Patent ID: 6670874
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: F21V,F21Y,H01H

Abstract:
A multifunctional switch assembly comprising:a base; an array of four magnetic field effect sensors arranged on a surface of said base, each of said sensors having a first operational state when said sensor is within a magnetic field and a second operational state when said sensor is not within a magnetic field; an actuator movably mounted to said base, said actuator including an array of four magnets, each of said magnets generating a localized magnetic field, said actuator being selectively movable to one of eight predetermined positions relative to said base such that each of said magnets travels along a predetermined path above said array of magnetic field effect sensors, said array of magnets being selectively positionable in a plurality of predetermined positions within said predetermined path such that said localized magnetic fields of each of said magnets selectively determine said operational state of selected ones of said array of sensors; and a multifunctional control circuit in electrical communication with each of said sensors, said control circuit being configured to monitor said operational state of each of said sensors and to perform a predetermined instruction responsive to the monitored combination of operational states of said sensors.