GB2213647A - Push-button key switches - Google Patents

Push-button key switches Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2213647A
GB2213647A GB8900387A GB8900387A GB2213647A GB 2213647 A GB2213647 A GB 2213647A GB 8900387 A GB8900387 A GB 8900387A GB 8900387 A GB8900387 A GB 8900387A GB 2213647 A GB2213647 A GB 2213647A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
push
button key
key switch
button
accordance
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Withdrawn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
GB8900387A
Other versions
GB8900387D0 (en
Inventor
Barrie Keith Doyle
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.)
Marconi Electronic Devices Ltd
Original Assignee
Marconi Electronic Devices Ltd
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 Marconi Electronic Devices Ltd filed Critical Marconi Electronic Devices Ltd
Publication of GB8900387D0 publication Critical patent/GB8900387D0/en
Publication of GB2213647A publication Critical patent/GB2213647A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70Switches 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
    • H01H13/78Switches 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 characterised by the contacts or the contact sites
    • H01H13/785Switches 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 characterised by the contacts or the contact sites characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/70Switches 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
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2201/00Contacts
    • H01H2201/022Material
    • H01H2201/032Conductive polymer; Rubber
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2205/00Movable contacts
    • H01H2205/002Movable contacts fixed to operating part
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2207/00Connections
    • H01H2207/02Solder
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2215/00Tactile feedback
    • H01H2215/004Collapsible dome or bubble
    • H01H2215/012Positioning of individual dome
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2219/00Legends
    • H01H2219/002Legends replaceable; adaptable
    • H01H2219/014LED
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2223/00Casings
    • H01H2223/03Separate key housing
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2233/00Key modules
    • H01H2233/03Key modules mounted on support plate or frame
    • H01H2233/034Snap coupling

Description

2 2 13 5 4 7 Push-button key switches SCS/3343 The present invention
relates to push-button key switches.
According to one aspect of the present invention a push-button key switch comprises a member of resilient electrically insulating material which is profiled to form a single raised push-button key and which is arranged to fit closely around the edge of a substantially rigid support plate, said support plate being provided with conductors forming fixed contacts which are arranged to cooperate with a moving contact secured to the underside of said member of electrically insulating material and means to make external connections to said conductors.
The means to make external connections to said conductors may comprise a plurality of pins extending from the underside of said support plate. A plurality of said push-button key switches may be mounted adjacent one another to form a multi-key pad of a required configuration. Each pushbutton key switch may incorporate a respective light-emitting diode for the purpose of backlighting the respective push-button key.
According to another aspect of the present invention a push-button key switch matrix comprises a plurality of push-button key switches as defined above and means to support said key switches in close proximity to one another such that the respective members of electrically insulating material of adjacent key switches bear resiliently upon one another and upon said support means.
A push-button key switch will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, of which:- Figure 1 shows schematically the component parts of the key switch in cross-section, and Figure 2 shows schematically in cross-section an assembly or matrix of key switches.
Referring first to Figure 1 the push-button key switch comprises a profiled member 1 of resilient electrically insulating material of, for example, silicone rubber and a substantially rigid support plate 2. The profiled member 1 comprises a raised central region 3 of generally rectangular plan into which a transparent or partly transparent legend slip (not shown) is arranged to snap fit, side walls 4 of thinner crosssection than the surrounding areas, and down-turned edges 5 which are arranged to fit closely over the edges of the support plate 2 in the assembled key switch. A moving contact 6, of the form of a short length of tube of conductive material having a generally rectangular cross- section is secured to the under side of the region 3.
The support member 2, which may be moulded of a plastics material, is generally planar, and has a light-emitting diode 7 provided in a central recess in its upper surface. The upper surface of the member 2 also carries a pattern of conductors 8, for example of a conductive polymer, which forms the fixed contacts of the key switch. A plurality of electrically conducting pins 9 extend from the under surface of the member 2, by means of which external electrical connnections may be made to the fixed contacts of the key switch and to the light-emitting diode 7.
An integral ly-moulded snap-fastening peg 10 also extends from the underside of the member 2, by means of which the key switch may be secured to a planar support member, such as a printed circuit board 11, as shown in Figure 2. The resilient material of the profiled member 1 of each key switch of the assembly shown in Figure 2 is arranged to be slightly in compression both where it abuts the profiled members I of adjacent key switches and where it contacts the printed circuit board 11, so that these abutting parts are sealed to one another. Once the key switches have been snap-fitted to the board 11 by means of their pegs 10 the external connections to the key -61 switches may be extended by way of soldered connection of the pins 9 to conductors (not shown) on the printed circuit board 11. The single key switches can thus be assembled to produce customised keypad configurations without incurring any extra tooling costs.
f

Claims (6)

