Descriptions of Terms

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 Swtchies
Rating
A rating is an assurance standard of the characteristics and performance of a switch. A
rated voltage and a rated current are the examples of ratings. Preconditions, such as
operation frequency and ambient temperature, are required to establish ratings.

Actuator
An actuator is a generic name for a pushbutton or lever that is part of a switch. The
actuator should be selected according to the movement of the object you want to detect.

Contact Form
Composition of the electric circuits in contacts.

Contact Gap
The interval between a fixed contact and a moving contact.

Operating Caharacteristics
OF (Operating Force)
The amount of force that must be applied to an actuator to switch the contacts.

PT (Pretravel)
The distance from the original position to the point where the contacts switch.

OT (Overtravel)
The distance from the position where the contacts have been switched to the operating
limit position.

MD (Movement Differential)
The distance or an angle from the position where the contacts have been switched to the
release position.

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Principle of Operation (Snap Action)
Snap action is a rapid flipping action when the force applied to a leaf spring reaches a
certain amount. The high switching capacity of a basic switch is produced by the
operation of a snap action.

Thin plastic Pressure applied

sheet

Durability
Mechanical Durability
Durability of switching operations in a nonenergized state without connecting a load when
overtravel (OT) is set as a standard value.

Electrical Durability
Durability of switching operations at the rated load when overtravel (OT) is set as a
standard value.

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Relays
Contact Unit
Number of Poles
The number of circuits that can be switched by the contacts.

Rated Load
The switching capacity of the contacts. The life of the relay is maintained by operating
within the specified voltage and current levels.

Coil Unit
Rated Voltage
The voltage applied to a coil of a relay.

Operate Voltage
The voltage at which a relay operates.

Reset Voltage
The voltage at which a relay is reset.

Electrical Characteristics

Operating Time
The time period from the point when the rated voltage is applied to the coil to the point
when the contacts operate.

Reset Time
The time period from the point when the rated voltage is removed from the coil to the
point when the contacts reset.

Bounce
The condition in which contacts switch repeately due to shock on the metal contacts.

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 Timers
Time Range
A time period that can be measured using one timer.

Time Out
When at set time period is reached.

Digital Setting
To input numeric values with thumbwheel switches or using up and down keys for time
setting.

Analog Setting
To operate a knob to set the time.

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 Sensors
Photoelectric Sensor
Sensing Distance
The range in which a photoelectric sensor can detect an object.
For a through-beam sensor and a retroreflective sensor, it is the maximum stable sensing
distance. For a diffuse-reflective sensor, it is the maximum stable sensing distance for the
standard sensing object.
Sensing
Emitter distance Receiver
Through-beam type

Sensing
Emitter/ receiver
distance
Retroreflective type Reflector

Sensing
Emitter/ receiver distance
Diffuse-reflective type Sensing object

Proximity Sensor
Sensing Distance
The distance between the sensig surface and the standard sensing object when the
sensor detects the standard sensing object.

Sensing
distance

Degree of Protection
A standard that indicates level of protection against solid materials and water penetration
as symbols. Proximity sensors normally have a degree of protection of IP67g (see page
104).

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 Counters
Count Input
An input signal used to count a quantity.

Reset Input
An input that restores the outputs and displays to their original states.

Count Out
An output signal is generated when the number of count inputs reaches the set value.

Increment Mode
A mode in which the present value increases with every count. For example, it is used to
display the number of pudding cups that have been made.

Decrement Mode
A mode in which the present value decreases with every count. For example, it is used to
display the number of pudding cups that need to be made.
Increment/Decrement Mode
A mode in which one input is set for addition and the other input is set for subtraction. For
example, it is used to display the current stock.

Maximum Counting Speed

The maximum number of input signals that can be counted per second (unit: Hz)

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