Abstract: An input apparatus includes a pressing part, a spacer, a rotating cam, and a sensor. The pressing part is capable of reciprocating along a first direction. The spacer is disposed in the first direction with respect to pressing part and is capable of reciprocating along the first direction with reciprocation of the pressing part. The rotating cam is disposed at a side of the spacer opposite to the pressing part and rotates in a plane perpendicular to the first direction with reciprocation of the spacer. The sensor detects rotation of the rotating cam.

Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus comprising: a stationary contact disposed on a conductive path through the electrical switching apparatus; a rotary contact assembly including a roller and a rotary contact disposed on the surface of the roller, the rotary contact being disposed on the conductive path through the electrical switching apparatus; and an operating mechanism configured to initiate a rotation of the roller, wherein the roller is configured to rotate between a first rested state where the stationary contact and the rotary contact are electrically connected and a second rested state where the stationary contact and the rotary contact are electrically disconnected.

Abstract: A push-button switch comprises a lower housing, an upper housing, four terminals, a spring, a driven wheel, and a driving wheel. The terminals are integrally molded with the upper housing and only the contact portions thereof are exposed, such that the movable contacts of an annular conductive plate face upward and remain hovering for the annular conductive plate rotating smoothly before the annular conductive plate contacts with the terminals in order to avoid a deformation and an impact damage between the terminals and the tactics contacts.

Abstract: A push-button switch comprises a lower housing, an upper housing, four terminals, a spring, a driven wheel, and a driving wheel. The terminals are integrally molded with the upper housing and only the contact portions thereof are exposed, such that the movable contacts of an annular conductive plate face upward and remain hovering for the annular conductive plate rotating smoothly before the annular conductive plate contacts with the terminals in order to avoid a deformation and an impact damage between the terminals and the tactics contacts.

Abstract: A push-button switch having a case which defines a space within which a star wheel is mounted and an indenter which is pressed against an outer periphery of the star wheel. The star wheel has ridge portions. A push button is provided which is mounted on the case for effecting rotation of the star wheel. A contact is also provided which engages the star wheel for corotation and which serves as a movable contact. Also provided are terminals which serve as stationary contacts. The star wheel includes a small projection having a rounded tip end disposed in each ridge portion of the star wheel.

Abstract: A multi-position switch includes a base and a cover. The base and the cover form a receiving space having a lateral surface. The cover defines a through hole and includes a bottom surface and a number of ratchet teeth protruding from the bottom surface and arranged around the through hole. A number of positive contacts and a negative contact are arranged on the lateral surface. The button includes a button body having a side surface and a number of protrusions protruding from the side surface. The button body passes through the through hole and is external to the cover. Each protrusion is located between two neighboring ratchet teeth and has a sloping end. A conductive member is arranged under the button body and includes a conductive rod having two ends configured for respectively contacting one of the positive contacts and the negative contact.

Abstract: A portable computer device includes a main body and an extendable display. The main body includes an upper portion and the lower portion. The extendable display includes a left portion rotatably connected to the upper portion and a right portion. The left portion is rotatably connected to the upper portion, and includes a first side surface. The right portion is movably connected to lower portion, and includes a second side surface. The right portion is able to slide together with the lower portion along a first direction to a predetermined position. The right portion is able to move relative to the lower portion until the second side surface engages the first side surface, causing the left portion to be flush with the right portion.

Abstract: An accessory device for a firearm, a preferred embodiment comprising a housing, a light emitter assembly and a battery carried by the housing in circuit for energizing the light emitter assembly when switch actuated, and a tail cap switch device secured to the housing and including a switch actuator having an actuator arm rotatably urgeable by either hand of an operator clockwise or counterclockwise about the housing's longitudinal direction for placing the switch in a CONSTANT ON position from an OFF position, the actuator arm reverse rotatably urgeable by the operator for returning the switch to the OFF position, and the actuator arm having opposed ends longitudinally urgeable by the operator from the OFF position for placing the switch in a MOMENTARY ON position.

Abstract: A pushbutton switch has a housing with a reciprocating plunger. The plunger is made in two parts with a hollow insert pressed in place to provide a slot inside the plunger with a longitudinally extending portion and a spirally extending portion. A rotatable shaft fits within the hollow insert and has a plurality of teeth at the lower end of the shaft. An electrical contact member with three circumferentially extending fingers is on the shaft over the teeth and with the fingers extending downwardly for contacting three electrical terminals in the housing to which contact may be made by external leads. When the plunger of the switch is depressed, the shaft moves downwardly and rotates without rotating the electrical contact member. When the plunger is released, the shaft also moves upwardly and rotates in the reverse direction whereupon a tooth engages a pawl extending downwardly from the contact member, advancing the contact member in rotation and changing the state of the switch.

