Pressure pads are a simple and cheap means of automating tasks. They consist of two parts with a break in the circuit under the pad. When pressed, the circuit completes, triggering a response in a connected device. They were commonly used to open doors in retail stores. Pressure pads can work on an on/off or circuit completion principle, or a combination of both. Some light switches use this method to turn lights on/off and adjust brightness.
A pressure pad is a pressure-sensitive surface that creates a circuit and causes certain actions to take place when pressed. This technology was very common as a means of automatically opening doors before motion sensing technology came down in price. In most cases, the pad consists of two disconnected parts. The electrical system runs through the internal area, but has a break in the circuit directly under the pad. When you press the pad, the outer section connects with the inner section and the circuit completes for a few seconds. This triggers immediate response in a larger connected device.
Pressure pad technology was one of the first means of automating tasks. Since the pad is based on a simple circuit with mechanical activation, it was very easy and cheap to manufacture. All a person had to do was push on an area of pressure and a task would happen. This task could be anything from opening a door to turning on a car to activating a light.
Technology has become really important in grocery stores and department stores. The pressure pad looked like a large rubber rectangle on either side of the door. When a person approached the door, it opened automatically. This was a major step in retail store automation, as the store no longer needed to monitor the door to help people carrying loads of goods in and out.
Some pressure bearings operate on an on or off principle. When pressed, sends a signal to a connected device; this changes its state to the next one in its operating routine. For example, a pad connected to a light would turn it on when pressed. The next press will turn the light off, and then turn it back on, and so on.
Other pads work on a circuit completion principle. These pads create a state in the connected device that exists only when the circuit is complete. This is the common method used by automatic doors. As long as something pushes the pad, the circuit stays complete and the door stays open. As soon as the circuit is broken, the door closes.
The last type of pressure bearing works on a combination of these two principles. These create one state when pressed, but a different state when held down. Some light switches use this method; a pressure pad turns a light on and off when pressed rapidly. If you press and hold the upper part, the light becomes brighter, if you press and hold the lower part, the light dims. When the pad is released, the light remains at the current level.
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