Abstract: An combined monolithic electroluminescent lamp and membrane switch is manufactured by continuous printing. Graphic indicia is imprinted on deformable substrate. An electroluminescent lamp is imprinted on the graphic indicia layer and a membrane switch is formed on the lamp. The monolithic switch has a layer for sensing switch actuation by means including resistance change, capacitance change, or magnetic field change.

Abstract: A rotary control device includes a body, a knob rotatably provided on the body, a push button provided on a side portion of the knob so as to be depressed, a lock member that moves in response to a depressing operation of the push button, and a lock portion provided in the body. The lock member is retained to the lock portion of the body so as to restrain a rotary operation of the knob before the push button is depressed. When the push button is depressed, the lock member is moved to a space where the lock member is movable in conjunction with the rotary operation of the knob so that a restraint of the rotary operation of the knob is released.

Abstract: The invention relates to an touch-surface electric control device (1) comprising a touch-surface sensor (29), a printed circuit board (33), connection means (42) for the electric connection between the touch-surface sensor (29) and the printed circuit board (33), the connections means (42) and the touch-surface (29) being flexible and including a connection tab (67), the touch-surface sensor (29) and the printed circuit board (33) being provided on the opposite faces of a common substrate (31) provided between said sensor (29) and said board (33), characterized in that a side face of the common substrate (31) includes a guiding protrusion (44) for the connection tab (67).

Abstract: An LCD counter assembly including a housing that houses an LCD display at a first end and a printed circuit board (PCB) assembly at a second end opposite the first end. A diffuser is intermediate the PCB assembly and the LCD display, the LCD display and the PCB assembly in electrical contact with a connector that provides electrical signals from the PCB assembly to the LCD. The first end of the housing includes an aperture through which the LCD display is readily visible to an observer. The PCB assembly may include a backlight to improve the visibility of the LCD display. The PCB assembly further includes a PCB having a printed circuit and a plurality of pads, a single piece, double beam, activation and trigger switch combination assembled to the board, the board configured to receive the double beam activation and trigger switch combination and a removable tab to separate the activation switch in the double beam combination from one of the plurality of pads.

Abstract: An operator control panel for a domestic appliance includes a panel body having an operator control face facing a user and a rear face facing away from the operator control face. A sensor element of an electrically conductive material forms a capacitive sensor area together with the panel body. A conversion electronics system converts capacitance values generated in the sensor area into digital signals. The conversion electronics system is electrically conductively connected to the sensor element and is disposed on the rear face of the panel body. The sensor element and the conversion electronics system are firmly connected to the panel body and are two components which are mechanically decoupled from a control electronics system of the domestic appliance.

Abstract: An armature winding switch module has a first connection set, a second connection set and a third connection set. The first, the second and the third connection set are respectively connected between a neutral point and a corresponding phase line point and have terminals and contacts. Each two terminals of each connection set are respectively connected to two ends of a corresponding armature winding of a power supply device. The contacts of each connection set are connected among the corresponding terminals. Selectively turning on/off the contacts can connect the armature windings of each connection set in series or in parallel and thereby output required voltage without redoing wiring work. Therefore the present invention avoids second time complicated wiring work and possible connection faults.

Abstract: A safety switch 2 used in conjunction with a cable as a machine guard, the switch being actuated to cut power to attendant machinery when a predetermined tension in the cable is varied by for example pulling the cable, or the cable becoming loose. The switch 2 comprising a sliding cam 14 which is connected to a connection point 12 for the cable via a spring loaded shaft 10 which shaft also supplies said predetermined tension and acts to move said sliding cam 14 in a first plane when the predetermined tension is varied. The sliding cam 14 then acts on a transverse cam 36 moving it in a plane transversely disposed to said first plane which in turn acts to cut said power 30, 52.

Abstract: A waterproof push button switch does not need to be covered with a resin to a height at which a divided connected portion of a case for the switch is hidden by the resin in a height direction and the divided connected portion may be waterproofed. A gap (55, 57) is formed between a peripheral wall portion 7b of a base case 7 and a second cylindrical wall portion 9b of a cover case 9, and between an opposite surface 41 of the cover case 9 and a waterproofing seal member 11. The gap (55, 57) extends from an opening portion of the base case fitting chamber 37 to an annular watertight seal portion 51 to completely surround a periphery of the watertight seal portion 51. The thickness of the gap portion 55 is determined so that the resin entered into the gap portion 55 from an opening portion 37a of the base case fitting chamber 37 reaches the watertight seal portion 51 by surface tension.

Abstract: A vehicle switch includes a switch unit formed of a wiring board and an operating unit placed over the wiring board, a housing accommodating the wiring board, and a supporting member elastically deformable and placed in the housing for supporting the wiring board. This structure prevents switch contacts and the wiring board from being damaged, even when a great load or shock is applied to the operating unit, so that the vehicle switch can be reliably operated.

Abstract: A device (1) maintains a locked and closed state of a space separating device (2) in a releasable manner, in particular a protective device of a machine (4). The device has a first part (6) with an opening and a second part (8). The parts are movable relative to one another. The opening is at least partially closable. The device (1) includes a latch (18) for locking the closed state of the space-separating device (2), a holding element (30) for keeping the latch (18) in the latched position, and a release element (36) for releasing the catch of the latch (18). The catch of the latch (18) may be lifted by a rotational movement of the release element (36) relative to the latch (18).

