An inhibitor switch is provided. The inhibitor switch includes a housing having a rotor accommodation space and a Hall element accommodation space, a rotor disposed in the rotor accommodation space, and a magnet disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the rotor. A Hall element is disposed in the Hall element accommodation space and spaced apart horizontally from the magnet with a sensing surface facing an outer circumferential surface of the magnet. Further, the inhibitor switch include a cover configured to block an opening of the rotor accommodation space to prevent the rotor from being released.

An input device includes a base, an operation panel, and a shaft portion. The input device includes a first operation knob having a first operation part to swing the panel in a first swing direction and a second operation part to swing the panel in a second swing direction, the second operation knob having a third operation part to swing the panel in the second swing direction and a fourth operation part to swing the operation panel in the first swing direction. The input device includes a control unit to discriminate between a pressing operation and a pulling-up operation based on based on output of each of a swing detector, a first capacitance detection electrode, and a second capacitance detection electrode.

A method for performing a low energy pulse testing in a power distribution network that causes contacts to close and then open in about one fundamental frequency cycle of current flow time and close on a voltage waveform that produces symmetrical fault current. The method includes energizing a magnetic actuator to move the actuator against the bias of a spring to move a movable contact towards a fixed contact. The method also includes de-energizing the actuator when the movable contact makes contact with the fixed contact so as to allow the spring to move the movable contact away from the fixed contact so that the amount of time that the current conducts is about one fundamental frequency cycle of the current, where energizing the magnetic actuator occurs when an applied voltage on the switch assembly is at a peak of the voltage wave so that the current is symmetric.

A method for performing a low energy pulse testing in a power distribution network that causes contacts to close and then open in about one fundamental frequency cycle of current flow time and close on a voltage waveform that produces symmetrical fault current. The method includes energizing a magnetic actuator to move the actuator against the bias of a spring to move a movable contact towards a fixed contact. The method also includes de-energizing the actuator when the movable contact makes contact with the fixed contact so as to allow the spring to move the movable contact away from the fixed contact so that the amount of time that the current conducts is about one fundamental frequency cycle of the current, where energizing the magnetic actuator occurs when an applied voltage on the switch assembly is at a peak of the voltage wave so that the current is symmetric.

A three-way switch associated with an entry point barrier may provide a security system with information regarding a position of the entry point barrier as it moves along a path of travel. As the entry point barrier moves, the three-way switch may come into proximity with an external object, and the three-way switch may indicate to the security system that a circuit associated with the three-way switch has been closed. The security system may determine that the entry point barrier is in a given position, and one or more security system policies associated with the given position may be activated.

An input device includes a first part and a second part configured to move relative to each other according to an input operation, a magnetic viscous fluid whose viscosity changes according to a magnetic field, and a magnetic-field generator that generates the magnetic field applied to the magnetic viscous fluid. The second part includes a first surface and a second surface that are arranged in a direction orthogonal to a direction of relative movement between the first part and the second part. Gaps are formed between the first surface and the first part and between the second surface and the first part, and the magnetic viscous fluid is present in at least a part of the gaps.

A magnetic switch assembly comprising a toggle bar and a switch actuator each rotatable between a first position and a second position, at least one set of magnets including a first magnet mounted on the proximal end portion of the toggle bar and a second magnet mounted on the proximal end portion of the switch actuator and a corresponding pair of electrical contacts including a first electrical contact coupled to a first electrical conductor and a second electrical contact coupled to a second electrical conductor wherein the toggle bar is normally bias in the first position when the switch actuator is in the first position with the first magnet disposed in spaced relationship relative to the second magnet when each is in the first position and having a gap therebetween such that the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact engage each other to complete an electrical circuit between the first electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor and when the switch actuator is moved from the first position to the second position decreasing the gap between the first magnet and the second magnet as the magnetic attraction therebetween overcomes the toggle bar bias disengaging the second electrical contact from the first electrical contact to create an open electrical circuit.

It is provided a protection device for being provided inside a key fob to selectively inactivate the key fob. The protection device comprises: a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer; an insulator layer between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the insulator layer preventing conductive contact between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer; and a switch conductively coupled between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the switch being wirelessly controllable to be in a conductive state or a blocking state.

To provide an input operation device capable of detecting, using a simple configuration, a first operation of touching an operation surface with an operation body and a second operation of pressing the operation surface with the operation body. An input operation device 11 includes a detection value changing part 31, which changes a detection value of a capacitive sensor 12, and a supporting part 41, which supports a touch sensor part 21 in a state in which the detection value changing part 31 and the touch sensor part 21 are separated from each other. The detection value changing part 31 is arranged on a back surface 24 side opposite to the operation surface 22 of the touch sensor part 21, and changes the detection value depending on contact with the detection part 23. The supporting part 41 includes an elastically shape-changeable part 42, which elastically changes shape so as to bring the detection part 23 into contact with the detection value changing part 31 in response to pressing of the operation surface 22. The capacitive sensor 12 of the input operation device 11 generates a first detection value indicating a first operation of touching the operation surface 22 and a second detection value indicating a second operation of pressing the operation surface 22 toward the detection value changing part 31.

An input device comprising a processor(s), an input element, an electropermanent magnet (EPM) assembly including: a permanent magnet operable to generate a magnetic field; and a magnetizing assembly configured to set a magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet, a first ferromagnetic element, and a second ferromagnetic element. The first ferromagnetic element is configured to part and move away from the second ferromagnetic element as the input element is depressed. When the EPM assembly magnetizes the permanent magnet to a first polarity, the first and second ferromagnetic elements are magnetically attracted to each other and provide an attracting that magnetically opposes the first and second ferromagnetic elements from parting, and when the EPM assembly magnetizes the permanent magnet to a second polarity, the first and second ferromagnetic elements are not magnetically attracted to each other and do not magnetically oppose the first and second ferromagnetic elements from parting.