1. A push-button key switch comprising a member of resilient electrically insulating material which is profiled to form a single raised push-button key and which is arranged to fit closely around the edge of a substantially rigid suPport plate, said support plate being provided with conductors forming fixed contacts which are arranged to cooperate with a moving contact secured to the underside of said member of electrically insulating material and means to make external connections to said conductors.
2. A push-button key switch in accordance with Claim 1 wherein the means to make external connections to said conductors comprises a plurality of pins extending from the underside of said support plate.
3. A push-button key switch in accordance with Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein a plurality of said push-button key switches are mounted adjacent one another to form a multi-key pad of a required configuration.
4. A push-button key switch in accordance with Claim 1 incorporating a light-emitting diode for the purpose of backlighting the respective push-button key.
5. A push-button key switch matrix comprising a plurality of push-button key switches each in accordance with Claim 1 and means to support said key switches in close proximity to one another such that the respective members of electrically insulating material of adjacent key switches bear resiliently upon one another and upon said support means.
6. A push-button key switch substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Published 1959 at The Patent Office, State House. 66.71 High Holborn, London WCIR 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office. Wes Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington.. Kent BRS 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent, Con. 1/87 cw 1 l - IA 1 --- z - 3._
GB8900387A 1988-01-08 1989-01-09 Push-button key switches Withdrawn GB2213647A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB888800370A GB8800370D0 (en) 1988-01-08 1988-01-08 Push-button keyswitches

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8900387D0 GB8900387D0 (en) 1989-03-08
GB2213647A true GB2213647A (en) 1989-08-16

Family

ID=10629659

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB888800370A Pending GB8800370D0 (en) 1988-01-08 1988-01-08 Push-button keyswitches
GB8900387A Withdrawn GB2213647A (en) 1988-01-08 1989-01-09 Push-button key switches

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB888800370A Pending GB8800370D0 (en) 1988-01-08 1988-01-08 Push-button keyswitches

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0323917A3 (en)
DK (1) DK734488A (en)
GB (2) GB8800370D0 (en)
NO (1) NO890064L (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2012519946A (en) * 2009-03-12 2012-08-30 エルベ エレクトロメディツィン ゲーエムベーハー Push button, manufacturing method thereof, and medical operation part

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4121070A (en) * 1977-03-04 1978-10-17 Renal Systems, Inc. Enclosed push button type switch
US4289943A (en) * 1979-08-06 1981-09-15 Shin-Etsu Polymer Co., Ltd. Push-button switches
GB2086804A (en) * 1980-11-04 1982-05-19 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Keyblock assembly
GB2113920A (en) * 1982-01-26 1983-08-10 Alps Electric Co Ltd Push-button electrical switch
US4536625A (en) * 1983-04-20 1985-08-20 Bebie Alain M Keyboard design
GB2157496A (en) * 1984-04-14 1985-10-23 Joel Matthew Sciamma Conductive foam switch
EP0163874A2 (en) * 1984-04-19 1985-12-11 Alcatel SEL Aktiengesellschaft Key switch
GB2193040A (en) * 1986-07-24 1988-01-27 De La Rue Syst Force location assembly

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2343060A (en) * 1941-09-25 1944-02-29 Gen Motors Corp Switch
FR1188210A (en) * 1957-12-10 1959-09-21 Improved device for controlling electrical circuits such as contactors, breakers, switches and the like
JPS49111174A (en) * 1973-02-23 1974-10-23

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4121070A (en) * 1977-03-04 1978-10-17 Renal Systems, Inc. Enclosed push button type switch
US4289943A (en) * 1979-08-06 1981-09-15 Shin-Etsu Polymer Co., Ltd. Push-button switches
GB2086804A (en) * 1980-11-04 1982-05-19 Standard Telephones Cables Ltd Keyblock assembly
GB2113920A (en) * 1982-01-26 1983-08-10 Alps Electric Co Ltd Push-button electrical switch
US4536625A (en) * 1983-04-20 1985-08-20 Bebie Alain M Keyboard design
GB2157496A (en) * 1984-04-14 1985-10-23 Joel Matthew Sciamma Conductive foam switch
EP0163874A2 (en) * 1984-04-19 1985-12-11 Alcatel SEL Aktiengesellschaft Key switch
GB2193040A (en) * 1986-07-24 1988-01-27 De La Rue Syst Force location assembly

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2012519946A (en) * 2009-03-12 2012-08-30 エルベ エレクトロメディツィン ゲーエムベーハー Push button, manufacturing method thereof, and medical operation part
US8907238B2 (en) 2009-03-12 2014-12-09 Erbe Elektromedizin Gmbh Push button, method for the production thereof, and medical manipulating part

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8900387D0 (en) 1989-03-08
EP0323917A2 (en) 1989-07-12
GB8800370D0 (en) 1988-02-10
NO890064D0 (en) 1989-01-06
EP0323917A3 (en) 1990-12-27
DK734488D0 (en) 1988-12-30
DK734488A (en) 1989-07-09
NO890064L (en) 1989-07-10

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)