US3873957A - Push button - Google Patents

Push button Download PDF

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Publication number
US3873957A
US3873957A US401718A US40171873A US3873957A US 3873957 A US3873957 A US 3873957A US 401718 A US401718 A US 401718A US 40171873 A US40171873 A US 40171873A US 3873957 A US3873957 A US 3873957A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
magnet
snap
button shaft
hall element
magnets
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
US401718A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Horst Wurscher
Rolf Blass
Oskar Becker
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.)
US Philips Corp
Original Assignee
US Philips Corp
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
Priority claimed from DE19722251530 external-priority patent/DE2251530C3/de
Application filed by US Philips Corp filed Critical US Philips Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3873957A publication Critical patent/US3873957A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
    • H03K17/51—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the components used
    • H03K17/90—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the components used by the use, as active elements, of galvano-magnetic devices, e.g. Hall-effect devices

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A pushbutton switch producing a snap-action pulse from a Hall element. A snap magnet is held in a rest position and then released to follow the movement of a control magnet thereby applying a magnetic field to the Hall element,
  • This invention relates to a pushbutton comprising a Hallelement and magnets which are movable with respect thereto in order to generate pulses.
  • a pawl or lever In purely mechanically operating pushbuttons a pawl or lever is cocked and the tensioned lever is suddenly released after having passed a pressure threshold (point of maximum accumulated pressure energy). The contact to be operated is then closed, independent of the further movement of the button shaft. A snapaction (shoot-through effect is thus achieved. After the cocking of the pawl, the operator is sure that the contact has been operated. The closing and the opening of the contact takes places quickly, even if the pawl is only slowly cocked. The depressed button is mechanically returned to the starting position after a pulse has been given, i.e., after the closing of the contact.
  • a pushbutton with reed contacts is known in which different permanent magnets are used (US. Pat. specification No. 3,283,274).
  • a pressure threshold or tensile force threshold is obtained in that in the rest position a permanent magnet which is arranged about the reed contact and which is rigidly connected to the button shaft must be pulled loose from a fixed permanent magnet.
  • a third permanent magnet can be present'which either keeps the button shaft in the working position or returns it to the rest po sition by opposed polarization as soon as the button is released. The use of a reset spring is then superfluous.
  • buttons give an indication to the operator, due to the disappearance of the button pressure, that the pressure threshold has been exceeded and that the contact operation by the permanent magnet to be moved can now be effected, but they do not give an indication that this'has indeed take place. This is because the permanent magnet can still be returned prior to the switching of the contact. Consequently, the button shaft of these pushbuttons must always be completely pushed through for the operator to be sure that the contact has indeed been made. Another drawback of these pushbuttons with reed contacts is that the contacts are liable to bounce, which can be particularly annoying when they are used in calculating and bookkeeping machines.
  • the invention has for its object to provide a pushbutton which incorporates a pressure threshold, which offers guaranteed switching after having overcome the threshold (pressure point and which operates in a contactless manner. Use is made of the so-called Hall effect, according to which a voltage is generated if the Hall element is moved with respect to a magnetic field.
  • the Hall element is arranged between two magnets, one of which (control magnet) is rigidly connected to the slidable button shaft and the other (snap magnet) is freely movable in the longitudinal direction of the button shaft, the magnetizations being directed such that, the movement of the snap magnet is determined by the position change of the control magnet after the release from a given rest position.
  • the Hall element In the rest position of the button the Hall element is situated outside the field, for example, between similar poles of the two magnets.
  • the Hall element In the switching position the Hall element and is situated in the magnetic field in the switching, i.e., between dissimilar poles of the two magnets.
  • a threshold (the pressure point) is provided because the snap magnet is magnetically held in the non-depressed position of the button shaft and can be released from this rest position by the button shaft only after the control magnet has completed partof its traject.
  • FIGS. 1 to 4 are front views, partially in section, of a pushbutton according to the invention in the rest position, the pressure point position, the switching position, and the furthest depressed position, respectively, and
  • FIG. 5 is a front view, partially in section, ofa modification of a pushbutton according to FIG. I. v
  • the button which is chosen by way of example and which can be integrated in a keyboard consists of the button housing 1 which is closed at its top by the housing lid 2 which simultaneously serves for guiding the button shaft 3.
  • a carrier plate 7 on which a Hall element 8 is provided is rigidly arranged at the bottom of the button housing 1.
  • the button shaft 3 is provided with an extension 9 which serves as a carrier for the control magnet 4.
  • this control magnet 4 is a permanent magnet and its magnetiza tion direction extends transverse to the button shaft 3.
  • the button shaft is held by the reset spring 13 in the rest position shown in FIG. 1.
  • the button shaft 3 also comprises a pin 10 on which a mandril 11 is provided, the diameter of which is smaller than that of the pin 10.
