Abstract: A rotary switch with direction-of-rotation output includes a thumbwheel (12), a first reduced-diameter ratchet wheel (14), a second reduced-diameter ratchet wheel (16), and a mounting shaft (18) upon which the thumbwheel (12), ratchet wheel (14), and ratchet wheel (16) are mounted in side-by-side frictionally engaged relationship. The ratchet wheel (14) and the ratchet wheel (16) cooperate with respective pawls (24)(30) so that the ratchet wheel (14) is constrained for rotation in one direction only about the shaft (18), and the ratchet wheel (16) is constrained for rotation in the other direction only about the shaft (18). The thumbwheel (12) is in frictional engagement with the ratchet wheel (14) and the ratchet wheel (16) so that rotation of the thumbwheel (12) will cause one of the two ratchet wheels to rotate.

Abstract: A switch and speed control assembly for use in a wet/dry utility vacuum or blower is disclosed. The switch and speed control assembly provides a single rotary control actuator for turning the vacuum or blower on and off, for infinitely varying the speed of the motor, and for providing a momentary boost control. The switch and speed control assembly includes a thumb wheel fitted to the shaft of a voltage varying potentiometer, a snap action switch in operable relation to the exterior edge of the thumb wheel, and a compression spring contained beneath the thumb wheel. As the thumb wheel is rotated in an increasing "on" direction, the contacts of the snap action switch are closed, allowing electric current to flow to the motor of the wet/dry utility vacuum or blower. The voltage levels in the motor, and correspondingly the speed of the motor, are controlled by varying the potentiometer voltage through rotation applied to the thumb wheel.

Abstract: A safety switch for controlling electric current between a plug and an appliance comprises generally an upper casing and a lower casing, a pair of copper conduct plates and a swivel disk member rotatably disposed into the casings. The improvement is characterized in that the pair of copper conduct plates each has a pair of staggered tip points pierced into a electrical cord having their flat portions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cords. So that the tip points will not cut off the wires but stably engage with and grip a certain amount of the wires inside the cord in order to ensure an eligible conductivity of the electricity between the plug and the appliance.

Abstract: An electric switch (20) for use in vehicle electric circuitry is mountable on a trim panel (30) of the vehicle. The switch (20) comprises a circuit board (60) having first and second electrical circuits (80, 100) which are electrically disconnected from each other. The switch (20) has a movable member (130) for controlling the operation of the first and second electrical circuits (80, 100). The apparatus also includes an electrically conductive jumper clip (50) that can be mounted at either a first location (44) or a second location (64) on the trim panel (30). The circuit board (60) includes first jumper terminals (84) engageable with the jumper clip (50) to enable the first circuit (80) when the jumper clip is mounted at the first location (44) on the trim panel (30). The circuit board (60) includes second jumper terminals (104) engageable with the jumper clip to enable the second circuit when the jumper clip (50) is mounted at the second location (64) on the trim panel (30).

Abstract: The outside perimeter contact surface is molded with a continuously varying outer radius as measured relative to the axis of rotation and concentric circles of contrasting color disposed on the lateral surface of the thumbwheel with centers located at axis of rotation thereby providing visual and tactile feedback to the user of the character of output signal.

Abstract: In an incremental encoder, a common terminal which is required always to be electrically connected to a rotary contact plate comprises a plurality of sliding contacts each having a contact point with the rotary contact plate. Respective sliding contacts are positioned so as to come into contact with the rotary contact plate with a positional shift angle. Due to this feature, even in the case where the common terminal is in contact with a signal pulse-generating region of the rotary contact plate having slits formed therein for generating the signal pulse, it is possible that a portion of at least one of the contact points provided on the plurality of sliding contacts is always in contact with the rotary contact plate. Accordingly, a common contact region which is required in a conventional incremental encoder is not necessary, whereby the miniaturization of the incremental encoder can be realized.

Abstract: A three degrees of freedom interactive display controller device is disclosed, comprising a hand manipulable housing unit having an opening for the passage of a mouse ball, two motion detectors for detecting the movement of the mouse ball and converting that motion to output signals controlling the translational movement of an object on the display of a computer and at least one finger operated wheel or roller for controlling the translational motion of the object with respect to a third translational axis. All translation controls are operable to be physically moved in a direction which corresponds to the desired simulated direction of movement of the object on the display. The physical motion of each control is unbounded and the actual physical position of the housing unit is independent of the simulated position of the object on the display.

