CA1190625A - Connector for attaching an electrical component to a flat sheet - Google Patents
Connector for attaching an electrical component to a flat sheetInfo
- Publication number
- CA1190625A CA1190625A CA000398145A CA398145A CA1190625A CA 1190625 A CA1190625 A CA 1190625A CA 000398145 A CA000398145 A CA 000398145A CA 398145 A CA398145 A CA 398145A CA 1190625 A CA1190625 A CA 1190625A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sheet material
- component
- tail
- keyboard
- slits
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Push-Button Switches (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
This invention relates to an arrangement for attaching discrete electrical components to a generally flat layer of sheet material. Both mechanical and electrical connections are pro-vided by the attachment elements of the present invention. One form of the invention is directed to a membrane switch keyboard wherein one of the layers of the membrane switch has a tail ex-tending therefrom. The tail has a free end which is adhesively secured to some portion of the keyboard. Conductive traces are formed on the tail and extend to the free end where they contact the leads of an electrical component. The component is held between the tail and the keyboard. In another aspect, which may be applied to the membrane switch keyboard just described, the invention includes a sheet material having two or more slits cut therein for each of the component's leads. The slits are cut in a portion of the sheet having conductive traces formed thereon. The leads of the component are then interlaced through the tabs created by the slits to both mechanically and electri-cally connect the component to the sheet.
This invention relates to an arrangement for attaching discrete electrical components to a generally flat layer of sheet material. Both mechanical and electrical connections are pro-vided by the attachment elements of the present invention. One form of the invention is directed to a membrane switch keyboard wherein one of the layers of the membrane switch has a tail ex-tending therefrom. The tail has a free end which is adhesively secured to some portion of the keyboard. Conductive traces are formed on the tail and extend to the free end where they contact the leads of an electrical component. The component is held between the tail and the keyboard. In another aspect, which may be applied to the membrane switch keyboard just described, the invention includes a sheet material having two or more slits cut therein for each of the component's leads. The slits are cut in a portion of the sheet having conductive traces formed thereon. The leads of the component are then interlaced through the tabs created by the slits to both mechanically and electri-cally connect the component to the sheet.
Description
~o~
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIO~
This invention relates to electrical connectors and is particularly concerned with the proklem of attaching leads of an electrical component to a generally flat member such as a membrane switch.
One of the objects of the present invention is an elec-trical connection ~or attaching discrete electrical components to generally flat members, which connection is easy to make and reliable in operation.
Another object is an electrical connection which is inexpensive to form.
Another object is an electrical connection for membrane switch keyboards which permits connection to a component in a plane other than that of the membrane switch.
Another object is an electrical connector which utilizes the inherent tendency of sheet material to remain in a flat con-dition to assist in securing the component.
Another object is an electrical connection which is sealed from exposure to the elements.
Other obiects will appear in tile following specifica-tion, drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a membrane switch key-board, with portions cut away, showing one form of connector according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a section taken generally along line 2-
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIO~
This invention relates to electrical connectors and is particularly concerned with the proklem of attaching leads of an electrical component to a generally flat member such as a membrane switch.
One of the objects of the present invention is an elec-trical connection ~or attaching discrete electrical components to generally flat members, which connection is easy to make and reliable in operation.
Another object is an electrical connection which is inexpensive to form.
Another object is an electrical connection for membrane switch keyboards which permits connection to a component in a plane other than that of the membrane switch.
Another object is an electrical connector which utilizes the inherent tendency of sheet material to remain in a flat con-dition to assist in securing the component.
Another object is an electrical connection which is sealed from exposure to the elements.
Other obiects will appear in tile following specifica-tion, drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a membrane switch key-board, with portions cut away, showing one form of connector according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a section taken generally along line 2-
2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a top plan view of a connector according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a con-nector adapted for an alternate type of component.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED BMBODI~ENT
This invention is concerned with electrical connections to a piece of sheet material having electrical conductors formed thereon. The invention is particularly adapted for connection o~ discrete electrical components to a membrane switch panel.
The invention is also directed to connection of discrete elec~
trical components to single-thickness sheets which are not neces-sarily part of a membrane switch. The sheets have conductive traces formed thereon ~hich contact the leads of the electrical component.