  • the mandril 11 fits loosely in an annular snap magnet which is preferably formed by a permanent magnet whose magnetization direction corresponds to the movement direction of the button shaft.
  • a safety plate 12 which serves to return the snap magnet 5 to the rest position shown in FIG. 1, in the case of failures.
  • the snap magnet 5 is freely movable in a guide sleeve 14 of the button housing 1.
  • the stroke of this snap magnet 5 is limited in the upward direction by a magnetic metal ring 6 whose opening is so large that the pin 10 freely slides through this metal ring and can engage the head face of the snap magnet 5.
  • the arrangement is such that in the rest position shown in FIG. 1 no magnetic flux of the two magnets 4 and 5 is present in the Hall element 8, or the flux present therein is so small that no Hall voltage is generated. In the embodiment shown, this is the result of the special dissimilar polarization of the two permanent magnets 4 and 5.
  • buttons shaft 3 If the button shaft 3 is moved downwards, it first assumes the pressure point position shown in FIG. 2. In this position the control magnet 4 has already been shifted downwards over part of its stroke. However, the
  • the snap magnet 5 is taken along and is pulled loose from the metal ring 6.
  • the control magnet 4 is moved further downwards.
  • the snap magnet 5 has been magnetically separated from the metal ring 6, which takes place after a comparatively short movement, the button pressure quickly decreases.
  • the snap magnet is then pulled further downwards by the control magnet 4, independent of further movement of the button shaft, until a magnetically stable position between the two magnets 4 and 5 is reached.
  • This free movement of the snap magnet 5 which is determined exclusively by the control magnet 4 is independent of whether the movement of thebutton shaft 3 is arbitrarily stopped after the pressure point of the button shaft 3 has been overcome or the shaft is further moved downwards.
  • the magnetic flux between the north pole of the control magnet 4 and the south pole of the snap magnet 5 now flows through the Hall element, and a Hall voltage pulse is generated.
  • the location of the safety plate 12 can be chosen such that the downward movement of the snap magnet is limited, without the strength of the magnetic field through the Hall element 8 being influenced thereby.
  • This safety plate also serves then to reduce or prevent oscillation of the snap magnet 5 about the magnetically stable position.
  • the safety plate 12 is not absolutely necessary in this respect because the oscillations of the snap magnet 5 do not necessarily have an adverse effect on the generation of the pulse.
  • the invention is not restricted to the shape and the arrangement of the magnets as in the embodiment shown in the FIGS. 1 to 4.
  • a magnetically neutral zone can be present between the poles of the snap magnet 5.
  • the essence of the invention is that as a result of the button movement first one of the two magnets is displaced over a short distance, the second magnet being moved, after the pressure point has been overcome, only by the magnetic forces prevailing be tween the two magnets.
  • the variation of the magnetic flux between the two magnets is controlled such that no or only a slight magnetic flux between the two magnets 4 and 5 is present in the Hall element 8 in the rest position of the pushbutton (FIG. 1), and that this magnetic flux is suddenly fed through the Hall element by the downward movementof the snap magnet 5 after the pressure point has been overcome. Consequently, only comparatively short trajects are required for generating a pulse.
  • an anvil 11 with the safety plate 12 can be simply dispensed with.
  • the mandril l1 and the plate 12 serve merely to ensure the resetting of the snap magnet to the rest position in the case of failures.
  • the same function is performed by the springs 15 and 16 which are shown in FIG. 5 instead of the mandril 11 and the plate 12.
  • the resilience of the spring 15 is slightly less than that of the spring 16.
  • the two springs 15 and 16 may not be so strong that they impede the free movement of the snap magnet 5 which is effected by the drive magnet 4.
  • a pushbutton of the type having a Hall element and magnets which are movable with respect thereto for generating pulses comprising a housing, a button shaft slidably mounted in said housing for movement in a longitudinal direction between a non-depressed position and a switching position, a control magnet rigidly connected to said button shaft, a snap magnet, means for mounting said snap magnet in said housing for freely sliding movement parallel to said longitudinal direction, means for holding said snap magnet in a rest position when said button shaft is in the non-depressed position and for releasing said snap magnet upon move ment of said button shaft to the switching position, a Hall element, means for fixing said Hall'element in position between said magnets, the magnetization of the magnets being directed such that when the button shaft is in the non-depressed position the Hall element is outside the field, while when the button shaft is in a switching position the Hall element is in the field between the two magnets and the longitudinal movement of the snap magnet is determined only by the position change of the button shaft and the control magnet.
  • a pushbutton as claimed in claim 2 wherein the snap magnet is magnetically held in the rest position, while the snap magnet is released by said releasing means only after the button shaft has moved from a rest position to a switching position.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
US401718A 1972-10-20 1973-09-28 Push button Expired - Lifetime US3873957A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19722251530 DE2251530C3 (de) 1972-10-20 Drucktaste

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3873957A true US3873957A (en) 1975-03-25

Family

ID=5859607

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US401718A Expired - Lifetime US3873957A (en) 1972-10-20 1973-09-28 Push button

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3873957A (ja)
JP (1) JPS5413586B2 (ja)
FR (1) FR2204081B1 (ja)
GB (1) GB1412510A (ja)
IT (1) IT996844B (ja)
NL (1) NL7314201A (ja)

