US3760137A - Matrix push-button switch - Google Patents

Matrix push-button switch Download PDF

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Publication number
US3760137A
US3760137A US00184107A US3760137DA US3760137A US 3760137 A US3760137 A US 3760137A US 00184107 A US00184107 A US 00184107A US 3760137D A US3760137D A US 3760137DA US 3760137 A US3760137 A US 3760137A
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Prior art keywords
substrate
switch
areas
depressible
conductor pairs
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US00184107A
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T Shimojo
M Yanaga
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Alps Alpine Co Ltd
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Alps Electric Co Ltd
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/23—Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof
    • 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
    • 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
    • H01H13/703—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 characterised by spacers between contact carrying layers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2203/00—Form of contacts
    • H01H2203/022—Helical networks
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2205/00—Movable contacts
    • H01H2205/002—Movable contacts fixed to operating part
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2209/00—Layers
    • H01H2209/004—Depressions or protrusions on switch sites
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2209/00—Layers
    • H01H2209/006—Force isolators
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2209/00—Layers
    • H01H2209/024—Properties of the substrate
    • H01H2209/03—Properties of the substrate elastomeric
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2209/00—Layers
    • H01H2209/068—Properties of the membrane
    • H01H2209/074—Properties of the membrane elastomeric
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2211/00—Spacers
    • H01H2211/026—Spacers without separate element
    • H01H2211/03—Ridges on layers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/002—Actuators integral with membrane
    • 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

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A switch has a substrate with a plurality of conductor pairs on it.
  • a resilient cover is disposed over the substrate and has depressible areas aligned with the respective conductor pairs.
  • Conducting contact pieces are mounted on the cover below each of the depressible areas, but normally spaced above the pairs. Upon pressing down a given depressible area, the corresponding contact piece moves to engage the conductor pair associated therewith, and thus closes the circuit between them.
  • Prior art switch systems for telephones or desk top computers comprise a plurality of individual switches arranged in a matrix of rows and columnsyeach with its own-manual actuator, so that alphanumeric information can befed into the system.
  • Such arrangements require numerous parts and are therefore complicated, bulky, costly and expensive.
  • When oper- "ated they are noisy, and when operated under less than ideal conditions errors frequently occur.'If the operator 'does not p'ress precisely in the proper place, or if he presses obliquely rather than 'straight'down, the wrong switch may be actuated, or two switches may be actuated instead "of one. Insufficient pressure may result in lackofactuation, and excessive pressure may damage the switch.
  • the invention comprises a board having a pluralityof conductors defining conductor pairs.
  • An at leastpartially resilient body isdisposedabove the boardand has a plurality of depressible areas aligned with the conductor'pairs re- "spectivelyrConducting contact pieces are mounted on said body beneath said areas with their lower ends spaced from said conductor pairs-when said body is in a nor'm'al standby condition.
  • the isolation means completely surround "each oftheareas-and are-integrally formed with the body.
  • the body is preferably a cover with the depressible areas recessed from the remaining top surface of the cover.
  • the isolation means are themselves secured to the board, preferably at locations between the respective conductor pairs.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in cross-section, Y
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the switch of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.
  • the switch comprises a substrate 10, preferably, a1- thou'gh not necessarily, a printed circuit board, which carries a plurality of conductors 12 arranged thereon to define a plurality of separated conductive pairs.
  • the conductor pairs may be arranged in patterns spaced from one another over the upper surface of the substrate 10.
