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Taster

English translation: pushbutton sensor

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Taster
English translation:pushbutton sensor
Entered by: Marcus Malabad

00:18 Oct 8, 2004
German to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Science (general) / Robotics
German term or phrase: Taster
I am hoping that someone can clarify the "Taster" question for me.

This is concerning a manual for a robot construction kit.
Normally I would use "sensor" in this context, but since it is used as a specific sensor (see below) I chose "tactile sensor" (and am having second thoughts)

But now they are suddenly talking about a switch. Can a sensor be a switch (excuse my ignorance)?

Here is the context:

Für einen Roboter brauchen wir außer den Sensoren (z. B **Taster**,) und Aktoren (z. B. Motoren) viele mechanische Teile um daraus ein Modell zu konstruieren.

Bei Sensoren unterscheidet man zwischen digitalen und analogen Sensoren.[...]
Der **Taster** ist ein Beispiel für einen digitalen Sensor. [...]Der XXX **Taster** ist als Wechselschalter ausgelegt. Deshalb besitzt er 3 Anschlüsse. Beim Drücken des roten Knopfes wird mechanisch ein Schalter betätigt, der die Anschlüsse 1 und 3 miteinander verbindet. Gleichzeitig wird der Kontakt zwischen den Anschlüssen 1 und 2 unterbrochen, welche im Ruhezustand miteinander verbunden waren.

I think I need a quick "sensor" lesson...

Thank you so much!
margarete
United States
Local time: 06:48
pushbutton
Explanation:
here are the definitions:
pushbutton: A small button that activates an electric circuit when pushed
switch: control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit
sensor: any device that receives a signal or stimulus (as heat or pressure or light or motion etc.) and responds to it in a distinctive manner

HTH
Selected response from:

Christine Lam
Local time: 06:48
Grading comment
Thanks to Christine and both Klaus's.

To respond to Klaus A.: I am certain that "Taster" means the same thing throughout, simply because I actually had a picture to go with it.

But I agree with Klaus H. that pushbutton leaves out an important part, since it really functions as a momentary switch that gathers information.

In the end I decided to go with: pushbutton sensor.
This conveys both functions, matched the illustration and worked well throughout my document.

Thanks to all of you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4pushbutton
Christine Lam
3momentary switch
Klaus Herrmann
3s.u.
kga


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
Taster (hier)
pushbutton


Explanation:
here are the definitions:
pushbutton: A small button that activates an electric circuit when pushed
switch: control consisting of a mechanical or electrical or electronic device for making or breaking or changing the connections in a circuit
sensor: any device that receives a signal or stimulus (as heat or pressure or light or motion etc.) and responds to it in a distinctive manner

HTH

Christine Lam
Local time: 06:48
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
Thanks to Christine and both Klaus's.

To respond to Klaus A.: I am certain that "Taster" means the same thing throughout, simply because I actually had a picture to go with it.

But I agree with Klaus H. that pushbutton leaves out an important part, since it really functions as a momentary switch that gathers information.

In the end I decided to go with: pushbutton sensor.
This conveys both functions, matched the illustration and worked well throughout my document.

Thanks to all of you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  sonja29 (X)
4 mins
agree  Manfred Mondt: All 3 do the same thing, but they all look different.
58 mins
agree  Jo Mayr
1 hr
agree  Thomas Bollmann
4 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Taster (hier)
momentary switch


Explanation:
There's more than a pushbutton in the German word Taster, it includes the sensing element (tasten = fühlen) as well. Actually, that's the more important part of the word IMHO. 'Pushbutton' completely ignores the sensing element of Taster. Nobody is going to push that button, it's there for the robot to get input. However, you'll find examples of pushbutton being used in this context, so it's probably acceptable to use pushbutton. Here's a decent sample:

A pushbutton is the simplest type of sensor you can build, but it extremely useful. First, you will need to obtain the button. Any type of momentary button is likely to work,
http://www.pololu.com/advice/examples/pushbutton/

I was tempted to suggest proximity switch, but that doesn't really work in the explanation that follows. Ultimately, any switch can be considered a proximity switch, but it would confuse the reader, I suppose.

Overall I think I would prefer momentary switch.

Two examples:
Robots, Kits, Microcontrollers, and Parts
... Robobug TM Sensors Auxiliary sensor kits (not included in the ... IR remote control, & contact sensation (momentary tactile switch ... on the front of the robot or on a ...
www.mrrobot.com/descriptionsall.html

Adding Touch & Light Sensors
... These are simple momentary switches The switches remain closed only ... your robots so that they act as touch sensors. ... they can help detect if the robot has bumped ...
blackcat.brynmawr.edu/~dkumar/UGAI/sensors.html

Klaus Herrmann
Germany
Local time: 12:48
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
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3 days 14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Taster (hier)
s.u.


Explanation:
Consider if the two text parts where "Taster" appears mean two separate things for which only an identical word is used by accident:
1. A tactile sensor which signals a mechanical event to the robot's control circuits
2. A manually operated, momentary-action, closing-contact- as well as breaking-contact-type switch for use by a human operator


kga
Local time: 12:48
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
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