Abstract: A control unit including a monitoring apparatus is disclosed, with the monitoring apparatus having an operating element and an attachment element. In at least one embodiment, the control unit is in two parts and includes an operating unit and switching elements. The required spatial association between the operating unit and the switching element is intended to be monitored in a cost-effective and reliable manner. For this purpose, when the monitoring apparatus is installed correctly, at least one second switching element can be operated by way of an operating member, and a first switching element is operated at the same time by way of the operating element of the monitoring apparatus.

Abstract: An operating element is provided that has a control knob, which is mounted in a housing, a console, or the like, and can move in a swiveling manner between a home position and multiple switching or contact positions. In order to design the operating element in a simple way, a central momentary switch that establishes the switch actuation point of the operating element and has a haptic function is associated with the control knob, and the momentary switch is actuated each time the control knob is swiveled out of its home position by a predefined angle toward a switching or contact position.

Abstract: A compact pressure switch that causes little error in the operating point of the switch and that has resistance to dust, water, and chemical solutions is provided. The pressure switch includes a housing (2) formed of a resin having chemical solution resistance, a pressure sensor (3) that detects the pressure of a fluid, a separator (4) that is formed of a resin having chemical solution resistance and that prevents the fluid from coming into contact with the pressure sensor (3), and a circuit unit (5) that outputs on and off signals based on the output of the pressure sensor (3). At least the pressure sensor (3) and the circuit unit (5) are disposed in a sealed space (S) formed by the housing (2) and the separator (4).

Abstract: A switching device is disclosed which includes a neutral conductor and arranged for opening and closing an electric circuit. The switching device includes a frame, through which the electric circuit's neutral conductor having a first end and a second end passes. The neutral conductor includes a movable middle portion that is arranged for breaking the neutral conductor inside the frame, the movable middle portion being movable with respect to the first and the second end of the neutral conductor and located between them.

Abstract: An electrical rotary switch has a rotor with a periphery, a moving contact on the rotor and several connected parts adjacent the rotor periphery, and four fixed contacts around the rotor for short-circuiting by the moving contact. Each fixed contact has first, second, and third integrally connected sections. The first section bears resiliently against the rotor periphery for sliding contact with the moving contact parts. The second section turns through an angle larger than 135° from the first section. The third section turns through an angle smaller than 90° from the second section for connection of an electrical cable by self-gripping. The moving contact has an undulating profile matching with that of an adjacent part of the rotor periphery.

Abstract: A switch for controlling delivery of electrical current to a light. The switch may include a frame, a controller connected to the frame, and a toggle connected to the frame to pivot through a range of motion having a first extreme and a second extreme, opposite the first extreme. The toggle may toggle between a first position proximate the first extreme and a second position proximate the second extreme. The switch may further include a sensor connected to the frame and positioned to detect the toggle in the second position, and a tactile switch connected to the frame and positioned to be actuated by the toggle pivoting past the first position toward the first extreme. The switch may also include a controller connected to the sensor and tactile switch to receive inputs therefrom and to execute logic to control the delivery in accordance with the inputs.

Abstract: A switch configuration for use with a keyboard comprises a plurality of support structures positioned adjacent each other in spaced relation and a plurality of dome switches, with at least one dome switch being coupled to each of the plurality of support structures. A keyboard and mobile communication device incorporate the switch configuration.

Abstract: Commercially available filter-monitoring switches suffer from problems related to over sensitivity and reliability. Accordingly, the present inventors have devised, among other things, various embodiments of filter-monitoring switches and related components, subassemblies, methods, and systems. One exemplary filter-monitoring switch includes a diaphragm operably couple to move a conductive element back and forth between a pair of fixed terminals in response to pressure differences across the diaphragm. The conductive element is mounted to an insulative pin of substantially uniform width, and the terminals include leaf contacts that constantly engage the pin or the contacts throughout normal operation of the switch, thereby reducing flexure of the contacts and effectively providing a self-cleaning and self-healing electrical switch.

Abstract: An improved switch assembly for use in a handheld electronic device comprises a capacitive sensing system employing a capacitive slider input device to detect navigational inputs, and further provides a pair of switches mounted to the slider on an underside thereof to provide selection or escape inputs as desired.

Abstract: An electronic device including a housing having an outer surface, at least one printed circuit board located within the housing and having at least one edge located in propinquity to at least one corresponding edge region of the outer surface, at least one capacitance sensor located at the at least one edge of the printed circuit board and being adapted to sense a change in capacitance at the at least one corresponding edge region resulting from engagement therewith by an object having predetermined capacitance characteristics and capacitance change responsive switching circuitry located within the housing and coupled to the at least one capacitance sensor for providing a desired switching function responsive to the engagement.

