Patent ID: 8519810

Claim:
A proximity sensing system comprising: a sensor having at least one switch, said switch including: (a). a substrate; (b). contacts supported by said substrate; (c). a moveable element attached to said substrate having a rotational axis, said moveable element comprising a soft magnetic material and having a first end and a second end, said moveable element being configured to have two stable positions corresponding to two states: a first state and a second state; (d). a first permanent magnet disposed near said first end of said moveable element to produce a first magnetic attraction force on said moveable element and a first torque about said rotational axis, characterized in that said first permanent magnet forces said first end of said moveable element to tilt toward said first permanent magnet about said rotational axis, maintaining said moveable element in said first state; and a second movable magnet disposed in a switching position to produce a second magnetic attraction force and a second torque about said rotational axis with predetermined magnitude and direction on said movable element to force one of said first end and said second end to move toward said second moveable magnet, forcing said first end of said moveable element to move away from said first permanent magnet, switching said moveable element from said first state to said second state; wherein said movable element returns from said second state to said first state when said second moveable magnet moves out of said switching position, and when said second moveable magnet moves relative to said sensor, said moveable element interacts with a respective one of said contacts based on the position of said second moveable magnet during movement.