  • Each conductor is connected to a terminal 14 at the side of the board 10, so that connections can be made between external circuitry and the conductors of a given pair.
  • cover 16 Disposed above the board is a cover 16 that can be molded or otherwise formed from any resilient insulating material, such as rubber or elastic synthetic resin. As best shown in FIG. 2 cover 16 has a plurality of depressible areas 18, preferably in the form of thin-walled recesses, which maybe trapezoidal in outline.
  • Each area 18 is designed to represent a differentsystem input, such as thenumbers 1-10, and they are arranged in a row and column matrix and havenumer ical or other indicia on their outer surfaces. Each area 18 is at least partially encompassed by adjacent means. for isolating motions of any one depressible area 18 from the remaining ones.
  • the isolating means comprise thick-walled portions 20 which are highly resistant to deformation, more so than the relatively thin-walled depressive areas 18.
  • the depths of recesses 18 are equal to each other, and'the heights of portions 20 are also equalto each other and greater than the depths of recesses 18, the lower surfaces of the portions 20'extending well below the lower surfaces of the depressible areas 18.
  • the contact pieces 24 are retained in a position in which their lower surfaces are upwardly spaced from their respective conductor pairs, with the lower surfaces of the sections 22 of the portions 20 extending below the contact piece lower surfaces.
  • the security of the standby spacing between contact piece 24 and its associated conductor pair is enhanced when the sections 22 normally engage the substrate upper surface.
  • the sections 22 are secured to the substrate in any appropriate manner, as through the use of adhesive and preferably in the spaces between the patterns defined by the individual conductor pairs,positiveness and reliability of switch actuation is maximized.
  • a desired depressible area 18 is pushed down, the thin wall defining that area stretching, or the portions 20 deforming, or both, thereby to cause the corresponding contact piece 24 to engage the conductor pair thereunder and complete the circuit through the respective terminals 14.
  • the thick-walled portions 20 prevent the motion of the depressed area 18 from affecting the other depressible areas 18, and hence the other contact pieces 24 do not engage their respective conductor pairs. Hence accurate system input is achieved. Since each conductor pair may be wound in a spiral having a large area, the areas 18 do not have to be depressed exactly perpendicular to board to ensure good bridging contact.
  • any area 18 is depressed in a direction departing from the vertical, then the sections 22 will deflect the exerted force, so that the proper area 18, with its associated contact piece 24, is depressed towards the respective conductor pair. Upon releasing the area 18, the cover 16 will spring back to its original shape, thereby lifting the depressed contact piece 24 and breaking the circuit.
  • the present invention is simple and inexpensive to fabricate, the cover by molding, the
  • the switch is relatively thin and compact, and the recesses clearly mark the proper area to be depressed even under difficult conditions. Since both the cover and contact pieces are made of resilient material, the noise generated by operating the switch is minimal. Thus a small, light weight, inexpensive push-type switch matrix is produced, well adapted to miniaturization but with no sacrifice in reliability or ease of operation.
  • a switch comprising an insulating substrate, a plurality of conductors on said substrate defining conductor pairs, means for making external connection with each of said conductors, an insulating body disposed above said substrate and forming the surface of said switch, said body having a plurality of recessed resilient depressible areas each of which is aligned with a different set of said conductor pairs, a plurality of individual conducting contact pieces each of which is mounted on the underside of a different one of said areas with the lower surface thereof spaced from said conductor pairs associated therewith when said area is in the nondepressed condition, a plurality of relatively rigid isolation means on said body integral with, disposed between and protruding above said depressible areas and separating same for isolating downward motions of each of said areas from the remaining areas, said means extending down towards said substrate beyond said lower surfaces of said contact pieces, whereby upon depressing any one of said depressible areas only the respective contact piece engages only the conductive pair associated therewith, thereby completing a circuit through said respective external connection

