US3818153A - Pushbutton switch assembly for keyboards including a bridging conductive, elastomeric diaphragm type contact - Google Patents

Pushbutton switch assembly for keyboards including a bridging conductive, elastomeric diaphragm type contact Download PDF

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Publication number
US3818153A
US3818153A US00272780A US27278072A US3818153A US 3818153 A US3818153 A US 3818153A US 00272780 A US00272780 A US 00272780A US 27278072 A US27278072 A US 27278072A US 3818153 A US3818153 A US 3818153A
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United States
Prior art keywords
button
push
conductors
contact
layer
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00272780A
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English (en)
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T Arvai
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Individual
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Individual
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    • 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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/02—Contacts characterised by the material thereof
    • H01H1/021—Composite material
    • H01H1/029—Composite material comprising conducting material dispersed in an elastic support or binding material
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/12—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage
    • H01H1/36—Contacts characterised by the manner in which co-operating contacts engage by sliding
    • H01H1/40—Contact mounted so that its contact-making surface is flush with adjoining insulation
    • H01H1/403—Contacts forming part of a printed circuit
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S200/00—Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
    • Y10S200/29—Ball

Definitions

  • an elastomer conductive layer conductive of electricity, of elastomer or elastic material and of limited area, which serves to closea circuit between two conductors of an array; moreover, between the latter and said layer there is arranged an insulating support exhibiting a pre-formed multiplicity of seats the positioning and arrangement of which are designed tobe able to receive and hold each one ball or pellet or other equivalent intermediate member so that it can make contact on the one hand with the said conductors and on the other hand, when the pushbutton is depressed, with the said layer.
  • Such an arrangement allows the use of coded combinations of contacts in a keyboard comprising a set of these pushbuttons.
  • the present invention concerning electrical switches or like members refers more particularly to devices with electrical contacts with pushbuttons capable of forming a keyboard and suitable for establishing electrical connections in ,a network or 'array of electrical conductors in accordance with combinations predetermined and preferably marked on top of the actuating buttons of the corresponding devices.
  • Combinations of devices are already known for the same purpose, with contacts arranged above an array of printed conductors, in which the plunger of the device, of pushbutton species, is provided with a small portion of conductive elastomer so that pressing the button which is integral with the plunger produces the application of the elastomer portion to the two conductors to be connected together which are situated underneath, and the establishment of a circuit.
  • Such devices capable of forming a keyboard, are convenient to handle and inexpensive to produce.
  • the principal object of the invention is to correct or improve upon the aforesaid by obtaining in individual contact devices in a keyboard a high flexibility of coding" and at the same time a great facility for modifying this coding, whilepreservin g in practice the advantages of the already mentioned known devices, namely, ease and economy in their construction- In this respect use will still be made in the invention, in the part establishing contact, of portions of conductive elastomer, in associationwith other means aswill be explained.
  • the invention relates to, as in the known previous art, to a devicewith electrical contacts actuated by pushbutton, in' which the push-button bears on its front face a layer, conductive of electricity, of elastomer or elastic material and of limited area, which serves to close a circuit between at least two predetermined conductors of an array of electrical conductors, produced for example in printed circuits, arranged facing the pushbutton; but in addition the said device includes between the said elastic conductive layer and the array of conductors an insulating support exhibiting a pre-formed multiplicity of seats the positioning and arrangement of which are designed to be able to receive and hold each one ball (or pellet'or other equivalent intermediate member) so that it can make contact on the one hand with one of the said conductors and on the other hand, when the push-button is depressed, with the said layer.
  • This device lends itself conveniently, for example, to the seating of two conductive balls in positions chosen to establish a connection, and also at least a third insulating ball to ensure stability. It is sufficient to change the positions of the conductive balls to modify the coding of the switch. It is easy to construct a keyboard of such switches.
  • FIG. 1' is an axial section through a contact device in accordance'with the invention, in the up position (not making contact);
  • FIG. 2 is a similar section of the same device in the down position (making contact);
  • FIG. 3 shows how the ball seating plates can be arranged above the conductors
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate example of keyboards consisting of contact devices in accordance with the inventlon.
  • FIG. 1 the body of thehousing of the contact device is seen at 1, at 2 the push-button bearing at its end an elastomer layer 3 which here has an annular shape concentricwith the axis A-A of the housing.
  • the support 4 bears on its upper face the array 9 (FIG. 3) of printed circuits.
