Monostability
Monostability ( old Gr . Μόνος monos 'alone', 'only' and Latin stabilis 'steadfast', ' stable ') of a system means that only one of two or more possible states is stable (rest position). The other state (working position) is only maintained as long as an external force acts on the system, which prevents it from returning to its rest position. The return of a monostable system to the idle state can be delayed by a time constant. Complex systems can also be monostable.
Examples of monostability are push-button switches and simple relays and contactors in electrical engineering, and the monostable multivibrator ( monoflop ) in electronics .