Abstract: A control includes a drum (36) that is rotatably mounted in a housing (22), and includes devices for generating signals to indicate the direction in which the drum is turning and for generating signals to indicate which end of the drum is depressed. A gear (100) is fixed to the drum, and as the drum rotates a deflectable contact element (T6) is repeatedly deflected by teeth of the gear to repeatedly engage a stationary contact (T4, T5). The deflectable contact element is in the form of a wire with a deflectable part (104) deflected by gear teeth, a mount part (110) mounted on the housing, and a contacting part (108) that repeatedly engages the stationary contact, all being part of the wire. Depression of one end of the drum results in depression of a corresponding end of a sheet metal trigger member (30) that is free to snap down against a stationary contact (T2, T3). Stationary contacts that are repeatedly contacted, are in the form of wires with fixed first end and with free or fixed second ends.

Abstract: The invention proposes a device (20) comprising an actuation ball (30, FIG. 13), a casing (22) that surrounds the ball, elements (56) for guiding the ball in rotation, a first detection light source (LS1) for emitting at least one detection beam (EL1), and a detection sensor (126) to capture at least the light (RL1) originating from the lit zone of the ball (30), characterized in that the first light source (LS1) emits an invisible light (EL1), and in that the device comprises a second light source (LS2), distinct from the first light source (LS1) for illuminating the ball (30) that emits a visible illumination light (EL2) towards the ball (30).

Abstract: The invention proposes a device (20) comprising an actuation ball (30, FIG. 13), a casing (22) that surrounds the ball, elements (56) for guiding the ball in rotation, a first detection light source (LS1) for emitting at least one detection beam (EL1), and a detection sensor (126) to capture at least the light (RL1) originating from the lit zone of the ball (30), characterized in that the first light source (LS1) emits an invisible light (EL1), and in that the device comprises a second light source (LS2), distinct from the first light source (LS1) for illuminating the ball (30) that emits a visible illumination light (EL2) towards the ball (30).

Abstract: The invention proposes a device (20) comprising a ball (30), rolling elements (56) for guiding the ball (30), a light source (112) for emitting at least one incident light beam through a window, a sensor of the image of the illuminated zone of the ball (30), characterized in that the device (20) comprises at least one validation switch (60-94-96) on which the user is likely to act by depressing the ball (30) which acts on the validation switch by means of a rolling element (56) that is interposed axially between the ball (30) and the member (60) for triggering the switch.

Abstract: A smart card connector with a slot into which a smart card can be inserted, includes a slide assembly (251) that initially receives the smart card and moves the card forward to a fully installed operating position, and that can be moved to move the smart card a distance rearward to a retracted position and allows the rear card end to be easily pulled out of the connector. The slide assembly includes a card holding slider (500) that includes a sheet metal plate that lies under the card, and a retention bar (524) at the rear end of the plate that abuts the rear edge of the card. When the slider has been moved rearward to a retracted position, the retention bar can be lowered by bending the sheet metal plate, so the card can be grasped and pulled out.

Abstract: A miniature switching device has an operating member (14) with an upstanding button (26) that can be rapidly slid in any one of four horizontal directions to close any one of four switches in a casing (12). A sheet metal conducting member (28) has a flat base portion (60) that lies in the casing under said operating member, and has four upstanding plates (62) that extend from bends (63) at the periphery of the base portion. Each plate has an upper end (81) that lies against a side of the operating member so horizontal movement of the operating member tilts a plate about a corresponding bend. Each plate has a finger (83) that extends largely horizontally from the plate and that engages a corresponding contact (56) on a bottom wall of the casing.

Abstract: A control includes a drum (36) that is rotatably mounted in a housing (22), and includes devices for generating signals to indicate the direction in which the drum is turning and for generating signals to indicate which end of the drum is depressed. A gear (100) is fixed to the drum, and as the drum rotates a deflectable contact element (T6) is repeatedly deflected by teeth of the gear to repeatedly engage a stationary contact (T4, T5). The deflectable contact element is in the form of a wire with a deflectable part (104) deflected by gear teeth, a mount part (110) mounted on the housing, and a contacting part (108) that repeatedly engages the stationary contact, all being part of the wire. Depression of one end of the drum results in depression of a corresponding end of a sheet metal trigger member (30) that is free to snap down against a stationary contact (T2, T3). Stationary contacts that are repeatedly contacted, are in the form of wires with fixed first end and with free or fixed second ends.