Abstract: An interface assembly includes a housing having a pair of side walls lined to a curved upper surface and the upper surface forms a fore-and-aft extending slot. A shaft is supported by and extends between the side walls. A control member is supported on the shaft and has an outer edge aligned with the slot. A limit member is mounted on the shaft adjacent to the control member and has an outer edge aligned with the slot. The limit member is frictionally coupled to the control member. An stop projects from an outer edge of the limit member. A lever is pivotally mounted on the control member and is releasable engageable with the stop. A transducer is coupled to the control member for generating a signal representing the position of the control member. A thumb wheel and gear may be operated to control rotation of the limit member relative to the housing. A tab projects into the slot and is engageable and disengageable with the tab to limit rotation of the control member relative to the housing.

Abstract: A solid state rotary entry control system for controlling appliances such as microwave ovens, dishwashers, washing machines, television sets and other appliances, the control system incorporating a first rotary entry means utilizing the angular displacement of a rotary switch to increment and decrement data, such as desired time, temperature or other data into a microprocessor based appliance control, the control system also incorporating a second rotary entry means for selecting, for example, a desired power level, such as a desired microwave oven magnetron power level, and also providing a power level bar graph display indicative of the power level selected by the user thereof.

Abstract: A centralized control unit that includes supply circuits for supplying various motors for controlling movements of parts of a vehicle seat, an in-board power source for feeding the supply circuits, an inverting device for enabling a control with inversion in a rotation direction of the various motors, and a study carrying wheel having a set of studs for enabling a selection of each of the various motors, with each of the set of studs being connected to a circuit of one of the various motors for controlling one of the parts of the seat.

Abstract: In the stepping or indexing drive of a character drum having secured thereat a pinion, wherein there is provided an actuation plunger for rotary motion of the pinion in the one direction and another actuation plunger for rotary motion of the pinion in the other direction, there must be prevented that the character drum while rotating from one index position to the next can be stopped and remain in an intermediate position between two index positions. For this purpose, there is provided a movable locking or detent element which coacts with both actuation plungers and with inclined surfaces formed at the switch housing. This locking or detent element is brought by each individual actuation plunger, at the start of its actuating path, into a locking position for the other actuation plunger and retained in this locking position to positively prevent simultaneous actuation of both actuation plungers.

Abstract: In an electric regulator unit, a variable electric component has a body which is accommodated in a recess formed in one axial end face of a holder against angular movement relative thereto about an axis of an operating shaft of the variable electric component such that the operating shaft extends away from a bottom of the recess. An assembly of the holder and the variable electric component is accommodated in a recess formed in one axial end face of a knob such that the operating shaft is engaged with a bottom of the recess in the knob. The arrangement is such that when an outer peripheral surface of the knob is manipulated, the knob is angularly moved to move the operating shaft angularly about the axis thereof relatively to the body. At least one friction-torque imparting element is arranged between the knob and the assembly for imparting friction torque to the angular movement of the knob relative to the holder and the body.

Abstract: A modular encoder and switch assembly includes a first module containing the rotor and contact elements of an electrical encoder, and a second module that contains a switch. The two modules are axially aligned and joined together in tandem. The encoder and the switch are actuated by a common shaft that is rotatable to actuate the encoder and movable axially to actuate the switch.

Abstract: An improved rotary line switch provided with an upper cover, a lower cover with trapezoid blocks and mushroom blocks on the internal walls thereof, a contact strip held by the mushroom block at one end of the lower cover, an inverted U shaped catch-contact strip having a catch end and a contact end held by the mushroom block at the other end of the lower cover, a control consisting of a knob and a lower ratchet wheel and an upper ratchet wheel each having four teeth, and a screw having a journal for the control to fit on and used to fasten the upper and lower cover together. The switch is constructed in such way that the S shaped end of a contact strip engages with a tooth of the lower ratchet wheel while the catch end of the catch-contact strip engages with a tooth of the upper ratchet wheel and serves as a catch of the same, and that when the knob is turned 90 degrees the lower ratchet wheel will push the S shaped end of the contact strip to contact with the contact end of the catch-contact strip once.