Abstract: An electric power socket module comprising a socket portion, a switch portion and a plurality of conductive pins is provided. The socket portion and the switch portion are integrally formed and electrically connected in series by using the conductive pins. Thus, conventional wirings and hand-welding can be eliminated to reduce the costs and enhance safety.

Abstract: A load disconnecting circuit is disclosed with a housing that has a first housing section, which houses the drive, and has a second housing section, which houses a fixed contact element and a longitudinally extended moving contact element. The second housing section has a longitudinal extension adapted to the moving contact element. Field-control rings are placed on the second housing section while encircling it, of which the first are arranged in the vicinity of the fixed contact element and the second are arranged in the vicinity of the switch-off position of the moving contact element. Via a respective connection conductor, the first field-control ring is connected to the potential of the fixed contact element, and the second field-control ring is connected to the potential of the moving contact element when in its switch-off position.

Abstract: An exemplary key module includes a elastic assembly, a light guide plate, and a key cap. The elastic assembly is including a flat plate and a resilient member. The light guide plate is defining at least one through hole for the resilient member to extend through. The light guide plate is disposed above and in parallel to the flat plate. The key cap is resiliently supported by the resilient member. The light guide plate transmits light through at least a portion of the key cap.

Abstract: A switch comprises a switch housing including a cover and a terminal block coupled with the cover. The cover is formed of a colored, laser transmissive material and the terminal block is formed of a laser non-transmissive material. A thin part is circularly formed in the cover formed of the colored laser transmissive material on the periphery side of the switch housing and is thinner than another part of the cover and a thermal welding part is circularly formed along the thin part by means of a laser beam for coupling the terminal block with the cover.

Abstract: A button structure applied to an electronic device includes a housing, a button plate, a support element and a printed circuit board. The button plate is contained to a central opening of the housing. The central region of the button plate has a first thickness, while two sides of the button plate have a second thickness. The second thickness is thicker than the first thickness. The ends of the button plate are separately formed as elastic arms for mounting the button plate to the housing. The support element is sited under the button plate right under the central region so as to define the support element into left and right parts. The printed circuit board located under the support element and has two switches separately corresponding to the left and right parts of the button plate.

Abstract: A switch including a sealed housing; a magnetic sensor; and a control element configured to modify a control parameter for the switch in response to a signal from the sensor. In some aspects, the magnetic sensor is arranged to produce the signal in response to a magnetic field generated outside of the housing. In some aspects, the switch is a vibration switch, or is selected from the group consisting of a flow switch, a level switch, a temperature switch, a pressure switch, a proximity switch, and a velocity switch. In some aspects, the switch includes a two-wire configuration and first and second output pins arranged to provide an output signal for the switch and to receive a signal for programming the switch. In some aspects, the switch includes a two-wire configuration and a current-control element arranged to reduce current output for the switch.

Abstract: A spherical bi-stable mechanism includes a planar bi-stable compliant member including an input and an output, and a spherical mechanism member coupled to the output of the first planar bi-stable compliant component. An actuation of the first planar bi-stable compliant member in a first plane is configured to cause the spherical mechanism member to be selectively positioned in a second plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to an actuating device for closing and/or opening a movable part (2) of a motor vehicle, in particular a door, a rear flap or the like, with a housing (3), and a rotatably mounted touch element (4) which, upon actuation, acts on a switch (6) arranged behind the touch element (4) in a shielded interior space (5). According to the invention, it is provided that the touch element (4) is mounted pivotably in such a manner that the volume of the interior space (5) is essentially the same in every position of the touch element (4).

Abstract: A conductive tracing for a keyboard including a pair of electrically conductive paths that are electrically isolated from each other. The pair of electrically conductive paths may each include conductive surfaces that are electrically coupled together. Each of the plurality of conductive surfaces of the pair of electrically conductive paths extend radially between a center portion and a peripheral portion of the conductive tracing. One or more of the conductive surfaces may include a pair of outer edges that are substantially parallel to a respective radial direction that the outer edges extend in. The conductive surfaces of one of the pair of electrically conductive paths may be complementary formed to the conductive surfaces of another of the pair of electrically conductive paths. The conductive tracing may be substantially symmetric about an axis that passes through the center portion of the conductive tracing.

Abstract: A thin keypad assembly with a keypad panel of a smooth surface, a mist surface or a lines layer includes an elastic layer, a carrier and a keypad layer. The elastic layer includes a plurality of support portions, and each support portion has a protrusion. The carrier is installed on a surface of the elastic layer, and the joint surface of the carrier and the elastic layer sequentially includes a ground color layer, a function color layer and a font color layer. The keypad layer has a holder disposed on a surface of the carrier, and a plurality of protruding or flat keycaps are disposed on the holder, and a smooth surface is formed on the surface of the keycap, and the surface of the holder is a mist surface, or the surfaces of both keycap and holder are a lines layer.