There is disclosed in an example a key having a tactile element; and a flexible and conductive external element disposed over the tactile element. There is also disclosed an example method of manufacturing the key, and an electronic device comprising a plurality of active keys, including at least one of the key.

A method of assembly of an open-cavity, wire-in-air fuse which provides improved manufacturing yield and fuse reliability, involving coiling, braiding or twisting a fusible element around a sacrificial member during the manufacturing process to provide support for the fusible element to prevent mechanical breakages and necking problems commonly encountered during manufacture.

Systems and methods for forming an electrostatic MEMS switch that is used to hot switch a source of current or voltage. At least one surface of the MEMS switch is treated with an ion milling machine to reduce surface roughness to less than about 10 nm rms.

An electronic device and methods including a switch formed in a chip package are shown. An electronic device and methods including a switch formed in a polymer based dielectric are shown. Examples of switches shown include microelectromechanical system (MEMS) structures, such as cantilever switches and/or shunt switches.

A symbol button for a vehicle includes: a button body; a button surface portion positioned at an upper portion of the button body; a symbol printing portion positioned on the button surface portion; an anti-plating portion positioned at a lower portion of the button body; and a metal plating layer positioned at the outside of a button excluding the symbol printing portion and the anti-plating portion.

A key mechanism including one or more butterfly hinges. Each butterfly hinge may include a double wing design operative to move between a depressed position and non-depressed position. Hinged coupling mechanisms couple respective arms of the wings together. Additionally or alternatively, a key mechanism can include one or more half-butterfly hinges. Each half-butterfly hinge includes a double wing design operative to move between a depressed position and non-depressed position. A hinged coupling mechanism couples one set of corresponding arms of the wings together, while the other set of corresponding arms are not coupled together.

A method for manufacturing a lighting button key is provided. The method includes forming a button body by processing a metal plate, attaching a thin film to the button body and performing double etching on a rear surface of the button body to process a symbol pattern. Additionally, the method includes press-forming the rear surface of the button body and an injection material of a transparent or translucent material into the rear surface of the button body to perform injection molding.

A key mechanism including one or more butterfly hinges. Each butterfly hinge may include a double wing design operative to move between a depressed position and non-depressed position. Hinged coupling mechanisms couple respective arms of the wings together. Additionally or alternatively, a key mechanism can include one or more half-butterfly hinges. Each half-butterfly hinge includes a double wing design operative to move between a depressed position and non-depressed position. A hinged coupling mechanism couples one set of corresponding arms of the wings together, while the other set of corresponding arms are not coupled together.

There is disclosed in an example a key having a tactile element; and a flexible and conductive external element disposed over the tactile element. There is also disclosed an example method of manufacturing the key, and an electronic device comprising a plurality of active keys, including at least one of the key.

Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) devices/switches and methods for implementing and fabricating the same with conducting contacts are provided. A nanoelectromechanical system (NEMS) switch can include a substrate; a source cantilever formed over the substrate and configured to move relative to the substrate; a drain electrode and at least one gate electrode formed over the substrate; wherein the source cantilever, drain and gate electrodes comprises a metal layer affixed to a support layer, at least a portion of the metal layer at the contact area extending past the support layer; and an interlayer sandwiched between the support layer and substrate.