EP0419717B1 - Layered keyboard - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP0419717B1
EP0419717B1 EP89118053A EP89118053A EP0419717B1 EP 0419717 B1 EP0419717 B1 EP 0419717B1 EP 89118053 A EP89118053 A EP 89118053A EP 89118053 A EP89118053 A EP 89118053A EP 0419717 B1 EP0419717 B1 EP 0419717B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
rings
keyboard according
membrane
flexible
piezo elements
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
EP89118053A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0419717A1 (en
Inventor
Gert Dipl.-Ing. Miller
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.)
Scheidt and Bachmann GmbH
Original Assignee
Scheidt and Bachmann 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 Scheidt and Bachmann GmbH filed Critical Scheidt and Bachmann GmbH
Priority to ES89118053T priority Critical patent/ES2065360T3/en
Priority to DE58908605T priority patent/DE58908605D1/en
Priority to AT89118053T priority patent/ATE113752T1/en
Priority to EP89118053A priority patent/EP0419717B1/en
Publication of EP0419717A1 publication Critical patent/EP0419717A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0419717B1 publication Critical patent/EP0419717B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • H01H2201/00—Contacts
    • H01H2201/02—Piezo element
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2205/00—Movable contacts
    • H01H2205/016—Separate bridge contact
    • H01H2205/024—Means to facilitate positioning
    • H01H2205/028—Protuberances on substrate

