Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.

Dider Perino

Jacques Lewiner

Mitsuo Ichiya

Hiromi Nishimura

Yutaka Yamada

Tsutomu Shimomura

Fumihiro Kasano

Norimasa Kaji

Hideki Fukuzono

Kazuhiko Inoue

Yoshihiro Mihara

Takanori Sugiyama

Yuichi Niimura

Sachiko Mugiuda

Keizo Yamaguchi

Tadashi Yamamoto

An optical switch comprises a prism for changing the direction of travel of incident light to be directed toward a further optical fiber; a switching mirror placed to be insertable and removable into and from between a lens block and the prism; and an actuator for driving the mirror, in which incident and emitting optical fibers are placed in the same facing, i.e. on one surface side, of the device body. This structure makes it possible for components to be used in common and integrated, and for the coupling surfaces between the lens block and the optical fibers to be gathered together in one place, thereby enabling cost reduction and size reduction.

Optical switch

An electrostatic relay comprises at least one fixed base having a fixed electrode and an actuator frame having a movable electrode. The fixed base carries a pair of fixed contacts insulated from the fixed electrode. The movable electrode carries a movable contact insulated from the movable electrode. The movable electrode extends along the fixed electrode and is pivotally supported at its one longitudinal end relative to the fixed base so as to pivot between two contacting positions of closing and opening the movable contact to and from the fixed contacts. The movable contact is formed at the other longitudinal end of the movable electrode. A control voltage source is connected across the fixed electrode and the movable electrode to generate a potential difference therebetween for developing an electrostatic force by which the movable electrode is attracted toward said fixed electrode to move into one of the two contacting positions. The electrostatic relay is characterized in that the movable electrode is cooperative with the fixed electrode to define therebetween an elongate gap which is narrower toward the one longitudinal end about which the movable electrode pivot than at the other longitudinal end of the movable electrode at which the movable contact is carried.

Electrostatic relay

A miniaturized electromagnet has an enhanced armature attraction force and reliable armature movement. The electromagnet comprises an L-shaped flat magnetic plate of magnetic material with a horizontally extending core and a first yoke leg depending from one end of the core. An excitation coil is wound around the core. A second yoke member is formed separately from the magnetic plate into a plate configuration and is coupled secured at its upper end to the other end of the core so as to depend therefrom in an opposed relation to the first yoke leg. The lower end portion of the second yoke leg is bent toward the first yoke leg to define thereat a pole plate extending parallel with the core. An armature extends in a parallel relation to the core and is magnetically coupled at its one end to the first yoke leg and is pivotally supported adjacent thereto such that the armature is pivotable within a horizontal plane between set and reset positions of having the pole end attracted to and spaced away from the second yoke leg in response to the energization and deenergization of the excitation coil, respectively. With the provision of the pole plate extending toward the first yoke leg, the armature can be made to have a correspondingly reduced effective length and equivalent mass, whereby the armature can have an increased magnetically attraction force for reliable electromagnetic operation.

Miniature electromagnetic assembly and relay with the miniature

A sealing construction is disclosed herein for a casing preferably for an electric shaver which is formed by first and second casing members which are to be pressed together through an annular sealing element to provide a seal between the sealing surfaces of the first and second casing members. The first casing member is formed in its sealing surface with an annular groove for retaining the annular sealing element in position, such sealing element being made of elastic material and having an axially projecting and rounded top portion above the sealing surface of the first casing member. Also projected on the second casing member is an annular plug of convex-shaped in cross section which aligns with said annular sealing element so as to be engageable with the rounded top portion thereof. When the first and second casing members are compressed together, the rounded top portion of the sealing element is deformed by being urged by the annular plug in such a way as to wrap around the annular plug both radially inwardly and outwardly thereof, providing an effective seal between the sealing surfaces of said first and second casing members.

Sealing construction for a casing

Growing community of inventors

Hirakata, Japan

Mitsuo Ichiya