Patent ID: 7053739

Claim:
An electrical contacting device comprising: a plurality of current paths connected in parallel to each other; a plurality of electrical contact points each having a first contact and a second contact that are mechanically opened and closed; a plurality of resistors connected in series to the contact points, respectively; a base having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a plurality of projections each disposed on the first surface of the base and having an apex; and a flat electrode which faces the first surface of the base and with which the projections come into contact, wherein each current path is provided with a corresponding one of the contact points, said each current path having electrical characteristics thereof adjusted to prevent arc discharge from occurring at the contact point, for each current path, the adjustment of the electrical characteristic is performed by rendering a resistance of the resistor greater than a contact resistance of the contact point, the first contacts correspond to the apexes of the projections, the second contacts correspond to portions of the flat electrode with which the apexes of the projections come into contact, and the resistors are built in the base and the projections.