Abstract

A switch has a substrate with a plurality of conductor pairs on it. A resilient cover is disposed over the substrate and has depressible areas aligned with the respective conductor pairs. Conducting contact pieces are mounted on the cover below each of the depressible areas, but normally spaced above the pairs. Upon pressing down a given depressible area, the corresponding contact piece moves to engage the conductor pair associated therewith, and thus closes the circuit between them.

Description

United States Patent 1 Shimojo et al.
[ 1 Sept. 18, 1973 MATRIX PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH [75] Inventors: Takemi Shimojo; Makoto Yanaga,
Tokyo, Japan [73] Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan 221 Filed: Sept. 27, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 184,107
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 5, 1970 Japan 45/98909 [52-] U.S. Cl. 200/166 C, 200/5 A, 200/159 B, 340/365 R [51] Int. Cl. H01h 3/12 [58] Field of Search 200/166 PC, 86 R,
200/5 E, 5 A,'159 B, 1 8 G, 172 R; 179/90 K; 340/365 R, 365 c [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,308,253 3/1967 Krakinowski ZOO/I59 B 3,699,294 10/1972 Sudduth 200/166 H X 20 v .20 20 20 /5 "W W 7 2 a) 7/1972 Nash et al. 340/365 C X 3/1968 Knuepfer 200/168 G OTHER PUBLICATIONS Sedaris et al., Elastic Diaphragm Switch, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin 14:3, August 1971, p. 767.
Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner-William J. Smith Attorney-Maxwell James et a].
[57] ABSTRACT A switch has a substrate with a plurality of conductor pairs on it. A resilient cover is disposed over the substrate and has depressible areas aligned with the respective conductor pairs. Conducting contact pieces are mounted on the cover below each of the depressible areas, but normally spaced above the pairs. Upon pressing down a given depressible area, the corresponding contact piece moves to engage the conductor pair associated therewith, and thus closes the circuit between them.
4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures stallations,-and which'is 1 MATRIX PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH "CROSS REFERENCE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to push-button switches, and rnore' 'particularly to those that have a body with a plurality of depressible areas andisolating means between said areas.
Prior art switch systems for telephones or desk top computers, for example, comprise a plurality of individual switches arranged in a matrix of rows and columnsyeach with its own-manual actuator, so that alphanumeric information can befed into the system. Such arrangements require numerous parts and are therefore complicated, bulky, costly and expensive. When oper- "ated they are noisy, and when operated under less than ideal conditions errors frequently occur.'If the operator 'does not p'ress precisely in the proper place, or if he presses obliquely rather than 'straight'down, the wrong switch may be actuated, or two switches may be actuated instead "of one. Insufficient pressure may result in lackofactuation, and excessive pressure may damage the switch. To achieve reliability in switch systems of the type involved, it: has been necessary to maximize size,weight'and cost. Thishasmilitated strongly against the widespread use of such switch systems in massproduc'ed apparatus of low cost, and has virtually ruled them out where miniaturization is a factor. This is particularly true in connection with matrix systems adapted to be fingertip actuated, where the individual switch actuatorsmustbe'close together for ease and ra- :pidity of actuation.
It is the primeobject of the present invention-to devise a switch system suitable for small, inexpensive inat the'same time reliable in operation. i
-'lt isfa further object to devise a matrix-type pushswitch system which can "be manipulated with a high degree of ease.
I It is-andther object to devise such a'switch system that operates with; a minimum of noise.
It is a further objectto haveswitches that are easy to operatewith a minimum chance'ofmaking a mistake.
It is yet another object to provide push-type switches thatare thin and compact.
To achieve'these and other objects the invention comprises a board having a pluralityof conductors defining conductor pairs. An at leastpartially resilient bodyisdisposedabove the boardand has a plurality of depressible areas aligned with the conductor'pairs re- "spectivelyrConducting contact pieces are mounted on said body beneath said areas with their lower ends spaced from said conductor pairs-when said body is in a nor'm'al standby condition. Isolating means are pro- =vided between said areas so that when an operator dethe operator'mayexert that depressive force faultily,
re.g., in an oblique direction, or with a degree of force "either greater orless than nominal.
Preferably,the isolation means completely surround "each oftheareas-and are-integrally formed with the body. The body is preferably a cover with the depressible areas recessed from the remaining top surface of the cover. For best results the isolation means are themselves secured to the board, preferably at locations between the respective conductor pairs.
To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as-may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the construction of a switch having depressible areas as defined in the appended claims and as described in this specification, taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:
, FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partly in cross-section, Y
of a switch in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the switch of FIG. 1 taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.
The switch comprises a substrate 10, preferably, a1- thou'gh not necessarily, a printed circuit board, which carries a plurality of conductors 12 arranged thereon to define a plurality of separated conductive pairs. As specifically disclosed, and as is preferred, the conductor pairs may be arranged in patterns spaced from one another over the upper surface of the substrate 10.
