is elongated from an outer peripheral edge portion of the lower movable contact, and the leg portion has a pressed portion in which a tip end is upward bent to protrude toward an upper face of the upper movable contact. When the lower mov-able contact is positionally fixed to the body, the pressed portion is pressed from the upper side by fixing structure for the upper movable contact, and the lower movable contact is positionally fixed.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a button for engaging an electrical switch comprising: a button post that transmits a vertical motion of the button to the electrical switch, an alignment post that registers against the electrical switch and reduces lateral motion of the button, and at least two runners that connect the button to a frame and includes reinforcement that stiffens the vertical motion of the button.

Abstract: Disclosed are a computing device bezel and a facia button that is used with the bezel. In one embodiment, the facia button includes a base member, a finger interface that is supported by and that extends from the base member, an axis about which the facia button can pivot, and a spring member that is adapted to resist pivoting of the facia button, wherein the facia button is configured to contact and press an associated button of a device contained within the computing device.

Abstract: A motor start relay (100) comprises a positive temperature PTC thermistor, a PTC case 400 of heat resistant resin for receiving the PTC thermistor horizontally, first and second contact/terminals (500, 560) each having contacts electrically engaged with a respective electrode surface of the PTC thermistor in the PTC case (400), a housing (200) receiving the PTC case (400) and a cover (300) attached on the housing (200). FIG. 9 shows the failsafe mechanism of the present invention. In case of a crack occurring in the PTC thermistor, thermistor portion PTC1 is rotated by spring contact (510) with a force F1, and thermistor portion PTC2 is pushed by spring contact (570) at the reverse direction and is dropped through an opening of the PTC case (400).

Abstract: The MEMS switch comprises a first anchor formed over a substrate, a first spring connected to the first anchor, an upper electrode which is connected to the first spring and makes a motion above the substrate, elastically deforming the first spring, a lower electrode formed over the substrate, positioned under the upper electrode, a second spring connected to the upper electrode, and a second anchor connected to the second spring. When voltage is applied between the upper and lower electrodes and the upper electrode makes a downward motion, the second anchor is brought into contact with the substrate. As a result, the second spring is elastically deformed. When the upper electrode is subsequently brought into contact with the lower electrode, thereby the upper and lower electrodes are electrically connected. The first and second anchors, first and second springs, and upper electrode are formed of identical metal in integral structure.

Abstract: A button assembly comprising a panel having a hole and a button configured to extend through the hole. The assembly further includes an integral switch pad and gasket member, with the switch pad having a base and a flexible dome including a contact extending from the base. The gasket member is integrally connected to the switch pad at a transition line and includes an opening. The button is configured to be placed through the hole in the panel and the gasket member is configured to be repositioned relative to the switch pad along the transition line such that the opening in the gasket member is aligned with the hole in the panel and the button engages the gasket member. The flexible dome of the switch pad is configured to be aligned with the hole in the panel such that depression of the button collapses the dome of the switch pad.

Abstract: A contact sensor includes a base, a wall device securely attached to the top face of the base and having a hole defined in the wall device to correspond to the top contacts so as to allow the top contacts of the base to be exposed and a chip receiving space defined to communicate with the hole, a sensing chip received in the chip receiving space and having a sensing area formed on top of the sensing chip and contacts formed thereon to electrically connect to the top contacts of the base and a cover received in the hole to enclose the contacts of the sensing chip and the top contacts of the base yet still allowing the sensing area exposed for application.

Abstract: A single button six-way sunroof switch includes a case; a knob base which has a coupling hole, hooks, and a hinge hole; a knob with coupling grooves, wherein the hooks of the knob base are engaged with the coupling grooves; a light emitting rod having a latching jaw, which is latched with the upper end of the knob base around the coupling hole; a lever integrally formed with the light emitting rod; a slider which has a panel with a through-hole, support legs extended from corners of the panel, and a hinge pin; a contact having a body part coupled to the lever, which passes through the through-hole of the slider, and contact-point legs extended from the body part in four directions; and a Printed Circuit Board having tact switches to be pushed by the lever and a plurality of contact points contacted by the contact-point legs.

