A 21st Century Take on Physical Buttons

VCC Illuminated Capacitive Touch SensorsIt’s not unreasonable to say that our modern world wouldn’t be possible without a way for humans to control the electronics that power everything from computers, to small gadgets, to the cars we drive. Until recently, interaction meant connecting a physical switch, whether this meant the humble microswitch invented in the 1930s, or a more complex …

Nearshoring Win: How One OEM Ramped Up in Less than a Week

What Happens When a Key Supplier Disappears Into Thin Air?Before coronavirus was ever an issue, one traffic signal infrastructure supplier found itself in a similar predicament many OEMs recently found themselves in due to COVID-19 — a total standstill of production. The manufacturer’s main supplier of crucial components permanently shut its doors without warning, bringing operations to a costly and …

How to Design Industrial human-machine interfaces

Get more from what meets the eyeInterfaces in industrial equipment have come a long way from the simple on/off switch. But there is still much more to be explored in order to provide a safer, more productive user experience. Why should more thought go into the design of human-machine interfaces? The benefits speak for themselves: Improved worker safety Enhanced usability …

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What is LED Light Bleed? (and What to Do About It)

Light Bleed: Here’s What You Need to KnowLight pipes are essential for moving light from Point A to Point B in electronic devices and machines. But, when they aren’t optimized, a majority of the light traveling through them could literally miss the mark — your HMI [human machine interface]. These acrylic or polycarbonate marvels can be much more complicated than they …

Selecting the Perfect Light Guide

What are Light Guides and What Do They Do For Me?A Light Guide is a device that allows light to travel from a source as large as the sun or as small as an LED, to a point at some predetermined distance. In a successful light guide application, this is accomplished with minimal losses.What are the Most Efficient Light Guide …

Moisture-sealed Rigid Linear Light Pipes from VCC Provide NEMA 6P/IP67 Protection

Rugged light pipe series designed to withstand harsh environmental conditionsPOWAY, CA — VCC, the global leader in indication and specialty illumination solutions, has expanded its rugged linear light pipe product offering to include moisture-sealed versions that provide protection up to NEMA 6P and IP67 ratings. Developed for harsh environment applications including safety, outdoor, military, aerospace, industrial machinery, and instrumentation applications, …

Neon Application Information

Lamp ConstructionBasic Principle of Lamp OperationThe basic construction of neon lamps is shown in figure 1. The bulb is made of glass sealed in two areas, the pip and the pinch. In the pinch area, the leads protrude through one end of a glass tube and the glass is heated and pinched about the leads. This holds them in position …

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How to Select the Right Material for LED Light Pipe Applications

Choosing the Best Material for My DesignProper Optoelectronic design requires attention to every detail. Luckily, designers have many illuminated component options to provide more flexibility in how status indicators work on the back end. These are also known as light pipes.    Light pipes are clear rods typically made of plastic or chemical materials, although some can also be made of glass. …

Light Pipe Design: How TIR & Refraction Come into Play

Light Pipes & TIR: The Combo for Optimum PerformanceAs you’re likely painfully aware, light pipes seem simple, but in all actuality, they are pretty complex. So many decisions that can impact how well (or not so well) a light pipe performs — from the brightness and viewing angle of the LED to the material and shape of the light pipe …