Abstract: A DIP rotary code switch provided with a plurality of terminals arranged on a circuit board embedded in a base includes a rotor, conductive patterns disposed, on the bottom surface of the rotor the rotor being rotatably mounted in a cavity formed by a housing and a base, a contact member holder having a center boss on the upper surface thereof which rotatably supports the rotor and having slots extending therethrough and a contact member provided with an apex head fitted respectively into a slot extending through the contact member holder, the apex head intermittently contacting conductive patterns of the rotor when rotated and the contact member having two legs fitted respectively into slits extending in a the base to be electrically connected to conductive elements arranged on the surface of the circuit board embedded in the base.

Abstract: A digital switch assembly which comprises a casing having a plurality of output terminals, a rotor rotatably accommodated within the casing and adapted to be rotated either directly or indirectly by the application of a finger pressure thereto, feelers carried by and positioned inside the casing and electrically connected to the respective output terminals; a circuit board carried by the rotor and having a predetermined pattern of electric circuits adapted to be selectively engaged with the feelers to complete a desired circuit configuration depending on the position of the rotor, a grounding terminal member carried by the casing, and a circuit element extending substantially between the location at which the finger pressure is applied to rotate the rotor and the grounding terminal member for establishing a discharge circuit through which an electrostatic charge set up in the body of the operator can be grounded.

Abstract: A solid state rotary entry control system for controlling appliances such as microwave ovens, dishwashers, washing machines, television sets and other appliances, the control system incorporating a first rotary entry means utilizing the angular displacement of a rotary switch to increment and decrement data, such as desired time, temperature or other data into a microprocessor based appliance control, the control system also incorporating a second rotary entry means for selecting, for example, a desired power level, such as a desired microwave oven magnetron power level, and also providing a power level bar graph display indicative of the power level selected by the user thereof.

Abstract: A rotor (100,200,300) for a stator (50) of a rotary switch (10) includes a substrate (106,216,302) having a continuous conductive surface over which a profiled dielectric layer (110,218,316) is molded which includes arcuate groove segments (118) along concentric circles which expose portions of the continuous conductive surface and define switch-encoding circuit paths (120,222,322) for brush contact portions (66) of the stator (50). The dielectric material at the ends (122) of each groove segment (118) deflect the brush contact portions (66) away from the conductive surface during rotation of the rotor (100,200,300), and the brush contact portions thus do not engage corner edges of discrete circuit paths.

Abstract: A digital switch may have an advantageous actuating member including, in addition to pawls for a ratchet mechanism, a pair of main bodies and spring portions integrally formed therewith, whereby the mechanical integrity of the actuating member and smooth operation are assured. The spring portions are interconnected by a mounting plate which is in turn engaged to a casing member. The switch may include an advantageous electro-conductive pattern which is made by insert molding an embossed metallic plate into synthetic resin, whereby the dimensional accuracy of the pattern is assured and the production may be facilitated. Further, the switching element may make use of a set of concentric cams which selectively drive movable contact pieces onto fixed contact pieces according to the step-wise rotation of a ratchet wheel.

Abstract: Each swiveling yoke (3) of a movable element 1 includes a stem 16 concent with a shaft 6 around which moves the swiveling yoke 3 and connecting the two arms 17 between which a roller 4 is free to rotate about a shaft 11; the outer surface of the stem 16 acts as a friction surface for a friction piece 18 comprising an elastic blade 19, a bead 20 made of a good electrically conducting material and a cable 27 connected by a cable terminal 26. The elastic blade 19 rests on two cross-pins 22 and 24 inserted into insulating plates 23.

Abstract: A device for controlling the rotary movement of a platen roller of a typewriter comprises a bidirectional electric motor coupled to the platen by a worm gear and gear wheel and a pair of knobs which are disposed at the sides of the platen and which are rotatable with respect thereto. The knobs are fixed to a bar which extends rotatably through the platen roller and carries the gear wheel. Selective bidirectional rotation of the knobs causes corresponding rotary movement of a disc in a transducer. The disc has a toothed sector in mesh with the gear wheel and is the moving part of a rotary switch which generates electrical signals which determine both the power supply to the electric motor and the direction of rotation thereof. Small degrees of rotary movement of the knobs against a first spring force establish continuous rotary movement of the platen roller at low speed. A further slight rotary movement of the knobs against a stronger spring force establishes rotary movement of the platen at high speed.