Abstract: A switch (1) comprising an outer housing (3) and an inner component (5); switch means (13) operable to provide a signal upon depression of said outer housing (3) resilient biasing means (29) located between the inner component and the outer housing to provide a force which bias the outer housing from the inner component; and means (9, 17) for varying the spacing between the inner component and the outer housing and hence the biasing force provided by said resilient biasing means.

Abstract: A pushbutton switch has a housing with a reciprocating plunger. The plunger is made in two parts with a hollow insert pressed in place to provide a slot inside the plunger with a longitudinally extending portion and a spirally extending portion. A rotatable shaft fits within the hollow insert and has a plurality of teeth at the lower end of the shaft. An electrical contact member with three circumferentially extending fingers is on the shaft over the teeth and with the fingers extending downwardly for contacting three electrical terminals in the housing to which contact may be made by external leads. When the plunger of the switch is depressed, the shaft moves downwardly and rotates without rotating the electrical contact member. When the plunger is released, the shaft also moves upwardly and rotates in the reverse direction whereupon a tooth engages a pawl extending downwardly from the contact member, advancing the contact member in rotation and changing the state of the switch.

Abstract: A pushbutton has a body including a barrel and a plunger longitudinally movable in the barrel. A plurality of longitudinally extending teeth on the plunger engage a plurality of longitudinally extending teeth on a rotatable ratchet coaxial with the plunger. The ratchet is spring loaded against the plunger. A rotatable electrical contact cup connected to the ratchet makes or breaks contact with a fixed electrical terminal in the body. The plunger teeth each include a driving face which causes rotation of the ratchet. The driving face has an angle from a normal to the longitudinal direction of the plunger wherein the angle is at least the arctangent of the coefficient of friction between the ratchet teeth and the plunger tooth plus the arctangent of the effective coefficient of friction between electrical contacts in the switch, plus a margin of safety greater than the arctangent of the effective coefficient of friction between other parts of the switch. The angle is up to about 30 degrees.

Abstract: A three-step switch includes a casing defining a first receiving chamber and a second receiving chamber, an actuating device mounted in the first receiving chamber, three metal contact plates and a metal conducting plate mounted in the second receiving chamber, the actuating device being forced to rotate the metal conducting plate through a predetermined angle relative to the metal contact plates when pressed, to further achieve a three-step switching operation.

Abstract: A pushbutton switch (10) includes a printed circuit board (14) having first and second traces (18, 20) spaced circumferentially apart about an axis (22) and a housing (40) connected to the circuit board. The housing (40) includes a chamber (80) in which a movable assembly (100) is partially disposed. The movable assembly (100) has electrical contacts (198) for engaging one or the other of the first and second traces (18 and 20) on the circuit board (14). A button (12) is connected with the movable assembly (100). The button (12) is manually depressible toward the circuit board (14). A spring (220) biases the movable assembly (100) and the button (12) away from the circuit board (14). A plurality of angled surfaces (84, 92, 126, 172) on the movable assembly (100) cooperate to cause the movable assembly to rotate about the axis (22) when the button (12) is manually depressed toward the circuit board (14).

Abstract: An electrical switch has a set of electrodes mounted on one side of a carrier. The opposite side of the carrier mounts an actuator having a plunger mounted for reciprocating motion. The plunger carries a coupler in the form of magnets. A conductive armature of magnetic material is disposed on the electrode side of the carrier. When the plunger withdraws the coupler magnets from the carrier, the armature is free to fall out of contact with the electrodes. A retention cover maintains the armature in the vicinity of the carrier such that subsequent movement of the coupler proximate the carrier will draw the armature back into contact with the electrodes.

Abstract: A rotary electronic device such as a rotary encoder is provided which includes a rotor, a push/turn operating shaft, and a rotary sliding member. The rotor provides electric signals in response to rotation of the push/turn operating shaft and has formed therein a through hole consisting of a circular hole and a cross-shaped hole. The push/turn operating shaft includes a small diameter end portion and a cross-shaped portion engaging the cross-shaped hole of the rotor for rotating the rotor according to the rotation of the push/turn operating shaft.

Abstract: A rotary contact push button electrical switch comprising a switch housing and separable independent base. The base is lockably connected to the housing by means of appropriately placed openings and tab means on the sides of the base. The housing has a through opening into which the switch's operating mechanism is disposed. A rotary contact with resilient arms forming arcuate contact points at the end of the arms is rotated by the operating mechanism, when the button which extends through the housing opening is pushed. A nipple at the end of the operating mechanism rotates the rotary contact. Stationary contacts which are mounted on the base, contact the arcuate points of the rotary contact, allowing electrical current to flow alternately between two separate electrical circuits, as the rotary contact is rotated over the stationary contacts.

