A contact assembly for an electrical device and a method for making such an assembly are presented. The contact assembly comprises a substrate and a contact material disposed on the substrate. The contact material comprises a composite material comprising a refractory material and a matrix material. The matrix material has a higher ductility than the refractory material. The composite material further comprises a core region and an outer region bounding the core region, the core region having a higher concentration of the refractory material than the outer region. The method applies cold spraying a blended feedstock to produce a layer that includes the composite material described above.

A method for manufacturing a membrane switch member that can be manufactured easily and that can be caused to function as an electrostatic sensor even when a protruding portion is pressed. Injection molding by injecting a material including a supercritical fluid gas and a resin material in a mixed state; and, after the injection molding, removing a first mold from a second mold, causing gas produced within the injection molded resin to grow in concave portions, thereby causing the concave portions to invert to a protruding state; and manufacturing a membrane switch member in which voids are formed between the protruding portions and a molding resin layer, and portions other than the portions corresponding to the protruding portions are adhered to the resin layer by an adhesion layer.

The pool water level and vacuum monitor is a device that is adapted to be seated on a pool deck adjacent to a swimming pool, and which monitors water level when filling a pool liner whilst a vacuum is removing air from behind a pool liner and a concrete wall of a pool. Moreover, the pool water level and vacuum monitor includes a telescoping armature that extends aside of a housing. The telescoping armature includes a cord and a float member on a distal end of the cord. The float member is adapted to rest on a pool surface of the swimming pool, and moves to close a float switch integrated in the float member. The float switch is able to turn off all circuitry associated within the housing.

A silver-plated product having a higher hardness and more excellent wear resistance than those of conventional silver-plated products, and a method for producing the same. In a method for producing a silver-plated product by forming a surface layer of silver on a base material by electroplating at a current density in a silver-plating solution which is an aqueous solution containing silver potassium cyanide or silver cyanide, potassium cyanide or sodium cyanide, and a benzimidazole (such as 2-mercaptobenzmimidazole or 2-mercaptobenzimidazole sulfonic acid sodium salt dihydrate), the ratios of the concentrations of silver potassium cyanide or silver cyanide, potassium cyanide or sodium cyanide, and the imidazole to the current density during the silver-plating (or the ratios of the concentrations of silver potassium cyanide or silver cyanide and the imidazole to the current density during the silver plating, and the concentration of potassium cyanide or sodium cyanide) are set to be predetermined ranges, respectively.

A contact has a flat surface and a side surface that is parallel to the flat surface. At least a part of the side surface is curved so as to swell. At least a part of the contact is able to be elastically deformed in parallel to the flat surface.

A contact has a flat surface and a side surface that is parallel to the flat surface. At least a part of the side surface is curved so as to swell. At least a part of the contact is able to be elastically deformed in parallel to the flat surface.

Examples are disclosed that relate to magnetically aligned switching circuits. One disclosed example provides an electronic component comprising a first terminal, a second terminal, and a deformable host material arranged between the first terminal and the second terminal. Aligned magnetically within the host material is an ensemble of particles each comprising a ferromagnetic material, each particle having greater electrical conductivity than the host material. The ensemble of particles is configured to form at least one complete conduction path from the first terminal to the second terminal.

Examples are disclosed that relate to magnetically aligned switching circuits. One disclosed example provides an electronic component comprising a first terminal, a second terminal, and a deformable host material arranged between the first terminal and the second terminal. Aligned magnetically within the host material is an ensemble of particles each comprising a ferromagnetic material, each particle having greater electrical conductivity than the host material. The ensemble of particles is configured to form at least one complete conduction path from the first terminal to the second terminal.

An embedded pole is provided which includes a conductive path and a movable contact. The movable contact is selectively movable between a first position in which the conductive path is closed and a second position in which the conductive path is open. An insulation element is coupled to and selectively movable in conjunction with the movable contact. The embedded pole further includes a sensor coupled to the insulation element and operable to detect a displacement of the insulation element that corresponds to a movement of the movable contact between the first position and the second position.

An embedded pole is provided which includes a conductive path and a movable contact. The movable contact is selectively movable between a first position in which the conductive path is closed and a second position in which the conductive path is open. An insulation element is coupled to and selectively movable in conjunction with the movable contact. The embedded pole further includes a sensor coupled to the insulation element and operable to detect a displacement of the insulation element that corresponds to a movement of the movable contact between the first position and the second position.