Patent ID: 6150808
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: E05F,E05Y,H01H,H03K

Abstract:
A switching apparatus comprising;an operating member movable within a preselected operational range;a magnet that moves according to the movement of said operating member;a magnetoresistive element placed in a magnetic field generated by said magnet, said magnetoresistive element changing its electrical resistance according to a variation in orientation of a magnetic flux applied to said magnetoresistive element resulting from the movement of said magnet, the magnetic flux produced radially over said magnetoresistive element;wherein said magnetoresistive element includes first and second magnetoresistors which are connected in series to form a bridge circuit so that resistances of the first and second magnetoresistors change in opposite directions according to the movement of said magnet; anda position determining circuit measuring a change in electrical resistance of said magnetoresistive element to determine a position of said operating member within the given operational range and providing a signal indicative thereof.