ALPS Electric Co., Ltd. Announces the Development of SPED3
Series of Push Switches (Push-Push Type) for Automobiles
Tokyo, Japan, Feb. 27, 2004 - (JCN Newswire) - ALPS Electric Co., Ltd.
has announced the development of the SPED3 Series of push switches
(push-push type). These switches, which feature near-silent operation,
are turned on when a movable slide (note 1) is pushed and turned off
when pushed again. Sample shipments are to begin in the middle of March
2004. The series will be on display at the ALPS SHOW 2004 to be held at
the Hiten room of the New Takanawa Prince Hotel in Minato-ku, Tokyo for
three days starting on May 26, 2004.
Recently, automobile cabin designs have become more rounded to improve
appearance and much quieter for a more enjoyable driving experience. In
the U.S. automobile market in particular, interior lighting is turned on
and off by directly pushing the light. Thus, a virtually noiseless
lighting switch of this type is becoming increasingly popular.
In light of this trend, the SPED3 Series features a very quiet
mechatronic operation thanks to ALPS' innovative ratchet structure that
employs a proprietary ratchet cam (note 2) construction. Following the
SPED3 Series, ALPS plans to mass-produce a base installation type and a
harness contact type of the product to be installed using different
methods, expanding the variety of products that employ its innovative
ratchet cam construction. Very little impact sound is generated as the
cam (note 3) connects to a slide when the switch is pushed, thanks to
the embedding of a damper spring in the movable slide component. In
addition, the ridges of the cam are smoothed out, making very little
sound as the slide and cam meet when the slide returns to its original
position. These innovations are currently patent pending.
The proprietary ratchet cam offers automobile passengers a smooth
operational feel that blends in with the overall functional design of
the cabin interior. Moreover, similar conventional products in the
industry must be pushed six to eight times to inspect the internal
contact points that move with the cam and revolving internal components.
The SPED3 Series, however, reduces the number of pushes by half, to four
times, contributing to cost reductions at automobile manufacturers and
cabin equipment manufacturers during their equipment operation
inspection processes.
Note 1: The slide is the convex part that turns the switch on and off.
Note 2: The ratchet cam is a movement structure comprising a rotating
guide with serrated teeth to prevent backward rotations of the rotation
cam, and gears designed to stop rotations at predefined angles.
Note 3: A cam is a rotating or sliding piece in a mechanical linkage
used especially in transforming rotary motion into linear motion or vice
versa.
Features:
--Quiet operation thanks to proprietary ratchet cam (patent pending)
--Contributes to quiet cabin interiors with quiet operation thanks to
proprietary ratchet cam
--Smooth operational feel
--Contributes to cost reductions during operation inspection process for
car cabin interiors
--Thinner than the SPED2 series
Applications: Lamps for car cabin interiors
Sales Plan:
Sample shipments : Mid-March 2004
Sample price : 100yen
Planned monthly production : 400,000 units(September 2005)
Development and production site : Mechatronic Devices Division, Furukawa
Plant
(Furukawa, Miyagi Prefecture)
Typical Specifications
SPED310200
Mounting method Connector
Rating 1A 14.5V DC
Operating life 30,000 cycle
Pole type 2Pole - 1Position
Operating force 4.17 0.74N
Travel 3.8mm
Dimension 18mm x 14mm x 20.7mm (W x D x H)
About Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
ALPS Electric has made great advances as a comprehensive electronic
components manufacturer since its establishment in 1948. At present,
ALPS has operations in four main fields communications and broadcasting,
electronic components, computer peripherals, and car electronics.For
further information, please visit the Alps Electric Co., Ltd. home page
at: www.alps.co.jp/index-e.htm <http://www.alps.co.jp/index-e.htm>
