Described herein are thin keyboard and thin keyboard overlay, as well as novel key assembly for uses on keyboards and keyswitches. The key assembly includes a top plate, a movable keycap, a support plate and flexible rods embedded in the support plate acting as springs. The underside of the movable keycap has at least one or several tapered protrusions which are located above the flexible rods. A vertical downward force on the movable keycap will enable the protrusion to flex the rods horizontally, thus creating a spring like mechanism that will return the movable keycap to its original position once the vertical force is removed.

Embodiments disclosed herein describe a base, an operation unit that moves in a contacting/separating direction with respect to the base in response to an external force, and a pair of link members turnably coupled to each other by a coupling portion and configured to guide movement of the operation unit in the contacting/separating direction. The pair of link members includes a first curved portion and a second curved portion that are supported on the base, and a first rotary spindle and a second rotary spindle that are supported on the operation unit. When the operation unit moves in the contacting/separating direction with respect to the base, the first curved portion and the second curved portion slide with respect to the base in a direction substantially perpendicular to the contacting/separating direction and in a direction substantially perpendicular to a turning shaft of the pair of link members.

An apparatus may include a transmitter capable of sending a signal to a device that is configured with an action module that interprets the signal and a programming module, a dial that is adjustable to a plurality of positions, where position is matched by the programming module with a programmable action, and a button that is communicatively coupled to the transmitter and that, when pressed, triggers the transmitter to send to the device the signal indicating the current position of the dial, such that the action module activates a programmable action associated with the current position of the dial in response to the button being pressed. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.

A push-button switch with good balance, including a base, a cover covering the base, a press core, a torsion spring, a conductive assembly and a press core slider, which are respectively arranged on the base. A guide pillar provided with guide hole is protruded upwardly from a center of the base. Two baffles are arranged on the base and at opposite sides of the guide pillar to form an annular receiving slot provided with a balance rod assembly formed by a first and a second balance rod cross-connected with each other, two crossing junctions of which are limited by a positioning slider. A cylinder is protruded downward from a center of an annular slot formed at a lower end of the press core. The cylinder and the guide pillar are respectively inserted into the guide hole and the annular slot. The guide pillar is sleeved with a spring.

A switch includes a housing, a switching mechanism housed in the housing and configured to switch a state of connection between at least two terminals exposed out of the housing by using a common contact and two switching contacts, and an electronic component that is disposed in the housing and electrically connects the terminals to each other. The switching mechanism includes a first metal plate that is connected to a first contact, which is one of the common contact and the two switching contacts, and includes a first exposed part to which a first electrode of the electronic component is soldered by laser irradiation, and a second metal plate that is connected to a second contact, which is another one of the common contact and the two switching contacts, and includes a second exposed part to which a second electrode of the electronic component is soldered by laser irradiation.

A conducting switch mechanism includes a housing, an operating stem is exposed from the housing, a fixed terminal set, a movable terminal module, a fulcrum bar, and an elastic member. The fixed terminal set is fixed on a base of the housing, and includes a pair of constant contact terminals, a pair of first pathway terminals, and a pair of second pathway terminals. The movable terminal module has a first movable terminal, a second movable terminal, and an insulating member. The insulating member partially clads the movable terminals. The structures of movable terminals are integrally stamped. One end of the movable terminals correspondingly abuts against the constant contact terminals, and another end of the movable terminals correspondingly contacts the first pathway terminal or the second pathway terminal. The elastic member is connected between the fulcrum bar and the movable terminal module.

A control button for controlling operation a machine including: an attachment member for attaching the control button to the machine; a display member including an electronic display module; an operational mode display controller for controlling display of operational modes of the machine upon the electronic display module, the operational mode display controller being operably connected with the electronic display module so that, in response to the operational mode display controller, the electronic display module is configured to display a plurality of operational modes of the machine; and an operational mode selector for controlling selection of one of the operational modes of the machine when one of the operational modes are displayed on the electronic display module, the operational mode selector being configured for movement between at least a first position and a second position to actuate selection of the operational mode displayed on the electronic display module.

A control knob for controlling operation of a machine, the control knob including: an attachment member configured for attaching the control knob to a surface of the machine so that the control knob is operably connectable with the machine to control operation thereof; a display member comprising an electronic display module disposed thereon; an operational mode display controller for controlling display of operational modes of the machine upon the electronic display module, said operational mode display controller being configured for rotational movement around the electronic display module amongst a plurality of rotational positions, said operational mode display controller being operably connected with the electronic display module such that, responsive to the rotational movement of the operational mode display controller amongst the plurality of rotational positions, the electronic display module is configured to display a plurality of operational modes of the machine corresponding to the plurality of rotational positions; and an operational mode selector for controlling selection of one of the plurality of operational modes of the machine when said one of the plurality of operational modes is displayed on the electronic display module, the operational mode selector being configured for movement between at least a first position and a second position to actuate selection of the operational mode displayed on the electronic display module.

An electronic module is provided including a circuit board defining a longitudinal axis and having a first surface and a second surface. A module housing is provided having a bottom surface and side walls extending from the bottom surface to form an open face through which the circuit board is received. Power switches configured as an inverter circuit to drive an electric motor are mounted on the second surface of the circuit board facing the bottom surface of the module housing, and a series of heat sinks are discretely mounted on the first surface of the circuit board facing the open face opposite the power switches. Potting material is disposed in the distance between the circuit board and the bottom surface of the module housing to cover the power switches. Thermal vias are disposed through the circuit board between corresponding ones of the heat sinks and the power switches.

An electronic module is provided including power switches mounted on a circuit board and configured as an inverter circuit for an electric motor. A sliding member is coupled to an actuator. A power contact switch is provided including a first conductive body, a second conductive body, and a contact switch. The first and second conductive bodies are mounted on a first surface of the circuit board and include pins received through through-holes of the circuit board to make electrical contact with two conductive tracks on a second surface of the circuit board. The contact switch pivotably is secured to the first conductive body and pivotably moveable by the sliding member to make contact with the second conductive body with movement of the actuator. A flyback diode is electrically connected between the first and second conductive track on the second surface of the circuit board parallel to the power contact switch.