A pressure-activated membrane switch and methods of use are provided. The pressure-activated membrane switch includes an electrically-conductive membrane, and a compliant conductive material having an electrically-conductive inner surface, wherein contact between the electrically-conductive membrane and the electrically-conductive inner surface of the compliant material is configured to cause an electrical circuit, of which the switch is a part, to close. The pressure-activated membrane switch further includes a plurality of spacers dispersed between the electrically-conductive membrane and the compliant conductive material. The plurality of spacers form one or more gaps between the electrically-conductive membrane and the compliant conductive material, and, with an application of pressure against the compliant conductive material, the compliant conductive material is configured to deform between the one or more gaps to contact the electrically-conductive membrane.

An item such as a fabric-based item or other item may have one or more actuators. An actuator may have a conductive strand of material. A control circuit may supply a current to the conductive strand that induces a length change in the conductive strand due to ohmic heating and associated thermal expansion effects. The control circuit may be used to activate the actuator in response to user input that is supplied to an associated input device such as a switch, capacitive sensor, force sensor, light-based sensor, or other input component. The fabric-based item may include fabric such as woven fabric or knit fabric. Strands of conductive material may serve as signals paths for supplying current to conductive strands in actuators. Magnetic-field-based actuators may be formed by coiling conductive strands around tubular support structures such as piping in fabric-based items.

An overcurrent protection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first electrode disposed substantially parallel to a second electrode. A material may be disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. A plurality of conductive material nodules may be disposed in the material between the first electrode and the second electrode, including a first conductive material nodule at least partially contacting an inner surface of the first electrode and a second conductive material nodule at least partially contacting an inner surface of the second electrode and the first conductive material nodule. In response to an overcurrent condition the material may be configured to expand, such that the contact between the first electrode, the first conductive material nodule, the second conductive material nodule, and the second electrode is at least partially interrupted.

An overcurrent protection device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first electrode disposed substantially parallel to a second electrode. A material may be disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. A plurality of conductive material nodules may be disposed in the material between the first electrode and the second electrode, including a first conductive material nodule at least partially contacting an inner surface of the first electrode and a second conductive material nodule at least partially contacting an inner surface of the second electrode and the first conductive material nodule. In response to an overcurrent condition the material may be configured to expand, such that the contact between the first electrode, the first conductive material nodule, the second conductive material nodule, and the second electrode is at least partially interrupted.

A double-sided metal mesh conductive particle and a pushbutton having the double-sided metal mesh conductive particle. The double-sided metal mesh conductive particle includes a first metal mesh layer, a first adhesive layer, a base layer, a second adhesive layer, and a second metal mesh layer arranged sequentially from top to bottom; an upper surface of the first metal mesh layer has a multiple of first conductive bumps, and a lower surface of the second metal mesh layer has a multiple of second conductive bumps. The double-sided metal mesh conductive particle ensures a reliable contact with a circuit and provides a good electrical conductivity and a double-sided conduction. When the conductive particle is installed to a pushbutton with an electrical contact function, a double-sided conduction can be achieved to prevent the conductive particle from being installed in a wrong direction or affecting the electrical conductivity.

In a contact member, a mesh-like contact including one or more layers of a metal other than a noble metal is embedded in such a manner as to be exposed from one of the surfaces of a rubbery elastic body. The contact member includes a highly conductive metal coat layer only in the regions of the mesh-like contact which are exposed from the rubbery elastic body, the coat layer having conductivity higher than that of the metal on the outermost surfaces of the mesh-like contact.

An item such as a fabric-based item or other item may have one or more actuators. An actuator may have a conductive strand of material. A control circuit may supply a current to the conductive strand that induces a length change in the conductive strand due to ohmic heating and associated thermal expansion effects. The control circuit may be used to activate the actuator in response to user input that is supplied to an associated input device such as a switch, capacitive sensor, force sensor, light-based sensor, or other input component. The fabric-based item may include fabric such as woven fabric or knit fabric. Strands of conductive material may serve as signals paths for supplying current to conductive strands in actuators. Magnetic-field-based actuators may be formed by coiling conductive strands around tubular support structures such as piping in fabric-based items.

A keyboard may be provided that has keys overlapped by a touch sensor. The keyboard may have key sensor circuitry for monitoring switching in the keys for key press input. The keyboard may also have touch sensor circuitry such as capacitive touch sensor circuitry that monitors capacitive electrodes in the touch sensor for touch sensor input such as multitouch gesture input. The touch sensor may be formed from a layer of fabric. The fabric may be woven fabric or other fabric in which conductive strands of material serve as the electrodes for the touch sensor.

An item such as a fabric-based item or other item may have one or more actuators. An actuator may have a conductive strand of material. A control circuit may supply a current to the conductive strand that induces a length change in the conductive strand due to ohmic heating and associated thermal expansion effects. The control circuit may be used to activate the actuator in response to user input that is supplied to an associated input device such as a switch, capacitive sensor, force sensor, light-based sensor, or other input component. The fabric-based item may include fabric such as woven fabric or knit fabric. Strands of conductive material may serve as signals paths for supplying current to conductive strands in actuators. Magnetic-field-based actuators may be formed by coiling conductive strands around tubular support structures such as piping in fabric-based items.

In a contact member, a mesh-like contact including one or more layers of a metal other than a noble metal is embedded in such a manner as to be exposed from one of the surfaces of a rubbery elastic body. The contact member includes a highly conductive metal coat layer only in the regions of the mesh-like contact which are exposed from the rubbery elastic body, the coat layer having conductivity higher than that of the metal on the outermost surfaces of the mesh-like contact.