FR2693332A1 - Wafer switch for radio transceiver station. - Google Patents

Abstract

The switch comprises a wafer (1), at least one face of which comprises an insulating zone (6) and a conductive zone (5) and a fixed part comprising metal contacts. The conductive zone (5) is configured by metallized tracks in the form of concentric rings connected to one another. At least two of the rings have discontinuities (10i) and (11i) defined as the passage from the conductive zone (5) to the insulating zone (6) and vice versa. At each change of stable position (4i) of the axis (2) of the switch, a discontinuity (10i) of a first ring (8) is crossed by a contact of the fixed part of the switch and a command is generated to allow reading the new switch state. A change of state of the switch corresponds to a discontinuity (12i), of the same nature as that of the first ring (8) on at least one second ring (11i). A discontinuity (12i) of the second ring (11i) lies between two successive discontinuities (10i) of the first ring (8). Application: Radio transceivers.

Description

POST SWITCH

RADIQELECTRIC TRANSCEIVER

  The present invention relates to a wafer switch for a radio transceiver station. In known microprocessor-based architectures, the analysis by scrutiny of the state of the peripheral units is carried out by means of

  interrogation signals which are periodically emitted by a microprocessor

  stopper for each unit This is the case, for example, for

  some keyboards-switches of certain transceiver devices

  radio sensors where frequencies and operating modes are displayed

  checked using a keyboard or switches and are read periodically-

ment by a microprocessor.

  This mode of operation by scanning for the operation of a radio transceiver station has drawbacks mainly related to problems of interference and autonomy of operation of the station. It is known, to overcome these drawbacks, to trigger in the

  microprocessor reading the electrical state of the keyboard assembly-

  switch at each change of state of at least one element of

  the keyboard-switch assembly upon the appearance of a change of state.

  The detailed principle of this process is described in the request for

  Patent 2,616,240 filed in the name of the plaintiff.

  Limitations due to the detection principle implemented by

  the device according to the patent application cited above shows the existence

  tence of shadow zones defined as follows: The keyboard-switch assembly comprises two matrices: a keyboard matrix and a switch matrix Each matrix is formed

  rows and columns The columns of each matrix are respective

  linked to a parity generator which detects any change of state appearing on the columns Any change of state of these

cause an interruption.

  An interruption is in particular caused on each addressing of a matrix corresponding to a zero crossing of a column and is

  translated by a pulse at the output of the parity generator

  der these interruptions, which creates a gray area or any operator action on the operating organs corresponding to the matrix is

  ignored The duration of this zone is directly linked to the speed of the

  read gorithm If a switch changes state during this

  shadow zone, there will be no interruption at the microprocess-

  and the current reading will be considered good despite it

  does not reflect the actual position of the switch.

  The object of the invention is to overcome this drawback.

  To this end, the subject of the invention is a switch comprising at least one wafer centered and fixed around an axis of which at least one of its faces comprises a conductive zone and an insulating zone, the

  conductive area defining an electrical conductor in the form of a

  concentric columns, and comprising at least one fixed part comprising

  both at least one electrical conductor for establishing a mechanical and electrical connection between the wafer and the fixed part of the switch

  according to a stable position determined by the position of the axis of the com-

  mutator, characterized in that at least one first crown comprises

  carries discontinuities defined by the transition between the conductive zone

  trice and the insulating zone of the wafer and vice versa, generating for each discontinuity via a contact in connection with the

  first crown a command allowing the reading of a deter-

  mined of the switch for each change of stable position of the axis of the switch,

  in that at least one second crown concentric with the first

  my crown has discontinuities, of the same kind as the

  discontinuities of the first crown, between two discon-

  successive continuity of the first crown, each discontinuity of the

  second crown corresponding to a change of state of the switching

  tor, in that the fixed part comprises at least one contact in permanent connection with the conductive area of the wafer, making it possible to impose a determined logic state on the conductive area of the wafer, in that the fixed part comprises at least one contact -in connection with the first ring, and in that the fixed part comprises at least one contact in connection

  with the second crown giving the state of the corresponding switch

  in a stable position of the axis of the switch. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear

  below using the description given with reference to the appended figure which

  shows a top view of part of a switch according to the

  vention representing one of the faces of a wafer 1 centered and fixed around an axis 2 corresponding to the axis of the switch Axis 2 is

  actuated for each change of state of the switch, each change

  change of position of the switch corresponding to a change

  status of the switch The fixed part of the switch is not shown

  felt, only metal contacts integral with the fixed part are

symbolized by a point.

  In the example illustrated by the figure, six contacts are symbolized by the six points respectively identified by the six letters A, B, C, D, E, and F The six contacts are aligned on the same straight line 3 passing through the center of the wafer 1 corresponding to a stable position 4 i fixed by the position of the axis 2 of the switch The wafer 1 is produced in the example of the figure by a printed circuit The wafer 1 comprises two

  distinct zones: a conductive zone 5 corresponding to the metallization

  tion of the printed circuit shown in the figure by a hatched area,

  for example copper metallization, and an insulating zone 6 corresponding

  to the non-metallized substrate, for example epoxy glass.

