US3617666A - Pressure-operated layered electrical switch and switch array - Google Patents

Pressure-operated layered electrical switch and switch array Download PDF

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Publication number
US3617666A
US3617666A US33367A US3617666DA US3617666A US 3617666 A US3617666 A US 3617666A US 33367 A US33367 A US 33367A US 3617666D A US3617666D A US 3617666DA US 3617666 A US3617666 A US 3617666A
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United States
Prior art keywords
layer
pressure
switch
nonconductive
sheet
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Expired - Lifetime
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US33367A
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English (en)
Inventor
Charles E Braue
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Data Appliance Corp
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Data Appliance Corp
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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
    • H01H13/78—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 characterised by the contacts or the contact sites
    • H01H13/807—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 characterised by the contacts or the contact sites characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
    • 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
    • H01H2203/00—Form of contacts
    • H01H2203/008—Wires
    • H01H2203/01—Woven wire screen
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2203/00—Form of contacts
    • H01H2203/032—Metal foil
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2209/00—Layers
    • H01H2209/002—Materials
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2209/00—Layers
    • H01H2209/016—Protection layer, e.g. for legend, anti-scratch
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2209/00—Layers
    • H01H2209/024—Properties of the substrate
    • H01H2209/028—Paper
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2215/00—Tactile feedback
    • H01H2215/03—Sound
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2217/00—Facilitation of operation; Human engineering
    • H01H2217/026—Pencil operated
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2219/00—Legends
    • H01H2219/002—Legends replaceable; adaptable
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/064—Limitation of actuating pressure
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2225/00—Switch site location
    • H01H2225/002—Switch site location superimposed
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2229/00—Manufacturing
    • H01H2229/024—Packing between substrate and membrane
    • H01H2229/028—Adhesive
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2231/00—Applications
    • H01H2231/034—Coordinate determination
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2231/00—Applications
    • H01H2231/038—Level sensing or limit switch
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2239/00—Miscellaneous
    • H01H2239/03—Avoiding erroneous switching