  • a plate 5 fitted into the body 1 is applied-against the slab 4 by means of screws 5a (see FIG. 3).
  • An axial coil spring 6 is placed between the pushbotton and the plate.
  • the plate 5 exhibits a series of seats X X X E, in the form of holes open top and bottom, in which balls 7 can be placedwithout going right through, the hole being necked in at the bottom at 7a.
  • the position of each of these seats is chosen to be directly on top of one of the conductors 9, the seats being distributed round the axis AA as seen in FIG. 3.
  • annular ring 3 of conductive elastomer is fastened to the end of the push-button 2 by means of projections 2a borne bythe'latter, which simplifies putting it in position, ensures its retention but still enables it to be conveniently exchanged.
  • projections 2a borne bythe'latter which simplifies putting it in position, ensures its retention but still enables it to be conveniently exchanged.
  • two balls 7 will be used, of a material conductive of electricity at least on the surface, such as metal (steel) silvered or gilded on the surface. It will be possible to have only two such balls; a third ball of insulating material, for example, glass, in a suitably placed seat, can ensure stability.
  • the other seats can be unfilled or contain insulating balls as well.
  • the hole E is designed to come over the top of the voltage supply conductor (one pole of the voltage), the return circuit being made by any one (or a number) of the other conductors back to the other pole of the supply voltage.
  • the ball 7 in the hole E can be a little smaller (for example, 0.1 mm
  • the assembly is designed so as to be easily dismantled and so that the combinations of connections can be .modified to choice in each contact device by moving the positions of the balls.
  • each of the contact devices can be placed atany point along the path of the array of conductors.
  • FIG. 3 it is seen that the positions of the plate (plate 5 has'a standard form for all the contact devices) are reversed for the two devices shown; that is due to the path of the array of conductors, bent back on itself.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 show examples of these executions.
  • the tops of the contact devices (1a, lb,'etc%) are shown bearing symbols representing the combinations.
  • a flexible filmor fabric can advantageously be provided .which ensures air-tightness of the devices, the bodies of which exhibit on top an appropriate hollow shape not to obstruct operation, the fabric bending in as seen in FIG. 2.
  • the film or fabric can be transparent and in this case the indication of the symbols areseen through it, engraved or otherwise marked on the faces of the push-buttons;
  • buttons sentially marked on the said faces of the buttons.
  • the embodiments described are only examples of the invention and that it would. be possible to modify them, especially by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention; for example, the balls can be replaced by pellets or other equivalent intermediate members.
  • a contact device having a rest position and an operative position and comprising an elastic layer conductive of electricity and of elastic material, a pushbutton for actuating said contact device provided with.
  • spring means for repelling said push-button in said rest position and retention means for maintaining said layer on the inner operative face of said push-button, an insulating plate having a network of electrical conductors affixed on its surface facing the operative face of said push-button at a distance in the rest position, a plurality of tiny solid elements, some of which are conductive of electricity and each being in contact with a corresponding one of said conductors by their side opposed to said push-button, an insulating support which is distant from said layer in rest position, interposed between said layer and network of conductors and provided with a predetermined multiplicity of seats, each retaining therein one individual element, each of said elements corresponding to an individual conductor so that said conductive element in contact with one conductor can also on its opposite face make contactwith said layer when said push-button is depressed in operative position contrary to said spring means.
  • a device as in'claim l in which said solid elements are balls of material conductive of electricity at least at the surface and in predetermined limited number are seated in seats of which the positions are predetermined in order to effect a coded combination of connections between conductors which can vary as a function of these positions.
  • a device as in claim 2 in which one of said balls comes into 'contact with one of said conductors connected to one pole of the supply voltage and other conductors are connected to theother pole, said one of the balls being slightly smaller than the other balls.
  • a device as in claim 1 in which in certain of the seats an insulating element is seated,-for example of glass.
  • said means-of retention comprise at the end of said push-button roughnesses which can penetrate the material of said elastic layer.
  • a contact device as in claim 1 in which a flexible fabric covers the top of each body of said device, which has an appropriate hollow shape, ensuring its airtightness.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Composite Materials (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
  • Contacts (AREA)
US00272780A 1971-07-27 1972-07-18 Pushbutton switch assembly for keyboards including a bridging conductive, elastomeric diaphragm type contact Expired - Lifetime US3818153A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7127453A FR2147420A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-07-27 1971-07-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3818153A true US3818153A (en) 1974-06-18

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00272780A Expired - Lifetime US3818153A (en) 1971-07-27 1972-07-18 Pushbutton switch assembly for keyboards including a bridging conductive, elastomeric diaphragm type contact

