EP0150600A2 - Membranschalteranordnung - Google Patents

Membranschalteranordnung Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0150600A2
EP0150600A2 EP84308746A EP84308746A EP0150600A2 EP 0150600 A2 EP0150600 A2 EP 0150600A2 EP 84308746 A EP84308746 A EP 84308746A EP 84308746 A EP84308746 A EP 84308746A EP 0150600 A2 EP0150600 A2 EP 0150600A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
switch
impedance
conductive
switch contacts
contacts
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP84308746A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0150600A3 (de
Inventor
Milan Bures
John Robert Rowlette
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TE Connectivity Corp
Original Assignee
AMP Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AMP Inc filed Critical AMP Inc
Publication of EP0150600A2 publication Critical patent/EP0150600A2/de
Publication of EP0150600A3 publication Critical patent/EP0150600A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
    • H01H13/702—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2239/00—Miscellaneous
    • H01H2239/01—Miscellaneous combined with other elements on the same substrate
    • H01H2239/012—Decoding impedances
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2239/00—Miscellaneous
    • H01H2239/02—Other elements in moving part
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2239/00—Miscellaneous
    • H01H2239/026—Internal encoding, e.g. validity bit

Definitions

  • the invention relates generally to membrane or diaphragm switches, and more specifically, to membrane keyboard switch assemblies used for data entry.
  • these switches are comprised of a base substrate and a flexible layer separated by spacing means.
  • the spacing means has a plurality of openings constituting switch sites.
  • the internal surfaces of both the substrate and flexible layer have a pattern of conductive switch contacts thereon, the switch contacts on the layer being aligned with the openings in the spacing means.
  • a membrane switch assembly comprised of a base substrate and at least one flexible layer separated from each other by spacing means, the spacing means having a plurality of openings therein constituting switch sites, the internal surfaces of layers adjacent the spacing means having a pattern of conductive switch contacts thereon, the switch contacts on the surfaces being aligned with the openings in the spacing means, the membrane switch assembly is characterised in-that:
  • the present invention discloses a membrane switch assembly in which the conductive switch contacts on each layer are interconnected in series along a single conductive path in such a way that a regular unit value of impedance means exists between the switch contacts.
  • the unit value of impedance means on one layer may be the same or different from the unit value of impedance means on the other layer.
  • the unit value of impedance used on one layer be significantly different from the unit value on the other layer. It is understood, however, that the unit values of impedance on different layers may be varied in any proportion without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
  • the impedance means may present resistance, capacitance or an inductance between successive switch contacts.
  • the signal received is essentially equal to the summation of the unit values along the circuit path.
  • This analog signal can be directly converted to digital.
  • Increased number of switches can be utilized for a given summation of unit impedance means by utilization of increased digital word length of the A/D converter.
  • the signal received will be from the switch having the shortest circuit path.
  • the invention disclosed herein is therefore protected from false readings owing to the "phantom.key" effect which can occur with a matrix switch array.
  • the output signal from the switch depends on the ratio of the summation of unit value impedance means to that switch site to a reference impedance or to the totality of unit value of impedance means.
  • the output signal therefore is independent of variations in environmental and physical changes that may occur to the switches.
  • the membrane switch assembly 10 is comprised of an insulating substrate 12, an insulating spacing means 20 and an insulating film layer 16. Spacing means 20 separates the internal surface 14 of substrate 12 and the internal surface 18 of layer 16. Spacing means 20 has openings 22 therein which constitute switch sites.
  • the internal surfaces 14 and 18 have a pattern of conductive switch contacts 28 and 28' respectively, thereon.
  • the contacts 28 on surface 14 are interconnected in a series along a single conductive path 24.
  • the contacts 28' on surface 18 are interconnected in a series along a single conductive path 24'.
  • Switch contacts 28 are spaced apart and aligned with switch contacts 28' and with switch sites 22 in the completed assembly.
  • the invention as disclosed can be used, for example, in calculators, and keyboards for typewriters and computers.
  • the invention also can be used for multiple layers of switches by using additional flexible conductive layers.
  • the invention further can be used in touch entry devices for mounting on CRT's if in addition to layer 16, substrate 12 and spacing means 20 are also flexible layer.s.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
EP84308746A 1983-12-22 1984-12-14 Membranschalteranordnung Withdrawn EP0150600A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US56427883A 1983-12-22 1983-12-22
US564278 1983-12-22

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0150600A2 true EP0150600A2 (de) 1985-08-07
EP0150600A3 EP0150600A3 (de) 1985-09-18

