A reed switch assembly having a customizable length of activation is disclosed. One embodiment of the reed switch assembly may comprise a reed switch comprising a first reed contact, a second reed contact, a reed switch body enclosing the first reed contact and the second reed contact, and a bias magnet. The bias magnet may be positioned a certain distance away from the reed switch body to close the reed switch by a magnetic field. The reed switch assembly may further comprise a diversion blade that is configured to move in and out of a space between the reed switch body and the bias magnet. The diversion blade positioned in the space may open the reed switch by diverting the magnetic field applied by the bias magnet.

A rotary button system for use in a domestic apparatus, comprising: a ferromagnetic plate; a button removably mountable at a predefined first distance from said ferromagnetic plate on a first side of said plate, and rotatable about a virtual rotation axis substantially perpendicular to said plate, and comprising a permanent magnet magnetised in a direction perpendicular to said rotation axis; and a magnetic sensor device mounted at a predefined second distance from said ferromagnetic plate on a second side of said plate opposite the first side, and comprising one or more magnetic sensors for measuring one or more magnetic field components or field gradients, and configured for determining an angular position of the rotary button based on said one or more field components and/or field gradients.

Hydraulic bi-directional flow switches are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a piston disposed in a fluid channel between a first fluid connection and a second fluid connection, where the first and second fluid connections define a fluid pathway for hydraulic steering fluid. The example apparatus also includes a detector to detect a movement of the piston away from a default position of the piston, where the piston is to displace from the default position when the hydraulic steering fluid flows along the fluid pathway.

A method of converting a switch assembly from a non-contact switch assembly to a contact switch assembly to detect an event. The method includes securing an adapter body outside of an enclosed housing of the switch assembly, with an actuation body connected to the adapter body, so that a target connected to the actuation body is supported outside of the enclosed housing by the adapter body and so that the actuation body is disposed to be moved relative to the adapter body from a first orientation to second orientation, upon occurrence of the event, to activate the switch assembly by moving the target between a first location outside of the enclosed housing and a second location outside of the enclosed housing. In one example, the target may be one or more of a magnetic target or a ferrous target.

Magnetic coupling devices are disclosed which may be configured in at least three states. The various states may be provided through one or more of altering a position of a permanent magnet relative to another permanent magnet and altering a current level in a coil surrounding a permanent magnet.

Magnetic coupling devices are disclosed which may be configured in at least three states. The various states may be provided through one or more of altering a position of a permanent magnet relative to another permanent magnet and altering a current level in a coil surrounding a permanent magnet.

Hydraulic bi-directional flow switches are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes a piston disposed in a fluid channel between a first fluid connection and a second fluid connection, where the first and second fluid connections define a fluid pathway for hydraulic steering fluid. The example apparatus also includes a detector to detect a movement of the piston away from a default position of the piston, where the piston is to displace from the default position when the hydraulic steering fluid flows along the fluid pathway.

A security switch for detecting an actuator comprises a magnetic field source, a magnetically susceptible object, and a circuit. The magnetic field source is configured to produce a magnetic field gradient. The magnetically susceptible object is suspended at a first position at least in part due to the magnetic field gradient and shiftable to a second position when the actuator affects the magnetic field gradient. The circuit is configured to detect when the object is in the second position.

A cooling appliance includes a cabinet, first and second doors connected to the cabinet and a door-opening detection device having a magnetic element disposed on the first door and a magnetic sensitive element disposed on the cabinet. A first magnetic conductive element on the second door can be magnetized by the magnetic element. The magnetic sensitive element can produce a door-opening signal based on a magnetic field of the first magnetic conductive element. The magnetic sensitive element produces the door-opening signal when at least one of the doors is open. In this way it can be detected, by using one suite of door-opening detection devices, if any door among multiple doors is in an open state. The structure is simple, and the number of components can be reduced. Moreover, wires are reduced, which lowers manufacturing costs and difficulty.

An assembly and method for monitoring the status of a switch for high currents and/or high voltages with a blow magnetic field and a control element that can be moved into several control positions by a drive, wherein different switching positions of the switch are associated with different control positions, wherein the assembly comprises a status sensor that can be influenced by the blow magnetic field, and an influencing element for influencing the blow magnetic field at the status sensor, wherein the blow magnetic field at the status sensor depends on the relative position between the status sensor and the influencing element, and wherein the assembly is configured such that the relative position changes when the control position of the control element changes.