Abstract: An axial flux rotating machine comprises a rotatable component and a stator component. The rotatable component includes a rotor having an axis of rotation and an even number of permanent magnets disposed in a circle at a radial distance from said axis and supported for rotation about said axis. The stator component comprises at least one open ended transformer core member with one or more electrically conductive wire coils around the core member. The transformer core member and said rotatable component are aligned so that the permanent magnets induce an alternating magnetic field in the open ended transformer core or cores when the rotatable component rotates.

Abstract: A proximity switch e.g. for a domestic a.c. supply is connected in-line e.g. in the live line of the supply between live and switch live terminals. No direct connection is made to the neutral line. Switching is performed by a triac T which receives a gate input 17 from a control circuit K that includes a proximity switch (FIGS. 5, 6). The control circuit K has a power supply comprising a charge storage capacitor C1 that is charged from the live terminal through a first impedance (diodes D3, D4) and a unidirectional first path through diode D1 when the triac T is conductive. When the triac T is switched to a non-conductive state, the capacitor C1 is charged from the switch live terminal through a second unidirectional path including diode D1 and a second impedance R2.