Definitions

  • the removal of the pressure opens the switch.
  • the switch includes a layer having at least one elongated opening in it which permits portions ofthe layer to be deflected into an opening in an adjacent layer to move one electrically conductive layer to complete the electrical circuit.
  • An array of the switches may be used for supplying signals created by the pressure ofa writing instrument.
  • Switches of this design have the disadvantage of being over sensitive to a force applied over a'larger area since elastomer materials are readily deformed.
  • a plurality of these switches are used in a multiple switch unit for recording handwriting or other marks made using a writing instrument, such as a pen, pencil or stylus, the varying degrees of pressure applied by portions of the hand including, in particular, the
  • the present invention is a switch device operable by the selective application of pressure to an area of the device which causes a sheet having deflectable portions created by an elongated opening in the sheet. The deflection of these portions against a first conductive layer moves that layer against a second layer which is normally spaced from the first layer thus completing an electrical circuit. When the pressure is released, the deflected portions move back to their inactive position allowing the normally spaced-apart layers to move apart and open the circuit.
  • the deflective action of the nonconductive layer cooperates advantageously with conductive layers made of flexible fabric having a conductive oxide coatmg.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view, partially broken away, showing a plurality of switches in a grid arrangement
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 with a pencil point touching but not applying pressure to the surface
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view, similar to FIG. 2, showing the switch having pressure applied to it.
  • FIG. 3a is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 2 showing conductive fabric layers moved into engagement
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the switch
  • FIG. 5 is a further embodiment showing a three-element switch using three layers of conductive fabric
  • FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 5 showing conductive fabric layers moved into engagement.
  • switch unit 1 is constructed of a plurality of layers including a baseplate 2 made of electrically nonconductive material, such as plastic or paper board, a lower layer of fabric 3, a separatorsheet 4, a second layer of fabric 5, an electrically nonconductivesubstantially noncompressible deflector layer 6 and finally a pressure-transmitting protective sheet 7.
  • baseplate 2 made of electrically nonconductive material, such as plastic or paper board
  • separatorsheet 4 a second layer of fabric 5
  • an electrically nonconductivesubstantially noncompressible deflector layer 6 and finally a pressure-transmitting protective sheet 7.
  • These layers may be held together by adhering, clamping or otherwise securing their edges together to provide a seal preventing the water, dirt or bacteria from entering between the layers.
  • the interior surfaces of the layers are not attached to. allowthe relative movementnecessary to the proper functioning of each switch.
  • a sheet of paper 8 including portions indicating where marks should be made is placed on top of the unit and is marked with a pencil point 9 or other writing instrument.
  • Individual switches 11 are formed by the portions of the layers in and around circular opening 12 of separator sheet 4. Each switch 11, is similarly constructed, with fabric layers 3 and 5 each having, alternatively, an electrically conductive row 13 and a nonconductive row 14.
  • the conductive rows 13 of layer 3 run perpendicular to rows 13 of layer 5.
  • the fabric may be made in any conventional manner, such as be weaving, natting or knitting. It is required that at least the nonconductive rows of the fabric be manufactured from nonconductive fibers which may be made of any fiber, natural or synthetic, such as nylon, polyesters or silk.
  • the conductive rows are made by coating those portions with a thin coating of an electrically conductive metal, such as silver or chromium. Alloys of the metals may also be used.
  • a coating which is effectively continuous over the fabric portion having a thickness of about 1X10 to 40x10" inches is operable with the thickness of 2X10 to 6X10 inches being preferred.
  • the coating is thin enough and adhered to, or absorbed in the fibers to prevent the fibers or significant groups of fibers from becoming attached one to another to reduce the flexibility of the fabric.
  • the coating must also extend over portions of contiguous fibers, including those at the surfaces and in the interior, to assure a complete electrical engagement of fibers throughout the fabric portions. Fibers having denier in the range of 0.5 to 10 are preferred.
  • the coatings may be applied using the method disclosed in the U.S. Pats. Nos. 2,511,472, 2,867,552, 2,896,570, 2,897,091, 3,014,818, 3,043,796 and 3,862,783. These patents include methods for coating the fibers before the fabric is made and provide a coating that will not wear, crack or flake during use in the switch arrangement herein disclosed.
  • the entire section of fabric to be used in a switch arrangement may be coated and thereafter the coating in the row areas desired to be nonconductive removed by using a suitable solvent.
  • the strips of fabric may be manufactured having conductive properties and having nonconductive properties and the rows thereafter attached together by sewing, adhesives or other suitable means.
  • the metal coatings used will be resistant to corrosion in the environment herein disclosed.
