Originally Published EMDM September 2002
TECHNOLOGY NEWS
ELECTRONICSSwitches Operate through Walls
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| Magnetoresistive technology enables switches to work on either side of a wall without the need to drill holes. |
A novel technology allows the operation of switches on the other side of 50- to 100-mm-thick walls without the need to drill holes.
The switches, which can be either rotary or push button, are mounted horizontally or vertically on one side of a panel with the control electronics on the other side. The mechanism allows the switches to work through plastics, marble, wood, glass, sheet stainless steel, and granite, explains Richard Chatham, managing director of Herga Electric (Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, UK).
Herga's Freemount Top switches make use of giant magnetoresistive technology and can accommodate various substrate thicknesses. Because their actuators are entirely passive, the switches are suitable for use in hazardous environments or in situations in which electromagnetic compatibility is a concern. "This system also avoids problems with sealing," adds Chatham, "as there are no holes that have to be made in the panel."
Other advantages of the switching technology, according to Chatham, include security (the button can be removed when not in use) and self-calibration, which prevents the switch from having to be custom made for every application. He adds that other functions, such as timers, can also be incorporated into the switches.
Further advantages of the Freemount Top switches include ease of installation using self-adhesive mounts, and resistance to most liquids and gasses. The switches can also be custom labelled to carry the name or logo of the product being controlled.
Although the components are very new to the market, Chatham imagines they will find applications in the medical sector, perhaps in control panels. "But the best bit of this [advancement] is not quite knowing where it's going to sell," he admits.
Although Herga is active as a supplier in several industrial sectors, the company does a good portion of its work in the medical field. "We're able to customize our products, and the medical world likes that," says Chatham.
Benjamin Lichtman
Copyright ©2002 European Medical Device Manufacturer