Each conductor is connected to a terminal 14 at the side of the board 10, so that connections can be made between external circuitry and the conductors of a given pair. I
Disposed above the board is a cover 16 that can be molded or otherwise formed from any resilient insulating material, such as rubber or elastic synthetic resin. As best shown in FIG. 2 cover 16 has a plurality of depressible areas 18, preferably in the form of thin-walled recesses, which maybe trapezoidal in outline.
Each area 18 is designed to represent a differentsystem input, such as thenumbers 1-10, and they are arranged in a row and column matrix and havenumer ical or other indicia on their outer surfaces. Each area 18 is at least partially encompassed by adjacent means. for isolating motions of any one depressible area 18 from the remaining ones. The isolating means comprise thick-walled portions 20 which are highly resistant to deformation, more so than the relatively thin-walled depressive areas 18. Preferably, the depths of recesses 18 are equal to each other, and'the heights of portions 20 are also equalto each other and greater than the depths of recesses 18, the lower surfaces of the portions 20'extending well below the lower surfaces of the depressible areas 18. Conductive contact pieces 24, formed of any suitable conductive material, are mounted on the lower surfaces of the depressible areas 18 in registration with the particular conductor pairs which are adapted to be bridged thereby. As may be seen in FIG. 2, when the cover 16 is in its normal standby condition the contact pieces 24 are retained in a position in which their lower surfaces are upwardly spaced from their respective conductor pairs, with the lower surfaces of the sections 22 of the portions 20 extending below the contact piece lower surfaces. The security of the standby spacing between contact piece 24 and its associated conductor pair is enhanced when the sections 22 normally engage the substrate upper surface. When, as is preferred, the sections 22 are secured to the substrate in any appropriate manner, as through the use of adhesive and preferably in the spaces between the patterns defined by the individual conductor pairs,positiveness and reliability of switch actuation is maximized.
In operation, a desired depressible area 18 is pushed down, the thin wall defining that area stretching, or the portions 20 deforming, or both, thereby to cause the corresponding contact piece 24 to engage the conductor pair thereunder and complete the circuit through the respective terminals 14. The thick-walled portions 20 prevent the motion of the depressed area 18 from affecting the other depressible areas 18, and hence the other contact pieces 24 do not engage their respective conductor pairs. Hence accurate system input is achieved. Since each conductor pair may be wound in a spiral having a large area, the areas 18 do not have to be depressed exactly perpendicular to board to ensure good bridging contact. Also, if any area 18 is depressed in a direction departing from the vertical, then the sections 22 will deflect the exerted force, so that the proper area 18, with its associated contact piece 24, is depressed towards the respective conductor pair. Upon releasing the area 18, the cover 16 will spring back to its original shape, thereby lifting the depressed contact piece 24 and breaking the circuit.
It will be seen that the present invention is simple and inexpensive to fabricate, the cover by molding, the
board by printed circuit techniques. Also, the switch is relatively thin and compact, and the recesses clearly mark the proper area to be depressed even under difficult conditions. Since both the cover and contact pieces are made of resilient material, the noise generated by operating the switch is minimal. Thus a small, light weight, inexpensive push-type switch matrix is produced, well adapted to miniaturization but with no sacrifice in reliability or ease of operation.
While but a single embodiment of the present invention has been here specifically disclosed, it will be apparent that many variations may be made therein, all
without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.
We claim:
1. A switch comprising an insulating substrate, a plurality of conductors on said substrate defining conductor pairs, means for making external connection with each of said conductors, an insulating body disposed above said substrate and forming the surface of said switch, said body having a plurality of recessed resilient depressible areas each of which is aligned with a different set of said conductor pairs, a plurality of individual conducting contact pieces each of which is mounted on the underside of a different one of said areas with the lower surface thereof spaced from said conductor pairs associated therewith when said area is in the nondepressed condition, a plurality of relatively rigid isolation means on said body integral with, disposed between and protruding above said depressible areas and separating same for isolating downward motions of each of said areas from the remaining areas, said means extending down towards said substrate beyond said lower surfaces of said contact pieces, whereby upon depressing any one of said depressible areas only the respective contact piece engages only the conductive pair associated therewith, thereby completing a circuit through said respective external connection means.
2. A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said isolating means engage said substrate.
, 3. A switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein said isolating means are fixed to said substrate.
4. A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductor pairs are disposed in spaced patterns on said substrate, said isolating means engaging said substrate between said patterns.

