US3800104A - Low profile keyboard switch assembly with snap action cantilever contact - Google Patents

Low profile keyboard switch assembly with snap action cantilever contact Download PDF

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Publication number
US3800104A
US3800104A US00306303A US30630372A US3800104A US 3800104 A US3800104 A US 3800104A US 00306303 A US00306303 A US 00306303A US 30630372 A US30630372 A US 30630372A US 3800104 A US3800104 A US 3800104A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
cantilever arm
contact
cantilever
tongue portion
curvature
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00306303A
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English (en)
Inventor
W Lien
M Pobog
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.)
Becton Dickinson Electronics Co
Becton Dickinson and Co
Original Assignee
Becton Dickinson and Co
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 Becton Dickinson and Co filed Critical Becton Dickinson and Co
Priority to US00306303A priority Critical patent/US3800104A/en
Priority to NL7314379A priority patent/NL7314379A/xx
Priority to GB5189573A priority patent/GB1451970A/en
Priority to DE2356024A priority patent/DE2356024C3/de
Priority to FR7340172A priority patent/FR2213571B1/fr
Priority to IT53633/73A priority patent/IT996435B/it
Priority to JP12764873A priority patent/JPS5419066B2/ja
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3800104A publication Critical patent/US3800104A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • H01H13/7013—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 in which the movable contacts of each switch site or of a row of switch sites are formed in a single plate
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/008—Actuators other then push button
    • H01H2221/016—Lever; Rocker