  • Fabric layers 3 and 5 have the properties of flexibility and corrosion resistance and, in particular, layer 5 has the ability to repeatedly respond to movement of the deflector layer 6 and to thereafter restore itself to a position in which the layer is in a plane.
  • Layers 3 and 5 may also be made of other materials, such as flexible plastic sheets with portions of conductive material adhered to areas of the sheet to provide rows 13 and 14; however, the material should be able to be repeatedly deflected into openings 12 and thereafter be able to restore itself as the pressure is released.
  • Row 13 is positioned to pass over or under an openings 12 so that as pressure is applied to deflection layer 6 portions of the layer 6 deflect into openings 12, as generally shown in FIG. 4, to urge a portion of an upper row 13 against a portion of lower row 13.
  • lip portions 19 and 190 also assists in preventing a permanent set or dimple being placed in protective sheet 7.
  • the force of the pencil point deflects sheet 7 into an arcuate shape (FIG. 3) as lips 19 and 19a move in the manner herein described thus reducing the pressure on sheet 7 and preventing dimpling of the sheet.
  • Protective sheet 7 is preferably made of Mylar brand polyester film, sold by E. l. duPont de Nemours Company. Other types of material may be used if they are sufficiently resilient to resist the formation of dimples in the surface.
  • Separator layer 4 and nonconductive deflection layer 6 may also be made of Mylar or other material. With respect to separator layer 4 it is necessary that the material be sufficiently incompressible to prevent lips 19 and 190 from compressing the portion of layer 4 near opening 12 and interferring with the bending action of deflection lips 19 and 19a. Deflection in the manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 without substantial deformation layer 4 is required so that normal pencil point pressure will close the switch while a lesser pressure will not activate the switch. Rows 13 are connected through terminals 21 of leads 22 to connect the electrical circuits with switches 11. Any suitable arrangement of switches can be used.
  • FIG. 3a the engagement of two portions of row 13 conductive fabric is shown in which the interwoven sets of fibers 24 and 25 are shown in engagement at a plurality of points.
  • the conductive fabric provides a plurality of electrical contacts to assure the completion of the electrical circuit when the deflection layer 6 is operated to move the upper fabric down into engagement with layer fabric 3.
  • FIG. 6 An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in F I05. 5 and 6 having three layers of conductive fabric including the additional intermediate layer 26 and additional separator layer 4a.
  • deflection lips 19 and 19a operate in the same manner as the switch described above except that after initial engagement of the upper fabric and intermediate fabric they continue their movement downward into engagement with the lower fabric layer to complete a three-element switch.
  • the switch of this invention is also useful in responding to pressure applied by liquid pressure, for example, the depth of a liquid could be sensed by the pressure required to close the switch.
  • An array of switches may be used to record the information on a checkoff sheet where a audible signal tells the operator that each check mark has been effective to close a switch and in which scanning of all switch points to register the closed switches can be accomplished by using the electronic keyboard art techniques.
  • An electrical switch which is closed by the application of pressure against an area of the switch and is opened when the pressure is removed comprising a. an electrically nonconductive base;
  • a nonconductive separator means placed against the side of the conductive layer opposite the base, said separator means having an opening therein;
  • a pressure-responsive deflectable portion of the noncompressible layer positioned adjacent the opening capable of being deflected down into said opening whereby the application of pressure transmitted to and against the pressure-responsive deflectable portion causes said portion to move a portion of the second conductive layer against the first conductive layer to close the switch.
  • the switch of claim 1 having a sheet positioned in engagement with the noncompressible layers for receiving applied pressure which is in turn transmitted to said noncompressible layer.
  • An array of pressure-operated electrical switches arranged in a unit comprising a. an electrically nonconductive baseplate forming the base of the switches,
  • a nonconductive separator layer placed against the side of the fabric opposite the plate, said separator having a plurality of openings therein,
  • a nonconductive noncompressible deflection sheet placed on the second layer, said sheet having deflectable portions in alignment with said openings in the separator layer to permit the deflectable portions to be deflected against the second layer of fabric, said layer having slits therein.
  • the array of claim 5 in having in addition a protective sheet positioned on the noncompressible deflection sheet on which pressure is directly applied.
  • layers having conductive and nonconductive portions are nylon fabric in which the conductive portions includes woven fibers coated with silver metal.
  • the base and the first electrically conductive layer comprise a nonconductive sheet material having selected areas of conductive material adhered to the sheet material.
  • the array of claim 5 having positioned thereon a sheet of material having delineated areas which indicate where pressure may be effectively applied.
  • An array of claim 5 capable of responding to the application of pressure of a writing instrument and having positioned thereon a sheet of material havihg delineated areas indicating where pressure may be effectively applied by such instrument.

