Safety switch
US7429708B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 22, 2007 |
| Grant date | Sep 30, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 22, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2071/048
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A safety switch that includes a body, a number of contacts, a movable plunger, a signal emitter, and a signal detector. The signal emitter and signal detector are positioned proximate the plunger and configured to assess the operability of the safety switch. The plunger is configured to selectively allow or prevent passage of a signal emitted from the signal emitter toward the signal detector depending on a position of the plunger. Control circuitry in connection with the signal detector is arranged to generate a control signal based on the detection of the emitted signal and configured to control operation of the safety switch independent of the relative position of the number of contacts.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.