EP0334246B1 - Tastschalter - Google Patents

Tastschalter Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0334246B1
EP0334246B1 EP89104879A EP89104879A EP0334246B1 EP 0334246 B1 EP0334246 B1 EP 0334246B1 EP 89104879 A EP89104879 A EP 89104879A EP 89104879 A EP89104879 A EP 89104879A EP 0334246 B1 EP0334246 B1 EP 0334246B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
push
button switch
partial surface
contact
switch according
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP89104879A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0334246A2 (de
EP0334246A3 (de
Inventor
Hans-Joachim Viebrantz
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.)
Preh GmbH
Original Assignee
Preh GmbH
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 Preh GmbH filed Critical Preh GmbH
Publication of EP0334246A2 publication Critical patent/EP0334246A2/de
Publication of EP0334246A3 publication Critical patent/EP0334246A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0334246B1 publication Critical patent/EP0334246B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • H01H2213/00—Venting
    • H01H2213/01—Venting with internal pressure of other switch sites
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2215/00—Tactile feedback
    • H01H2215/004—Collapsible dome or bubble
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2217/00—Facilitation of operation; Human engineering
    • H01H2217/008—Pretravel to avoid inadvertent switching
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2231/00—Applications
    • H01H2231/032—Remote control
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2231/00—Applications
    • H01H2231/044—Under water
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2239/00—Miscellaneous
    • H01H2239/03—Avoiding erroneous switching

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a key switch according to the preamble of the main claim.
  • Such pushbuttons arranged one or more times as a keypad, are usually additionally surrounded by a housing.
  • a key cap is sometimes arranged above the actuator.
  • the cover can be designed as a mat, especially for keypads.
  • the pushbutton switches are used e.g. within control panels or with input keyboards for electronic devices, also for pocket calculators or for hand transmitters of remote control devices.
  • the pushbuttons have an installed, clearly recognizable switching stroke, generally between 1 and 4 mm.
  • Such a push button switch with a snap effect in the switching stroke is known from DE-A-33 40 575.
  • ribs are shown which limit the further switching stroke after the contact has been made.
  • pushbutton switches are known whose rubber-elastic contact dome is equipped with a projection, which leads the contacting surface in the actuating stroke (GB-A-21 12 577).
  • the projection should bring about a special snap effect or weaken the contact bounce. A limitation of the stroke by the projection is not achieved there.
  • US-A-4 390 765 also shows a push-button switch with a snap effect.
  • measures are proposed on the switching dome in order to extend the stroke until the snap effect is reached. A significant part of the total stroke remains after snapping as a residual stroke until contacting.
  • the inclination of the movable contact should be avoided by supporting members.
  • the support members should be of a lower height than the movable contact. The support members only work after contacting.
  • the known pushbutton switches have the disadvantage that they cause contacting after overcoming an installed restoring force. Malfunctions are e.g. to fear from overlying objects and battery energy is unnecessarily consumed.
  • the stroke H of the actuating element (8) taking place under the action of an actuating force P acting eccentrically on the flat tactile surface (10) is limited by the supporting surface (11) without causing contact, and that, In order to bring about contact, an additional actuating force P ′, which acts only in the central region of the touch surface (10), bulges the partial surface (12) in the actuation direction.
  • the support surfaces can be distributed over several individual surfaces around the partial surface, they can be arranged concentrically and possibly form a concentric ring.
  • the sub-area itself is electrically conductive, it can replace the movable counter contact and function as a switching bridge for two fixed contacts arranged side by side. For such a contact arrangement, it is sometimes sufficient to arrange the conductor tracks and contact areas on only one side of the substrate.
  • the push button switch of Figure 1 shows a flat contact arrangement (1) with flat contacts (2, 3).
  • a substrate (4) carries two fixed contacts (2); the connecting conductor tracks are not shown.
  • a spacer (5) cut free in the area of the contact arrangement (1) lies on the substrate (4).
  • This is followed by an elastic carrier film (6) with a mating contact (3) opposite the fixed contacts (2) at a distance.
  • the contact arrangement (1) is arched by a rubber-elastic cover (7), which is supported on the carrier film (6). Aligned with the contact arrangement (1), the actuating element (8) of the pushbutton switch is located above it as part of the cover (7).
  • the actuator (8) is elastically held by wall parts (9) of the cover (7) at a distance from the contact arrangement (1).
  • the key stroke H is limited by support surfaces (11) which protrude on the inside of the actuating element (8) in the stroke direction and which are positioned outside the contact arrangement (1) on the carrier film (6) without causing contacting in the contact arrangement (1).
  • the support surfaces (11) project beyond the partial surface (12) on the underside of the actuating element (8) (FIG.
  • the size of the additional actuating force P ' depends, for example, on the elasticity of the actuating member (8) or on the distance of the support surface (11) from the partial surface (12), based on the diameter of the support surface arrangement.
  • the additional actuating force P ' can include the stroke H triggering actuating force P.
  • FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show another push button switch that is simplified compared to FIG. 1 and explains its actuation.
  • the support surface (11) is represented by a raised ring (14) which is concentric with the partial surface (12).
  • the partial surface (12) is also the contact surface of the mating contact (3), which e.g. is connected to the insulating actuator by vulcanization.
  • FIG. 3 The rest position of the key switch is shown in FIG. 3.
  • the actuating element (8) has been lowered by the stroke H under the action of the actuating force P ; the actuator (8) is supported with the ring (14) on the substrate (4).
  • the partial surface (12) of the mating contact (3) bulges under the action of the additional actuating force P ' in the middle region of the touch surface (10)
  • the actuator (8) by the elastic wall parts (9) is returned to its rest position ( Figure 3); contacting is ended.
  • Figure 6 shows a cover (7) for two push buttons, which can also be called a contact mat (15). Air channels (13) are incorporated into the contact mat (15), which allow air to be equalized when the interior air of a pushbutton switch has been compressed by actuating the actuating member (8).

