ALPS Develops "SPVQC Series" Surface Mount Sliding Contact Micro Switch

Duesseldorf, Germany, August 29, 2013 – ALPS ELECTRIC EUROPE GmbH has developed the “SPVQC Series” Surface Mount Two-Pole Sliding Contact Micro Switch1. Mass production commenced in June 2013. Advancements in applying electronics to automobiles have brought about an increase in vehicles equipped with electric parking brakes (EPB), particularly in the United States, Europe and Korea. Such devices have to achieve a high degree of safety and methods for system backup, such as the duplication of circuits, are generally incorporated into the mechanism as a fail-safe2 measure. Until now, backup in EPBs has been achieved using two micro switches, but this has led to problems such as the on/off timing of the switches going out of sync during low-speed operation. Moreover, when employing a butt contact structure, as is often the case with weak currents, contact faults have occurred due to ingress of particulates or other matter. In addition, surface mount components are increasingly used for LEDs and other components around the EPB device, requiring that micro switches are capable of undergoing reflow soldering together with these components during assembly by the customer. ALPS has now developed the “SPVQC Series” Surface Mount Two-Pole Sliding Contact Micro Switch. The company’s existing SPVQ9 Series was the first such switch in the industry to employ a two-circuit sliding contact structure and has been well received by customers, capturing more than a 50% share3 of the European market. Retaining the same structure as the existing product, the SPVQC Series surface mount switch ensures high contact reliability with strong resistance to particulates, as well as to vibrations and impact. ALPS also applied its mechanical engineering and precision processing technologies to overhaul the design of the internal mechanism, thereby reducing the product’s width by 1mm. The SPVQC Series employs a double-sided sliding contact structure consisting of a moving contact that clamps a fixed contact from both sides. This enables application of a constant pressure on the contact at all stages of the switch operation from the moment the pressing begins, through on/off switching, to the fully depressed position. Combined with a snap action design, the structure constantly maintains a stable contact regardless of the control position and speed, making the SPVQC Series a highly reliable control switch. The timing of switching between the two circuits is short, below 15ms at any control speed, the same as for the existing SPVQ9 Series. This enables configuration of a fail-safe system for a device with a single switch, contributing to cost reductions in device design and space savings. The SPVQC Series achieves IP674 dust and water resistance. Features Surface mount type able to undergo reflow soldering with surrounding components Width reduced by 1mm compared to existing products Snap action and double-sided sliding contact structure enable stable contact at any control position and high reliability with particulate and impact resistance 15ms max. switching timing between circuits Principal Applications Automotive control switches, such as for electric parking brakes Emergency buttons and industrial equipment safety mechanisms Mechanism operation detection in automotive equipment and home appliances Specifications Model: SPVQC Series Dimensions (W×D×H): 15.4 × 7.4 × 7.5mm Maximum rating: 50mA 18V DC Minimum rating: 50µA 5V DC Contact resistance (initial): 75mΩ max. Contact resistance (after lifetime): 200mΩ max. Operating life (with load): 300,000 cycles (50mA 18V DC) For more information on the new product please visit http://www.alps.com/products/e/npv_product/130829_SPVQC/SPVQC_E.PDF 1.) A micro switch is a switch that instantly switches between on and off with the snap action of an internal contact when the control is pressed. Using a spring, the switch is designed to operate instantly once a certain amount of force is applied. Micro switches are used for detecting the operating position of a mechanism in a broad range of products, from home electronics through to automobiles and industrial equipment. 2.) Fail-safe features are incorporated into products to minimize harm when a failure occurs based on the assumption that a failure may occur, for example as a result of damage, operating error or design fault. 3.) ALPS Electric research 4.) “IP67” is an IP Code (International Protection Rating), expressing levels of protection against the ingress of solid foreign objects and against the ingress of water. IP67 indicates that the product is dust-tight and that ingress of water under defined conditions of pressure and time will have no harmful effect on the product.

ALPS Electric Co., Ltd. ALPS Electric (Tokyo: 6770) is a leading global manufacturer of high-quality electronic components for mobile devices, home electronics, vehicles and industrial equipment. With the philosophy of "Perfecting the Art of Electronics" ALPS Electric supplies over 40,000 different components to about 2,000 companies all over the world. For more information, visit www.alps.com. ALPS ELECTRIC EUROPE GmbH, a subsidiary of ALPS Electric Co., Ltd., was established in 1979. Since 1989 the European Head Office has been located in Düsseldorf, where a team of specialists works in Sales, Marketing, and Product Engineering. The activities of our branch offices in Munich, Paris, Milton Keynes, Gothenburg, and our sales office in Milan are coordinated from Düsseldorf.