An electrical contactless switch that includes a housing, a moveable element and a magnetic field sensor. The moveable element is made of a ferromagnetic material and is slidably mounted in the housing. The moveable element is adapted to move relative to the housing between a resting position and an engaged position, the moveable element is elastically biased towards the resting position. The moveable element includes a plurality of magnetized legs spaced from each other and at least part of the magnetized legs is slidably guided in the housing. The magnetic field sensor is secured to the housing and positioned to face the plurality of magnetized legs. The magnetic sensor is configured to detect a magnetic field generated by the magnetized legs as the moveable element is in the engaged position. The moveable element is closer to the magnetic field sensor in the engaged position than in the resting position

A switch device includes an actuation unit, a movable unit, a first base, and a second spring, which is a torsion coil spring that acts between the actuation unit and the movable unit. The movable unit is movable with respect to the base. The second spring applies a force to the actuation unit when the actuation unit is at a third position in a direction that is not parallel to a direction in which the torsion coil spring applies a force to the actuation unit when the actuation unit is at a fourth position.

A terminal connecting mechanism includes a plate spring, an insulating housing having an accommodating portion to accommodate a fixed portion and an elastic portion of the plate spring, and a terminal electrode portion disposed in the accommodating portion. The accommodating portion includes a first opening to allow a conductor portion of an electric wire to be inserted into the accommodating portion, an electric wire insertion guide wall disposed from the first opening along an insertion direction of the electric wire, to guide the conductor portion, an inclined wall facing the electric wire insertion guide wall and being inclined toward the electric wire insertion guide wall along the insertion direction of the electric wire, wherein the fixed portion is fixed to the inclined wall, and a second opening to allow a jig to be inserted into the accommodating portion, thereby canceling contact between the elastic portion and the conductor portion.

A keyswitch includes a base having a pillar, a cap having a rib and movable relative to the base, a sleeve rotatably sleeving the pillar and having first and second top surfaces and convex and concave portions, an elastic member abutting against the sleeve and the base, and a resilient arm abutting against a first or second position on the convex portion with rotation of the sleeve. When the resilient arm abuts against the first position, the rib abuts against the first top surface to prepress the elastic member for generating a first preload. When the cap is pressed for moving the sleeve downward, the resilient arm moves from the first or second position to the concave portion. When the resilient arm abuts against the second position, the rib abuts against the second top surface to prepress the elastic member for generating a second preload larger than the first preload.

An apparatus for providing a switch mechanism comprises a housing and a pressure sensitive device mounted to the housing. An actuator is moveably connected to the housing to enable the actuator to move along an axis towards and away from the pressure sensitive device. A resilient member has a first end connected to the actuator and a second end connected to the pressure sensitive device.

Particular embodiments described herein provide for an electronic device that can include a key height activation engine and a keyboard. The keyboard can include a plurality of keys and one or more of the plurality of keys can include a key height mechanism. The key height mechanism includes a shape memory material and when the key height mechanism is activated by the key height activation engine, the shape memory material raises the one or more of the plurality of keys that includes the key height mechanism from a first height to a second height.

A key switch is provided, which includes a base, a cap, a first linkage rod, a second linkage rod, an elastic contraction element, at least one activate member and a thin film circuit unit. The base includes a plurality of first connection portions and a plurality of second connection portions. The first linkage rod is movably connected to the first connection portions and the cap. The second linkage rod is movably connected to the second connection portions and the cap. One end of the elastic contraction element is connected to the first linkage rod, and the other end thereof is connected to the second linkage rod. The activate member is disposed on one of the first linkage rod, the second linkage rod and the cap. The thin film circuit unit includes an activate portion.

A mechanical computer keyboard including a plurality of keys and an input/output (i/o) interface for output of registration of pressing one or more of the plurality of keys. Each key includes a keycap, a key switch including a stem, a key registration unit for registering a keystroke, and a spring for forcing the keycap in a neutral release position and providing a perceptible increase in pressing force. The keyboard further includes an analog-to-digital converter and the keys include a distance sensor unit for determining a travel distance of the pushing-down of the keycap by measuring a complex electrical impedance corresponding to the travel distance of the pushing-down the keycap, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is configured to convert the complex electrical impedance to a digital input signal including a digitalized keystroke travel distance for outputting of the digital input signal by the i/o interface towards the computer.

A stored energy-type circuit breaker includes a sensor that operates as a full open sensor, and that is used to prevent the circuit breaker from closing in response to either a closing signal or a manual operation. The full open sensor exhibits a first output condition when the moveable contact is in a fully open position and a second output condition when the moveable contact begins to leave the fully open position. An electronic trip unit (ETU) is electrically connected to the sensor and, when in a close break mode, blocks the circuit breaker from closing. The ETU does this by, upon detecting that the sensor is in the second output condition, generating a signal that will cause the breaker's opening spring to return the moveable contact to the fully open position.

An electrical switch including a neutral contact adjustment system adapted for adjusting a position of a neutral contact opening surface relative to at least one phase contact opening surface such that the neutral contact adjustment system has a first operating state which is adapted to provide a simultaneous break operation in which a movable neutral contact disconnects simultaneously with at least one movable phase contact during an opening event, and a second operating state which is adapted to provide a late-break operation in which the movable neutral contact disconnects later than the at least one movable phase contact during the opening event.