Abstract: A method for selecting metal alloys as the electric contact materials for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) metal contact switches. This method includes a review of alloy experience, consideration of equilibrium binary alloy phase diagrams, obtaining thin film material properties and, based on a suitable model, predicting contact electrical resistance performance. After determination of a candidate alloy material, MEMS switches are conceptualized, fabricated and tested to validate the alloy selection methodology. Minimum average contact resistance values of 1.17 and 1.87 ohms are achieved for micro-switches with gold (Au) and gold-platinum (Au-(6.3 at %)Pt) alloy contacts. In addition, ‘hot-switched’ life cycle test results of 1.02×108 and 2.70×108 cycles may be realized for micro-switches with Au and Au-(6.3 at %)Pt contacts. These results indicate increased wear with a small increase in contact resistance for MEMS switches with metal alloy electric contacts.

Abstract: An linear motion compensator for translating a particular amount of linear movement produced by an input device into a particular amount of linear movement required to properly operate an output device, without causing damage to either the input device or the output device.

Abstract: A keypad suitable for being disposed on a circuit board is provided. The keypad is in contact with the circuit board to generate an electrical signal. The keypad includes a flexible light guide plate, a key pattern, a passivation layer, a light source, and a reflector. Wherein, the key pattern and the passivation layer are both disposed on a first surface of the flexible light guide plate, and the passivation layer covers the key pattern. In addition, the light source and the reflector are both disposed at one side of the flexible light guide plate, and the reflector covers the light source. The keypad has better display brightness such that the user can easily recognize the patterns of the keys.

Abstract: An open-door sensor for a refrigeration device contains a magnetically operated switch and a housing that surrounds the switch. Plug-in contacts for the switch are accessible from one side of the housing. The housing is equipped with detachable fixing elements for fixing the housing in a cavity. This results in a compact and inexpensive sensor for the refrigeration device.

Abstract: Structure and method for forming a switchable shunt for a suspension assembly having conductive, insulating and metal base layers. The shunt includes a bridge in the conductive layer with either a continuous connection or small gap between ends of the bridge. The continuous connection of the bridge is severed either by temporarily moving the lands out of their original plane by stretching and rupturing the bridge or by shearing the continuous connection of the bridge. For the sheared or gapped bridge, at least one end of the bridge is moved out of plane, compressed and elongated. When released, the separated ends of the bridge overlap and contact each other to form a normally-closed switch. To subsequently open the switchable shunt, at least one of the lands is moved out of plane to physically and electrically open the connection between the separated and overlapped ends of the bridge.

Abstract: A knob assembly for the switch of a radio is provided which prevents the switch from being rotated to certain positions except when the knob is moved in an axial direction after contact with a stop. The knob may be returned to a location where other switch positions may be selected without requiring further axial motion of the knob on the part of the radio operator.

Abstract: A magnetic retaining device for attaching a work piece to a machine tool includes a magnetic housing having two housing members secured together and having different magnetic poles, and a magnetic core rotatably received in the magnetic housing and having two core members having different magnetic poles. The magnetic force of the housing members may be offset by the core members when the core members are received in the housing members of different magnetic poles, and may be increased when the core members are received in the housing members of the same magnetic poles, in order to selectively and stably retain the work piece to the machine tool.

Abstract: An electrical resistor has a surface mounted four terminal current sensor of a very low resistance value and capable of handling short pulses of high power. It comprises a flat metal late, 1 to 50 mils thick, of an alloy of high electrical resistivity, to which are welded, on two opposite sides, two flat metal plates of very high electrical conductivity which serve as terminations for electrical interconnection. A slot is cut, from the outside edge toward the center, into each of the two termination plates which divides them into a wide pad for connection of current carrying wires and a narrow one for voltage sensing. The depth of the slots is optimized to get the best stability of resistance readings with changing ambient temperature and under influence of the self-heating effect.