In a relay unit, a sensor-side communication controller acquires setting information from a synchronization line and stores the acquired setting information in a storage unit in response to reception of a backup instruction from a communication master by a master-side communication controller. The sensor-side communication controller outputs the setting information stored in the storage unit to the synchronization line via a branch line in response to reception of a restoration instruction from the communication master by the master-side communication controller. The sensor-side communication controller periodically or aperiodically compares the setting information transmitted through the synchronization line with the setting information of the storage unit so as to detect presence or absence of a difference. The master-side communication controller outputs a notification signal to the communication master in response to detection of the difference.

A keyswitch includes a circuit board, a bottom board abutting against the circuit board, a cap, a light receiver and a light emitter disposed on the circuit board and opposite to each other, a base disposed on the circuit board, a cover disposed on the base, a first elastic member disposed through the cover and the base, a support device, and a second elastic member fixed to the base and having a flexible rod. The support device is movably connected to the cap and bottom board and has a sheet structure. When the cap is pressed, the sheet structure blocks light transmission between the light emitter and the light receiver to generate a triggering signal. When the cap is pressed to make the flexible rod deform downward with the sheet structure and then cross the sheet structure, the flexible rod is released to collide with the cover to make sound.

A proximity sensor including a structure suspending at least one lens above a circuit board, light emitters operable to project light beams through the lens along a common projection plane, light detectors operable to detect amounts of light arriving through the lens at the detector, wherein an object in the projection plane reflects light from an emitter to one or more of the detectors, and wherein each emitter-detector pair, including one of the emitters and one of the detectors, when synchronously activated, is expected to generate a greater detection signal at the activated detector than the other detectors, were they to be synchronously activated with any of the emitters, when the object is located at a specific 2D location in the projection plane corresponding to the emitter-detector pair, and a processor identifying gestures performed by the object based on amounts of light detected by the detector of each emitter-detector pair.

Safety systems for operating equipment have a source of visible light, a first signal light transmitter, a first signal light receiver, preferably a second signal light transmitter and second signal light receiver. A fiber optic bundle with at least one section of illuminated cable emits the visible light and carries the signal light. The signal light follows an optical circuit through the fiber optic bundle from the signal light transmitters to the signal light receivers. The signal light receivers are connected to suitable controls of the system such that if a predetermined light signal is not received by the signal light receiver(s), the operating equipment will stop and/or alarms will be generated. The fiber optic bundle is connected to optical pull switches which interrupt the light circuit if a person applies a predetermined pull force to the optical fiber bundle.

An actuating device for selecting a gear of a shift-by-wire gearshift transmission may include a housing, a selection lever movable along at least one shift gate between at least a driving position and a parking lock position, a mechanical transfer element for transferring the movement of the selection lever to the gearshift transmission for actuating the parking lock, and a coupling system arranged between the selection lever and the transfer element, where the coupling system includes a slider element embodied to move in accordance with the movement of the selection lever. The actuating device may include an optical sensor arrangement arranged within the housing and including at least one transmitter/receiver pair having a transmitter and a receiver.

A photoelectric switch includes first and second shell halves respectively having first and second coupled surfaces which confront each other along an axis in either a horizontal direction or an upright direction. The coupled surfaces respectively have first and second recessed regions aligned with each other to confine a rolling chamber for a roller to be rollable therein, and define left and right holes at two opposite ends of the rolling chamber, and emitter and receiver accommodating chambers outwardly of the left and right holes for accommodating a light emitter and a light receiver such that a light passage is defined by the left and right holes and the rolling chamber.

The present disclosure provides a proximity sensor including a light-emitting part that is configured to emit first light of a specific wavelength band, a light-receiving part that is configured to receive the first light and second light, the second light belonging to a different wavelength band from the first light, and a controller that is configured to recognize a proximate object based on the first light reflected by the proximate object, wherein the controller changes a light-reception range of the light-receiving part based on the second light.

The present invention relates to a modular photoelectric-switch keyboard key, including modular photoelectric switch, base, keymodule and elastic element, the said modular photoelectric switch is mounted in the said base, the said keymodule is slideably placed in the sliding cavity of the said base and the said elastic element is placed between the said base and the said keymodule; the said modular photoelectric switch comprises transmitting tube, receiving tube and distance piece, the said transmitting tube and the said receiving tube are placed oppositely and are electrically connected with the circuit board; the said distance piece is connected with the said keymodule and located between the said transmitting tube and the said receiving tube.

A system and method for mechanical keyboard input to a computer system is disclosed. In one aspect the present invention provides a system and method for providing optical sensor based key input detection on a keyboard having a plurality of mechanically movable keys and tactile key entry. The keyboard may be functionally completely passive merely providing tactile feedback and reference markers for the optical sensor system. In another aspect the present invention provides touch sensing combined with the above noted keyboard key detection system and method.

A keyboard system comprises a key structure including a key switch with a lighting element and phototransistor, and one or more processors that drive the lighting element for a first pulse duration. The output of the phototransistor is determined at the end of the first pulse duration, wherein the key structure is determined to be pressed when the output is below a first output value at an end of the first pulse duration, and unpressed when the output of the phototransistor is above a second output value at the end of the first pulse duration. A fall-time of the output during the first pulse duration is determined and the first pulse duration is calibrated to a second pulse duration when the fall time less than the first pulse duration, the second pulse duration being greater than the fall time and less than the first pulse duration.