Claims (4)

1. A switch comprising an insulating substrate, a plurality of conductors on said substrate defining conductor pairs, means for making external connection with each of said conductors, an insulating body disposed above said substrate and forming the surface of said switch, said body having a plurality of recessed resilient depressible areas each of which is aligned with a different set of said conductor pairs, a plurality of individual conducting contact pieces each of which is mounted on the underside of a different one of said areas with the lower surface thereof spaced from said conductor pairs associated therewith when said area is in the nondepressed condition, a plurality of relatively rigid isolation means on said body integral with, disposed between and protruding above said depressible areas and separating same for isolating downward motions of each of said areas from the remaining areas, said means extending down towards said substrate beyond said lower surfaces of said contact pieces, whereby upon depressing any one of said depressible areas only the respective contact piece engages only the conductive pair associated therewith, thereby completing a circuit through said respective external connection means.
2. A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said isolating means engage said substrate.
3. A switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein said isolating means are fixed to said substrate.
4. A switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conductor pairs are disposed in spaced patterns on said substrate, said isolating means engaging said substrate between said patterns.
US00184107A 1970-10-05 1971-09-27 Matrix push-button switch Expired - Lifetime US3760137A (en)

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Cited By (35)

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US3930083A (en) * 1974-07-26 1975-12-30 Litton Systems Inc Keyboard panel for an electric switch contact
US3940578A (en) * 1973-04-09 1976-02-24 Alphameric Keyboards Limited Keyboard structure having panel mounted key actuators with electrical component operating element
US3964594A (en) * 1972-12-01 1976-06-22 Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.P.A. Keyboard of elastic material for office machines
US3971902A (en) * 1975-03-21 1976-07-27 Amp Incorporated Keyboard switch assembly having one piece plural pushbutton actuator and resilient mounting structure for plural cantilever beam contacts
US3987259A (en) * 1975-06-12 1976-10-19 Globe-Union Inc. Membrane switch apparatus having sequential bridging contact arrangement
DE2623229A1 (en) * 1975-09-15 1977-03-24 Globe Union Inc MEMBRANE SWITCH
US4034176A (en) * 1975-06-11 1977-07-05 Magic Dot, Inc. Membrane switch apparatus
US4039068A (en) * 1972-12-14 1977-08-02 Ing. C. Olivetti & C., S.P.A. Keyboard of elastic material for office machines
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US4127758A (en) * 1977-10-13 1978-11-28 Sheldahl, Inc. Tactile layer having hinged dome
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US4164636A (en) * 1977-08-10 1979-08-14 Bunker Ramo Corporation Integral electrical shorting switch and connector assembly
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US4408103A (en) * 1982-01-06 1983-10-04 Smith Engineering Joystick operated multiple position switch
EP0013747B1 (en) * 1979-01-30 1984-02-22 Glacier Gmbh - Deva Werke Apparatus for the continuous extrusion of electrically conductive granular materials, preferably metal powder
DE3248607A1 (en) * 1982-12-30 1984-07-12 Petri Ag, 8750 Aschaffenburg SIGNALER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES
US4524249A (en) * 1984-06-01 1985-06-18 Texas Instruments Incorporated Keyboard switch assembly
WO1985003595A1 (en) * 1984-02-03 1985-08-15 Npm International Improvements in switches and keyboards
US4536625A (en) * 1983-04-20 1985-08-20 Bebie Alain M Keyboard design
US4621373A (en) * 1984-03-13 1986-11-04 General Electric Company Control surface for a trunking personal radio
EP0202711A2 (en) * 1985-05-22 1986-11-26 VELLEMAN-SWITCH, naamloze vennootschap Membrane for membrane switches and composing elements thereof
US4647729A (en) * 1985-10-04 1987-03-03 Northern Telecom Limited Circuit board with contact positions, as used for telecommunications terminals and other apparatus
USRE32977E (en) * 1983-04-20 1989-07-04 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Key-holding structure of keyboard with curved operating surface of keys
EP0793247A2 (en) * 1996-03-01 1997-09-03 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Noiseless dispersion electroluminescent device and switch unit using same
WO2005081275A1 (en) * 2004-02-20 2005-09-01 Pelikon Limited Switches
US20070023272A1 (en) * 2001-02-15 2007-02-01 Integral Technologies, Inc. Low cost key actuators and other switching device actuators manufactured from conductive loaded resin-based materials
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US20080142593A1 (en) * 2006-12-18 2008-06-19 Harrow Products Llc Data interface assembly for electronic locks and readers