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a membrane keyboard with a plurality of disk-shaped piezo elements, which are arranged behind a front panel provided with key symbols between two flexible foils, which are provided for each piezo element with a contact surface which is led through a conductor track to a connector of the keyboard is, as well as with a rigid carrier plate carrying the film and the front plate for receiving the bending forces exerted on the piezo elements by pressure loading of the front plate in the area of the key symbols.
  • Such keyboards referred to as membrane keyboards, are known from EP-A 210 386. They have the advantage that they can be inexpensively manufactured due to their structure and can be adapted in a relatively simple manner to the respective intended use.
  • an intermediate foil is used to hold the piezo elements, which is provided with corresponding recesses for the individual piezo elements.
  • This intermediate film is not only an additional component, but has to be produced to fulfill its purpose with a thickness that essentially corresponds to the thickness of the respective piezo elements.
  • the invention has for its object to provide a membrane keyboard of the type described above, which on the one hand has a simpler and cheaper structure and on the other hand avoids any difficulties in assigning piezo elements and associated conductor tracks.
  • the solution to this problem by the invention is characterized in that rings surrounding the piezo elements are arranged on one of the flexible foils, the axial thickness of which corresponds approximately to the disk thickness of the piezo elements.
  • the previously required intermediate film for accommodating the piezo elements can be dispensed with, because the position of these piezo elements is predetermined by rings which are arranged on one of the flexible cover films and their axial thickness is approximately the same as the disk thickness of the piezo elements corresponds. Since the rings are arranged directly on one of the flexible foils, the difficulty of assigning several foils to one another is eliminated when assembling the foil keyboard; it is therefore ensured that the piezo elements are reliably arranged in the region of the contact surfaces of the conductor tracks which are formed on the two cover foils. In addition to a simpler and therefore less expensive structure, the invention also avoids difficulties in assigning the individual parts of the membrane keyboard according to the invention.
  • the rings are made of plastic, preferably made of plastic resins, and are applied directly to the surface of the film provided with the contact surfaces and conductor tracks, so that the production is particularly simple.
  • the rings are arranged on a flexible carrier foil and provided with at least one slot opening for the passage of the conductor tracks; this carrier foil is placed under one of the two flexible foils, which is provided with the slots corresponding to the slotted rings, contact surfaces lying within these annular recesses and the conductor tracks leading to the contact surfaces, the axial thickness of the rings being approximately the disk thickness of the piezo elements plus the Corresponds to the thickness of the flexible film in the area of the contact surfaces. Since in this embodiment according to the invention a flexible carrier film is provided with the rings used to hold the piezo elements, conventional cover films can be used.
  • the slotted rings can preferably be produced from copper by etching off a copper layer applied to the carrier foil.
  • spacers can be arranged on the surface facing the carrier plate of the flexible film or carrier film provided with the rings on the other surface. These spacers are preferably formed as rings coaxial to the rings on the other surface. If, according to a further feature of the invention, the inner diameter of the ones supported on the carrier plate Rings smaller than the inner diameter of the rings receiving the piezo elements is formed, there is a support of the piezo elements in their edge area, which ensures a particularly good response.
  • the rings arranged on the underside of the flexible film or the carrier film can also preferably be produced from plastic or copper.
  • the contact areas and conductor tracks are preferably made of metal powder, preferably silver, and printed on the flexible foils.
  • the rings and / or spacers are connected to one another by at least one web, which both simplifies production and improves durability.
  • the invention proposes to glue or weld at least some of the foils to one another and / or to the front plate or carrier plate.
  • the membrane keyboard according to the first embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a flexible front panel 1, which is provided on its visible surface with key symbols 1a.
  • This front panel 1 is only drawn to a small extent in FIGS. 1 and 2.
  • this flexible film 2 is connected to the front panel 1 by an adhesive layer 3.
  • This adhesive layer 3 can optionally be formed on the underside of the front panel 1 and / or the top of the film 2 or as a double-sided adhesive film.
  • a second flexible film 4 which is provided on its upper side with contact surfaces 4a and conductor tracks 4b. Rings 5 are applied to this top side, which are provided with the contact surfaces 4a and conductor tracks 4b, and each serve to receive a piezo element 6.
  • a disk-shaped piezo element 6 is shown in the sectional view in FIG. 2; in the perspective view of Figure 1, the piezo elements have been omitted for clarity.
  • the rings 5 used to hold the disk-shaped piezo elements 6 are preferably made of plastic resins which have been applied directly to the surface of the film 4.
  • the thickness, i.e. the axial extent of the rings 5 corresponds essentially to the thickness of the disk-like piezo elements 6, as can be seen in particular from FIG. In this illustration of FIG. 2, the contact surfaces 2a and 4a and conductor tracks 2b and 4b are shown with an exaggerated thickness for the sake of better illustration.
  • the front plate 1 and the flexible films 2 and 4 are arranged on a rigid carrier plate 7, preferably made of aluminum.
  • spacers 8 are arranged between this carrier plate 7 and the adjacent film 4, which also have the form of rings.
  • These annular spacers 8 are formed coaxially to the rings 5 on the top of the film 4 and have an inner diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the rings 5. This results in an annular contact surface for the edge of the disk-shaped piezo elements 6, so that when the front plate 1 is pressed, they are bent in the area of a button symbol 1 a in order to emit the corresponding impulse.
  • annular spacers 8 are applied directly to the underside of the flexible film 4.
  • both the rings 5 and the spacers 8 can be connected to the membrane 2 or the carrier plate 7 via adhesive layers 9a, 9b on their respective free surfaces.
  • Figure 1 finally shows the possibility to connect at least adjacent rings 5 to one another by webs 10.
  • the membrane keyboard comprises a flexible front panel 1 with key symbols 1a and two flexible foils 2 and 4, each on the mutually facing sides with contact surfaces 2a and 4a and conductor tracks 2b and 4b for between they are arranged piezo elements 6 are provided.
  • the entire membrane keyboard is in turn supported by a carrier plate 7, preferably made of aluminum.
  • the individual disk-shaped piezo elements 6 are each arranged within a ring 5;
  • these rings 5 are not formed on one of the two flexible foils 2 or 4, but on the top of a flexible carrier foil 11, which in the exemplary embodiment is in turn provided with spacers 8 on its underside, which are concentric with the rings 5, in diameter however smaller rings are made.
  • the film 4 according to FIG. 4 is provided with cutouts 12 which are designed as circular ring sections with an inner and an outer diameter are, which is slightly smaller or slightly larger than the inner or outer diameter of the rings 5 formed on the carrier film 11.
  • cutouts 12 which are designed as circular ring sections with an inner and an outer diameter are, which is slightly smaller or slightly larger than the inner or outer diameter of the rings 5 formed on the carrier film 11.
  • each piezo element 6 is arranged between the contact surfaces 2a and 4a of the flexible foils 2 and 4 and within a ring 5 which determines its position.
  • the axial extent, ie the thickness of the rings 5 corresponds essentially to the thickness of the disk-shaped piezo elements 6 plus the thickness of the film 4. Also at this point it should be mentioned that the thickness of the contact surfaces 2a and conductor tracks 2b for better illustration is exaggerated in Fig.5.
  • pressing a button symbol 1a on the front panel 1 leads to a certain deflection of this front panel 1 and the foils 2 and 4 underneath, and thus to a pulse output by the respective disk-shaped piezo element 6, which in this case has its edge on the annular one Spacer 8 is supported so that there is a targeted deflection of the piezo element 6.
  • the piezo element 6, which is pressurized and thereby bent, results in a deformation of the piezo crystal; the resulting electrical pulse is fed via the contact surfaces 2a and 4a interacting with it and the connected conductor tracks 2b and 4b and via a connector (not shown in the drawing) of the membrane keyboard to an electronic evaluation device connected to the membrane keyboard.

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  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Saccharide Compounds (AREA)
  • Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a layered keyboard having a multiplicity of disc-shaped piezo-elements (6) which are arranged behind a front plate (1), provided with key symbols (1a), between two flexible layers (2 and 4) which are provided with a contact surface (2a and 4a) for each piezo element (6), which contact surface is connected by means of a conductor track (2b, 4b) to a keyboard plug connector, and having a rigid supporting plate (7), which supports the layers (2 and 4) and the front plate (1) for absorbing the bending forces exerted as a result of the pressure stress of the front plate (1) in the region of the key symbols (1a) onto the piezo-elements (6). In order to create a layered keyboard which is cost-effective and can be produced in a simple manner with the necessary precision, one of the flexible layers (2 or 4) is provided with rings (5) surrounding the piezo-elements (6), whose axial thickness corresponds approximately to the disc thickness of the piezo-elements (6). <IMAGE>