Membrane switches are currently used in a variety of applications including typewriter-like keyboards, hand-held cal-culators, appliance control panels and cash-registers. Frequent-ly it is desirable to illuminate a portion of a membrane switch panel to provide information to the user. This can be accom-plished by ~he use of a light emitting diode (LED) connected to the circuitry printed on the membrane switch. The problem then ~ecomes how to connect the leads of an LED, which are wirest to the conductive traces on the membrane switch which are gen-erally silk-screened or painte~ on thin layers of plastic.
Figure 1 shows the connection of the present invention used in a membrane switch keyboard. The keyboard is shown gen-erally at 10 and includes a base plate 12, a membrane switch panel 14, a be~el 16 and keys or actuators 18. The baseplate 2S 12 is formed of rigid material such as aluminum. It forms the support for the keyboard and has appropriate notches or holes suitable for mounting the keyboard in some device. The membrane s~itch 14 may have one or moxe tails 20 with conducti~e traces extending onto it for connection to external circuitry~ The membrane switch also has a plurality of holes 22 in line with similar holes in the baseplate 12. The holes receive legs (not ~9~)~25 shown) on the housings of the keys 18. The legs may be heat staked to fasten the keys to the baseplate.
Looking at Figure 2, the membrane switch 14 includes a membrane layer 24, a substrate layer 26 and a spacer 28 between them. The membrane switch layers are preferably formed of thin sheets o~ plastic material although it could be made of other materials. The details of the membrane switch itself are conven-tional and are not specifically shown. The bezel 16 is an over-lay which covers the membrane switch 14 and provides a uniform, finishe~ appearance for the keyboard. The be~el has holes (not shown) which accommodate the keys 18.
As stated above, it is o~ten desired to provide illu-minatio~ of the keyboard. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate how this can be accomplished with the present invention. A tail 30 ex-tends rom either the membrane layer or the substrate layer~
In the embodiment shown the tail 30 extends from the substrate 26~ The tail 30 has one end attached to the substrate as at 32. The other or free end of the tail 30 can be attached wherever required. In this embodime~t the free end is attached to the bezel 16. The tail 30 includes conductive traces 34 which may be painted or silk-screened or otherwise formed on it. An elec-trical component such as an LED 36 is positioned between the tail 30 and the bezel portion of the keyboard. The bezel may have a small opening for the bulb portion o~ the LED. The leads 38 of the LED contact the traces 34 on the tail. The tail is adhesively secured to the keyboard, in this case to the bezel 16, with the component disposed between the tail and the key-board ~o that the tail holds the component in place. In a pre-ferred embodiment a pad 43 of resi~ient material is placed bet~
~een the tail and the keyboard to compensate for any ~Ineveness in the keyboard or the tail. It will be understood that adhesive s material is applied to the tail and to the pad so that the tail is securely held in place~
It will be noted that the free end of the tail is not restricted to the plane of the membrane switch 14. It can be connected at locations outside of the plane of the switch. For example, it may be desirable to connect the tail directly to the underside of a keytop to illuminate a specific key~ Similar-ly, the tail need not be parallel to the ed~e of the membrane switch as shown in Figure 1. It could be arranged at an angle or it could even be folded as required to locate the free end of the tail at a desired position. If a tail were folded, one of the connections .described below could be used to connect the LED to traces located on the opposite side of the tail from where the LED is positioned.
Figure 34 shows another form of connector for attaching a discrete electrical component to a piece of sheet material.
The sheet material could be a tail portion of a membrane switch such as at 30 in Figure 1 or it could be any other piece of flat material used in an electrical circuit. The sheet material 42 is preferably formed of insulative material such as plast.ic, paper or the like. Conductive traces 44 and 46 are formed on the sheet~ The traces may be conductive ink applied by silk-screening, painting or similar method. A series of slits 48 are cut in the sheet 42. The slits extend at least partially, and in the embodiment shown wholly, within the area of the con-ductive traces ~4 and 46. The slits define tabs 50 between them~
The LED 52 has leads 54 and 56 which are interlaced through the slits to hold the component on the sheet material 42. Since the natural tendency of the sheet material ~2 is to lie flat, the tabs 50 will tend to close on the leads $4 and 56. This natural tendency will therefore ser~e to maintain contact ~et-ween the conductive traces ~4 and 46 and the leads 54 and 56, respectively. If desired, the LED 52 can also be secured by placing a piece of tape 58 over the area of the connection.
Also, the tape will seal the area so there will not be any ex-posure of the conductive material to the elements.
