Patent ID: 7679362
Filing Date: 2010-03-16
Classification: H01H,H03K

Abstract:
1. A switch, comprising: a switch housing; a magnet that is mounted inside said switch housing and that generates a magnetic field having magnetic flux; a flux concentration device that is located inside said switch housing and that selectively moves between first and second positions; an actuator assembly that includes a pressure detection device coupled to said flux concentration device, wherein said actuator assembly is located inside said switch housing, and wherein said pressure detection device receives an input and selects said first and second positions based on said input; and a hall-effect device that is located between said magnet and said flux concentration device, that conducts a current having a first value when said magnetic flux is less than a predetermined magnetic flux threshold and that conducts said current having a second current value when said magnetic flux exceeds said predetermined magnetic flux threshold, wherein said first position communicates a first magnetic flux to said hall-effect device and said second position communicates a second magnetic flux that is different from said first magnetic flux to said hall-effect device.