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A snap-action switch is formed from a thin resilient sheet that is elastically stressed into a threedimensional configuration.
  • One or more bi-stable segments are provided wherein relative movement of the end of a bi-stable segment causes a snap action into a reversely-curved configuration.
  • Switch contacts are only engaged or disengaged after the switch has snapped into a stable configuration.
  • tactile signals include audible clicks or mechanical detents which can be felt while operating the key.
  • Prior art devices have employed snap action devices.
  • One such device includes a concave disc positioned above contacts on a printed circuit board. When a key is depressed, the concave disc is depressed into an overcenter condition which provides a conductive link between the contacts. Upon release of the key, the disc is restored to its normal concave shape and the contact is broken.
  • a single sheet of a conductive material is fabricated to include a cantilever arm that has two portions. A first portion is deformed to provide a relatively shorter support arm. A remaining, relatively longer, tongue member is, as a result stressed into a convex or concave configuration to allow for the difference in length.
  • a contact which is adapted to engage a terminal. In a preferred embodiment, the contact is bifurcated.
  • the cantilever As a force is applied near the free end of the cantilever, the cantilever, as a unit, is bent. A fulcrum or support is provided under the relatively longer, tongue portion which bends until the forces holding it in one of its stable curved configurations are overcome, causing it to snap to its opposite curvature. An additional force and motion is imparted to the free end of the cantilever member in the direction of motion, closing the contact.
  • the material in a preferred embodiment, is a spring material, such as phosphor bronze, beryllium copper or stainless steel, that provides an audible click as the tongue portion snaps into its second stable configuration. This imparts to the operator both an audible and a tactile signal that the switch has been operated and that the contact has been made. As the key is released, changes on the forces on the tongue portion cause it to snap to its opposite or initial curvature. The snap upon opening again provides an audible and tactile signal to the operator that the contact has been opened.
  • a spring material such as phosphor bronze, beryllium copper or stainless steel
  • the switch is carefully designed so that contact can not be made and released by teasing" the switch with slight increases or decreases of pressure on the key mechanism. Further, the snap action provides a more or less standardized force of contact closure, substantially independent of the mode of operating the key. Once the switch is closed, after the snap action has taken place, additional pressure on the key will not increase the pressure between the movable and stationary contacts of the switch since it is desirable to have contact force independent of operator force.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective of a keyboard employing the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the keyboard of FIG. 1, FIGS. 2A-2D, inclusive, illustrating keys in actuated and unactuated conditions;
  • FIG. 5 is a top view of a plurality of switch members according to one employment of the invention at an early state of fabrication
  • FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of one of the switches of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 7 is a side view of the switch of FIG. 6 at a later stage in fabrication.
  • FIG. 8, including FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C, is an end view of a key switch combination, illustrating an alternative contact configuration.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown in perspective view, a low profile keyboard 10 according to the present invention. Included are a plurality of individual keys 12 which are arranged in groups such as a numerical group 14 and different function groups 16, 18.
  • a printed circuit extends from the end of the keyboard 10 and is adapted to be coupled to an appropriate connector or wires (not shown) which electrically interconnect the keyboard 10 to a system.
  • each key 12 has a limited vertical travel available to it, and, accordingly, must provide adequate tactile and auditory clues to the user when a key 12 is either actuated or released.
  • FIG. 2 there is shown in side section a plurality of differing keys 12A-12D, inclusive. Each of these keys is separately illustrated in the enlarged sectional views of FIGS. '2A-2D, inclusive, respectively. It will be noted that each of the keys 12A through 12D differs slightly in design detail and have been included as illustrative of alternative approaches that can be taken to the design of a particular key.
  • a frame member 22 overlies an insulating sealer membrane 24 and a switch plate 26, includes all of the movable switch contacts.
  • a spacer plate 28 supports the switch plate 26 and a printed circuit board 30, which contains the stationary contacts, acts as a bottom or base plate.
  • a first key switch 12A is shown having projecting lugs at the front and rear of the key.
  • a rear lug 32 rides in an appropriate slot 34 and the key 12A is mounted to pivot about that point of attachment.
  • a forward lug 36 is provided to limit upward key travel and cooperates with an overhanging lip 38 in the key plate 22.
  • a switch cam 40 engages a movable switch member 42, which is an integral part of the switch plate 26.
  • the movable switch member 42 is actuated through the insulating sealer membrane 24.
  • the cam 40 exerts a downward force on the movable switch portion 42 until a stationary switch contact 44 is engaged.
  • the stationary contact 44 is an elevated portion of the base plate printed circuit board with suitable contact material 46 integral therewith to complete a circuit with the movable switch portion 42.
  • FIGS. 2B through 2D inclusive, illustrate alternative switch configurations in both actuated and unactuated positions.
  • FIG. 2B shows a key 12B which lacks a front lug but provides, to service the same function, side lugs 368 which limit the upward travel of the key 12b. All other elements of the key assemblies of FIGS. 28 through 2D are substantially the same as in FIG 2A. The same reference numerals with the suffix 8" appended thereto have been applied to the components of FIG 2B. The remaining FIGS. 2C and 2D have not been described in detail.