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft eine Folientastatur mit einer Mehrzahl von scheibenförmigen Piezo-Elementen, die hinter einer mit Tastensymbolen versehenen Frontplatte zwischen zwei flexiblen Folien angeordnet sind, die für jedes Piezo-Element mit einer Kontaktfläche versehen sind, die durch eine Leiterbahn zu einem Anschlußstecker der Tastatur geführt ist, sowie mit einer die Folien- und die Frontplatte tragenden starren Trägerplatte zur Aufnahme der durch Druckbelastung der Frontplatte im Bereich der Tastensymbole auf die Piezo-Elemente ausgeübten Biegekräfte.The invention relates to a membrane keyboard with a plurality of disk-shaped piezo elements, which are arranged behind a front panel provided with key symbols between two flexible foils, which are provided for each piezo element with a contact surface which is led through a conductor track to a connector of the keyboard is, as well as with a rigid carrier plate carrying the film and the front plate for receiving the bending forces exerted on the piezo elements by pressure loading of the front plate in the area of the key symbols.

Derartige, als Folientastatur bezeichnete Tastaturen sind aus der EP-A 210 386 bekannt. Sie haben den Vorteil, daß sie aufgrund ihres Aufbaus aus mehreren Folien preiswert hergestellt und auf verhältnismäßig einfache Weise an den jeweiligen Verwendungszweck angepaßt werden können.Such keyboards, referred to as membrane keyboards, are known from EP-A 210 386. They have the advantage that they can be inexpensively manufactured due to their structure and can be adapted in a relatively simple manner to the respective intended use.

Bei der aus der EP-A-210 386 bekannten Folientastatur wird zur Aufnahme der Piezo-Elemente eine Zwischenfolie verwendet, die mit entsprechenden Aussparungen für die einzelnen Piezo-Elemente versehen ist. Diese Zwischenfolie stellt nicht nur ein zusätzliches Bauteil dar, sondern muß zur Erfüllung ihres Zweckes mit einer Dicke hergestellt werden, die im wesentlichen der Dicke der jeweiligen Piezo-Elemente entspricht. Außerdem ist es erforderlich, diese Zwischenfolie exakt zwischen den beiden Deckfolien zu plazieren, um die notwendige Zuordnung zwischen den Piezo-Elementen und den auf den Deckfolien ausgebildeten Leiterbahnen für diese Piezo-Elemente herzustellen.In the membrane keyboard known from EP-A-210 386, an intermediate foil is used to hold the piezo elements, which is provided with corresponding recesses for the individual piezo elements. This intermediate film is not only an additional component, but has to be produced to fulfill its purpose with a thickness that essentially corresponds to the thickness of the respective piezo elements. In addition, it is necessary to place this intermediate film exactly between the two cover films in order to produce the necessary association between the piezo elements and the conductor tracks formed on the cover films for these piezo elements.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine Folientastatur der eingangs beschriebenen Art zu schaffen, die einerseits einen einfacheren und preiswerteren Aufbau besitzt und andererseits jegliche Schwierigkeiten bei der Zuordnung zwischen Piezo-Elementen und zugehörigen Leiterbahnen vermeidet.The invention has for its object to provide a membrane keyboard of the type described above, which on the one hand has a simpler and cheaper structure and on the other hand avoids any difficulties in assigning piezo elements and associated conductor tracks.

Die Lösung dieser Aufgabenstellung durch die Erfindung ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß an einer der flexiblen Folien die Piezo-Elemente umgebende Ringe angeordnet sind, deren axiale Dicke etwa der Scheibendicke der Piezo-Elemente entspricht.The solution to this problem by the invention is characterized in that rings surrounding the piezo elements are arranged on one of the flexible foils, the axial thickness of which corresponds approximately to the disk thickness of the piezo elements.

Bei der erfindungsgemäßen Tastatur kann auf die bisher erforderliche Zwischenfolie zur Aufnahme der Piezo-Elemente verzichtet werden, weil die Lage dieser Piezo-Elemente durch Ringe vorbestimmt wird, die an einer der flexiblen Deckfolien angeordnet sind und deren axiale Dicke etwa der Scheibendicke der Piezo-Elemente entspricht. Da die Ringe unmittelbar auf einer der flexiblen Folien angeordnet werden, entfällt beim Zusammenbau der Folientastatur die Schwierigkeit der Zuordnung mehrerer Folien zueinander; es ist demzufolge sichergestellt, daß die Piezo-Elemente zuverlässig im Bereich der Kontaktflächen der Leiterbahnen angeordnet werden, die auf den beiden Deckfolien ausgebildet sind. Neben einem einfacheren und damit preiswerteren Aufbau lassen sich demzufolge durch die Erfindung auch Schwierigkeiten bei der Zuordnung der Einzelteile der erfindungsgemäßen Folientastatur vermeiden.In the keyboard according to the invention, the previously required intermediate film for accommodating the piezo elements can be dispensed with, because the position of these piezo elements is predetermined by rings which are arranged on one of the flexible cover films and their axial thickness is approximately the same as the disk thickness of the piezo elements corresponds. Since the rings are arranged directly on one of the flexible foils, the difficulty of assigning several foils to one another is eliminated when assembling the foil keyboard; it is therefore ensured that the piezo elements are reliably arranged in the region of the contact surfaces of the conductor tracks which are formed on the two cover foils. In addition to a simpler and therefore less expensive structure, the invention also avoids difficulties in assigning the individual parts of the membrane keyboard according to the invention.