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  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
US33367A 1970-04-30 1970-04-30 Pressure-operated layered electrical switch and switch array Expired - Lifetime US3617666A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US3336770A 1970-04-30 1970-04-30
US37409173 USRE28365E (en) 1970-04-30 1973-06-27 Pressure-operated layered electrical switch and switch array

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US3617666A true US3617666A (en) 1971-11-02

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US33367A Expired - Lifetime US3617666A (en) 1970-04-30 1970-04-30 Pressure-operated layered electrical switch and switch array
US37409173 Expired USRE28365E (en) 1970-04-30 1973-06-27 Pressure-operated layered electrical switch and switch array

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US37409173 Expired USRE28365E (en) 1970-04-30 1973-06-27 Pressure-operated layered electrical switch and switch array

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US (2) US3617666A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2120771A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2090978A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1308575A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

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US3708654A (en) * 1971-05-26 1973-01-02 Bennett Pump Inc Reader system for conventional credit cards
US3718791A (en) * 1971-09-16 1973-02-27 Gen Motors Corp Pressure responsive switch
US3911215A (en) * 1974-03-18 1975-10-07 Elographics Inc Discriminating contact sensor
US3969595A (en) * 1974-09-23 1976-07-13 Xerox Corporation Sequential switching assembly having plural, spaced flexible contact layers
US3996430A (en) * 1974-05-07 1976-12-07 Preh Elektrofeinmechanische Werke Keyboard switch assembly having multilayer printed circuit structure
US4044642A (en) * 1973-07-23 1977-08-30 Arp Instruments, Inc. Touch sensitive polyphonic musical instrument
US4065652A (en) * 1974-09-27 1977-12-27 Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson Contact assembly and mounting structure for cross bar selector switch
US4090045A (en) * 1975-12-15 1978-05-16 Marsh Products, Inc. Keyboard strip switch assembly having multifurcated conductive screen contact with contact cleaning wiping-action
US4137116A (en) * 1977-04-22 1979-01-30 Miller Brothers Method of making a pressure switch
US4194097A (en) * 1978-06-12 1980-03-18 Ncr Corporation Membrane keyboard apparatus with tactile feedback
US4207444A (en) * 1976-08-09 1980-06-10 Kley, Fitting, Fitting, Nalley And Smith Planar multiple switch
US4304991A (en) * 1979-09-26 1981-12-08 Weber Harold J Indicia sensor apparatus
US4349710A (en) * 1979-03-12 1982-09-14 Miller Norman K Door edge for attachment to a train door and the like
US4362911A (en) * 1980-09-17 1982-12-07 Ncr Corporation Membrane keyboard switch assembly having selectable tactile properties
US4375585A (en) * 1981-01-08 1983-03-01 Atari, Inc. Deformable switch keyboard
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US4425484A (en) 1981-07-23 1984-01-10 Amp Incorporated Encoded keyboard switch
DE3345846A1 (de) * 1983-01-31 1984-04-19 Alps Electric Co Ltd Eingabeeinheit
US4467151A (en) * 1982-12-13 1984-08-21 Control Data Corporation Planar touch panel
US4555954A (en) * 1984-12-21 1985-12-03 At&T Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for sensing tactile forces
US4559015A (en) * 1984-07-09 1985-12-17 Arthur Felesky Method and means of testing and refining bicycle riding skills
US4603241A (en) * 1983-10-21 1986-07-29 Eliana Nardi Elastic strip with contacts for detecting the transit of motor vehicles with a protection against wear
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US6307168B1 (en) * 1999-03-23 2001-10-23 Paul Newham Linear spaced dielectric dot separator pressure sensing array incorporating strain release stabilized releasable electric snap stud connectors
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Cited By (50)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3708654A (en) * 1971-05-26 1973-01-02 Bennett Pump Inc Reader system for conventional credit cards
US3718791A (en) * 1971-09-16 1973-02-27 Gen Motors Corp Pressure responsive switch
US4044642A (en) * 1973-07-23 1977-08-30 Arp Instruments, Inc. Touch sensitive polyphonic musical instrument
US3911215A (en) * 1974-03-18 1975-10-07 Elographics Inc Discriminating contact sensor
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2090978A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-01-14
USRE28365E (en) 1975-03-18
DE2120771A1 (de) 1971-11-18
GB1308575A (en) 1973-02-21

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