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
EP89104879A 1988-03-23 1989-03-18 Tastschalter Expired - Lifetime EP0334246B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3809770 1988-03-23
DE3809770A DE3809770A1 (de) 1988-03-23 1988-03-23 Tastschalter

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0334246A2 EP0334246A2 (de) 1989-09-27
EP0334246A3 EP0334246A3 (de) 1991-01-23
EP0334246B1 true EP0334246B1 (de) 1995-02-15

Family

ID=6350481

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89104879A Expired - Lifetime EP0334246B1 (de) 1988-03-23 1989-03-18 Tastschalter

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US4952761A (https=)
EP (1) EP0334246B1 (https=)
DE (1) DE3809770A1 (https=)

Families Citing this family (42)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9004532D0 (en) * 1990-02-28 1990-04-25 Lucas Ind Plc Switch assembly
DE4112754C2 (de) * 1991-04-19 1999-06-02 Marquardt Gmbh Drucktastenschalter
DE4118743C2 (de) * 1991-06-05 1994-07-28 Mannesmann Ag Mehrstufenschalter
US5163765A (en) * 1992-03-04 1992-11-17 Apple Computer, Inc. Collapsible keyboard
US5616897A (en) * 1993-06-30 1997-04-01 Weber; Michael R. Flexible keyboard
EP0685860A1 (en) * 1994-06-03 1995-12-06 Hewlett-Packard Company Full travel, sealed, fully backlighted keyboard
DE19503702B4 (de) * 1995-02-04 2005-10-27 Nicolay Verwaltungs-Gmbh Flüssigkeits- und gasdicht gekapselter Schalter, insbesondere für elektrochirurgische Instrumente
DE19608773C2 (de) 1996-03-07 1998-11-26 Preh Elektro Feinmechanik Schaltmatte
JPH10116639A (ja) * 1996-10-15 1998-05-06 Shin Etsu Polymer Co Ltd 薄型押釦スイッチ用部材
TW358571U (en) * 1997-10-24 1999-05-11 Acer Peripherals Inc Water proofing keyboard
FI105504B (fi) * 1998-12-28 2000-08-31 Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd Uusi näppäinrakenne sähköisen laitteen käyttöliittymään
US6404323B1 (en) 1999-05-25 2002-06-11 Varatouch Technology Incorporated Variable resistance devices and methods
US7190251B2 (en) * 1999-05-25 2007-03-13 Varatouch Technology Incorporated Variable resistance devices and methods
US6429543B1 (en) * 1999-10-01 2002-08-06 Siemens Vdo Automotive Corporation Innovative switch for remote control applications
US20020034930A1 (en) * 2000-09-11 2002-03-21 Shunpei Yamazaki Electronic device and method of usage thereof
USD467881S1 (en) 2001-03-12 2002-12-31 Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd. Depression switch
USD467882S1 (en) 2001-03-12 2002-12-31 Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd. Depression switch
USD467880S1 (en) 2001-03-12 2002-12-31 Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd. Depression switch
US6774330B2 (en) * 2001-03-27 2004-08-10 Trw Inc. Multi-stage push button switch apparatus
WO2003025961A1 (de) * 2001-09-19 2003-03-27 Iee International Electronics & Engineering S.A. Schaltelement in folienbauweise
JP2003226283A (ja) * 2002-02-04 2003-08-12 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd 屋外機器の電子式コントローラー
US7187264B2 (en) * 2003-02-20 2007-03-06 Iee International Electronics & Engineering S.A. Foil-type switching element with improved spacer design