Gemäß einem weiteren Merkmal der Erfindung sind die Ringe aus Kunststoff, und zwar vorzugsweise aus Kunststoffharzen hergestellt und unmittelbar auf der Oberfläche der mit den Kontaktflächen und Leiterbahnen versehenen Folie aufgebracht, so daß sich eine besonders einfache Herstellung ergibt.According to a further feature of the invention, the rings are made of plastic, preferably made of plastic resins, and are applied directly to the surface of the film provided with the contact surfaces and conductor tracks, so that the production is particularly simple.

Bei einer alternativen Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Folientastatur sind die Ringe an einer flexiblen Tragfolie angeordnet und mit mindestens einer Schlitzoffnung für den Durchtritt der Leiterbahnen versehen; diese Tragfolie wird unter eine der beiden flexiblen Folien gelegt, die mit den geschlitzten Ringen entsprechenden Aussparungen, innerhalb dieser ringförmigen Aussparungen liegenden Kontaktflächen und den zu den Kontaktflächen geführten Leiterbahnen versehen ist, wobei die axiale Dicke der Ringe etwa der Scheibendicke der Piezo-Elemente zuzüglich der Dicke der flexiblen Folie im Bereich der Kontaktflächen entspricht. Da bei dieser erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsform eine flexible Tragfolie mit den zur Aufnahme der Piezo-Elemente dienenden Ringen versehen wird, lassen sich herkömmliche Deckfolien verwenden. Die korrekte Zuordnung der Ringe zu den Deckfolien erfolgt durch das Zusammenwirken der Ringe mit Aussparungen, die durch einen einfachen Stanzvorgang in einer der beiden Deckfolien hergestellt werden. Ein Zusammenfügen der Folien ergibt somit zwangsläufig die korrekte Ausrichtung der Ringe und damit der von ihnen aufgenommenen Piezo-Elemente zu den Leiterbahnen auf den beiden flexiblen Deckfolien.In an alternative embodiment of the membrane keyboard according to the invention, the rings are arranged on a flexible carrier foil and provided with at least one slot opening for the passage of the conductor tracks; this carrier foil is placed under one of the two flexible foils, which is provided with the slots corresponding to the slotted rings, contact surfaces lying within these annular recesses and the conductor tracks leading to the contact surfaces, the axial thickness of the rings being approximately the disk thickness of the piezo elements plus the Corresponds to the thickness of the flexible film in the area of the contact surfaces. Since in this embodiment according to the invention a flexible carrier film is provided with the rings used to hold the piezo elements, conventional cover films can be used. The correct assignment of the rings to the cover foils takes place through the interaction of the rings with recesses which are produced by a simple punching process in one of the two cover foils. Assembling the foils thus inevitably results in the correct alignment of the rings and thus the piezo elements they accommodate to the conductor tracks on the two flexible cover foils.

Die geschlitzten Ringe können vorzugsweise aus Kupfer durch Abätzen einer auf der Tragfolie aufgebrachten Kupferschicht hergestellt werden.The slotted rings can preferably be produced from copper by etching off a copper layer applied to the carrier foil.

Um das Ansprechverhalten der Piezo-Elemente zu verbessern, können gemäß einem weiteren Merkmal der Erfindung auf der der Trägerplatte zugewandten Fläche der auf der anderen Fläche mit den Ringen versehenen flexiblen Folie bzw. Tragfolie Abstandshalter angeordnet werden. Diese Abstandshalter werden vorzugsweise als zu den Ringen auf der anderen Fläche koaxiale Ringe ausgebildet. Wenn gemäß einem weiteren Merkmal der Erfindung der Innendurchmesser der sich auf der Trägerplatte abstützenden Ringe kleiner als der Innendurchmesser der die Piezo-Elemente aufnehmenden Ringe ausgebildet wird, ergibt sich eine Abstützung der Piezo-Elemente in deren Randbereich, wodurch ein besonders gutes Ansprechverhalten gewährleistet wird.In order to improve the response behavior of the piezo elements, according to a further feature of the invention, spacers can be arranged on the surface facing the carrier plate of the flexible film or carrier film provided with the rings on the other surface. These spacers are preferably formed as rings coaxial to the rings on the other surface. If, according to a further feature of the invention, the inner diameter of the ones supported on the carrier plate Rings smaller than the inner diameter of the rings receiving the piezo elements is formed, there is a support of the piezo elements in their edge area, which ensures a particularly good response.

Auch die auf der Unterseite der flexiblen Folie bzw. der Tragfolie angeordneten Ringe können vorzugsweise aus Kunststoff oder Kupfer hergestellt werden. Die Kontaktflächen und Leiterbahnen werden vorzugsweise aus Metallpulver, vorzugsweise Silber hergestellt und auf die flexiblen Folien aufgedruckt.The rings arranged on the underside of the flexible film or the carrier film can also preferably be produced from plastic or copper. The contact areas and conductor tracks are preferably made of metal powder, preferably silver, and printed on the flexible foils.

Bei einer bevorzugten Weiterbildung der Erfindung sind die Ringe und/oder Abstandshalter durch mindestens einen Steg miteinander verbunden, wodurch sowohl die Herstellung vereinfacht als auch die Haltbarkeit verbessert wird.In a preferred development of the invention, the rings and / or spacers are connected to one another by at least one web, which both simplifies production and improves durability.

Mit der Erfindung wird schließlich vorgeschlagen, zumindest einige der Folien miteinander und/oder mit der Frontplatte oder Trägerplatte zu verkleben oder zu verschweißen.Finally, the invention proposes to glue or weld at least some of the foils to one another and / or to the front plate or carrier plate.

Auf der Zeichnung sind zwei Ausführungsbeispiele der erfindungsgemäßen Folientastatur dargestellt, und zwar zeigen:

Fig. 1
eine stark vergrößerte perspektivische Ansicht eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels der Folientastatur mit der besseren Erkennbarkeit wegen abschnittsweise weggelassenen Schichten,
Fig. 2
einen Querschnitt durch einen Teil der Folientastatur nach Fig. 1,
Fig. 3
eine perspektivische Darstellung eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels entsprechend der Fig. 1,
Fig. 4
eine Ansicht eines Teils der unteren, mit Kontaktflächen und Leiterbahnen für die Piezo-Elemente versehenen flexiblen Folie und
Fig. 5
einen Querschnitt durch die Folientastatur des zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels.
Two exemplary embodiments of the membrane keyboard according to the invention are shown in the drawing, namely:
Fig. 1
FIG. 2 shows a greatly enlarged perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of the membrane keyboard with better visibility due to layers omitted in sections,
Fig. 2
2 shows a cross section through part of the membrane keyboard according to FIG. 1,
Fig. 3
2 shows a perspective illustration of a second exemplary embodiment corresponding to FIG. 1,
Fig. 4
a view of a portion of the lower, provided with contact surfaces and conductor tracks for the piezo elements and flexible film
Fig. 5
a cross section through the membrane keyboard of the second embodiment.

Die Folientastatur nach dem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der Figuren 1 und 2 umfaßt eine biegsame Frontplatte 1, die auf ihrer sichtbaren Oberfläche mit Tastensymbolen 1a versehen ist. Diese Frontplatte 1 ist in den Figuren 1 und 2 nur zu einem geringen Teil gezeichnet.The membrane keyboard according to the first embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a flexible front panel 1, which is provided on its visible surface with key symbols 1a. This front panel 1 is only drawn to a small extent in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Unterhalb dieser Frontplatte 1 befindet sich eine erste flexible Folie 2, die auf ihrer Unterseite mit Kontaktflächen 2a und zugehörigen Leiterbahnen 2b versehen ist, die in Fig.1 angedeutet sind. Diese flexible Folie 2 wird beim Ausführungsbeispiel mit der Frontplatte 1 durch eine Klebstoffschicht 3 verbunden. Diese Klebstoffschicht 3 kann wahlweise auf der Unterseite der Frontplatte 1 und/oder der Oberseite der Folie 2 ausgebildet oder als doppelseitige Klebefolie ausgebildet sein.Below this front panel 1 there is a first flexible film 2, which is provided on its underside with contact surfaces 2a and associated conductor tracks 2b, which are indicated in FIG. 1. In the exemplary embodiment, this flexible film 2 is connected to the front panel 1 by an adhesive layer 3. This adhesive layer 3 can optionally be formed on the underside of the front panel 1 and / or the top of the film 2 or as a double-sided adhesive film.

Unterhalb der flexiblen Folie 2 befindet sich eine zweite flexible Folie 4, die auf ihrer Oberseite mit Kontaktflächen 4a und Leiterbahnen 4b versehen ist. Auf dieser mit den Kontaktflächen 4a und Leiterbahnen 4b versehenen Oberseite sind Ringe 5 aufgebracht, die zur Aufnahme jeweils eines Piezo-Elements 6 dienen. Ein derartiges, scheibenförmiges Piezo-Element 6 ist in der Schnittdarstellung der Fig.2 gezeichnet; in der perspektivischen Darstellung der Fig.1 wurden die Piezo-Elemente der besseren Übersichtlichkeit wegen weggelassen.Below the flexible film 2 there is a second flexible film 4, which is provided on its upper side with contact surfaces 4a and conductor tracks 4b. Rings 5 are applied to this top side, which are provided with the contact surfaces 4a and conductor tracks 4b, and each serve to receive a piezo element 6. Such a disk-shaped piezo element 6 is shown in the sectional view in FIG. 2; in the perspective view of Figure 1, the piezo elements have been omitted for clarity.

Die zur Aufnahme der scheibenförmigen Piezo-Elemente 6 dienenden Ringe 5 bestehen vorzugsweise aus Kunststoffharzen, die unmittelbar auf die Oberfläche der Folie 4 aufgebracht worden sind. Die Dicke, d.h. die axiale Erstreckung der Ringe 5 entspricht im wesentlichen der Dicke der scheibenartigen Piezo-Elemente 6, wie sich insbesondere aus Fig.2 ergibt. In dieser Darstellung der Fig.2 sind die Kontaktflächen 2a und 4a sowie Leiterbahnen 2b und 4b der besseren Darstellung wegen mit übertriebener Stärke dargestellt.The rings 5 used to hold the disk-shaped piezo elements 6 are preferably made of plastic resins which have been applied directly to the surface of the film 4. The thickness, i.e. the axial extent of the rings 5 corresponds essentially to the thickness of the disk-like piezo elements 6, as can be seen in particular from FIG. In this illustration of FIG. 2, the contact surfaces 2a and 4a and conductor tracks 2b and 4b are shown with an exaggerated thickness for the sake of better illustration.

Um der Folientastatur die notwendige Stabilität zu geben, sind Frontplatte 1 und die flexiblen Folien 2 und 4 auf einer starren Trägerplatte 7, vorzugsweise aus Aluminium angeordnet. Zwischen dieser Trägerplatte 7 und der benachbarten Folie 4 sind beim Ausführungsbeispiel Abstandshalter 8 angeordnet, die ebenfalls die Form von Ringen haben. Diese ringförmigen Abstandshalter 8 sind koaxial zu den Ringen 5 auf der Oberseite der Folie 4 ausgebildet und besitzen einen Innendurchmesser, der kleiner als der Innendurchmesser der Ringe 5 ist. Hierdurch ergibt sich eine ringförmige Auflagefläche für den Rand der scheibenförmigen Piezo-Elemente 6, so daß diese bei einem Druck auf die Frontplatte 1 im Bereich eines Tastensymboles 1a gezielt durchgebogen werden, um den entsprechenden Impuls abzugeben.In order to give the membrane keyboard the necessary stability, the front plate 1 and the flexible films 2 and 4 are arranged on a rigid carrier plate 7, preferably made of aluminum. In the exemplary embodiment, spacers 8 are arranged between this carrier plate 7 and the adjacent film 4, which also have the form of rings. These annular spacers 8 are formed coaxially to the rings 5 on the top of the film 4 and have an inner diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the rings 5. This results in an annular contact surface for the edge of the disk-shaped piezo elements 6, so that when the front plate 1 is pressed, they are bent in the area of a button symbol 1 a in order to emit the corresponding impulse.

Wie die Darstellung in Fig.2 erkennen läßt, sind bei diesem Ausführungsbeispiel die ringförmigen Abstandshalter 8 unmittelbar auf die Unterseite der flexiblen Folie 4 aufgebracht. Um eine Lagefixierung der einzelnen Lagen der Folientastatur zu erhalten, können sowohl die Ringe 5 als auch die Abstandshalter 8 an ihrer jeweiligen freien Oberfläche über Klebschichten 9a,9b mit der Folie 2 bzw. der Trägerplatte 7 verbunden werden. Die Fig.1 zeigt schließlich die Möglichkeit, zumindest benachbarte Ringe 5 miteinander durch Stege 10 zu verbinden.As can be seen from the illustration in FIG. 2, in this exemplary embodiment the annular spacers 8 are applied directly to the underside of the flexible film 4. In order to fix the individual layers of the membrane keyboard in position, both the rings 5 and the spacers 8 can be connected to the membrane 2 or the carrier plate 7 via adhesive layers 9a, 9b on their respective free surfaces. Figure 1 finally shows the possibility to connect at least adjacent rings 5 to one another by webs 10.

Auch beim zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel nach den Figuren 3 bis 5 umfaßt die Folientastatur eine biegsame Frontplatte 1 mit Tastensymbolen 1a sowie zwei flexible Folien 2 und 4, die jeweils auf den einander zugewandten Seiten mit Kontaktflächen 2a bzw. 4a und Leiterbahnen 2b bzw. 4b für die zwischen ihnen angeordneten Piezo-Elemente 6 versehen sind. Die gesamte Folientastatur wird wiederum von einer Trägerplatte 7, vorzugsweise aus Aluminium getragen.Also in the second embodiment according to Figures 3 to 5, the membrane keyboard comprises a flexible front panel 1 with key symbols 1a and two flexible foils 2 and 4, each on the mutually facing sides with contact surfaces 2a and 4a and conductor tracks 2b and 4b for between they are arranged piezo elements 6 are provided. The entire membrane keyboard is in turn supported by a carrier plate 7, preferably made of aluminum.

Die einzelnen scheibenförmigen Piezo-Elemente 6 sind wie beim ersten Ausführungsbeispiel jeweils innerhalb eines Ringes 5 angeordnet; diese Ringe 5 sind jedoch nicht an einer der beiden flexiblen Folien 2 bzw. 4 ausgebildet, sondern auf der Oberseite einer flexiblen Tragfolie 11, die beim Ausführungsbeispiel an ihrer Unterseite wiederum mit Abstandshaltern 8 versehen ist, die als zu den Ringen 5 konzentrische, im Durchmesser jedoch kleinere Ringe ausgeführt sind.As in the first exemplary embodiment, the individual disk-shaped piezo elements 6 are each arranged within a ring 5; However, these rings 5 are not formed on one of the two flexible foils 2 or 4, but on the top of a flexible carrier foil 11, which in the exemplary embodiment is in turn provided with spacers 8 on its underside, which are concentric with the rings 5, in diameter however smaller rings are made.

Um die kreisförmigen Kontaktflächen 4a für die Unterseite der Piezo-Elemente 6 innerhalb der auf der Tragfolie 11 ausgebildeten Ringe 5 anordnen zu können, ist die Folie 4 gemäß Fig.4 mit Aussparungen 12 versehen, die als Kreisringabschnitte mit einem Innen- und einem Außendurchmesser ausgeführt sind, der geringfügig kleiner bzw. geringfügig größer als der Innen- bzw. Außendurchmesser der auf der Tragfolie 11 ausgebildeten Ringe 5 ist. Diese Aussparungen 12, die nicht über den gesamten Umfang verlaufen, sondern durch einen schmalen Steg 12a getrennt sind, passen demgemäß über die Ringe 5 der Tragfolie 11, die zu diesem Zweck mit einer Schlitzöffnung 5a versehen sind, wie am besten aus Fig.3 hervorgeht. Der in Fig.5 gezeichnete Querschnitt zeigt, daß auch bei dieser Ausführungsform jedes Piezo-Element 6 zwischen den Kontaktflächen 2a und 4a der flexiblen Folien 2 und 4 und innerhalb eines seine Position bestimmenden Ringes 5 angeordnet ist. Die axiale Erstreckung, d.h. die Dicke der Ringe 5 entspricht hierbei im wesentlichen der Dicke der scheibenförmigen Piezo-Elemente 6 zuzüglich der Stärke der Folie 4. Auch an dieser Stelle soll erwähnt werden, daß die Stärke der Kontaktflächen 2a und Leiterbahnen 2b der besseren Darstellung wegen in Fig.5 übertrieben dargestellt ist.In order to be able to arrange the circular contact surfaces 4a for the underside of the piezo elements 6 within the rings 5 formed on the carrier film 11, the film 4 according to FIG. 4 is provided with cutouts 12 which are designed as circular ring sections with an inner and an outer diameter are, which is slightly smaller or slightly larger than the inner or outer diameter of the rings 5 formed on the carrier film 11. These recesses 12, which do not run over the entire circumference, but are separated by a narrow web 12a, accordingly fit over the rings 5 of the carrier film 11, which are provided with a slot opening 5a for this purpose, as best shown in FIG . The cross section drawn in Fig. 5 shows that also in this embodiment, each piezo element 6 is arranged between the contact surfaces 2a and 4a of the flexible foils 2 and 4 and within a ring 5 which determines its position. The axial extent, ie the thickness of the rings 5 corresponds essentially to the thickness of the disk-shaped piezo elements 6 plus the thickness of the film 4. Also at this point it should be mentioned that the thickness of the contact surfaces 2a and conductor tracks 2b for better illustration is exaggerated in Fig.5.

Bei beiden Ausführungsbeispielen führt ein Druck auf ein Tastensymbol 1a der Frontplatte 1 zu einer gewissen Durchbiegung dieser Frontplatte 1 und der darunter befindlichen folien 2 und 4 und damit zu einer Impulsabgabe durch das jeweilige scheibenförmige Piezo-Element 6, das hierbei mit seinem Rand auf dem ringförmigen Abstandshalter 8 abgestützt wird, so daß sich eine gezielte Durchbiegung des Piezo-Elements 6 ergibt. Das mit Druck beaufschlagte und hierdurch durchgebogene Piezo-Element 6 hat eine Verformung des Piezokristalles zur Folge; der dadurch entstehende elektrische Impuls wird über die mit ihm zusammenwirkenden Kontaktflächen 2a und 4a und die angeschlossenen Leiterbahnen 2b und 4b und über einen auf der Zeichnung nicht dargestellten Anschlußstecker der Folientastatur einer mit der Folientastatur verbundenen elektronischen Auswerteeinrichtung zugeführt.In both exemplary embodiments, pressing a button symbol 1a on the front panel 1 leads to a certain deflection of this front panel 1 and the foils 2 and 4 underneath, and thus to a pulse output by the respective disk-shaped piezo element 6, which in this case has its edge on the annular one Spacer 8 is supported so that there is a targeted deflection of the piezo element 6. The piezo element 6, which is pressurized and thereby bent, results in a deformation of the piezo crystal; the resulting electrical pulse is fed via the contact surfaces 2a and 4a interacting with it and the connected conductor tracks 2b and 4b and via a connector (not shown in the drawing) of the membrane keyboard to an electronic evaluation device connected to the membrane keyboard.

Bezugszeichenliste:Reference symbol list:

  • 1 Frontplatte1 front panel
  • 1a Tastensymbol1a button symbol
  • 2 Folie2 foil
  • 2a Kontaktfläche2a contact area
  • 2b Leiterbahn2b conductor track
  • 3 Klebstoffschicht3 layer of adhesive
  • 4 Folie4 slide
  • 4a Kontaktfläche4a contact area
  • 4b Leiterbahn4b conductor track
  • 5 Ring5 ring
  • 5a Schlitzöffnung5a slot opening
  • 6 Piezo-Element6 piezo element
  • 7 Trägerplatte7 carrier plate
  • 8 Abstandshalter8 spacers
  • 9a Klebschicht9a adhesive layer
  • 9b Klebschicht9b adhesive layer
  • 10 Steg10 bridge
  • 11 Tragfolie11 carrier foil
  • 12 Aussparung12 recess
  • 12a Steg12a bridge

Claims (11)

  1. Membrane keyboard having a plurality of disc-shaped piezo elements (6), which are arranged behind a front panel (1), provided with key symbols (1a), between two flexible membranes (2, 4), which for each piezo element (6) are provided with a contact area (2a, 4a), which is led by a conductor track (2b, 4b) to an attachment plug of the keyboard, with a rigid carrier plate (7), carrying the membranes (2, 4) and the front panel (1), for receiving the bending forces exerted on the piezo elements (6) due to pressure loading of the front panel (1) in the region of the key symbols (1a), characterized in that on one of the flexible membranes (2, 4) are arranged the rings (5) which surround the piezo elements (6) and the axial thickness of which corresponds approximately to the disc thickness of the piezo elements (6).
  2. Keyboard according to Claim 1, characterized in that the rings (5) of plastic, preferably polymer resins, are applied directly on the surface of the membrane (4) provided with the contact areas (4a) and conductor tracks (4b).
  3. Keyboard according to Claim 1, characterized in that the rings (5) are arranged on a flexible carrying membrane (11) and are provided with at least one slit opening (5a) for the passage of the conductor tracks (2b, 4b), and in that this carrying membrane (11) is laid under one of the two flexible membranes (2, 4), which is provided with clearances (12) corresponding to the slit rings (5), contact areas (2a, 4a) lying within these annular clearances (12), and the conductor tracks (2b, 4b) led to the contact areas (2a, 4a), the axial thickness of the rings (5) corresponding approximately to the disc thickness of the piezo elements (6) plus the thickness of the flexible membrane (2, 4) in the region of the contact areas (2a, 4a).
  4. Keyboard according to Claim 3, characterized in that the slit rings (5) are produced from copper by etching away a copper layer applied on the carrying membrane (11).
  5. Keyboard according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that spacers (8) are arranged on the face facing the carrier plate (7) of the flexible membrane (4) or carrying membrane (11) provided with the rings (5) on the other face.
  6. Keyboard according to Claim 5, characterized in that the spacers (8) are designed as rings which are coaxial to the rings (5) on the other face.
  7. Keyboard according to Claim 6, characterized in that the inside diameter of the annular spacers (8) supported on the carrier plate (7) is designed to be smaller than the inside diameter of the rings (5) receiving the piezo elements (6).
  8. Keyboard according to one of Claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the spacers (8) arranged on the underside of the flexible membrane (4) or the carrying membrane (11) are produced from epoxy resin or copper.
  9. Keyboard according to at least one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the contact areas (2a, 4a) and conductor tracks (2b, 4b) are produced from metal powder, preferably silver, and are printed onto the flexible membranes (2, 4).
  10. Keyboard according to at least one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the rings (5) and/or spacers (8) are connected to one another by at least one web (10).
  11. Keyboard according to at least one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least some of the membranes (2, 4, 11) are adhesively bonded or welded to one anotner and/or to the front panel (1) or carrier plate (7).
EP89118053A 1989-09-29 1989-09-29 Layered keyboard Expired - Lifetime EP0419717B1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES89118053T ES2065360T3 (en) 1989-09-29 1989-09-29 SHEET KEYBOARD.
DE58908605T DE58908605D1 (en) 1989-09-29 1989-09-29 Membrane keyboard.
AT89118053T ATE113752T1 (en) 1989-09-29 1989-09-29 FOIL KEYBOARD.
EP89118053A EP0419717B1 (en) 1989-09-29 1989-09-29 Layered keyboard

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP89118053A EP0419717B1 (en) 1989-09-29 1989-09-29 Layered keyboard

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0419717A1 EP0419717A1 (en) 1991-04-03
EP0419717B1 true EP0419717B1 (en) 1994-11-02

Family

ID=8201949

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89118053A Expired - Lifetime EP0419717B1 (en) 1989-09-29 1989-09-29 Layered keyboard

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0419717B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE113752T1 (en)
DE (1) DE58908605D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2065360T3 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102004043578B4 (en) * 2004-07-12 2007-11-08 Diehl Ako Stiftung & Co. Kg Control panel for an electrical device and method for making a control panel

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3316616A1 (en) * 1983-05-06 1984-11-08 Ruf Kg Wilhelm KEYPAD
FR2576726B1 (en) * 1985-01-29 1993-02-19 Samokine Georges TOUCH CONTROL KEYBOARD
CH667763A5 (en) * 1985-07-23 1988-10-31 Schenk & Co FILM KEYBOARD.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE113752T1 (en) 1994-11-15
ES2065360T3 (en) 1995-02-16
EP0419717A1 (en) 1991-04-03
DE58908605D1 (en) 1994-12-08

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