A switch includes a switch housing having a receiving space, a conductive fixed contact element and a conductive active contact element which are provided in the receiving space and being electrically connected to two terminals of the switch respectively, an actuating member reciprocating movable in a predetermined actuating direction between a rest position and an actuated position, and a conductive spring contact element movable with the actuating element. The spring contact element is in constant contact with the fixed contact element and switched between a state of being in contact with a conductive contact surface of the active contact element and a state of being disconnecting with the conductive contact surface of the active contact element. The actuating element is moved back from the actuated position to the rest position due to spring force of the spring contact element.

A method for fabricating an MEMS switch including providing a substrate and printing at least one metal bias electrode, at least one metal connection pad and at least one metal contact pad on the substrate. The method then prints a sacrificial layer on the substrate and over the at least one bias electrode, and prints a flexible beam structure on the sacrificial layer. The sacrificial layer is then removed by dissolving the sacrificial layer in a wet solution to release the beam structure so that the beam structure is spaced some distance from the at least one bias electrode and the contact pad.

A system and method are disclosed for monitoring at least one relay contact. The system may include an emitter adapted for communication with a relay contact and configured to emit a signal, and a receiver adapted for communication with the relay contact and configured to detect a signal emitted by the emitter. The system may further include a controller adapted for communication with the emitter and receiver, and configured to determine an open or closed state of the relay contact. The controller may control the emitter to emit a signal, may determine a closed state of the relay contact if the receiver detects the signal, and may determine an open state of the relay contact if the receiver fails to detect the signal.

On seed metal layer of first metal, pedestal and counter electrode are formed of second metal by plating, adjacent to free space region. The free space region is filled with first sacrificial layer. By using resist pattern, second sacrificial metal layer is formed, extending from the first sacrificial layer to a portion of the pedestal, and lower structure of third metal is formed on the second sacrificial layer, by contiguous plating, exposing a portion of the pedestal not formed with the second sacrificial layer, the third metal having composition and thermal expansion coefficient equivalent to the second metal. Upper structure of fourth metal having composition and thermal expansion coefficient equivalent to the second and third metals is formed on the pedestal and the lower structure by plating. The first and second sacrificial layers are removed, leaving an electric equipment with a movable portion.

Embodiments of switches (10) include electrically-conductive housings (30, 60), and electrical conductors (34, 64) suspended within and electrically isolated from the housings (30, 60). Another electrical conductor (52) is configured to move between a first position at which the electrical conductor (52) is electrically isolated from the electrical conductors (34, 64) within the housings (30, 60), and a second position at which the electrical conductor (52) is in electrical contact with the electrical conductors (34, 64) within the housings (30, 60). The switches (10) further include an actuator (70, 72, 74, 76) comprising an electrically-conductive base (80) and an electrically-conductive arm (82a, 82b) having a first end restrained by the base (80). The electrical conductor (52) is supported by the arm (82a, 82b), and the arm (82a, 82b) is operative to deflect and thereby move the electrical conductor (52) between its first and second positions.

An apparatus for use with a dynamoelectric machine includes a main body configured for attachment to a brush holder. A proximity sensor is on the main body, and the proximity sensor is configured for detecting the presence of a brush located at least partially inside the brush holder. The apparatus receives power from a battery located inside the apparatus, and transmits a wireless signal. The wireless signal is transformable into an indication of a remaining life of the brush. The apparatus is configured to be fully operational when the dynamoelectric machine is neither energized nor in operation, as the apparatus receives power from the battery.

An electrical circuit includes a contact with a pair of switchable electrodes, the contact configured to cycle through make and break transitions while conducting current. The electrical circuit further includes an arc suppressor, at least one sensor, and a controller circuit. The arc suppressor is coupled across the pair of switchable electrodes and is to extinguish an arc formed across the pair of switchable electrodes during the make and break transitions of the contact. The at least one sensor is coupled to the pair of switchable electrodes and is configured to generate sensor data. The controller circuit includes a plurality of registers and is configured to detect a fault condition associated with the contact based on the sensor data. The controller circuit further sequences contact opening of the contact based on the detected fault condition and a timing value stored in at least one register of the plurality of registers.

A power conversion circuit includes a high-side switch and a low-side switch connected in series with one another and configured to control a load current flowing through a load, wherein at least one of the high-side switch and the low-side switch comprise a power relay circuit for switching the load current, and wherein the power relay circuit comprises a micro-electro-mechanical system switch, and a semiconductor power switch, wherein the MEMS switch and the semiconductor power switch are connected in series with the load.

A hermetically sealed component may comprise a glass substrate, a device with at least one electrical port associated with the glass substrate, and a glass cap. The glass cap may have at least one side wall. The glass cap may have a shaped void extending therethrough, from top surface of the glass cap to bottom surface of glass pillar. An electrically conductive plug may be disposed within the void, the plug configured to hermetically seal the void. The electrically conductive plug may be electrically coupled to the electrical port. The glass cap may be disposed on the glass substrate, with the at least one side wall disposed therebetween, to form a cavity encompassing the device. The side wall may contact the glass substrate and the glass cap to provide a hermetic seal, such that a first environment within the cavity is isolated from a second environment external to the cavity.

A food equipment device, such as a warewasher, includes a powered component, the powered component being one of a heating element or a pump or a fan, and a power line path for delivering power to the powered component. A contactor is provided for controlling power delivery to the powered component, the contactor including main power contacts connected in the power line path and auxiliary contacts that operate the same as, or opposite to, the main power contacts. A monitoring system is operatively connected to the auxiliary contacts to monitor an open or closed state of the auxiliary contacts and includes a voltage source operatively connected to one of the auxiliary contacts and an electrical sensor for detecting one of (i) a voltage condition of the other auxiliary contact or (ii) a current flow condition between the auxiliary contacts.