  • FIG. 3 A front view of the key 12C, for example, is shown in FIG. 3 which includes FIG. 3A corresponding to the key 12C in the unactuated configuration, and FIG. 3B which is a view of the key 12C when actuated.
  • a movable contact 42C is disengaged from stationary contact 44C in FIG. 3A, but is shown in contact in FIG. 3B, as the key 12C is shown in the depressed or actuated configuration.
  • FIG. 4 including FIGS. 4A and 4B, a single switch 48 according to the present invention is shown in perspective view.
  • FIG. 4A shows the switch 48 in the open configuration while FIG 4B shows the switch 48 in the closed configuration.
  • the key, frame member and sealer membrane of FIG. 2 have been omitted for clarity of explanation of the operation of the switch 48.
  • a switch plate 50 is made of a conductive material which is also resilient such as phosphor bronze, beryllium copper, or stainless steel. Th movable switch portion 52 is cut or otherwise fabricated from the main plate 50. The switch plate 50 rests on a spacer plate 54 which, in turn, rests on a printed circuit board 56. In this embodiment, the printed circuit board 56 has a conductive pad 58 as the stationary switch contact.
  • the movable switch member 52 includes a bifurcated contact pair 60 at the free end of the movable switch member 52.
  • the contact pair 60 is bent toward the base plate to assure good electrical contact with the pad 58.
  • the crimp 68 has two purposes. First, it imparts a generally upward bias to the switch member 52 and, second, it shortens the supporting arms 66 relative to the tongue portion 64, thereby introducing a curvature into the tongue portion 64 extending out of the plane of the movable switch member 52.
  • the spacer plate 54 provides a support tab 70 which influences or controls the operation of the tongue, as to where it snaps, and how crisply it does so.
  • the tongue portion 64 is constrained to pivot about the stiffening tab 70 acting as a fulcrum. Accordingly, the movable arm 52 moves downward. The free end continues to bend until the tongue portion 64 is substantially straight. As the free end continues to move downward, the tongue portion 64 snaps into a reverse curvature, reducing the force applied to the key top by the finger.
  • the dimensions and placement of the movable switch members 52 are such that the continued downward movement of the free end does not engage contact 60 with pad 58 until after the tongue portion 64 has reversed its curvature.
  • the contact pair 60 can be bent or shaped to adjust the point of switch travel at which the contact is made.”
  • FIGS. 4A and 48 have shown a flat pad, stationary contact 58 in cooperation with a bent contact pair 60, other alternative embodiments utilizing a raised stationary contact such as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 would operate in substantially the same fashion,
  • FIG. 5 there is shown a switch plate 126, fabricated from a single sheet of material. As shown, sheet 126 can be punched, stamped or chemically etched or milled into the configuration shown wherein a plurality of movable switch members 152 are provided. A plurality of contact tabs 130 are provided to engage conductors on a printed circuit base plate (not shown) to complete the electrical circuit of individual switches.
  • the switch members are adapted to be isolated from each other in groups corresponding to the groups shown in FIG. 1, such as a numerical group 114, and the function groups 116 and 118. This would be accomplished by severing the connections at the parting lines so that each switch within a group would be electrically interconnected but that switch groups would be isolated from each other. As shown, a separate contacting tab 130 is provided for each of the potential groups.
  • FIG. 6 there is shown in somewhat greater detail, one of the movable switch segments of the plate 126 of FIG. 5.
  • the movable switch member is initially formed from a planar blank and has the contact 160 at the free end of a cantilever arm.
  • a pair of slots 162 divide the cantilever into central tongue portion 164 and supporting arms 166.
  • FIG. 7 which is an enlarged side view of the switch of FIG 6, a crimp or bend 168 is made in the arm portions 166 which imparts a bias to the arm 152.
  • the supporting arms I66 are in the plane of the movable member while the tongue portion 164 has a curvature imposed upon it out of that plane.
  • FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C there are shown alternative stationary contact configurations suitable for use in cooperation with the movable switch of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8A shows a nail head or rivet contact 180 which can be electrically connected to circuits from the bottom side of the base plate member 182.
  • FIG. 88 illustrates a contact 184 which is raised and formed from the base plate material, and which is covered with a conductive material 186, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
  • FIG. 8C illustrates a flat pad contact 188 as shown in FIG. 4.
  • a movable cantilever member includes a prestressed portion that has a first curvature with the cantilever in a first position. As the cantilever moves to a second position through a center position, the prestressed portion reverses its curvature with an audible snap or click and which accelerates the actuation of the switch. Releasing the switch, the cantilever moves to the first position and the prestressed portion again reverses its curvature to its first curvature.
  • a plurality of similar switches are easily fabricated from a sheet of spring material using mass production tecnhiques.
  • a keyboard can be quickly fabricated using such a switch plate together with a printed circuit board containing stationary contacts, and a spacer plate with keys and a frame member added. The combination is easily assembled.
  • a snap action switch swinger adapted to cooperate with a stationary switch contact comprising:
  • a cantilever arm member extending from a conductive spring body member and said arm member having a fixed end and a free end;
  • separating means for dividing said cantilever arm member into a support portion and a tongue portion, intermediate said fixed and free ends;
  • said cantilever arm member being operable, in response to movement in a direction opposite to the curvature of said longer portion, to reverse the curvature of said longer portion, biasing said cantilever arm member into a second, stable actuated configuration with said contact means in operational proximity to the stationary contact.