US20090188340A1 (en) * 2008-01-24 2009-07-30 Shimano Inc. Bicycle control device
US20120258279A1 (en) * 2010-01-25 2012-10-11 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Method of producing a device comprising at least one displaceable operating member as well as such a device
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US3940578A (en) * 1973-04-09 1976-02-24 Alphameric Keyboards Limited Keyboard structure having panel mounted key actuators with electrical component operating element
US4253774A (en) * 1974-02-22 1981-03-03 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Information output device
US3930083A (en) * 1974-07-26 1975-12-30 Litton Systems Inc Keyboard panel for an electric switch contact
US3971902A (en) * 1975-03-21 1976-07-27 Amp Incorporated Keyboard switch assembly having one piece plural pushbutton actuator and resilient mounting structure for plural cantilever beam contacts
US4034176A (en) * 1975-06-11 1977-07-05 Magic Dot, Inc. Membrane switch apparatus
US3987259A (en) * 1975-06-12 1976-10-19 Globe-Union Inc. Membrane switch apparatus having sequential bridging contact arrangement
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US4287394A (en) * 1976-07-31 1981-09-01 Wilhelm Ruf Kg Keyboard switch assembly with printed circuit board
FR2360979A1 (en) * 1976-07-31 1978-03-03 Ruf Kg Wilhelm KEYBOARD
US4164636A (en) * 1977-08-10 1979-08-14 Bunker Ramo Corporation Integral electrical shorting switch and connector assembly
US4127758A (en) * 1977-10-13 1978-11-28 Sheldahl, Inc. Tactile layer having hinged dome
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US4229633A (en) * 1978-03-27 1980-10-21 Gillilan Edward L Programmable switch
FR2441256A1 (en) * 1978-11-08 1980-06-06 Nissan Motor ILLUSTRATED SWITCHING DEVICE
US4258096A (en) * 1978-11-09 1981-03-24 Sheldahl, Inc. Composite top membrane for flat panel switch arrays
EP0013747B1 (en) * 1979-01-30 1984-02-22 Glacier Gmbh - Deva Werke Apparatus for the continuous extrusion of electrically conductive granular materials, preferably metal powder
US4408103A (en) * 1982-01-06 1983-10-04 Smith Engineering Joystick operated multiple position switch
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US4491702A (en) * 1982-02-01 1985-01-01 Sun Arrow Koeki Company Ltd. Key-top panel and keyboard structure using the panel
JPH0436014Y2 (en) * 1982-02-01 1992-08-26
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USRE32977E (en) * 1983-04-20 1989-07-04 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Key-holding structure of keyboard with curved operating surface of keys
US4536625A (en) * 1983-04-20 1985-08-20 Bebie Alain M Keyboard design
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US4634818A (en) * 1984-02-03 1987-01-06 Npm International Switches and keyboards
US4839474A (en) * 1984-02-03 1989-06-13 Key Innovations Limited Switches and keyboards
US4621373A (en) * 1984-03-13 1986-11-04 General Electric Company Control surface for a trunking personal radio
US4524249A (en) * 1984-06-01 1985-06-18 Texas Instruments Incorporated Keyboard switch assembly
EP0202711A2 (en) * 1985-05-22 1986-11-26 VELLEMAN-SWITCH, naamloze vennootschap Membrane for membrane switches and composing elements thereof
US4695681A (en) * 1985-05-22 1987-09-22 Velleman-Switch, Naamloze Vennootschap Membrane for membrane switches and composing elements thereof
EP0202711A3 (en) * 1985-05-22 1989-03-01 Velleman-Switch, Naamloze Vennootschap Membrane for membrane switches and composing elements thereof
US4647729A (en) * 1985-10-04 1987-03-03 Northern Telecom Limited Circuit board with contact positions, as used for telecommunications terminals and other apparatus
EP0793247A2 (en) * 1996-03-01 1997-09-03 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Noiseless dispersion electroluminescent device and switch unit using same
EP0793247A3 (en) * 1996-03-01 1998-09-16 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Noiseless dispersion electroluminescent device and switch unit using same
US7829807B2 (en) * 2001-02-15 2010-11-09 Integral Technologies, Inc. Low cost key actuators and other switching device actuators manufactured from conductive loaded resin-based materials
US20070023272A1 (en) * 2001-02-15 2007-02-01 Integral Technologies, Inc. Low cost key actuators and other switching device actuators manufactured from conductive loaded resin-based materials
US20070158173A1 (en) * 2004-02-20 2007-07-12 Pelikon Limited Switches
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US7988054B2 (en) 2004-03-04 2011-08-02 Verifone Israel Ltd. Secure card reader
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US20090188340A1 (en) * 2008-01-24 2009-07-30 Shimano Inc. Bicycle control device
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US20130116050A1 (en) * 2011-11-04 2013-05-09 Target Brands, Inc. Transaction product with selectively illuminated buttons
US8647203B2 (en) * 2011-11-04 2014-02-11 Target Brands, Inc. Transaction product with selectively illuminated buttons

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