Reed switch

Abstract: A contactless control switch ( 20 ) for a vehicle for actuating a system between an open and a first closed circuit position is disclosed. The switch includes a housing ( 22 ) and a pivot assembly ( 24 ) disposed within the housing. The switch also includes a switch actuator ( 26 ) having first and second ends. The switch actuator is coupled to the pivot assembly for producing pivoting motion of the switch actuator in response to a force ( 84 ) applied to the switch actuator. The switch also includes first and second proximity sensors ( 80 a and 80 b ) and a first magnet ( 70 ). The proximity sensors are disposed within the housing and the first magnet is fastened to the switch actuator second end. The first magnet is adapted to be selectively displaced into and out of close proximity with one of the proximity sensors when the force is applied to the switch actuator. The switch ( 20 ) also includes a biasing member ( 52 a and 52 b ) disposed between the switch actuator and the pivot assembly for biasing the switch actuator into an open circuit position.

Abstract: A micromechanical switch and a method of making the switch. The micromechanical switch of the invention is made by surface micromachining techniques and include an isolated contact located on the beam and separated from the main body of the beam by an insulated connector. The isolated contact provides the advantage that the current flow caused by the circuit being switched does not alter the fields or currents used to actuate the switch. Thus, the present invention allows the actuation functions to be unaffected by the signals that are being switched.

Abstract: A device for incorporation into the power supply circuit of an electrical apparatus comprising (a) a switch which is movable from one condition to another on application of power to the switch and which is held in the moved condition, as long as power is applied to the switch; (b) a signal emitter adapted to emit a power signal of short duration and being connected to the switch so that on emission of the power signal the switch will be moved to the other condition for the duration of the power signal; and (c) a current detector capable of detecting when a current flows in a line and being connected to the switch to supply power thereto when current flows in the line. The current detector may be a light emitting diode (L.E.D.) and a light detector arranged to transmit current to a relay switch coil which is electrically connected to the line by a current transformer.

Abstract: An externally generated myriametric frequency magnetic carrier signal is resonantly reflected by a tuned coil in an implant. The lagging phase angle of the reflected signal is modulated at very low power by varying the impedance across the tuned coil in accordance with a data input signal. An external phase shift demodulator recovers the transmitted data. To assure adequate coupling between the external unit and the implant, the output level of an external phase comparator must exceed a given threshold to signify "acquisition" before data is transmitted from the implant. In a preferred embodiment, a shunt circuit across the tuned coil is opened and closed in accordance with a digital input signal generated by the implant. The external telemetry unit preferably includes a coaxially spaced triple coil assembly. The middle coil transmits the carrier. The outer pickup coils are balanced to minimize carrier reception. For two-way communication an IR transmitter is added to the coil assembly. During acquisition, the output of the tuned coil is used to turn on a dormant IR receiver in the implant. Light emitting diodes are preferably mounted in an array on the face of the coil assembly surrounded by an optional reed switch coil for multimode telemetry in the programmer.