  • said separating means include a pair of slots extending from said fixed end toward said free end, the elongated portion intermediate said slots being considered said tongue portion and said means for introducing a difference in length include a crimp in said support portion thereby shortening said support portion relative to said tongue portion.
  • a snap action switch assembly including in combination:
  • cantilever arm means extending from a conductive spring body member, said cantilever arm means having a fixed end and a free end;
  • separating means for dividing said cantilever arm means into an elongated support portion and an elongated tongue portion, intermediate said fixed and free ends;
  • spacer support means below said conductive spring body member and including a tab portion extending under said longer portion to provide a bending point for said longer portion different from the bending point of said shorter portion in response to motion applied to said cantilever arm means;
  • base plate means adjacent said spacer support means, said base plate means including fixed contact means operatively positioned to engage said contact means when said cantilever arm means are in the second stable actuated configuration.
  • a snap action switch assembly including in combination:
  • a conductive switch plate having a plurality of cantilever arms extending therefrom, each having a fixed end and a free end;
  • each of said cantilever arms with a tongue portion and a support portion, and for introducing a difference in length as between said tongue portion and said support portion to impart a curvature to said tongue portion in a primary stable configuration
  • spacer support means adjacent said conductive switch plate including a plurality of tab portions, each underlying the tongue portion ofa one of said arms, each said tab portion supplying a fulcrum to its associated tongue portion different from the corresponding support portion;
  • base plate means adjacent said spacer support means, having a plurality of stationary contact elements each adapted to be engaged by a corresponding one of said cantilever arm free ends, whereby movement ofa one of said cantilever arms in the direction of said base plate causes said tongue portion to engage said tab portion, reversing the curvature of said tongue portion into a secondary, stable configuration with said cantilever free end engaging said stationary contact element corresponding thereto, and whereby in the absence of a force holding said arm in said secondary, stable configuration, said arm returns to said primary stable configuration.
  • a keyboard assembly comprising, in combination:
  • actuator means comprising a plurality of individually operable key members adapted to be depressed; b. a plurality of cantilevered, movable contact members having free ends and fixed ends, mounted adjacent said actuator means, each in operable proximity to a corresponding one of said plurality of key members, each of said movable contact members having an upward bias and a first, relatively stable configuration in a nonactuated, up position, and a second, relatively stable configuration in an actuated, down position; c. support means comprising a frame containing said plurality of movable contact members, and a plurality of fulcrum elements, each positioned adjacent and below the fixed end of a corresponding movable contact member; and d.
  • each of said movable contact members being operable in response to a limited depression of a corresponding key member to partially pivot against said fulcrum element against said upward bias to change from said first to said second relatively stable configuration, for electrically engaging said fixed and movable contacts,
  • each of said cantilevered movable contact members comprise separating means for dividing said contact member imto a support portion and a tongue portion intermediate said free ends including a pair of separate slots extending between said fixed and free ends; and means for introducing a difference in length as between said tongue portion and said support portion, imparting a curvature to the relatively longer portion, which in said first relatively stable configuration is a downward curvature and in said second relatively stable configuration is an upward curvature.
  • said means for introducing a difference in length comprises a crimp in said support portion adjacent said contact member fixed end, whereby said tongue portion is the relatively longer portion, said crimp also providing said upward bias.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
  • Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)
US00306303A 1972-11-13 1972-11-13 Low profile keyboard switch assembly with snap action cantilever contact Expired - Lifetime US3800104A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00306303A US3800104A (en) 1972-11-13 1972-11-13 Low profile keyboard switch assembly with snap action cantilever contact
NL7314379A NL7314379A (de) 1972-11-13 1973-10-18
GB5189573A GB1451970A (en) 1972-11-13 1973-11-08 Snap action electric contact mechanism
DE2356024A DE2356024C3 (de) 1972-11-13 1973-11-09 Tastenbrett
FR7340172A FR2213571B1 (de) 1972-11-13 1973-11-12
IT53633/73A IT996435B (it) 1972-11-13 1973-11-12 Interruttore a scatto specialmen te per tastiere di calcolatrici elettroniche tascabili
JP12764873A JPS5419066B2 (de) 1972-11-13 1973-11-13

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00306303A US3800104A (en) 1972-11-13 1972-11-13 Low profile keyboard switch assembly with snap action cantilever contact

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3800104A true US3800104A (en) 1974-03-26

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00306303A Expired - Lifetime US3800104A (en) 1972-11-13 1972-11-13 Low profile keyboard switch assembly with snap action cantilever contact

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3800104A (de)
JP (1) JPS5419066B2 (de)
DE (1) DE2356024C3 (de)
FR (1) FR2213571B1 (de)
GB (1) GB1451970A (de)
IT (1) IT996435B (de)
NL (1) NL7314379A (de)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2356024C3 (de) 1979-03-22
DE2356024B2 (de) 1978-07-13
JPS5419066B2 (de) 1979-07-12
IT996435B (it) 1975-12-10
GB1451970A (en) 1976-10-06
FR2213571B1 (de) 1977-06-03
FR2213571A1 (de) 1974-08-02
JPS49133879A (de) 1974-12-23
NL7314379A (de) 1974-05-15
DE2356024A1 (de) 1974-05-22

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