A touch sensor unit, that is installed on one of an opening provided in a vehicle and an opening and closing body configured to open and close the opening, includes: a touch sensor having a long sensor body; and a bracket configured to hold the touch sensor in a longitudinal direction of the sensor body and fixed to one of the opening and the opening and closing body. One of the touch sensor and the bracket includes an inserting portion including a locking piece, the other of the touch sensor and the bracket includes a holding portion including a locking portion locked to the locking piece and configured to accommodate the inserting portion, and one of the inserting portion and the holding portion is made of an elastomer having an elastic modulus lower than that of the other.

A dielectric elastomer system (DES) variable stiffness actuator (VSA) is provided. In an embodiment, the DES VSA includes a variable stiffness module (VSM). The VSM includes a DES that softens when energized and stiffens when unpowered, an outer frame, and an inner frame member. The stiffness of the DES is variable. The outer frame supports the DES and the inner frame member, which is disposed within the DES. The inner frame member is configured to be displaceable with respect to the outer frame. The DES VSA also includes an actuation motor mechanically coupled to the inner frame member that is configured to cause a force to be applied to the inner frame member and the actuation motor is configured to control an equilibrium position of the DES VSA.

A method for controlling a target switch assembly in a chain of switch assemblies includes distributing the chain of switch assemblies in a wellbore; placing a controller at a head of the wellbore; making a first decision, at the controller, to actuate a corresponding detonator of the target switch assembly; transmitting, from the controller to the target switch assembly, a fire command to activate the corresponding detonator; and making a second decision, locally, at the target switch assembly, to activate the detonator, after the fire command from the controller is received.

A stackable electrical contact block includes a housing, the housing having a top and bottom side and accommodating a first and second electrical terminal, an actuation pusher adapted to move from a resting position to an actuated position to break the contact between the first and second terminals, the actuation pusher having a head protruding from the top side, a clearance below the actuation pusher, and a return spring biasing the actuation pusher towards its resting position, a bottom end of the return spring extending into the clearance. The housing's bottom side is a connection interface with an entrance providing access to the clearance. A central part of the clearance is taken up by the bottom end of the return spring, and a peripheral part is a space for receiving the actuation head of a component connected to the contact block via the connection interface.

A high power, single-use electrical switch includes a spring-biased plunger contact that mates with a corresponding socket contact, a spacer that provides a separation clearance between the contacts prior to activation of the switch, and a shear tab that supports the spacer and is removed from the switch to enable engagement between the contacts and activation of the switch. Using the shear tab for activation of the switch enables a compact and small form factor assembly that is suitable for use in smaller electronic assemblies.

An animal trap sensor includes a base having a distal end and a proximal end, a switch having a first metallic element and a second metallic element, and a signal unit, in which, when the first metallic element contacting the second metallic element, thereby forming a closed circuit, such that the signal unit transmits a signal to an off-site receiver. Or, an animal trap sensor includes a first portion and a second portion electrically connected with a signal unit including a power supply, in which, when the first and the second portions are disposed at a first distance between each other, thereby generating an output property, in which, when the first and the second portions are disposed at a second distance between each other, which is different from the first distance, thereby changing the output property and causing the signal unit to transmit a signal to an off-site receiver.

A relay, including a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact, a movable contact piece having first and second movable contacts, a contact piece holding unit configured to hold the movable contact piece, a magnet for arc extinguishing, and a debris suction unit configured to exert a magnetic force to suck debris, is disclosed. A first contact position between the first fixed contact and the first movable contact is located between the magnet for arc extinguishing and the contact piece holding unit in a longitudinal direction of the movable contact piece. The debris suction unit is disposed so that the first contact position does not overlap a region between the debris suction unit and the contact piece holding unit. A magnet force exerted by the debris suction unit in the contact piece holding unit is larger than a magnetic force exerted by the magnet in the contact piece holding unit.

A double breaker switch comprises a contact bridge connected to an actuator at a connection point, a first fixed contact, and a second fixed contact. The contact bridge includes a first bridge contact connected to the connection point by a first arm and a second bridge contact connected to the connection point by a second arm. The second arm is longer than the first arm. The first bridge contact electrically connects with the first fixed contact at a first contact point in a closed state of the double breaker switch. The second bridge contact electrically connects with the second fixed contact at a second contact point and a third contact point in the closed state of the double breaker switch.

A device for producing a non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma and an active space including such a device are disclosed. In an embodiment a device includes a first housing, in which a piezoelectric transformer is arranged and a second housing, in which a control circuit is arranged, the control circuit configured to apply an input voltage to the piezoelectric transformer, wherein the first housing comprises a coating configured to eradicate irritant gases.

An animal trap sensor includes a base having a distal end and a proximal end, a switch having a first metallic element and a second metallic element, and a signal unit, in which, when the first metallic element contacting the second metallic element, thereby forming a closed circuit, such that the signal unit transmits a signal to an off-site receiver. Or, an animal trap sensor includes a first portion and a second portion electrically connected with a signal unit including a power supply, in which, when the first and the second portions are disposed at a first distance between each other, thereby generating an output property, in which, when the first and the second portions are disposed at a second distance between each other, which is different from the first distance, thereby changing the output property and causing the signal unit to transmit a signal to an off-site receiver.