Elegant Solution to Old Growing Problem Will Expand Design Capabilities, Enlarge Cockpits

Digitran, a leading manufacturer of high reliability Digital Switches for aerospace and military electronic systems applications announced its Extremely Low Profile and Very Low Profile Coded Miniature Rotary Switches on Monday, at the NBAA Convention.

These coded rotary switches are designed for use in all panel-mounted applications where space behind the system operator panel is very limited. The ELP and VLP rotary switches save the designer up to 83% of the space usually required in rotary switch applications, such as cockpit avionics, portable equipment, consumer electronics and other applications where 'post panel depth' is restricted. The switches are initially available in 8, 10, and 12-position models, and may include optional connectors that can significantly reduce installation time and costs for the user.

William J. Miller, Executive Vice President of XET Corporation said, "We are extremely proud to announce these revolutionary new rotary switch products that are based on two patent-pending designs. As electronic applications become smaller and more compact, designers and engineers require very low profile control components that provide more functionality in less space. Our Digitran ELP and VLP Miniature Rotary Switches meet that requirement. For example, the Digitran Extremely Low Profile Single Deck Rotary Switch is only 0.167 inch deep, compared to conventional single deck rotary switches with post panel depths as deep as a full inch. In addition, any one of our multiple deck switches, say a 4-deck Very Low Profile, which feature additional decks as thin as 0.109 inch can directly replace a competitor's single-deck rotary without panel modification. This example equates to four times the functionality in much less space. Our 4 deck VLP Miniature Rotary Switch is less than 0.5 inches deep."

Future uses not limited to aircraft.

Mr. Miller continued, "Using the Digitran ELP TM or VLP TM rotary switches allows the designer to add additional electronics or additional components in the spaces previously occupied by bulkier and heavier components, thereby increasing the functionality of the equipment and improving its design. These new switches are ideal for commercial and military aerospace cockpit designs, portable instrumentation, automotive cockpit instrumentation, consumer electronics, and other space-starved electronics systems where the designer is looking for a competitive edge and where size and weight are always a consideration. However, so revolutionary are these patent-pending designs, we are presently discussing licensing opportunities for the designs into other products and markets. Because there is no reason to waste space in any component locations, I can envision a time when most panel-mounted rotary devices will utilize this patent-pending design concept."

Designated the 67000 Series, these new rotary switches meet or exceed the stringent requirements of MIL-DTL-3786, and feature the same high reliability electrical contacts that are found in Digitran's MIL-PRF-22710 Qualified Digital Switches that have been flying in most military aircraft since the 1970s. These switches are capable of carrying 3 amps and switching 125 milliamps at 28VDC with a minimum 125,000 life cycles -- up to 8 times longer than some competitive rotary switches. All Digitran switches and their components are manufactured at XET Corporation's ISO-9001:2000 certified facilities in the U.S.A.

These full MIL-DTL-3786 compliant switches are now available with a 2-6 week lead-time, and sell for $39-$75, depending on model and quantities. Delivery times and prices may vary depending on configurations, options and quantities.

FMI: www.digitran-switches.com