Figure 4 shows a variation of the connection of Figure
Figure 3 is a top plan view of a connector according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing a con-nector adapted for an alternate type of component.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED BMBODI~ENT
This invention is concerned with electrical connections to a piece of sheet material having electrical conductors formed thereon. The invention is particularly adapted for connection o~ discrete electrical components to a membrane switch panel.
The invention is also directed to connection of discrete elec~
trical components to single-thickness sheets which are not neces-sarily part of a membrane switch. The sheets have conductive traces formed thereon ~hich contact the leads of the electrical component.
Membrane switches are currently used in a variety of applications including typewriter-like keyboards, hand-held cal-culators, appliance control panels and cash-registers. Frequent-ly it is desirable to illuminate a portion of a membrane switch panel to provide information to the user. This can be accom-plished by ~he use of a light emitting diode (LED) connected to the circuitry printed on the membrane switch. The problem then ~ecomes how to connect the leads of an LED, which are wirest to the conductive traces on the membrane switch which are gen-erally silk-screened or painte~ on thin layers of plastic.
Figure 1 shows the connection of the present invention used in a membrane switch keyboard. The keyboard is shown gen-erally at 10 and includes a base plate 12, a membrane switch panel 14, a be~el 16 and keys or actuators 18. The baseplate 2S 12 is formed of rigid material such as aluminum. It forms the support for the keyboard and has appropriate notches or holes suitable for mounting the keyboard in some device. The membrane s~itch 14 may have one or moxe tails 20 with conducti~e traces extending onto it for connection to external circuitry~ The membrane switch also has a plurality of holes 22 in line with similar holes in the baseplate 12. The holes receive legs (not ~9~)~25 shown) on the housings of the keys 18. The legs may be heat staked to fasten the keys to the baseplate.
Looking at Figure 2, the membrane switch 14 includes a membrane layer 24, a substrate layer 26 and a spacer 28 between them. The membrane switch layers are preferably formed of thin sheets o~ plastic material although it could be made of other materials. The details of the membrane switch itself are conven-tional and are not specifically shown. The bezel 16 is an over-lay which covers the membrane switch 14 and provides a uniform, finishe~ appearance for the keyboard. The be~el has holes (not shown) which accommodate the keys 18.
As stated above, it is o~ten desired to provide illu-minatio~ of the keyboard. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate how this can be accomplished with the present invention. A tail 30 ex-tends rom either the membrane layer or the substrate layer~
In the embodiment shown the tail 30 extends from the substrate 26~ The tail 30 has one end attached to the substrate as at 32. The other or free end of the tail 30 can be attached wherever required. In this embodime~t the free end is attached to the bezel 16. The tail 30 includes conductive traces 34 which may be painted or silk-screened or otherwise formed on it. An elec-trical component such as an LED 36 is positioned between the tail 30 and the bezel portion of the keyboard. The bezel may have a small opening for the bulb portion o~ the LED. The leads 38 of the LED contact the traces 34 on the tail. The tail is adhesively secured to the keyboard, in this case to the bezel 16, with the component disposed between the tail and the key-board ~o that the tail holds the component in place. In a pre-ferred embodiment a pad 43 of resi~ient material is placed bet~
~een the tail and the keyboard to compensate for any ~Ineveness in the keyboard or the tail. It will be understood that adhesive s material is applied to the tail and to the pad so that the tail is securely held in place~
It will be noted that the free end of the tail is not restricted to the plane of the membrane switch 14. It can be connected at locations outside of the plane of the switch. For example, it may be desirable to connect the tail directly to the underside of a keytop to illuminate a specific key~ Similar-ly, the tail need not be parallel to the ed~e of the membrane switch as shown in Figure 1. It could be arranged at an angle or it could even be folded as required to locate the free end of the tail at a desired position. If a tail were folded, one of the connections .described below could be used to connect the LED to traces located on the opposite side of the tail from where the LED is positioned.
Figure 34 shows another form of connector for attaching a discrete electrical component to a piece of sheet material.
The sheet material could be a tail portion of a membrane switch such as at 30 in Figure 1 or it could be any other piece of flat material used in an electrical circuit. The sheet material 42 is preferably formed of insulative material such as plast.ic, paper or the like. Conductive traces 44 and 46 are formed on the sheet~ The traces may be conductive ink applied by silk-screening, painting or similar method. A series of slits 48 are cut in the sheet 42. The slits extend at least partially, and in the embodiment shown wholly, within the area of the con-ductive traces ~4 and 46. The slits define tabs 50 between them~
The LED 52 has leads 54 and 56 which are interlaced through the slits to hold the component on the sheet material 42. Since the natural tendency of the sheet material ~2 is to lie flat, the tabs 50 will tend to close on the leads $4 and 56. This natural tendency will therefore ser~e to maintain contact ~et-ween the conductive traces ~4 and 46 and the leads 54 and 56, respectively. If desired, the LED 52 can also be secured by placing a piece of tape 58 over the area of the connection.
