A compression activated switch includes an electrically conductive contact layer pair formed of a conductive first contact layer for electrically connecting to a power source, and a conductive second contact layer spaced from the first contact layer for connecting to an application, and a resilient layer sandwiched between said first and second contact layers and having at least one resilient layer port; so that weight placed on the switch compresses the resilient layer and thereby advances said first contact layer toward said second contact layer until the first and second contact layers make electrically conductive contact through the at least one resilient layer port, closing the switch. A switch assembly includes multiple compression activated switches arrayed either horizontally or vertically and separated by insulating structures.

A compression activated switch includes an electrically conductive contact layer pair formed of a conductive first contact layer for electrically connecting to a power source, and a conductive second contact layer spaced from the first contact layer for connecting to an application, and a resilient layer sandwiched between said first and second contact layers and having at least one resilient layer port; so that weight placed on the switch compresses the resilient layer and thereby advances said first contact layer toward said second contact layer until the first and second contact layers make electrically conductive contact through the at least one resilient layer port, closing the switch. A switch assembly includes multiple compression activated switches arrayed either horizontally or vertically and separated by insulating structures.

Safety mat for safeguarding an electrically driven installation, comprising a sensor, a rigid supporting body and an evaluation unit. The supporting body has a top side, a rear side and first and second side faces, adjoining the top and rear sides. The sensor has an active surface covering the top side of the supporting body. The rear side has an opening for contacting an evaluation unit arranged in the interior of the supporting body that is configured to provide an output signal depending on the actuation of the sensor. The first side face has a first cavity and the second side face has a second cavity. The rear side has a first and a second cable guide. The first cable guide connects the opening to the first cavity and the second cable guide connects the opening to the second cavity.

Safety mat for safeguarding a technical installation, comprising a sensor, a rigid supporting body and an evaluation unit. The sensor has an active sensor area and a flexible connection region for contacting the sensor area. The flexible connection region is formed at a border of the active sensor area. The supporting body has a base with a top side and a side face which adjoins the said top side. The evaluation unit is arranged in the interior of the supporting body below the active sensor area and is configured to generate an output signal depending on the actuation of the active sensor area. The active sensor area covers the top side of the base of the supporting body completely, and the connection region of the sensor is folded around the side face through 180 and guided into the interior of the supporting body.

Safety mat for safeguarding a technical installation, comprising a sensor, a rigid supporting body and an evaluation unit. The sensor has an active sensor area and a flexible connection region for contacting the sensor area. The flexible connection region is formed at a border of the active sensor area. The supporting body has a base with a top side and a side face which adjoins the said top side. The evaluation unit is arranged in the interior of the supporting body below the active sensor area and is configured to generate an output signal depending on the actuation of the active sensor area. The active sensor area covers the top side of the base of the supporting body completely, and the connection region of the sensor is folded around the side face through 180 and guided into the interior of the supporting body.

Safety mat for safeguarding an electrically driven installation, comprising a sensor, a rigid supporting body and an evaluation unit. The supporting body has a top side, a rear side and first and second side faces, adjoining the top and rear sides. The sensor has an active surface covering the top side of the supporting body. The rear side has an opening for contacting an evaluation unit arranged in the interior of the supporting body that is configured to provide an output signal depending on the actuation of the sensor. The first side face has a first cavity and the second side face has a second cavity. The rear side has a first and a second cable guide. The first cable guide connects the opening to the first cavity and the second cable guide connects the opening to the second cavity.