1369results about "Selector switches" patented technology

In one embodiment, a circuit for driving an electronic component includes a first signal line and a first switch. The first switch is connected to the first signal line and is coupled to a first terminal of the electronic component. The first switch is configured to allow a state where the first signal line electrically floats. In another embodiment, a circuit for driving an electronic component includes a first switch and a second switch. In yet another embodiment, a method for using any or all of the circuits includes electrically floating a second terminal of the electronic component, a source/drain region of a field-effect transistor, or both. In yet a further embodiment, during a first time period having a first switch at a first setting and a second switch at a second setting. During a second time period, changing the first switch, the second switch, or both to different setting(s).

A magnetically activated switch assembly is provided. The magnetically activated switch assembly includes a magnet and a magnetic circuit. The magnetic circuit includes a magnetically activated switch, a first set of flux conductors, and a second set of flux conductors. The first set of flux conductors has first flux conductor flanges adapted to conduct flux from ends of the magnet. The second set of flux conductors is slidingly positioned relative to the first set of flux conductors and is adapted to conduct flux from the first set of flux conductors to the magnetically activated switch. The first set of flux conductors are adapted to rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise and to tilt up or down. The first magnetic circuit is adapted to conduct flux to activate the magnetically activated switch only when the first flux conductor flanges are rotationally aligned with ends of the magnet and tilted to an operational position.

An actuation device employing square-loop latchable magnetic material having a magnetization direction (polarization) capable of being changed in response to exposure to an external magnetic field is disclosed. The magnetic field is created by a conductor assembly with non-solenoid configuration. Once the magnetization direction of the material is so changed, the external magnetic field is no longer required to maintain the new magnetization direction. The latchable magnetic material is disposed on the mobile electrode of a switching device, and another magnetic material is disposed in spaced relation to the latchable magnetic material on a stationary electrode or surface. By applying an electrical current to a conductor assembly arranged proximate the latchable material, a magnetic field is created about the latchable magnetic material, to change the magnetization direction and thereby enable the attraction or repulsion of another magnetic material located on the stationary electrode. The resulting relative displacement of the mobile and stationary electrodes effects the selective connection or disconnection of electrical contacts carried on or associated with the respective electrodes of the actuation device without requiring additional power in order to maintain the switched state of the electrodes.

Touch switches are integrated with thermoformable, injection molded, and other substrates to yield integrated touch switch/control panel assemblies. The ensuant assemblies can include ridges, depressions, anchors, overlaps, rivets and bezels or other housings. They can have any combination of flat and curved surfaces. Further, such assemblies can be incorporated into components of other assemblies, such as automobiles.

A capacitive touch panel and a display device using the capacitive touch panel are provided. The capacitive touch panel includes a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a dielectric layer disposed between two layers. The first electrode layer has a plurality of first A electrode strings and first B electrode strings extended along a first direction. The first A electrode string and the first B electrode string respectively has a plurality of first direction electrodes. The second electrode layer has a plurality of second direction electrodes connected in series along a second direction. The first A and B electrode strings are disconnected in the first electrode layer while they are simultaneously detected for presence of signal variation.

The present invention discloses a laminate-based electromechanical device and a method of fabricating laminate-based electromechanical devices. The device includes two or more layers of laminate bonded together to form a unitary laminate structure. The layers of laminate include a layer of organic dielectric material that may have at least a portion of one layer of electrically conductive material adherent thereto. The layers of organic dielectric material are bonded to form a unitary laminate structure through a process of lamination. The structures that make up the electromechanical device may be formed either before or after bonding. In particular, the various electromechanical structures that make up the electromechanical device are formed from the layers of organic dielectric material and the layers of electrically conductive material adherent thereto using a predetermined sequence of additive and subtractive fabrication techniques.

A mutual capacitance touch panel device includes a substrate, and an array of electrode elements formed on the substrate. Each electrode element includes a drive electrode, a sense electrode and a reference electrode, the reference electrode arranged between the drive electrode and the sense electrode. A first mutual coupling capacitance is formed between the drive electrode and the reference electrode of each electrode element, wherein the drive electrode and reference electrode are configured such that the first mutual coupling capacitance is substantially insensitive to an object touching the surface of the touch panel.

In an electromagnetic switching device including a cylindrical part made of a magnetic material with a closed bottom for housing a movable iron core having a movable contact and so constructed as to render the movable contact movable toward and away from a fixed contact, a joint member made of a metallic material with an insertion hole formed substantially in the center thereof for movably receiving a movable shaft fixedly attached to the movable iron core, and a metal plate made of a non-magnetic material with a hole formed substantially in the center thereof with the inner diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the cylindrical part, the cylindrical part and the joint member are air-tightly jointed to each other with the metal plate provided therebetween, and the movable iron core is housed in the cylindrical part with a clearance defined between the movable iron core and the joint member corresponding to a required stroke within which the movable contact contacts the fixed contact. This arrangement provides improvement in magnetic efficiency of electromagnet of the device. Accordingly, improved energy saving performance is accomplished as compared with a case of a conventional electromagnetic switching device.

This is directed to a dome switch that includes a capacitive sensor. A dome switch can include a dome operative to deform to provide tactile feedback to a user. To provide an electrical instruction to the device, the region underneath the dome can define a free space separating conductive regions forming a capacitor. For example, a tip of the dome, a button placed between the dome and a circuit board, or a user's finger can form a first conductor of a capacitor, and a support structure for the dome can include a terminal forming a second conductor completing the capacitor. When the dome deflects, the distance between the conductors can change and provide a measurable capacitance variation, which the device can detect. To protect the dome switch from damage due to contaminants, the terminal can be integrated within a volume of the circuit board such that it is not exposed to the environment of the dome switch. In one implementation, the terminal may not be exposed to air.