Also, the tape will seal the area so there will not be any ex-posure of the conductive material to the elements.
Figure 4 shows a variation of the connection of Figure
3. In this version U-shaped slits 60 are cut in the area of the traces 44 and 46. The slits 60 form fingers 62 which can be bent upwardly, out of the plane of the sheet 42, to receive the leads of an LE~. This permits accommodation of an LED ~4 having horizontal leads 66 and 68, The leads 66 and 68 are placed under the fingers 62. The fingers are then pressed back into the sheet 42 to hold the component to the sheet and insure electrical contact between the conductive traces and the leads.
As in the embodiment of Figure 3t the finger 62 and the LED 6 may be secured by placing a piece of tape over them. It will be understood that other types of components could be used in the connection of the present invention and that the number of slits could be other than as shown similarly, other changes could be made in the site and ddisposition of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
As in the embodiment of Figure 3t the finger 62 and the LED 6 may be secured by placing a piece of tape over them. It will be understood that other types of components could be used in the connection of the present invention and that the number of slits could be other than as shown similarly, other changes could be made in the site and ddisposition of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (11)
1. In a membrane switch keyboard of the type having a membrane layer, a substrate layer and a spacer between them, the improvement comprising means for connecting a discrete elec-trical component to the keyboard, including a tail extending from one of said layers and having a free end secured to the keyboard, conductive traces formed on the tail and extending into contact with the leads of an electrical component, the com-ponent being disposed between the tail and the keyboard so that the tail holds the component in place.
2. The structure of claim 1 further comprising a pad of resilient material between the tail and the keyboard.
3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the keyboard includes a bezel and the tail is secured to the bezel.
4. The structure of claim 1 wherein the tail has at least two slits extending at least partially through the traces, the component's leads being interlaced through the slits.
5. The structure of claim 4 further comprising ad-hesive tape applied over the component's leads to secure the component to the tail.
6. A connector for attaching an electrical component to a piece of sheet material including conductive traces formed on the sheet material, at least two slits in the sheet, the slits extending at least partially through a trace, at lease one lead of the electrical component being interlaced through the slits to hold the component on the sheet material.
7. The structure of claim 6 further comprising adhe-sive tape applied over the components leads to secure the com-ponent to the sheet material.
8. A connector for attaching an electrical component to a piece of sheet material including conductive traces formed on the sheet material, at least one U-shaped slit in the sheet extending at least partially through a trace, the U-shaped slit forming a finger, at least one lead of the electrical component being interlaced between the sheet and the finger to hold the component on the sheet material.
9. The structure of claim 8 further comprising ad-hesive tape applied over the components leads to secure the com-ponent to the sheet material.
10. A connector for attaching an electrical component to a piece of sheet material including conductive traces formed on the sheet material, at least two slits in the sheet, at least one lead of the electrical component being interlaced through the slits to hold the component on the sheet material, at least one lead of the electrical component being in electrical and mechanical contact with at least one conductive trace formed on the sheet material.
11. A connector for attaching an electrical component to a piece of sheet material including conductive traces formed on the sheet material, at least one U-shaped slit in the sheet material, the U-shaped slit forming a finger, at least one lead of the electrical component being interlaced between the sheet and the finger to hold the component on the sheet material, at least one lead of the electrical component being in electrical and mechanical contact with a conductive trace formed on the sheet material.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000398145A CA1190625A (en) | 1982-03-11 | 1982-03-11 | Connector for attaching an electrical component to a flat sheet |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000398145A CA1190625A (en) | 1982-03-11 | 1982-03-11 | Connector for attaching an electrical component to a flat sheet |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1190625A true CA1190625A (en) | 1985-07-16 |
Family
ID=4122274
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000398145A Expired CA1190625A (en) | 1982-03-11 | 1982-03-11 | Connector for attaching an electrical component to a flat sheet |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1190625A (en) |
-
1982
- 1982-03-11 CA CA000398145A patent/CA1190625A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |