EP1083583A1 - Elektrischer Schalter - Google Patents

Elektrischer Schalter Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1083583A1
EP1083583A1 EP99117766A EP99117766A EP1083583A1 EP 1083583 A1 EP1083583 A1 EP 1083583A1 EP 99117766 A EP99117766 A EP 99117766A EP 99117766 A EP99117766 A EP 99117766A EP 1083583 A1 EP1083583 A1 EP 1083583A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
conductive contact
substrate
switch
actuator portion
insulative
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Withdrawn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
EP99117766A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Anthony Pruvot
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.)
Molex LLC
Original Assignee
Molex LLC
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 Molex LLC filed Critical Molex LLC
Priority to EP99117766A priority Critical patent/EP1083583A1/de
Publication of EP1083583A1 publication Critical patent/EP1083583A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • H01H2211/00—Spacers
    • H01H2211/026—Spacers without separate element
    • H01H2211/028—Contacts in depressions of layers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2215/00—Tactile feedback
    • H01H2215/004—Collapsible dome or bubble
    • H01H2215/008—Part of substrate or membrane

Definitions

  • This invention generally relates to the art of electrical switches and, particularly, to a laminated or membrane-type electrical switch.
  • Laminated or membrane-type electrical switches are used in a wide variety of applications and sometimes are called "touch" switches.
  • a switch may include a bottom insulative substrate, such as of plastic material, which mounts or supports a lower contact, such as of stamped sheet metal, on a top surface thereof.
  • a flexible top membrane is laminated to the substrate.
  • the top membrane may be provided with an embossed dome having an upper contact adhered to the underside thereof in registry with the lower contact.
  • a spacer layer is sandwiched between the top membrane and the bottom substrate, with an aperture in the spacer layer aligned with the contacts. When the embossed dome is depressed in the area of the aperture in the spacer layer, the top membrane flexes such that the upper contact engages the lower contact to close the switch.
  • the present invention is directed to reducing fabrication equipment costs by providing a unique top membrane or layer in a laminated switch, which completely eliminates the need for a spacer layer.
  • An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved electrical switch of the character described.
  • the electrical switch includes an insulative substrate having a top surface.
  • Switch circuitry is disposed on the insulative substrate and includes a first conductive contact on the top surface of the substrate.
  • a flexible, insulative top layer is disposed directly on top of the substrate and includes an embossed dome having a second conductive contact on the bottom of the substrate in registry with the first conductive contact.
  • a step is formed in the top layer about the embossed dome to elevate the dome and space the second conductive contact from the first conductive contact. Therefore, depression of the embossed dome toward the substrate moves the spaced second conductive contact into engagement with the first conductive contact.
  • the step includes an upwardly extending peripheral wall surrounding the embossed dome. A horizontal wall joins the peripheral wall with the dome.
  • a laminated or membrane-type electrical switch generally designated 10
  • the switch includes a bottom insulative substrate 12 having a pair of lower switch contacts 14 adhered to a top surface 16 of the substrate. The contacts are separated at a gap 18 to form a normally open switch.
  • a flexible top membrane 20 includes an embossed dome 22 having an upper contact 24 adhered to the bottom of the dome in registry with lower contacts 14 and spanning gap 18.
  • a spacer layer 26 is sandwiched between bottom substrate 12 and top membrane 20 and includes an aperture 28 aligned with lower contacts 14 and upper contact 24.
  • FIGS 2 and 3 show a laminated or membrane-type electrical switch, generally designated 30, according to the invention.
  • a bottom insulative substrate 32 includes a pair of lower contacts 34 disposed on a top surface 36 of the substrate. The contacts are separated at a gap 38 to create a normally open switch.
  • the contacts include leads 34a for electrically coupling the switch contacts to appropriate electrical apparatus with which the switch is operatively associated.
  • Electrical switch 30 also includes a flexible, insulative top membrane or layer 40 disposed directly on top of substrate 32 and lower contacts 34.
  • the top membrane includes an embossed dome 42 having an upper contact 44 adhered to the underside thereof in registry with lower contacts 34 spanning gap 38 between the contacts.
  • the top membrane includes a unique step, generally designated 46, which functions to elevate dome 42 and particularly upper contact 44 spaced above lower contacts 34.
  • the flexible, insulative top membrane or layer 40 is fabricated of plastic material such as polyester and embossed dome 42 and step 46 are formed integrally therewith.
  • the step is formed by an upwardly extending peripheral wall 48 which surrounds embossed dome 42.
  • a horizontal wall 50 integrally joins the peripheral wall with embossed dome 42.
  • embossed dome 42 is depressed in the direction of arrow "B" (Fig. 2) toward bottom substrate 32.
  • upper contact 44 is moved through the space formed by step 46 into engagement with lower contacts 34, spanning gap 38 between the lower contacts and closing the switch.
  • step 46 can be formed sufficiently high that embossed dome 42 can be completely eliminated while still spacing upper contact 44 above lower contacts 34.
  • embossed dome gives a "snapping" type tactile indication of closing the switch.
  • switch 30 is omni-directional in use, and such terms have been used herein and in the claims hereof to better provide a clear and concise understanding of the invention.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
EP99117766A 1999-09-09 1999-09-09 Elektrischer Schalter Withdrawn EP1083583A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99117766A EP1083583A1 (de) 1999-09-09 1999-09-09 Elektrischer Schalter

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99117766A EP1083583A1 (de) 1999-09-09 1999-09-09 Elektrischer Schalter

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1083583A1 true EP1083583A1 (de) 2001-03-14

Family

ID=8238952

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99117766A Withdrawn EP1083583A1 (de) 1999-09-09 1999-09-09 Elektrischer Schalter

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1083583A1 (de)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4127758A (en) * 1977-10-13 1978-11-28 Sheldahl, Inc. Tactile layer having hinged dome
GB2054268A (en) * 1979-07-19 1981-02-11 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Double-domed conductive disc
US5313027A (en) * 1992-03-16 1994-05-17 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Push button switch assembly including single or plural sequentially closed switches

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4127758A (en) * 1977-10-13 1978-11-28 Sheldahl, Inc. Tactile layer having hinged dome
GB2054268A (en) * 1979-07-19 1981-02-11 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Double-domed conductive disc
US5313027A (en) * 1992-03-16 1994-05-17 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Push button switch assembly including single or plural sequentially closed switches

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