A sensor that includes a switch unit and that detects a pressure applied from the front side to the switch unit or a finger approaching the switch unit from the front side is located on the back side of upholstery. A base member has a protruding portion on its surface. The upholstery includes: a light-transmitting region that is located over a light guide portion of the base member and the switch unit of the sensor and that allows light from a light source to transmit therethrough to the front side; and a non-light-transmitting region that blocks the light from the light source. A raised portion that is raised on the front side of the upholstery is located near the light-transmitting region in the non-light-transmitting region of the upholstery. The protruding portion of the base member is placed in the raised portion from the back side of the upholstery.

A sensor that includes a switch unit and that detects a pressure applied from the front side to the switch unit or a finger approaching the switch unit from the front side is located on the back side of upholstery. A base member has a protruding portion on its surface. The upholstery includes: a light-transmitting region that is located over a light guide portion of the base member and the switch unit of the sensor and that allows light from a light source to transmit therethrough to the front side; and a non-light-transmitting region that blocks the light from the light source. A raised portion that is raised on the front side of the upholstery is located near the light-transmitting region in the non-light-transmitting region of the upholstery. The protruding portion of the base member is placed in the raised portion from the back side of the upholstery.

Switch assemblies and switching methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, a switch assembly may include a first blade having a first contact within an enclosed cavity, and a second blade having a second contact within the enclosed cavity. The first and second contacts are operable to make or break contact with one another in response to a magnetic field. The switch assembly may further include a coating formed over each of the first and second contacts, the coating including a titanium layer, a second layer formed over the titanium layer, and a tungsten-copper layer formed over the second layer. In some embodiments, the second layer is copper or molybdenum.

A security switch for detecting an actuator comprises a magnetic field source, a magnetically susceptible object, and a circuit. The magnetic field source is configured to produce a magnetic field gradient. The magnetically susceptible object is suspended at a first position at least in part due to the magnetic field gradient and shiftable to a second position when the actuator affects the magnetic field gradient. The circuit is configured to detect when the object is in the second position.

A switch assembly for adapting a non-contact switch into a contact triggered switch, such that the internal electrical state of the non-contact switch can be triggered by mechanical contact with an object or surface. The switch assembly can include an adapter body coupled to the non-contact switch and an actuation body coupled to the adapter body. The actuation body can be movable relative to the adapter body to selectively position a target supported by the actuation body within a sensing region of the non-contact switch. The actuation body can be moved by an external object making contact with a portion of the actuation body.

A flat switch is provided that prevents the flat switch from protruding and thereby causing a poor appearance even in a case where it is required to install a switch box so that an end part on an opening side of the switch box is not positioned on a predetermined distance or deeper side with respect to an appearance surface that is a surface of a wall. A flat switch (1) of the present invention is a flat switch (1) that is installed in a switch box (100) having a bottom part (101) and a vertical wall part (102) which is provided along an outer periphery of the bottom part (101). The switch box (100) is installed so that, with respect to an appearance surface that is a front surface of a wall, a peripheral edge part (102A) is not positioned on a predetermined distance or deeper side in a depth direction of the wall from the appearance surface. The flat switch (1) includes a sensor unit (20) whose thickest part in a direction from the peripheral edge part (102A) of the switch box (100) to the bottom part (101) is thicker than a predetermined distance in a state of being installed in the switch box and whose outer shape is smaller than an inner shape of the peripheral edge part (102A) of the switch box (100).

A flat switch is provided that prevents the flat switch from protruding and thereby causing a poor appearance even in a case where it is required to install a switch box so that an end part on an opening side of the switch box is not positioned on a predetermined distance or deeper side with respect to an appearance surface that is a surface of a wall. A flat switch (1) of the present invention is a flat switch (1) that is installed in a switch box (100) having a bottom part (101) and a vertical wall part (102) which is provided along an outer periphery of the bottom part (101). The switch box (100) is installed so that, with respect to an appearance surface that is a front surface of a wall, a peripheral edge part (102A) is not positioned on a predetermined distance or deeper side in a depth direction of the wall from the appearance surface. The flat switch (1) includes a sensor unit (20) whose thickest part in a direction from the peripheral edge part (102A) of the switch box (100) to the bottom part (101) is thicker than a predetermined distance in a state of being installed in the switch box and whose outer shape is smaller than an inner shape of the peripheral edge part (102A) of the switch box (100).

A rotational operation unit includes a rotational operation member that is rotatable, an annular magnet configured to integrally rotate with the rotational operation member, and a magnet holding member configured to rotatably hold the magnet and including an undulated portion configured to generate a click sense as the rotational operation member rotates. The magnet includes a positioner configured to determine a position relative to the magnet holding member.

A capacitive sensor has first electrodes, a second electrode, and a third electrode, which are disposed at places where a manipulating body that is part of a human body such as a finger is detected. The capacitive sensor also has a capacitance detecting means and a deciding means. The deciding means identifies the number of manipulating bodies and directions (positions) according to the capacitances of the first electrodes, second electrode, and third electrode.

A capacitive sensor has first electrodes, a second electrode, and a third electrode, which are disposed at places where a manipulating body that is part of a human body such as a finger is detected. The capacitive sensor also has a capacitance detecting means and a deciding means. The deciding means identifies the number of manipulating bodies and directions (positions) according to the capacitances of the first electrodes, second electrode, and third electrode.