Electricity: circuit makers and breakers inventions 05/06

20060108208 - Dimmer switch: A switch for adjusting a plurality of states of a load is provided having a large paddle actuator for adjusting a first state of a lightning load and incorporating an integrated rocker switch for adjusting a second state of a lighting load. The switch also comprises a concealed air-gap switch...

20060108209 - Liquid metal switch employing electrowetting for actuation and architectures for implementing same: An electronic switch comprises a substrate having a surface and an embedded electrode, a droplet of conductive liquid located over the embedded electrode, and a power source configured to create an electric circuit including the droplet of conductive liquid. The surface comprises a feature that determines a contact angle between...

20060108210 - Push button: A push button includes a button main body portion which is provided between a packaging substrate placed under it and a casing portion located above it, a light source placed on the packaging substrate, and a light-guide portion which guides light from the light source to an outer periphery of...

20060108211 - Rocker paddle switch with articulated cam driver: There is disclosed a paddle switch operated by pushing on the lower portion of a rocker paddle to turn the switch “on” or “off”. The lower edge of the paddle pivots in and out about its upper edge. The switch includes articulated driver means coupled to be driven by the...

20060102452 - Flexible sheet for resistive touch screen: A resistive touch screen, comprising: a) a substrate; b) a first conductive layer located on the substrate; c) a flexible cover sheet having integral compressible spacer dots; and d) a second conductive layer located on the flexible cover sheet between and over the integral spacer dots, and having localized areas...

20060102453 - Switch device: A switch device includes an operation knob rotatably supported by a case, and switch mechanisms which can convert a switch circuit (not shown) disposed inside the case by performing a rocking operation on the operation knob. A cam member having a cam face which can deliver click feelings to the...

20060102454 - Warning system for ignition switch: A warning system for an ignition switch that includes a housing of the ignition switch and a plunger having at least a portion slidably received in the housing, a key abutment end and a contact abutment end opposite the key abutment end. The plunger is movable between first and second...

20060102455 - Electrochemical methods, devices, and structures: The present invention provides devices and structures and methods of use thereof in electrochemical actuation. This invention provides electrochemical actuators, which are based, inter-alia, on an electric field-driven intercalation or alloying of high-modulus inorganic compounds, which can produce large and reversible volume changes, providing high actuation energy density, high actuation...

20060102456 - Lighted switch apparatus: A lighted switch apparatus includes a casing (upper case) that has an opening; an operating part that is movable and has at least a pair of indicators; and a light source that is disposed in the casing (the upper case and a lower case). In this case, the operating knob...

20060102457 - Button device for computer bezel: A button device includes abase (11) mounted to a bezel (30) of an electronic device. A plurality of button units (17) are disposed in the base (11), and a plurality of through holes (13) are abreast provided in the base (11) in correspondence with the button unit (17). The button...

20060102459 - Clutch for an electric lock motor: A clutch for an electric motor includes a pinion with a groove, a hub with a cleat and a spring. The pinion is mounted freely on a drive shaft, and the hub is mounted integrally on the drive shaft. The spring includes end legs housed in the groove of the...

20060102458 - Tamper resistant pin entry apparatus: Disclosed is a tamper resistant PIN entry apparatus for input of a key and for encryption of a password in a cash transaction machine. The PIN entry apparatus supplies the electric power to a memory of an electric circuit section, in such a manner that a first rod and a...

20060102463 - Flexible sheet for resistive touch screen: A resistive touch screen, comprising: a) a substrate; b) a first conductive layer located on the substrate; c) a flexible cover sheet having integral compressible spacer dots; d) a second conductive layer located on the flexible cover sheet between and over the integral spacer dots; and e) an insulative layer...

20060102461 - Resistive touch screen having conductive mesh: A touch screen comprising: a) a substrate; b) a first conductive layer located on the substrate; c) a flexible sheet comprising a substantially planar surface and integral compressible spacer dots formed thereon, each integral compressible spacer dot having a base closest to the planar surface and a peak furthest from...

20060102460 - Touch screen having undercut spacer dots: A touch screen comprising: a) a substrate; b) a first conductive layer located on the substrate; c) a flexible sheet comprising a substantially planar surface and integral compressible spacer dots formed thereon, each integral compressible spacer dot having a base closest to the substantially planar surface and a peak furthest...

20060102462 - Variable spacer dots for touch screen: A touch screen comprising: a) a substrate; b) a first conductive layer located on the substrate; c) a flexible sheet comprising a substantially planar surface and integral compressible spacer dots formed thereon, each integral compressible spacer dot having a base closest to the substantially planar surface and a peak furthest...

20060096845 - Rotary actuator: A control element for control devices for motor vehicles is provided. The control element includes a rotary actuator seated in bearings, and a stationary key located inside the rotary actuator, and a means for forming a click-stop arrangement, whereby by the bearing, particularly a ball bearing, the rotary actuator is...

20060096846 - Contact pad designed for a movable electrical contact of a circuit breaker, movable electrical contact having such a pad and circuit breaker comprising such a contact: Contact pad designed to be fixed on a movable contact of a low-voltage circuit breaker designed to withstand peak short-circuit currents comprised between 200 and 600 amperes per square millimetre of pad. The pad is made of a silver- or copper-based conducting material alloy, a fraction of refractory particles such...

20060096847 - Diaphragm for use in switch, method for manufacturing thereof, membrane switch, and input device: A dome-shaped diaphragm includes a convex portion; a base portion provided on an outer periphery of the convex portion; and a pressing force reducing portion provided in at least one of the convex portion and the base portion. Examples of the pressing force reducing portion may be a hole portion,...

20060096848 - Lever-type connector and lever-type connector assembly: A lever (30) can be assembled in either of two postures symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry (19), and the rotating direction of the lever (30) changes depending on the assembling posture. Thus, the rotating direction of the lever (30) can be selected depending on circumstances. A cam...

20060090989 - Rotary changeover switch: A movable plate provided with movable contact points rotatable around a shaft hole of a base plate is disposed and a plurality of stationary contact points are on the base plate in both side of the shaft hole in such a way to surround the shaft hole with the stationary...

20060090990 - Illuminated foot-switch: A control system for an electrosurgical instrument includes a housing selectively positionable relative to an operating theater with the housing being coupled to an electrosurgical energy source. The system also includes at least one foot-activatable pedal operatively engaged with the housing which has indicia identifying the function of the pedal...

20060090991 - Vehicle switch: A vehicle switch includes a case having a through-hole through the top face thereof, an operating body, a switch contact, an elastic cover, and a sliding part. The top end of the operating body projects from the through-hole. The operating body is housed in the case vertically movable. The switch...

20060090992 - Key switch: A base head member has a cam body receiving portion in a center portion thereof, bridge portions are provided in both sides of the cam body receiving portion, a shaft bearing portion is provided in both the bridge portions, and the cam body is held in the base head member...

20060090993 - Information input system for terminal and multifunctional button assembly for use in the same: Embodiments of the invention provide an information input system for a terminal and a multifunctional button assembly for use in the information input system and methods for operating the same. The multifunctional button assembly can include a lever control button, a rotary button and a switch that can be mounted...