An automatic hold switch is disclosed. The automatic hold switch provides a means for automatically switching a hold feature on and off. When the hold feature is on, one or more input devices of a portable electronic device are disabled or prevented from providing input signals. When the hold feature is off, one or more input devices of a portable electronic device are enabled or allowed to provide input signals. Because the user no longer has to manually control the hold feature, the number of actions that need to be taken by the user is reduced. In one example, the automatic hold switch is embodied with light sensors that detect when the device is in a dark environment and when the device is in a light environment. A dark environment indicates to the portable electronic device that the user wishes not to input and therefore the hold feature is turned on. A lighted environment indicates to the portable electronic device that the user wishes to input and therefore the hold feature is turned off.

A switch interface for a remote device includes circuitry coupled to at least first and second terminals of the switch interface, configured to receive power over a two-wire connection through the at least first and second terminals. The circuitry is configured to send information regarding a parameter sensed by the remote device through the at least first and second terminals over the two-wire connection. The circuitry is operable to provide the power to the remote device and send the information when first and second wires of the two-wire connection are connected to the at least first and second terminals in a first polarity and a second polarity different from the first polarity.

A device is for guiding a spring belonging to a control mechanism. The device includes two elements capable of sliding relative to one another and being linked in an articulated manner respectively to two axes of which at least one is linked mechanically to an operating shaft, and a compression spring mounted around these two elements and bearing by its two opposing ends respectively on the abovementioned two axes via, respectively, two bases, each of its bases being mounted in an articulated manner relative to one of the abovementioned axes. This device includes two rods, each rod being fixed by one of its ends onto one of the abovementioned bases, and being mounted to slide by its opposite end, relative to the other of the abovementioned bases.

A solar cell management system for increasing the efficiency and power output of a solar cell and methods for making and using the same. The management system provides an electric field across an individual solar cell, an array of solar cells configured as a panel, or a group of solar panels. The imposed electric field exerts a force on both the electrons and holes created by light incident on the solar cell and accelerates the electron-hole pairs towards the electrodes of the solar cell. Compared to conventional solar cells, these accelerated electron-hole pairs travel a shorter distance from creation (by incident optical radiation) and spend less time within the solar cell material, therefore the electron-hole pairs have a lower likelihood of recombining within the cells' semiconductor's material. This reduction in the electron-hole recombination rate results in an overall increase in the solar cells' efficiency and greater power output.

When an anomaly is determined in the transition of ECUs to a power saving state, a power supply control system sequentially turns on current supply switches while keeping a bypass switch on. A monitoring controller determines an anomaly in the transition of the ECUs to a power saving state on the basis of whether the dark current in the ECUs calculated from the amount of change at that time in the current in the power supply line is greater than an ordinary dark current. Further, in the startup state of the ECUs, power from a power supply can be supplied to the ECUs via the power supply line and individual supply lines.

A piezoelectric device includes a first region for receiving a pressing operation and a second region located outside of the first region. A piezoelectric element outputs a stronger potential when a pressing operation is applied to the first region than when the pressing operation is applied to the second region.

The load-detecting device 1 includes a base 2 engaged with a pair of S springs 100, and a load detection sensor unit SU that is mounted on the base 2 and includes a first electrode 52 and a second electrode 62 facing each other and being brought into contact with each other by pressing force of the seat cushion SC when a load is detected, The upper surface 47S of the load detection sensor unit SU that is pressed by the seat cushion SC when a load is detected is located at the same height as or higher than the upper ends 101 of the respective S springs 100, with which the base 2 is engaged, and the contact surface between the first electrode 52 and the second electrode 62 is located lower than the upper ends 101 of the respective S springs 100, with which the base 2 is engaged.

The load-detecting device 1 includes a base 2 engaged with a pair of S springs 100, and a load detection sensor unit SU that is mounted on the base 2 and includes a first electrode 52 and a second electrode 62 facing each other and being brought into contact with each other by pressing force of the seat cushion SC when a load is detected, The upper surface 47S of the load detection sensor unit SU that is pressed by the seat cushion SC when a load is detected is located at the same height as or higher than the upper ends 101 of the respective S springs 100, with which the base 2 is engaged, and the contact surface between the first electrode 52 and the second electrode 62 is located lower than the upper ends 101 of the respective S springs 100, with which the base 2 is engaged.

A solar cell management system for increasing the efficiency and power output of a solar cell and methods for making and using the same. The management system provides an electric field across an individual solar cell, an array of solar cells configured as a panel, or a group of solar panels. The imposed electric field exerts a force on both the electrons and holes created by light incident on the solar cell and accelerates the electron-hole pairs towards the electrodes of the solar cell. Compared to conventional solar cells, these accelerated electron-hole pairs travel a shorter distance from creation (by incident optical radiation) and spend less time within the solar cell material, therefore the electron-hole pairs have a lower likelihood of recombining within the cells' semiconductor's material. This reduction in the electron-hole recombination rate results in an overall increase in the solar cells' efficiency and greater power output.

A multi-optical axis photoelectric sensor includes: a pair of body-side packings which seal between a body housing and both side edges of a light transmissive plate; first packings which seal between caps and the side edges of the light transmissive plate, and between the caps and end portions of the light transmissive plate, and which are connected to the pair of body-side packings; and second packings which are integrally molded with the first packings, respectively, and which seal between the caps and the body housing.