  A specific configuration is given to the conductive zone 5

  in the form of concentric crowns or each corresponding crown

  lays on a circuit board of known type having a circular form

  Each ring is electrically connected to the others to form a single conductive area. 5 Each track thus formed corresponds to a metal contact of the fixed part of the switch. The contact is a flexible metal contact, for example a metal blade, one of the ends of which is integral with the fixed part and the other free end of which is shaped to allow flexible contact on the surface of the wafer 1 The mechanical connection of the contact with the wafer 1 is permanently ensured due to the elasticity of the blade thus ensuring a contact by friction on the surface of the wafer 1 The tracks whose width is determined according to the type of contact used can form a continuous or discontinuous ring In the wafer 1 represented on the

  figure only track 7 corresponding to contact C is continuous and

  constant contact Contact C supplies the conductive area 6 of the wafer 1 and thus imposes a determined logic state on the metal contacts when they are in contact with the conductive area 5 of the wafer 1 The

  blades in contact with insulating zone 6 are in a logical state

  additional imposed possibly by pulling resistors not shown polarized by an electric voltage applied on one of their ends and connected respectively by their other end to

contact blades.

  The four contacts, symbolized by the letters A, B, D and E, give the state of the switch according to their respective position on the surface of the wafer 1 for each change of position 4 i stable

of axis 2 of the switch.

  In the example of the figure, ten stable positions 4 i are chosen.

  Each stable position 4 i is symbolized by a radius represented by

  dotted The angle separating each stable position 4 i is therefore 360.

  Thus, for each position 4 i of the switch there corresponds a code to

four digits.

  A track 8 corresponding to contact F in this example, is a

  regularly crenellated track Each niche 9 i is centered on a position

  stable position 4 i of axis 2 of the switch An electrical discontinuity

  i is present for each passage of contact F of a conductive zone

  trice 5 to an insulating zone 6 and vice versa either when passing from the metallized track to the substrate and vice versa At each discontinuity 10 i of the track 8 a command is generated and transmitted via the finger F to an information management unit not shown, for example a microprocessor, allowing the reading of the present code Similarly the other tracks 1 i corresponding to the contacts A, B, D and E have discontinuities 12 i of the same kind as the discontinuities i of track 8 corresponding to the contact F These discontinuities 12 i

  determine a switch state change, and are advantageous

  sement positioned at the center of the angle formed by two stable positions 4 i of the axis 2 of the switch or in the figure, in the middle of two successive slots 9 i of the track 8 corresponding to the contact F Therefore, we overcomes mechanical manufacturing tolerances by preventing the contacts A, B, D and E from overlapping the two zones 5 and 6 for the same stable position 4 i The particular structure given to track 8 in the form of symmetrical slots 9 i allows further the

  switch operation in both directions of rotation.

  In a parallel (or matrix) use of several

  mutators of the type according to the invention, the contact C allows the selection of one or more switches by supplying or not supplying the conductive area of the wafers 1 of the switches For this use, it is essential to isolate the contacts A, B , D and E of a switch relative to the other switches, for example by diodes not shown so that the switches have a high impedance state with respect to each other In another use, the wafer 1 can be produced in printed circuits double face Each face of the wafer 1 receiving metal contacts integral with the same fixed part, which gives for a stable position 4 i of the axis of the switch two

  separate codes for a single switch.

  The description is not limited to the example precisely described In

  particular, the position and the number of the contacts can be different.

  The conductive zone and the insulating zone can be produced in

  other material and be represented differently as well as the

  tinuities All types of metal contacts ensuring a mechanical connection

  nique and electric with the face (s) of the cake falls within the scope of the present invention Similarly, the number of stable positions can

vary depending on the application.

Claims (4)

  1 switch comprising at least one wafer (1) centered and fixed around an axis (2) of which at least one of its faces comprises a conductive zone (5) and an insulating zone (6), the conductive zone (5)   defining an electrical conductor in the form of concentric rings   triques, and comprising at least one fixed part comprising at least one   electrical conductor for establishing a mechanical and electrical connection   plate between the wafer (1) and the fixed part of the switch according to a   stable position (4 i) determined by the position of the axis (2) of the switch   tor, characterized in that at least one first ring (8) comprises   discontinuities (10 i) defined by the transition between the conductive zone   trice (5) and the insulating zone (6) of the wafer (1) and vice versa, generating for each discontinuity (10 i) via a contact (F) in   connection with the first crown (8) a command allowing the read   ture of a determined state of the switch for each change of stable position (4 i) of the axis (2) of the switch, in that at least one second ring (1 i) concentric with the   first crown (8) has discontinuities (12 i), similarly   ture that the discontinuities (10 i) of the first crown (8), comprised between two successive discontinuities (10 i) of the first crown (8), each discontinuity (10 i) of the second crown (11 i) corresponding to a change of state of the switch, in that the fixed part comprises at least one contact in permanent connection with the conductive zone (5) of the wafer (1), allowing   to impose a determined logic state on the conductive area (5) of the   lette (1), in that the fixed part comprises at least one contact in connection with the first ring (8), and in that the fixed part comprises at least one contact in connection   with the second crown (11 i) giving the state of the corresponding switch   laying in a stable position (4 i) of the axis (2) of the switch.   2 switch according to claim 1, characterized in that the wafer (1) is made in printed circuit, the conductive area (5) being constituted by a partial metallization of at least one of the faces of the   wafer (1) and the insulating zone (6) being formed by the substrate of the circuit cooked printed.   3 switch according to claim 1, characterized in that each metal contact (A to F) of the fixed part is aligned on a   same straight line (3) passing through the center of the wafer (1) and tangent res-   pectively their respective crown along the median axis of the   ronne. 4 switch according to claim 3, characterized in that the metal contact comprises a blade whose end is shaped to ensure flexible and permanent contact with at least one of the faces of the wafer (1) and whose other end is integral Of the game of the switch.   Switch according to any one of claims 1 to 4   characterized in that the crowns are electrically connected to each other   to the others to form the same conductive zone (5).