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3818153A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5223695B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DD (1) DD98389A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2235860C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2147420A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1384616A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3908100A (en) * 1974-03-25 1975-09-23 Gen Signal Corp Touch blend smooth surface switch assembly
US3944766A (en) * 1974-07-03 1976-03-16 Essex International, Inc. Seat belt buckle having pushbutton type switch with elastomeric conductor bridging contact
US3950627A (en) * 1972-01-26 1976-04-13 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Push button switch
US4029915A (en) * 1974-12-12 1977-06-14 Hoshidenkoseizo Kabushiki Kaisha Miniaturized calculator keyboard switch assembly having universally pivoted key actuators
US4032738A (en) * 1975-05-15 1977-06-28 Neomed Incorporated Electro-surgical instrument
US4052573A (en) * 1975-02-17 1977-10-04 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Rotary or slide type switch assembly having recessed printed circuit substrate, interposed resilient bridging contact and movable printed circuit disc
US4132873A (en) * 1977-03-16 1979-01-02 General Time Corporation Multiposition switch
JPS54129763U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1978-03-01 1979-09-08
US4438344A (en) 1982-05-25 1984-03-20 Miracle Products, Inc. Switched rectifier disc for Edison sockets
US4725817A (en) * 1984-08-09 1988-02-16 Tecator Ab Pressure responsive panel
US20070119693A1 (en) * 2005-11-30 2007-05-31 Intel Corporation System and apparatus for adjustable keyboard arrangements
US10699856B2 (en) 2012-10-30 2020-06-30 Apple Inc. Low-travel key mechanisms using butterfly hinges
US10804051B2 (en) 2013-09-30 2020-10-13 Apple Inc. Keycaps having reduced thickness
US10879019B2 (en) 2014-09-30 2020-12-29 Apple Inc. Light-emitting assembly for keyboard
US11023081B2 (en) 2012-10-30 2021-06-01 Apple Inc. Multi-functional keyboard assemblies
US11282659B2 (en) 2016-08-08 2022-03-22 Apple Inc. Singulated keyboard assemblies and methods for assembling a keyboard

Families Citing this family (27)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2953379A1 (de) * 1978-11-29 1980-12-11 Serras Paulet Edouard Control keyboard for electric or electronic devices
DE3021236C2 (de) * 1980-06-04 1983-08-18 Otto Dunkel GmbH Fabrik für elektrotechnische Geräte, 8260 Mühldorf Schaltvorrichtung
DE3123438C2 (de) * 1981-06-12 1985-02-07 Wilhelm Ruf KG, 8000 München Schaltanordnung
GB2165696A (en) * 1984-10-11 1986-04-16 Immediate Business Systems Plc Keyboards
US4758699A (en) * 1986-03-10 1988-07-19 L.C.P., Inc. Pressure responder
GB2294158A (en) * 1994-10-14 1996-04-17 Peter Stefan Jones Switch assembly
US9449772B2 (en) 2012-10-30 2016-09-20 Apple Inc. Low-travel key mechanisms using butterfly hinges
US9927895B2 (en) 2013-02-06 2018-03-27 Apple Inc. Input/output device with a dynamically adjustable appearance and function
JP6103543B2 (ja) 2013-05-27 2017-03-29 アップル インコーポレイテッド 短行程スイッチアッセンブリ
US9908310B2 (en) 2013-07-10 2018-03-06 Apple Inc. Electronic device with a reduced friction surface
EP3014396A1 (en) 2013-09-30 2016-05-04 Apple Inc. Keycaps with reduced thickness
US9793066B1 (en) 2014-01-31 2017-10-17 Apple Inc. Keyboard hinge mechanism
US9779889B2 (en) 2014-03-24 2017-10-03 Apple Inc. Scissor mechanism features for a keyboard
US9704665B2 (en) 2014-05-19 2017-07-11 Apple Inc. Backlit keyboard including reflective component
US9715978B2 (en) 2014-05-27 2017-07-25 Apple Inc. Low travel switch assembly
WO2016025890A1 (en) * 2014-08-15 2016-02-18 Apple Inc. Fabric keyboard
US10082880B1 (en) 2014-08-28 2018-09-25 Apple Inc. System level features of a keyboard
WO2016183488A1 (en) 2015-05-13 2016-11-17 Apple Inc. Keyboard assemblies having reduced thicknesses and method of forming keyboard assemblies
WO2016183490A1 (en) 2015-05-13 2016-11-17 Leong Craig C Uniform illumination of keys
EP3295467A1 (en) 2015-05-13 2018-03-21 Apple Inc. Keyboard for electronic device
CN205595253U (zh) 2015-05-13 2016-09-21 苹果公司 电子装置、铰接结构和键机构
US9934915B2 (en) 2015-06-10 2018-04-03 Apple Inc. Reduced layer keyboard stack-up
US9971084B2 (en) 2015-09-28 2018-05-15 Apple Inc. Illumination structure for uniform illumination of keys
US10353485B1 (en) 2016-07-27 2019-07-16 Apple Inc. Multifunction input device with an embedded capacitive sensing layer
US10755877B1 (en) 2016-08-29 2020-08-25 Apple Inc. Keyboard for an electronic device
US11500538B2 (en) 2016-09-13 2022-11-15 Apple Inc. Keyless keyboard with force sensing and haptic feedback
CN117270637A (zh) 2017-07-26 2023-12-22 苹果公司 具有键盘的计算机