Abstract: A rotatable cylinder having a plurality of drivers mounted therein for axial movement with each driver having a projection thereon extending through openings in the cylinder to engage rotatably mounted rings coaxially positioned around the cylinder and a disk having a depression therein for receiving one of said drivers at a time as the disk and cylinder are rotated. When the disk and cylinder are rotated in one direction a driver positioned in the depression engages an associated ring to rotate the ring. As the disk and cylinder are rotated in an opposite direction the first driver is cammed from the depression and a second driver drops into place. The rings engage different conductors as they rotate to provide the encoding.

Abstract: A switch limit apparatus for a multiple position switch having an actuator accessible through an opening in a casing in which the switch is disposed. The switch actuator is provided with several parallel ridges spaced such that only one ridge is accessible through the opening for each switch position.

Abstract: A solid state rotary entry control system for controlling appliances such as microwave ovens, dishwashers, washing machines, television sets and other appliances, the control system incorporating a first rotary entry means utilizing the angular displacement of a rotary switch to increment and decrement data, such as desired time, temperature or other data into a microprocessor based appliance control, the control system also incorporating a second rotary entry means for selecting, for example, a desired power level, such as a desired microwave oven magnetron power level, and also providing a power level bar graph display indicative of the power level selected by the user thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a digital switch which is manually rotated step by step and which comprises a casing, a wheel rotatably supported in the casing, device for manually rotating the wheel step by step, an electrical contact carried by the wheel, an electrical circuit board attached to the casing and provided with a plurality of electrical contacts which are successively touched by the electrical contact carried by the wheel when the wheel is rotated step by step, for producing an electrical signal in accordance with a stepping rotary position of the wheel, and a locking device for disabling the wheel rotating device.

Abstract: A multiple input, multiple output combination switching connector for matingly connecting a plurality of first connectors with a plurality of second connectors characterized by a housing, respective input and output conductors adapted to make electrical contact with the respective first and second conductors, respective wheels for rotating respective input conductors into electrical contact with respective output conductors, each of the wheels including an electrically conductive path connected with a respective input conductor and with an electrically conductive output contact that is adapted to be rotated into electrical contact with respective output conductor. The wheels are individually rotatable within the housing and a bias is provided for maintaining the wheels within the housing and biased together such that electrical continuity through each path per wheel is maintained.

Abstract: A stepping or indexing mechanism for an encoding rotary or multi-position switch is arranged within a switch housing. The stepping mechanism comprises a symbol or numeric wheel, two substantially mirror-image and mutually symmetrically arranged locking or latching levers, a locking or latching wheel, a gear meshing with the symbol or numeric wheel as well as a switching or indexing element arranged laterally at the switch housing. The locking or latching levers are movably mounted at one end in a bearing or support element and at the other end are structured for the rotatable mounting of a related roller. The latching levers are drawn together with the rollers by a tension spring or equivalent structure into latching or locking recesses of the locking wheel. For the switching operation the locking levers are deflected against the restoring force of the spring out of the locking recesses, and the rollers then slide along locking or latching cams or dogs provided with arcuate-shaped flank profiles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a data input keyboard comprising a plurality of keys which are arranged on a panel in the form of a matrix of "m" lines, "n" columns and each of the keys being provided with a reset member and a pusher coupled to a contact pair; a switch means provided with a plurality of contact pairs; and a rotation transfer mechanism incorporating an input shaft with a rotation member and "m" output shafts and mechanically coupled to the contact pairs of the switch means. A body of the contact pairs of all the keys defines an accurate channel of forming the codes of the characters assigned by the keyboard and a body of the contact pairs of the switch means defines a rough channel of forming the aforesaid codes. Each of the keys has the shape of a cylinder with faces on the peripheral surface thereof carrying the inscriptions of the characters, and is made rotatable around the axis of the cylinder.

Abstract: A switching device, notably for the control of an electrical motor in an air conditioning or ventilation installation of a vehicle, wherein a rotary knob carrying a slider contact is mounted on a small column of the bottom of a cage, and a circuit plate is mounted on the end of the column and immobilized by snap-in engagement with walls of the cage. The cage is adapted to be fixed in a casing or support provided in an instrument board of the vehicle.