Abstract: A connector with a cover element (80) lying in a forward position over an insulative support (40), allows a smart card to be inserted despite obstructions lying closely behind the connector. The card is initially inserted at a downward-forward incline and then its rear is pushed down so the card is horizontal. Then the cover element is slid to a rearward position to prevent card tilt. Contact blades (70) have upwardly biased contact ends (72) that lie substantially in a single transverse plane (Pv) and engage a single row of card contact pads at the front of the card. This allows the cover element rear position to lie only a short distance rearward of its front position so the support supports less than half the card length, thereby allowing a short support to be used. The cover element has a rear portion (85) bent at a rearward-upward incline and forming a convex lower rear face part (A).

Abstract: A smart card connector that includes an insulative support (52) with a card-supporting face (62), and a sheet metal cover (54) mounted on the support to form a card-receiving cavity (58) between the support and cover, for receiving SD and MICROSIM smart cards. A card-detecting switch blade (144) is mounted at one side of the support and has a blade part (150) that projects into the path of the card so the card deflects the blade against a side (116) of the sheet metal cover to close a circuit. The cover can be mounted on the support by sliding the cover rearwardly until projections (121, 123) at the front end of the cover each snaps into a notch (127, 129) near the front end of the support. The connector contacts have tails (104) for soldering to traces on a circuit board CB, the tails lying at a rear edge (84) of the support and the cover having tabs (132, 134) at the front end of the cover.

Abstract: A control device includes a control member (32) that is rotatable about an axis on a casing (22), with a gearwheel (100) mounted on the control member shaft to repeatedly flick a deflectable contact element (10) that is formed from a piece of sheet metal and that has vertical stems connected by elbows. The control member is manually depressable and has shaft ends (44, 46) that slide vertically in slots (48, 50) of the casing so either end of the control member can be depressed. An elastomeric member (34) lies in the casing and has upwardly projecting tubes (310, 314) that surround contacts, with the tops of the tubes being downwardly deflectable.

Abstract: A smart card connector with a slot into which a smart card can be inserted, includes a slide assembly (251, FIG. 10) that initially receives the smart card and moves the card forward to a fully installed operating position, and that later moves the smart card a distance rearward to a retracted position and allows the rear card end to be easily pulled out of the connector. The slide assembly includes a card holding slider (500) that includes a sheet metal plate that lies under the card, and a retention bar (524) at the rear end of the plate that abuts the rear edge of the card. When the slider has been moved rearward to a retracted position, the retention bar can be lowered by bending the sheet metal plate, so the card can be grasped and pulled out.

Abstract: A miniature switching device has an operating member (14) with an upstanding button (26) that can be rapidly slid in any one of four horizontal directions to close any one of four switches in a casing (12). A sheet metal conducting member (28) has a flat base portion (60) that lies in the casing under said operating member, and has four upstanding plates (62) that extend from bends (63) at the periphery of the base portion. Each plate has an upper end (81) that lies against a side of the operating member so horizontal movement of the operating member tilts a plate about a corresponding bend. Each plate has a finger (83) that extends largely horizontally from the plate and that engages a corresponding contact (56) on a bottom wall of the casing.

Abstract: A pair of orthogonal coding shafts (32L,32T) are rotatably mounted in a housing (22) and have rollers (42) that engage a trackball (30), so when the trackball is rotated one or both coding shafts turns. A pinion (44) is fixed to each coding shaft to turn with it. A torsion spring (50L,50T) has one end fixed to the housing and has an opposite end that forms a contact rod (70). The contact rod has an upper end lying between teeth of the pinion so the upper end of the rod is repeatedly deflected and repeatedly snaps back to its original position. The lower end of the contact rod pivots with the upper end, so the lower end repeatedly engages and disengages a lower contact element (134L, 134T) to make and break a circuit. The lower contact element is a cantilevered pin that extends orthogonal to the control rod.

Abstract: A connector with a cover element (80) lying in a forward position over an insulative support (40), allows a smart card to be inserted despite obstructions lying closely behind the connector. The card is initially inserted at a downward-forward incline and then its rear is pushed down so the card is horizontal. Then the cover element is slid to a rearward position to prevent card tilt. Contact blades (70) have upwardly biased contact ends (72) that lie substantially in a single transverse plane (Pv) and engage a single row of card contact pads at the front of the card. This allows the cover element rear position to lie only a short distance rearward of its front position so the support supports less than half the card length, thereby allowing a short support to be used. The cover element has a rear portion (85) bent at a rearward-upward incline and forming a convex lower rear face part (A).