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1200889A (en) * 1966-12-09 1970-08-05 Lucas Industries Ltd Means for making an electrical connection to a flexible printed circuit
US3534194A (en) * 1968-03-06 1970-10-13 Jack B Speller Low noise electrical contact apparatus
US3665126A (en) * 1966-10-10 1972-05-23 Sanders Associates Inc Elongated switch bar apparatus
US3699294A (en) * 1971-05-18 1972-10-17 Flex Key Corp Keyboard, digital coding, switch for digital logic, and low power detector switches

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3665126A (en) * 1966-10-10 1972-05-23 Sanders Associates Inc Elongated switch bar apparatus
GB1200889A (en) * 1966-12-09 1970-08-05 Lucas Industries Ltd Means for making an electrical connection to a flexible printed circuit
US3534194A (en) * 1968-03-06 1970-10-13 Jack B Speller Low noise electrical contact apparatus
US3699294A (en) * 1971-05-18 1972-10-17 Flex Key Corp Keyboard, digital coding, switch for digital logic, and low power detector switches

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3950627A (en) * 1972-01-26 1976-04-13 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Push button switch
US3908100A (en) * 1974-03-25 1975-09-23 Gen Signal Corp Touch blend smooth surface switch assembly
US3944766A (en) * 1974-07-03 1976-03-16 Essex International, Inc. Seat belt buckle having pushbutton type switch with elastomeric conductor bridging contact
US4029915A (en) * 1974-12-12 1977-06-14 Hoshidenkoseizo Kabushiki Kaisha Miniaturized calculator keyboard switch assembly having universally pivoted key actuators
US4052573A (en) * 1975-02-17 1977-10-04 Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Rotary or slide type switch assembly having recessed printed circuit substrate, interposed resilient bridging contact and movable printed circuit disc
US4032738A (en) * 1975-05-15 1977-06-28 Neomed Incorporated Electro-surgical instrument
US4132873A (en) * 1977-03-16 1979-01-02 General Time Corporation Multiposition switch
JPS54129763U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1978-03-01 1979-09-08
US4438344A (en) 1982-05-25 1984-03-20 Miracle Products, Inc. Switched rectifier disc for Edison sockets
US4725817A (en) * 1984-08-09 1988-02-16 Tecator Ab Pressure responsive panel
US20070119693A1 (en) * 2005-11-30 2007-05-31 Intel Corporation System and apparatus for adjustable keyboard arrangements
US7230190B1 (en) * 2005-11-30 2007-06-12 Intel Corporation System and apparatus for adjustable keyboard arrangements
US7782304B2 (en) 2005-11-30 2010-08-24 Intel Corporation System and apparatus for adjustable keyboard arrangements
US10699856B2 (en) 2012-10-30 2020-06-30 Apple Inc. Low-travel key mechanisms using butterfly hinges
US11023081B2 (en) 2012-10-30 2021-06-01 Apple Inc. Multi-functional keyboard assemblies
US10804051B2 (en) 2013-09-30 2020-10-13 Apple Inc. Keycaps having reduced thickness
US11699558B2 (en) 2013-09-30 2023-07-11 Apple Inc. Keycaps having reduced thickness
US10879019B2 (en) 2014-09-30 2020-12-29 Apple Inc. Light-emitting assembly for keyboard
US11282659B2 (en) 2016-08-08 2022-03-22 Apple Inc. Singulated keyboard assemblies and methods for assembling a keyboard

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2235860B2 (de) 1974-08-29
JPS5223695B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1977-06-25
DE2235860A1 (de) 1973-02-08
DD98389A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-06-12
GB1384616A (en) 1975-02-19
FR2147420A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-03-09
DE2235860C3 (de) 1975-04-17

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