Abstract: A rotary switch includes an insulative first housing with first and second terminals, and an insulative second housing. The first housing has a top wall with an axial hole formed therein, a bottom wall with a socket-like cavity formed therein, an upright side wall lateral to the top wall, and a shaft journalled in the axial hole to rotate stepwise relative to the top wall. The first terminals have first connecting end portions extending outwardly of the upright side wall. The second terminals have second connecting end portions extending axially from the axial hole and outwardly of the bottom wall at a distal end thereof relative to the upright side wall. The second connecting end portions are longer than the first connecting end portion so that each of the second connecting end portion forms a protracted intermediate segment and a connecting end segment for electrical connection. The second housing is molded around portions of the protracted intermediate segments of the second terminals.

Abstract: A control device suitable for use in a sing-along or karaoke apparatus has a rotary encoder coupled to a selector knob through a transfer mechanism, such as gears. When the selector knob rotates, the rotary encoder generates pulse signals for each rotation of the selector knob. The number of pulses may depend upon a gear ratio of the transfer mechanism. The control device is used, for example, to scan and select music titles stored in a ROM cartridge or other suitable storage medium. The control device may be integrated with an apparatus for controlling the start or stop function. The control device provides a design flexibility due to its compact design.

Abstract: A quiet smooth acting push button switch, which permits partial actuation without a change of state, including a body, a cover and a contact cup having one or more tabs, the cup rotatibly mounted on the cover. A plunger, actuator and a ratchet with radially expanding helical camming ramps are mounted in the body, which incrementally rotate the contact cup and tabs upon successive actuations of the switch. Two terminals mounted on the cover are interruptably in contact with the tabs as the tabs are rotated during switch operation. The actuator may be a pawl, bail or a resilient portion of the plunger and has at least one hook for engaging a helical camming surface of the ratchet and rotatibly driving the rachet in response to a depression and release of the plunger.

Abstract: A modular electrical switch provides a wiping or shearing action upon closing and opening thereof. A contact carrier disposed within a housing linearly carries a movable contact into engagement with a stationary contact. The contact carrier is guided by movable slide plates disposed on either side thereof and movable along with the contact carrier as a contact assembly. The guide plates also provide pivot recesses for pivot bosses of the contact carrier. The contact carrier is constrained to linear motion up to the point of contact between the movable contact and the stationary contact by a cam trace in the housing. After contact between the movable contact and the stationary contact, the contact carrier reaches a pocket defined by the cam trace, ceases linear movement and upwardly pivots to provide a wiping action between the movable contact and the stationary contact.

Abstract: A pushbutton switch which permits partial actuation without a change of state, including a body, a cover and a contact cup having a plurality of tabs, the cup rotatably mounted on the cover. A plunger and ratchet mechanism mounted in the body incrementally rotate the contact cup and tabs upon successive actuations of the switch. A first terminal mounted on the cover is interruptibly in contact with one of the tabs as they are rotated by operation of the ratchet mechanism, while a second terminal mounted on the cover maintains electrical contact with the contact cup. A plurality of camming ramps formed in the cover are in intermittent communication with the tabs, first lifting them above a planar portion of the first terminal, then permitting one of them to come to rest on the planar portion of the terminal completing an electrical circuit between the first and second terminals. In another embodiment, a third terminal is mounted on the cover in a coplanar spaced apart relationship with the first terminal.

Abstract: An index rotary switch has a distributor which undergoes stepped rotation in response to longitudinal displacement of a plunger. The distributor is coupled to the plunger via a conventional tooth and cam arrangement to produce a 45-degree stepped rotation of the distributor in response to each up-down reciprocation of the plunger. A spring is arranged between a radial annular surface of an actuator cam follower and the radial annular flange of the distributor. The distributor is a unitary component made of electrically conductive material and having four radial extension arms spaced at equal angular intervals. At each of eight predetermiend stepped angular positions of the distributor, one radial extension arm engages a first electrical contact, another radial extension arm angages an insulating part, and the remaining two radial extension arms engage respective contact portions of either a second or a third electrical contact.

Abstract: An electrical switch which has a body, a contact base at one end of the body, a cam member positioned for rotation within the body, and a plunger positioned within the body for nonrotating movement. The cam member has a conductive bridge contact portion and has cam followers which engage the cam surface in the base to move the cam member between a make position in which the bridge is in contact with contacts on the base and a break position in which the bridge is spaced from the contacts on the base. The plunger has an actuatable pushbutton portion extending from the body and has driving portions which engage driven portions on the cam member to rotate the cam member upon nonrotating movement of the plunger. The plunger engages the cam member to provide a rotating first camming action, while the cam member engages the base to provide a nonrotating second camming action.