Abstract: A selector switch of the type having a thumbwheel selector journalled for rotation in a frame for selecting any one of a plurality of interconnections among external circuits to be connected to electrical contacts mounted in the frame, the selector including a first part of dielectric material and a second part with a metallic electrically conductive material carried by the first part and having a pattern configured in accordance with a predetermined code, portions of the metallic electrically conductive material and the first part lying in a common contact surface so as to be contacted by various ones of the electrical contacts in different positions of the selector to connect and disconnect the contacts in accordance with the pattern of conductive material, thereby selectively closing and opening the interconnections among the external circuits.

Abstract: A rotary thumbwheel switch assembly has a switch module including a translucent light ring for indicating positions of the rotary thumbwheel. The ring is illuminated from within by a light emitting diode which can be snap-mounted in place in the center of the translucent ring. The switch module comprises a thumbwheel to which contact brush sets can be easily secured by a spring biased tab. The switch module can be combined with a separable bezel. The switch module can be mounted from either side of a front panel, and can be connected to circuit assemblies housed by the panel prior to the insertion of the bezel. The bezel secures the switch modules to each other and to the panel. A kit comprising the separable elements of the illuminating diode, the bezel and the switch modules is described. A method for installing the separable elements includes the steps of inserting the modules from the front of the housing panel for testing each module's connection with circuit assemblies prior to installing the bezel.

Abstract: A selector switch of the type having a thumbwheel selector journalled for rotation in a frame for selecting any one of a plurality of interconnections among external circuits to be connected to electrical contacts mounted in the frame, the selector including a first part of dielectric material and a second part of non-metallic electrically conductive material carried by the first part and having a pattern configured in accordance with a predetermined code and contacted by various ones of the electrical contacts in different positions of the selector to connect and disconnect the contacts in accordance with the pattern of conductive material so as to selectively close and open the interconnections among the external circuits.

Abstract: A coding switch contact arrangement providing binary and complementary binary outputs from a simplified contact layout. Fixed contact tracks are located on one side of a contact board. A switching disc has mutually insulated contact groups whose contact points are radially arranged, at least one group being an angular distance from an adjacent group which is 2.sup.n times the distance between switching positions.

Abstract: In electronic amplifiers it is desirable to have the capability of accurate setting of the characteristic values while still having a limited space on a front panel. In order to accomplish this, a digital switch having a plurality of digital switch units on a front portion is coupled to an amplifier assembly. The amplifier assembly is coupled to the back portion of the digital switch and has a configuration such that it can fit into the same opening in the panel as the digital switch alone. Thus, the entire electronic amplifier unit takes up no more frontal space on the panel than that necessary for mounting the digital switch alone.

Abstract: A data encoding keyboard for use in electronic processing systems such as electronic calculators includes a pushbutton encoded thumbwheel switch. A plurality of cams secured to the switch define different codes in accordance with the angular orientation of the thumbwheel. The cams engage contacts on a printed circuit matrix adjacent the thumbwheel when the thumbwheel is depressed.

Abstract: A push-button rotary switch having a switching mechanism including a pair of independent actuators having linear movement into contact with the teeth of a switch position selector ratchet wheel mounted at the center of a rotatable switch-positioning indicator, with the actuators adapted to alternately engage certain of the ratchet teeth so as to rotate the switch-positioning indicator step by step in either direction into different switching positions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary switch of the type wherein an electrical contact is mounted on a rotor or wheel provided with circumferentially spaced and radially projecting levers. The wheel is normally retained in fixed position within a housing by a pair of resiliently deflectable webs engaged against at least a pair of levers. This construction of the switch requires a minimum of component parts and assembly steps.

Abstract: A continuously rotatable electrical switch having an odd number of detent positions is used to increase the number of possible electrical circuit combinations with a given maximum number of electrical contact paths. This is accomplished by placing all the brushes on the diameter of a central rotor or rotating wafer having electrical contacts thereon wherein the contacts for both radii of the diameter for a given switch position are interleaved contacts of other switch positions. The design of the switch allows a plurality of output terminals to be continuously electrically connected to the rotor for an increased number of switching functions while maintaining the simplicity of placing all the brushes on one side of a commutating rotor.