World's smallest class of ultra-compact reed switches developed

28 June 2006 Switches, Relays & Keypads

NEC Tokin has started sampling its newly-developed ultra-compact reed switches, claimed to be the world's smallest in its class. The RD-75A Series are compact, lightweight magnetically-responsive switches.

Reed switches are compact electronic components that are used in combination with permanent magnets as proximity sensors and open/close sensors. Two reeds (magnetic material) are sealed in a glass tube together with an inert gas; when a magnet approaches, the two reeds become magnetised, attracting each other and closing the contact. When the magnet is moved away from the tube, the reeds separate.

Some of the applications of this characteristic are as proximity sensors and rotation sensors. Reed switches are widely used in automobiles, office automation equipment, medical equipment, and compact electronic devices.

Due to the construction of a reed switch, reducing its size increases variation, limiting the possibilities of mass production. Through adopting unique manufacturing technologies and new development technologies, the company has succeeded in developing the RD-75A series of reed switches as a viable product. The glass-tube length is no more than 5,0 mm, and diameter is no more than 1,4 mm. This is a tube length of two-thirds shorter than the company's current RD-18A, and volume is a third.

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