Abstract: A push-button rachet mechanism switch is converted to a rotary wiping action for a moveable contact which includes one or more axial extending contact members. The moveable contact selectively engages one or more radially spaced fixed contacts and continuously engages a common conductor for selectively coupling the common conductor to one or more of the radially spaced fixed contacts to which other conductors are coupled.

Abstract: A miniature ratchet type push button activated electrical switch having a mainspring and an auxiliary spring wherein spring rates, spring lengths and spring orientations are selected such that a substantial depression of the push button is required before electrical continuity is broken in a closed circuit. This configuration additionally serves to reduce the amount of audible noise generated by the switch during the ratcheting operation.

Abstract: An electrical switch for hazardous environments includes a non-metallic terminal base supporting a plurality of stationary contacts. A non-metallic operator body has a radial wall and tubular outer wall extending from the radial wall. The outer wall has a free end coupled to the terminal base and defines a contact chamber inside of the operator body. The radial wall has a central passageway and a tubular inner wall extending from the radial wall toward the terminal base substantially concentrically to the outer wall and the passageway. A non-metallic operator member has an annular portion slidably received in the passageway between first and second positions, and has a radial portion extending from the axial portion with a tubular flange extending from it substantially concentrically to the axial portion. The operator member tubular flange is slidably received between and overlaps the inner and outer walls of the operator body in both of the first and second positions of the operator body.

Abstract: An index rotary switch includes a housing, stationary contact members, a rotor contact member, and a pushbutton-operated actuator device. The stationary contact members are disposed within the housing for defining an infinite number of alternately achieved on-and-off positions. The rotor contact member is disposed for rotation within the housing for wipingly engaging the stationary contact members. The rotor contact member is formed with a rectangularly-shaped flat portion and a plurality of resilient L-shaped arms extending downwardly from respective edges thereof. The L-shaped arms have arcuate-shaped contacts formed upon their free ends so as to wipingly engage the stationary contacts. The actuator device is disposed within the housing and is operatively connected to the rotor contact member for sequentially rotating the rotor contact member so that the arcuate-shaped contacts alternately index with respect to the on-and-off positions upon successive actuations of the actuator device.

Abstract: A push-button switch comprises a housing having a substantially cylindrical interior portion. It also includes a movable switching member, disposed substantially within the interior of the housing and having a reciprocally movable plunger with successive released, latched and depressed positions relative to the housing interior portion. Functional surfaces of substantially cylindrical form are disposed adjacent and in a substantially fixed position relative to the interior portion of the housing and include guiding surfaces aligned in the direction of movement of the plunger. The plunger has members, interengaging with the guiding surfaces, for preventing rotation of the plunger during reciprocal movement of the plunger. The movable switching member also includes a rotatable latch ring, preferably C-shaped, disposed on the plunger and having a radially extending lug. The plunger also has members for holding the rotatable ring in a fixed latitudinal position about a portion of the plunger.

Abstract: An electrical switch including a housing having a planar electrically insulating interior surface on which is seated a printed circuit terminal board that has at least a pair of electrolytically deposited electrical terminals, and a rotatable contact plate having contacts for electrically connecting and disconnecting said terminals in a predetermined sequence, and a push-button stepping means operatively connected to the contact plate for selective rotation of said contact plate.

Abstract: A miniature ratchet type push button activated electrical switch wherein a first electrical contact is caused to sweep across and briefly contact a second electrical contact upon depression of a push button to transmit an electrical pulse. The rotation is driven by the free expansion of a spring upon depression of the push button beyond a preselected depth, and therefore results in a pulse of uniform duration independent of how quickly the push button is depressed or how long it is held in its depressed state.

Abstract: A push-button rachet mechanism switch is converted to a rotary wiping action for a moveable contact which includes one or more axial extending contact members. The moveable contact selectively engages one or more radially spaced fixed contacts and continuously engages a common conductor for selectively coupling the common conductor to one or more of the radially spaced fixed contacts to which other conductors are coupled.

Abstract: A tease-free switch includes a plurality of electrical terminals of planar configuration disposed in spaced apart relationship upon an electrically insulating base as well as a generally planar contact plate including at least two electrical contact regions thereupon. The plate is engaged by a push-button actuated stepping mechanism so as to be alternately rotated between a position where contact between particular of the terminals is alternately established and terminated. The switch is configured so that the contact plate is constantly biased into contact with the terminals and/or the insulating surface upon which they are disposed. In this manner partial activation of the switch will not alter the condition of the electrical contacts.

Abstract: An index rotary switch including a rotary contact carrier journaled between a pair of thrust bearings solely for rotary motion. A rotary electrical contact including four contacts indexes with a stationary contact array forming an infinite number of ON-OFF positions and forms a redundant constant pressure electrical contact in each ON position.