The invention relates to an operating apparatus (3) for operating at least one electrical appliance (6) in a motor vehicle (1), comprising an operating element (4) and comprising a circuit board (11) with a first side (12), on which a switching element (14) is arranged, wherein the switching element (14) is switchable when the operating element (4) is actuated, wherein the circuit board (11) is arranged between the operating element (4) and the switching element (14) such that the first side (12) of the circuit board (11) faces away from the operating element (4) and a second side (13), lying opposite the first side (12), faces the operating element (4), and the operating apparatus (3) has a separate rocker element (20) which, depending on actuation of the operating element (4), is embodied to actuate the switching element (14) by a rocker movement (28) initiated by said actuation of the operating element.

The invention relates to an electric rocker switch with an actuating element designed as a rocker. The rocker is thereby moveable back and forth between two positions, namely between an on position and an off position. The rocker is pivotably mounted on the housing for this purpose. The rocker interacts with a leaf spring, the upper end of the leaf spring is firmly clamped at the rocker via a longitudinal area and the lower end of the leaf spring is tiltably arranged on a contact element. The leaf spring has one stable arch shape in the on position and another stable arch shape in the off position with a curve oriented opposite the arch shape. The electric rocker switch according to the invention shows in an advantageous way symmetrical haptics for the on position and also for the off position, wherein the position of the rocker indicates the corresponding position.

An electrical switching device for controlling lighting or other electrical loads from multiple locations. Device toggle element indicates to a user whether or not the load is energized. A raised ON position indicates an energized load while lowered OFF position indicates the load is not energized. Toggle element position is changeable manually by the user or programmatically by an actuator mechanism. A mode of communication exists among devices so that when one device's toggle element position is changed manually, this change is communicated to other devices on the same circuit and these other devices activate their actuator in order to change the position of their toggle elements in synchronization. One or more loads are connected to devices and are energized when the respective device's toggle element is in the raised ON position and de-energized when the device's toggle element is in the lowered OFF position.

An electrical switching device for controlling lighting or other electrical loads from multiple locations. Device toggle element indicates to a user whether or not the load is energized. A raised ON position indicates an energized load while lowered OFF position indicates the load is not energized. Toggle element position is changeable manually by the user or programmatically by an actuator mechanism. A mode of communication exists among devices so that when one device's toggle element position is changed manually, this change is communicated to other devices on the same circuit and these other devices activate their actuator in order to change the position of their toggle elements in synchronization. One or more loads are connected to devices and are energized when the respective device's toggle element is in the raised ON position and de-energized when the device's toggle element is in the lowered OFF position.

An overheating destructive disconnecting method for switch, whereby an operating member applies a first elastic force under normal conditions to enable the movable conductive member contacts a first conductive member and a second conductive member to form a conductive circuit; and a second elastic force to enable the movable conductive member to separate from the first conductive member or the second conductive member. The installation position of the overheating destructive member is used to receive heat energy instead of allowing current to flow thereto. When the overheating destructive member is destructed or deformed under a fail temperature condition, lessening or loss of the force applied by the first elastic force towards the movable conductive member causes the movable conductive member to no longer allow electrical conduction to the first conductive member and the second conductive member, thereby breaking the current-carrying circuit.

A method for using a bismuth based alloy as switch or socket power-off element which is applied to a switch or a socket, and the switch or the socket includes two conductive elements for conducting currents and one power-off element. A bismuth based alloy is used as the power-off element and a melting point of the bismuth based alloy is between 100 C. to 380 C. When the power-off element is in an environment below the melting point, the two conductive elements are mutually contacted and capable of conducting currents, whereas the power-off element is only receptive of the currents but does not serve as a medium for conducting the currents; when a working temperature of the switch or the socket is close to or exceeds the melting point, the power-off element loses rigidity and enables the two conductive elements to be separated from each other, thereby forming an electrically disconnected state.

A remote three-way switch. The remote three-way switch includes an actuator configured to actuate a mechanical switch, such as a light switch, according to a signal received from a remote control in wireless communication with the actuator. The signal received directs the actuator to mechanically actuate the switch from an on position to an off position, or from the off position to the on position. The remote three-way switch is portable, easy to install and uninstall, and is configured to assist an individual with operating the switch from a distance. The remote three-way switch may also be configured to be permanently installed into a wall, such that it appears like an ordinary light switch after installation.

A heat destructive disconnecting switch comprises a first conductive member, a second conductive member, a movable conductive member, an overheating destructive member, an operating component, and a second elastic member. The movable conductive member conducts electricity to the first conductive member and the second conductive member. The overheating destructive member is formed as an integral body on a limiting member, and a first elastic member is compressed to between a contact member and the overheating destructive member, thereby providing the first elastic member with a first elastic force. The second elastic member is provided with a second elastic force. When the overheating destructive member is destructed due to overheating, the first elastic force is smaller than the second elastic force, causing the movable conductive member to disconnect the first conductive member from the second conductive member to achieve a protective effect from overheating.

A heat destructive disconnecting switch, comprises a first conductive member, a second conductive member, a movable conductive member, an overheating destructive member, an operating component, and a second elastic member. The movable conductive member conducts electricity to the first conductive member and the second conductive member. A first elastic member and the second elastic member act on an operating member. The first elastic member is compressed and provided with a first elastic force, and the second elastic member is provided with a second elastic force. When the overheating destructive member is destructed due to overheating, the first elastic force is diminished or vanishes, causing the second elastic force to be larger than the first elastic force. Consequently, the movable conductive member disconnects the current conducting state between the first conductive member and the second conductive member, thereby achieving a protective effect from overheating.

A switching device and a method for switching states of a switching device are provided, the switching device comprising a housing; a switching module comprising a switching element, the switching module is configured to switch a state of the switching element upon generation of a switching signal; and an actuator for receiving a mechanical input and for facilitating generation of an electrical toggle signal, the toggle signal for causing the switching module to switch a state of the switching element.