# US 8,570,126 B1 · Contactless switch with stationary vane > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,570,126 B1 - Document ID: US8570126B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/630,355 - Filed: 2012-09-28 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-28 - Assignees: Eaton Corporation - Applicants: Eaton Corporation - Inventors: Davin R Lee; Mark A Juds - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8570126B1 ## CPC - H03K 17/97: using a magnetic movable element - H01H 23/025: {Light-emitting indicators} - H01H 23/145: {the actuating surface having two slightly inclined areas extending from the middle outward} - H03K: PULSE TECHNIQUE (measuring pulse characteristics G01R; modulating sinusoidal oscillations with pulses H03C; transmission of digital information H04L; discriminator circuits detecting phase difference between two signals by counting or integrating cycles of oscillation H03D3/04; automatic control, starting, synchronisation or stabilisation of generators of electronic oscillations or pulses where the type of generator is irrelevant or unspecified H03L; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M) - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract A switch includes a switch housing, and a button moveably mounted to the housing. A profile is disposed on the underside of the button and has a profile contour that provides the tactile feel of the button as it is engaged by the user. A spring biased plunger has one end that engages the profile contour. A printed circuit board is mounted to the housing and includes a magnet sensor. A magnet holder includes at least one magnet. A vane interrupter has at least one passage having an opening proximate to a magnetic sensor. The magnet holder is moveably mounted to the housing such that the magnet is selectively moveable at least partially within the passage to a position where the magnet can be detected by the sensor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A switch comprising: a switch housing; a button moveably mounted to the housing; a profile disposed between the button and housing and having a profile contour; a plunger disposed between the profile and housing and having a first end proximate to the profile contour; a printed circuit board mounted to the housing and including a magnet sensor; a vane interrupter having a passage proximate to the magnet sensor; and a magnet holder, including at least one magnet, moveably mounted to the housing such that the magnet is selectively moveable at least partially within the passage to a first position distal to the sensor and a second position proximate to the sensor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The switch of claim 1, wherein the vane interrupter includes a first wall, second wall, third wall and fourth wall, the first, second, third and fourth wall defining the passage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The switch of claim 2, wherein the vane interrupter includes a ferromagnetic material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The switch of claim 1, wherein the vane interrupter includes a ferromagnetic material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The switch of claim 1, further comprising a plunger spring disposed between the housing and plunger, the plunger spring biasing the plunger toward the profile. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The switch of claim 1, wherein the vane interrupter is fixed relative to the housing, and the magnetic holder is rotatably mounted to the housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The switch of claim 1, the housing including a frame and a back cover, the frame disposed between the magnet sensor and the magnet holder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The switch of claim 1, wherein the second position is a terminal position, the magnet spaced from the magnet sensor when the magnet holder is in the second position. ### Claim 9 A switch comprising: a switch housing; a button moveably mounted to the housing; a magnet sensor mounted to the housing; a vane interrupter having a passage proximate to the magnet sensor; and a magnet holder including at least one magnet and moveably mounted to the housing such that the magnet is selectively moveable at least partially within the passage to a first position distal to the sensor and a second position proximate to the sensor relative to the first position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The switch of claim 9, wherein the vane interrupter includes a first wall, second wall, third wall and fourth wall, a portion of the first wall, the second wall, the third wall and fourth wall defining the passage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The switch of claim 9, wherein the vane interrupter includes a ferromagnetic material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The switch of claim 9, wherein the vane interrupter is fixed relative to the housing, and the magnet holder is rotatably mounted to the housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The switch of claim 9, the housing including a frame and a back cover, the frame disposed between the magnet sensor and the magnet holder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The switch of claim 9, further comprising: a profile disposed between an underside of the button and housing and having a profile contour; and, a plunger disposed between the profile and housing and having a first end proximate to the profile contour. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The switch of claim 14, further comprising a plunger spring disposed between the switch housing and plunger, the plunger spring biasing the plunger toward the profile. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The switch of claim 14, wherein the second position is a terminal position, the magnet spaced from the magnet sensor when the magnet holder is in the second position. ### Claim 17 A switch comprising: a housing; a button moveably mounted to the housing; a first and second Hall effect sensor mounted to the housing; a vane interrupter having a first and second passage, the first passage having an opening proximate to the first Hall effect sensor, the second passage having an opening proximate to the second Hall effect sensor; and a magnet holder rotatably mounted to the housing and including a first and second magnet, wherein the magnet holder is selectively moveable at least partially within the first passage to a first position distal to the first sensor and a second position proximate to the first sensor relative to the first position, and such that the second magnet is selectively moveable at least partially within the second passage to a third position distal to the second sensor and a fourth position proximate to the second sensor relative to the third position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The switch of claim 17, further comprising: a profile disposed at the underside of the button and having a profile contour; and, a plunger disposed between the profile and housing and having a first end proximate to the profile contour. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The switch of claim 17, wherein the second position is a terminal position, the first magnet spaced from the first magnet sensor when the magnet holder is in the second position. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The switch of claim 19, wherein the fourth position is a terminal position, the second magnet spaced from the second magnet sensor when the magnet holder is in the fourth position.