Abstract: A smart card connector has a carriage (252) that prevents inadvertent card pullout and that pushes the card rearward when a user intends to do so. The connector housing includes an insulative support (52) that is molded with at least one upstanding rib (275, 277) lying beside the card path. The carriage is formed from a piece of sheet metal that is bent to form a pair of flanges (310, 314) that lie on opposite sides of the rib and to form a base (312) that connects the flanges and that lies on top of the rib. One of the flanges forms a blade (184) with a free end, the free end forming a spur (186) for movement into and out of the card path. The housing forms a blade—engaging wall (298, 300) that controls the deflection of the blade so the spur moves into the card path only when the carriage moves forward.

Abstract: A smart card connector (30) which includes a base (36) that can mount on a circuit board and a cover (76) that can hold a card (C) and that has a rear end pivotally connected to the base. The cover has a cover frame (77) and has a locking member (140) movable on the cover frame, so when the cover is closed on the base the locking member can be moved to lock the cover down against the base. A switch means mounted on the base and lying in the path of the locking member, detects movement of the locking member between its unlocked and locked positions, to operate circuitry that prevents reading a card until the cover is fully pivoted down and the locking member has moved to its locked position. One type of switch means includes a pair of switch blades (200, 202) lying at opposite sides of the base and engaging side portions (154, 156) of the locking member as the locking member becomes fully locked.

Abstract: A smart card connector that includes an insulative support (52) with a card-supporting face (62), and a sheet metal cover (54) mounted on the support to form a card-receiving cavity (58) between the support and cover, for receiving SD and MICROSIM smart cards. A card-detecting switch blade (144) is mounted at one side of the support and has a blade part (150) that projects into the path of the card so the card deflects the blade against a side (116) of the sheet metal cover to close a circuit. The cover can be mounted on the support by sliding the cover rearwardly until projections (121, 123) at the front end of the cover each snaps into a notch (127, 129) near the front end of the support. The connector contacts have tails (104) for soldering to traces on a circuit board CB, the tails lying at a rear edge (84) of the support and the cover having tabs (132, 134) at the front end of the cover.

Abstract: A connector (10) mounted on a circuit board (40), has an insulative frame (12) and two laterally-spaced columns (66, 68) of contacts (14), each contact formed of a bent metal strip and having an upper portion (36) for engaging a contact of a mating device and having a lower portion (38) with a termination end (48) that presses against a trace on the circuit board. Each contact lower portion includes a deflectable section (42) that extends at an acute angle (a) such as 12° from the lateral direction (L). This results in the termination ends of the lower strips, which press against circuit board traces, extending along a single longitudinally-extending line (A), so the traces on the circuit board that engage the contacts, also lie along the single line. The result is that areas on opposite sides of the line of traces, can be used to hold other traces or even circuit components.

Abstract: A smart card reader includes a frame (102), a carriage (108) that can slide forwardly when pushed forwardly by the front end of an inserted smart card, and a double click mechanism (193) that latches the carriage in a forward position when pushed there by a card, until the card is pushed forward a second time, a spring then pushing the carriage rearwardly to partially reject the card. A cam follower (112) of the double click mechanism has a pivoted mount end (214) that is held with friction against free pivoting by the spring. The frame includes a rear body (104) with a pair of legs (118, 119) projecting forwardly from opposite sides and straddling the carriage and forming fixed stops (191, 193) on opposite sides of the carriage. The frame also includes a front body (106) attached to front ends of the legs and forming a middle cavity region that receives the carriage, spring, and cam follower.

Abstract: A smart card connector (30) which includes a base (36) that can mount on a circuit board and a cover (76) that can hold a card (C) and that has a rear end pivotally connected to the base. The cover has a cover frame (77) and has a locking member (140) movable on the cover frame, so when the cover is closed on the base the locking member can be moved to lock the cover down against the base. A switch means mounted on the base and lying in the path of the locking member, detects movement of the locking member between its unlocked and locked positions, to operate circuitry that prevents reading a card until the cover is fully pivoted down and the locking member has moved to its locked position. One type of switch means includes a pair of switch blades (200, 202) lying at opposite sides of the base and engaging side portions (154, 156) of the locking member as the locking member becomes fully locked.