A method, system, and apparatus for interrogating a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag population are described. Tags are interrogated by a reader. The reader and tags engage in communication according to binary traversal algorithms, where single bit data symbols are exchanged between the reader and tags. Furthermore, a reader implicitly controls the operating state of every tag in the tag population by transmitting a single data symbol. Bit patterns may be collected from the tags by the reader, using a variety of interrogation techniques. In a general interrogation, the reader exchanges symbols with the tag population to interrogate the entire tag population. In a specific interrogation, a reader exchanges symbols with the tag population to target a particular tag identification number. Tags may also be placed in a superposition state by the reader, where they respond whenever a received data symbol matches the next bit of their identification number.

A keyboard mechanism for a low-travel keyboard and methods of fabrication are described. The low-travel keyboard is suitable for a thin-profile computing device, such as a laptop computer, netbook computer, desktop computer, etc. The keyboard includes a key cap that can be formed of a variety of materials in the form of a flat slab. The key cap is attached to one end of a support lever that supports it from underneath. In one embodiment, the support lever is formed of a rigid material and is pivotally coupled with a substrate on the other end. In another embodiment, the support lever is formed of a flexible material and is fixedly attached to the substrate on the other end. The portion of the support lever that is attached to the key cap is positioned over a metal dome that can be deformed to activate the switch circuitry of the membrane on printed circuit board underneath the dome.

The present invention relates to switch or volume control assemblies, in particular to switch or volume control assemblies to be mounted in e.g. hearing aids, said assembly comprising a movable member, such as a wheel-like member positioned between at least two detachable parts defining the exterior of a housing, the movable member having a part extending out of the housing, the movable member engaging a contact member so as to move the contact member with the movable member.

In the electromagnetic switching device, it is possible to miniaturize and have low costs, have quiet operation noise, and also quickly extinguish the arc. The electromagnetic switching device has an electromagnetic actuator with a movable iron core, a pair of fixed terminals that respectively have a fixed contact point, a movable contact that has movable contact points on the right and left ends, a shaft, and an enclosing component that holds the movable contact points and the fixed contact points. The pair of movable contact points respectively contact with and detach from the pair of fixed contact points, and the pair of fixed contact points respectively conduct each other and are insulated again through the shaft by moving the movable iron core along the axis using the electric magnetic actuator. A quasi-hermetically sealed space, which is the extinguishing space, is formed by the enclosing component and a first yoke. A potting compound is charged, into the space between a body and the quasi hermitically sealed space.

A sensor for identifying fingerprints or other skin textures includes an array of cells each including a membrane switch. Each switch includes a fixed lower electrode disposed on a chip substrate, and a flexible membrane disposed over the lower electrode and capable of flexing downward to establish electrical contact between the lower electrode and an upper electrode. The upper electrode can form the membrane itself or a layer of the membrane, or can be attached to other membrane layers. Switches situated underneath skin ridges change state (e.g. are closed) by the applied pressure, while switches underneath skin valleys remain in their quiescent state (e.g. open). Adjacent switch chambers are connected by fluid tunnels which allow the passage of air between the chambers. Each chamber is substantially closed to the exterior of the sensor, such that particles from the environment cannot contaminate the switch contact surface defined between the switch electrodes. The cells are preferably not hermetically sealed, such that the pressure within the chamber interiors can stay equal to the external (atmospheric) pressure in varying environmental conditions. The membrane design of the cells according to the preferred embodiment allows improved sensor robustness, enhanced resistance to impact forces, decreased vulnerability to particle contamination, and reduced inter-cell crosstalk.

The present invention relates to micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). The present invention relates to a design feature that allows lower actuation voltage for electrostatically actuated structures (i.e., switches or mirrors). The present invention further relates to a method for fabricating such a design that allows lower actuation voltage.

A key module includes a circuit board including a first conductive portion, a spacer sheet, a membrane circuit board, an elastic assembly, and a keycap. The spacer sheet is fixed on the circuit board, and defines a through hole. The membrane circuit board is fixed on the spacer sheet, and includes a second conductive portion. The elastic assembly is fixed on the membrane circuit board. The keycap is resiliently supported by the elastic assembly, and includes a body and an oxide film attached on the body. The body is made of a first type of metal. The oxide film is made of a second type of metal and for protecting the body. When the keycap is pressed, the elastic assembly deforms, the second conductive portion passes through the through hole to electrically connect with the first conductive portion, so as to form a closed circuit.

An improved rocker-type switch has a toggle member pivotably mounted on a central pivot member in a frame of a top housing part joined to a bottom housing part holding switch contacts in a modular block subassembly. A pair of movable contact arms is actuated by spring-biased actuator members held in the central pivot member. The modular block subassembly has an insulative top block member, a top switch contact plate with switch contacts on upright tabs inserted through slots in the top block member, an insulative bottom block member sandwiching the top switch contact plate, and a bottom switch contact plate having switch contacts on upright tabs inserted through slots in the bottom and top block members, forming a pair of opposing switch contact positions for the movable contact arms. The switch contact plates have clip portions for inserting the tabs of respective switch contact terminal plates therein. For different switch configurations, e.g., single-pole, double-pole, 3-way, or 4-way operation, the switch contact plates are changed, but the same block subassembly and other parts can be used, thereby minimizing change of the surrounding parts, limiting insulative molding costs, eliminating tolerance stack-up, and facilitating assembly through automation.