Family

ID=24253846

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP84308746A Withdrawn EP0150600A3 (de) 1983-12-22 1984-12-14 Membranschalteranordnung

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0150600A3 (de)
JP (1) JPS60148019A (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0251670A2 (de) * 1986-06-24 1988-01-07 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Kontrollvorrichtung für Kochgeräte
US4795897A (en) * 1986-02-21 1989-01-03 U.S. Philips Corp. Apparatus for establishing data transfers with a portable electronic card
GB2226702A (en) * 1988-12-28 1990-07-04 Brady Co W H Membrane switchcores
US9120030B2 (en) * 2012-10-31 2015-09-01 Leo Paper Bags Manufacturing (1982) Limited Book assembly with slider-activated switch

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3623080A (en) * 1970-01-02 1971-11-23 Bunker Ramo Self-encoding keyboard employing eddy current shorting
GB2095036A (en) * 1981-02-19 1982-09-22 Sharp Kk Membrane keyboards
JPS5852729A (ja) * 1981-09-25 1983-03-29 Seiko Epson Corp タッチセンサ

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3623080A (en) * 1970-01-02 1971-11-23 Bunker Ramo Self-encoding keyboard employing eddy current shorting
GB2095036A (en) * 1981-02-19 1982-09-22 Sharp Kk Membrane keyboards
JPS5852729A (ja) * 1981-09-25 1983-03-29 Seiko Epson Corp タッチセンサ

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENTS ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 7, no. 138 (P-204)[1283], 16th June 1983; & JP-A-58 052 729 (EPUSON K.K.) 29-03-1983 *

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4795897A (en) * 1986-02-21 1989-01-03 U.S. Philips Corp. Apparatus for establishing data transfers with a portable electronic card
EP0251670A2 (de) * 1986-06-24 1988-01-07 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Kontrollvorrichtung für Kochgeräte
EP0251670A3 (en) * 1986-06-24 1990-02-21 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Control device for cooking apparatus
GB2226702A (en) * 1988-12-28 1990-07-04 Brady Co W H Membrane switchcores
EP0375832A2 (de) * 1988-12-28 1990-07-04 W.H. Brady Co. Membrantastatur mit Tastenzellenkontaktelementen, die für kontinuierliche Datenprüfung miteinander verbunden sind
EP0375832A3 (de) * 1988-12-28 1991-09-11 W.H. Brady Co. Membrantastatur mit Tastenzellenkontaktelementen, die für kontinuierliche Datenprüfung miteinander verbunden sind
US9120030B2 (en) * 2012-10-31 2015-09-01 Leo Paper Bags Manufacturing (1982) Limited Book assembly with slider-activated switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0150600A3 (de) 1985-09-18
JPS60148019A (ja) 1985-08-05

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3974332A (en) Tablet for use in a coordinate digitizer
US5283558A (en) Low-cost devices for touch control
US4400758A (en) Capacitance switch arrangement
US7800586B2 (en) Data input device
US4920342A (en) Membrane switchcores with high resisitivity ink circuits
US3290439A (en) Data encoding keyboard
US3988551A (en) Membrane keyboard apparatus having common apertured electrode, aperture inserted electrodes and conductive bubble contactors
US4609792A (en) Encoding keyboard
US4857684A (en) Capacitance membrane switchcore with intertrace capacitive coupling and/or intratrace capacitive coupling
US4415781A (en) Membrane switch
US4501938A (en) Keyboard switch
KR920007747B1 (ko) 쉬트형 스위치소자(Sheet switch)
US6577250B1 (en) Resistance based keyboard key discrimination
US4736190A (en) Sheet membrane keyboard and electronic apparatus using same
US4795861A (en) Membrane switch element with coated spacer layer
US3696408A (en) Keyboard encoder
US4307275A (en) Membrane switch construction and method for making same
US4126760A (en) Position indicators
EP0150600A2 (de) Membranschalteranordnung
US4178481A (en) Electrical data entry devices
US4567469A (en) Matrix keyboard
US4803315A (en) Printed circuit board
JPS6039718A (ja) スイツチのマトリツクス構成
US6737990B1 (en) Key input apparatus interface
US4228329A (en) Compact keyboard structure

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB IT NL

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE DE FR GB IT NL

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19860221

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19870624

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN

18W Application withdrawn

Withdrawal date: 19871007

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: ROWLETTE, JOHN ROBERT

Inventor name: BURES, MILAN