Abstract: A switch comprises a switch housing including a cover, a terminal block welded to the cover and a fixed contact point therein, a moving block provided with a boss for fitting a manual shaft of an automatic transmission and a movable contact point corresponding to the fixed contact point and movable to the switch housing and elastic seal rings interposed between inner and outer peripheral surfaces of each of the terminal block and the cover, and the operation portion. One of the cover or the terminal block is formed of a colored, laser transmissive material and the other is formed of a laser non-transmissive material. The terminal block and the cover are automatically aligned with the moving block by an elastic force of the seal ring and a thermal welding part is circularly formed by means of a laser beam on the side of the outer periphery in each of the terminal block and the cover to be aligned for coupling the terminal block with the cover to fix the alignment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a foot control unit having a plurality of switches for use by a dentist, surgeon, or other professional that is ergonomically designed to minimize body movement during activation and to prevent interruptions of the procedure being performed that may be caused by the same. In one exemplary embodiment, the design provides for the operator's, e.g., the dentist's, foot to be continuously and comfortably supported in a neutral muscular-skeletal position by a portion of the foot control unit both at rest and during activation. By providing the foot with a neutral muscular-skeletal position at rest, the position of each of the switches may be kept at a substantially minimal and substantially equal distance from a corresponding activating part of the foot. This allows for the foot control unit of the present invention to minimize muscular activities and movement during activation.

Abstract: A safety switch for affecting the operating state of equipment to which the safety switch is at least indirectly connected. The safety switch includes a configuration, such as a number of contacts, that is arranged to change from a first condition to a second condition depending on whether or not an actuator has been engaged with or disengaged from the safety switch. The safety switch includes an arrangement for determining information that is at least indicative of an operational property of the configuration, and for storing information that is at least indicative of the obtained information.

Abstract: A charging assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The charging assembly includes a compression arm and a charging cam. The compression arm includes a pivot and first and second legs extending outwardly from the pivot, preferably in a generally L-shape. An engagement portion disposed at or about a second end of the first leg cooperates with an outer cam surface of the charging cam. A shaped contact surface disposed at or about a second end of the second leg includes a first edge for engaging and moving an impact member of the circuit breaker closing assembly to charge a biasing element of the closing assembly, and a second edge. The second edge is disposed at an angle with respect to the first edge, and is structured to engage the impact member when the biasing element is disposed in the charged position.

Abstract: An illuminating structure of a key operating unit for operating a key switch includes a housing unit to have a window portion formed correspondingly to the key switch, a circuit substrate to be provided inside the housing unit, to be disposed with the key switch, and to be provided with a light-guiding window portion, a keypad unit to include a key top portion inserted in the window portion of the housing unit, the keypad unit including a light-guiding portion at least in the key top portion, a light-emitting element to be arranged on a back surface side of the circuit substrate, and an illuminating plate to have a reflecting portion reflecting outgoing light of the light-emitting element to apply the reflected light from the reflecting portion to the keypad unit through the light-guiding window portion of the circuit substrate.

Abstract: A safety switch allows for greater safety and greater ease in operating a machine where multiple operators may be required. The safety switch allows multiple operators in different locations to exercise control over the machine, reducing the risk of accidents and improper operation of the machine.

Abstract: A switch assembly is provided to actuate a pair of switches using a single key cap, e.g. for a camera that utilizes a first switch to activate an image focusing function and a second switch to activate a camera shutter. The switch assembly comprises an inner switch and an outer switch, wherein the outer switch partially or completely surrounds the perimeter of the inner switch. The outer switch comprises an upper conductive surface and a lower conductive surface that, when in contact, electrically couples two terminals for closing a circuit. The inner switch comprises an actuator and a dome switch. When the key cap receives a first downward force, only the outer switch becomes activated and a first electric circuit is completed. When the key cap receives a second downward force that is greater than the first force, the dome switch collapses and a second electric circuit is completed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a touch-sensitive surface (3) activation device (1) for a motorized mechanism used to open and close an opening such as an electric windscreen wiper, comprising a touch-sensitive surface which controls the opening and/or closing of at least one opening. The device comprises means for detecting (9) the charge applied to the touch-sensitive control surface and means (11) for inhibiting control of the opening and/or closing when the applied charge is outside an acceptable predefined charge range.

Abstract: An auxiliary contact block is disclosed for expanding a switching device and to a switching device having at least one auxiliary contact block. A compact auxiliary contact block, i.e. a block requiring little wiring and space, for a switching device is disclosed, and a switching device having at least one auxiliary contact block. In at least one embodiment of the auxiliary contact block, the auxiliary contact block includes auxiliary contacts disposed in a plane, the contacts having contact bridges and associated fixed contact pieces, and at least one contact slider, which can be equipped with at least one auxiliary contact pair. The configuration of the auxiliary contacts in a plane as described herein allows a very small installation size and very little wiring complexity of the auxiliary contacts in a simple manner. The actuating unit can, for example, be configured as a slider that couples the contact slider and the switching device with each other.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus comprises a main body, a front frame mounted on the main body, a transparent elastic press panel disposed between the main body and the front frame, a plurality of contacts beneath the elastic press panel, and a plurality of stop pieces disposed between the contacts respectively. The stop pieces divide the elastic press panel into portions corresponding to the contacts. Each portion of the elastic press panel can be pressed down independently for activating the corresponding contact.