DE10309538B4 (de) * 2003-03-04 2005-06-09 Methode Electronics International Gmbh Verfahren zur Herstellung eines elektrischen Kontaktes mit einem elastomeren Träger
US7474772B2 (en) * 2003-06-25 2009-01-06 Atrua Technologies, Inc. System and method for a miniature user input device
US7587072B2 (en) 2003-08-22 2009-09-08 Authentec, Inc. System for and method of generating rotational inputs
WO2005079413A2 (en) * 2004-02-12 2005-09-01 Atrua Technologies, Inc. System and method of emulating mouse operations using finger image sensors
JP4682618B2 (ja) 2004-12-28 2011-05-11 ブラザー工業株式会社 押しボタンスイッチ
US20070061126A1 (en) * 2005-09-01 2007-03-15 Anthony Russo System for and method of emulating electronic input devices
WO2007097979A2 (en) * 2006-02-10 2007-08-30 Atrua Technologies, Inc. Systems using variable resistance zones and stops for generating inputs to an electronic device
US9235274B1 (en) 2006-07-25 2016-01-12 Apple Inc. Low-profile or ultra-thin navigation pointing or haptic feedback device
US7700890B2 (en) * 2008-01-15 2010-04-20 Research In Motion Limited Key dome assembly with improved tactile feedback
US8172148B1 (en) * 2009-04-06 2012-05-08 Dynamics Inc. Cards and assemblies with user interfaces
US8791792B2 (en) 2010-01-15 2014-07-29 Idex Asa Electronic imager using an impedance sensor grid array mounted on or about a switch and method of making
US8866347B2 (en) 2010-01-15 2014-10-21 Idex Asa Biometric image sensing
US8421890B2 (en) 2010-01-15 2013-04-16 Picofield Technologies, Inc. Electronic imager using an impedance sensor grid array and method of making
US8206047B1 (en) * 2011-06-24 2012-06-26 TouchFire, Inc. Keyboard overlay for optimal touch typing on a proximity-based touch screen
US20130279769A1 (en) 2012-04-10 2013-10-24 Picofield Technologies Inc. Biometric Sensing
DE102013203467A1 (de) * 2013-03-01 2014-09-04 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Drucktastenschalter
US9317202B2 (en) 2013-09-12 2016-04-19 TouchFire, Inc. Keyboard overlay that improves touch typing on small touch screen devices
WO2019048909A1 (en) * 2017-09-08 2019-03-14 Sateco Ag BUTTON SET
US11685469B2 (en) * 2020-09-11 2023-06-27 Shimano Inc. Bicycle derailleur
TWI761091B (zh) * 2021-02-25 2022-04-11 致伸科技股份有限公司 按鍵結構

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS573317A (en) * 1980-06-09 1982-01-08 Shinetsu Polymer Co Pushbutton controlling member
JPS57166454A (en) * 1981-04-06 1982-10-13 Daikin Ind Ltd Absorption type refrigerating plant
JPS58117615A (ja) * 1981-12-29 1983-07-13 信越ポリマ−株式会社 押釦スイツチ用押圧制御部材
IT1155482B (it) * 1982-04-02 1987-01-28 Olivetti & Co Spa Tastiera a contatti e metodo per la fabbricazione della stessa
JPS5987720A (ja) * 1982-11-11 1984-05-21 シャープ株式会社 押ボタンスイツチ
US4677268A (en) * 1983-03-28 1987-06-30 The Gates Corporation Elastomeric switch control device
IT210475Z2 (it) * 1987-02-26 1988-12-30 Olivetti & Co Spa Tastiera a contatti per macchine scriventi

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3809770A1 (de) 1989-10-05
US4952761A (en) 1990-08-28
EP0334246A2 (de) 1989-09-27
EP0334246A3 (de) 1991-01-23
DE3809770C2 (https=) 1991-01-10

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