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4156820A (en) * 1976-05-15 1979-05-29 Matsu Kyu Kabushiki Kaisha Miniature contactless switching unit
US4188605A (en) * 1978-07-21 1980-02-12 Stout Glenn M Encapsulated Hall effect device
US4203093A (en) * 1978-09-19 1980-05-13 Texas Instruments Incorporated Solid state keyswitch arrangement
US4295118A (en) * 1980-05-21 1981-10-13 The Singer Company Latching relay using Hall effect device
US4307617A (en) * 1980-05-12 1981-12-29 Honeywell Inc. Indicating and control apparatus utilizing Hall effect elements
US4311981A (en) * 1980-11-17 1982-01-19 Luzynski Anthony J Magnetic switch
US4518835A (en) * 1982-09-01 1985-05-21 General Instrument Corp. Force responsive switch
US6097272A (en) * 1998-11-17 2000-08-01 Korry Electronics Co. Contactless switch
EP1152441A1 (en) * 1999-11-10 2001-11-07 Idec Izumi Corporation Electric part, and emergency stop system and communication device having the same
US6616296B1 (en) * 1999-01-12 2003-09-09 Thierry Cassan Flash-light with tubular case comprising a safety system managed by a microprocessor
US20040263296A1 (en) * 2001-11-08 2004-12-30 Yukihiro Asa Compact magnetic induction switch
US6867680B1 (en) * 2000-06-30 2005-03-15 Otto Controls Division, Otto Engineering, Inc Dual magnet hall effect switch
US20090026054A1 (en) * 2007-07-25 2009-01-29 Roland Lee Trigger Arrangement with Feedback Response
US20090121816A1 (en) * 2007-11-14 2009-05-14 Iproc, Panasonic Corporation Switch and switch device using same
US20090153278A1 (en) * 2007-12-13 2009-06-18 Masaru Shimizu Vehicle switch
US20100007402A1 (en) * 2008-07-10 2010-01-14 Przemyslaw Chamuczynski Weatherproof switch for indoor and outdoor information clusters and function switches
US20100236911A1 (en) * 2009-03-17 2010-09-23 Jorg Wild Push-button
US20160042897A1 (en) * 2014-08-11 2016-02-11 Apple Inc. Mechanisms having a magnetic latch and tactile feedback
US9585445B2 (en) 2014-08-11 2017-03-07 Apple Inc. Magnetic buckle
US20170092451A1 (en) * 2015-09-30 2017-03-30 Kyocera Corporation Switch and electronic device
US9693609B2 (en) 2014-08-11 2017-07-04 Apple Inc. Magnetic actuated attachment mechanisms for wearable devices
US10117504B2 (en) 2014-08-09 2018-11-06 Apple Inc. Wearable band including magnets
US10123608B2 (en) 2014-08-11 2018-11-13 Apple Inc. Wearable band including magnets
US10172426B2 (en) 2015-09-16 2019-01-08 Apple Inc. Magnetic band clasp
US20230066790A1 (en) * 2021-09-02 2023-03-02 Medtronic Minimed, Inc. Ingress-tolerant input devices comprising sliders

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NO2854296T3 (ja) * 2013-09-27 2018-05-12

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3260821A (en) * 1963-10-04 1966-07-12 Yokoo Yusaku Push switch
US3622922A (en) * 1969-09-24 1971-11-23 Denki Onkyo Co Ltd Electric pushbutton switch
US3668596A (en) * 1970-07-01 1972-06-06 Finsterhoelzl Rafi Elekt Magnetic keys
US3673537A (en) * 1969-09-23 1972-06-27 Siemens Ag Contactless switching device
US3680026A (en) * 1971-05-24 1972-07-25 Denki Onkyo Co Ltd Contactless switching apparatus

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3114809A (en) * 1962-05-03 1963-12-17 Benson Louis Reciprocating permanent magnet switching device
NL6908566A (ja) * 1968-06-10 1969-12-12
GB1370447A (en) * 1970-09-23 1974-10-16 Magsat Corp Electrical switch

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3260821A (en) * 1963-10-04 1966-07-12 Yokoo Yusaku Push switch
US3673537A (en) * 1969-09-23 1972-06-27 Siemens Ag Contactless switching device
US3622922A (en) * 1969-09-24 1971-11-23 Denki Onkyo Co Ltd Electric pushbutton switch
US3668596A (en) * 1970-07-01 1972-06-06 Finsterhoelzl Rafi Elekt Magnetic keys
US3680026A (en) * 1971-05-24 1972-07-25 Denki Onkyo Co Ltd Contactless switching apparatus

Cited By (37)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4156820A (en) * 1976-05-15 1979-05-29 Matsu Kyu Kabushiki Kaisha Miniature contactless switching unit
US4188605A (en) * 1978-07-21 1980-02-12 Stout Glenn M Encapsulated Hall effect device
US4203093A (en) * 1978-09-19 1980-05-13 Texas Instruments Incorporated Solid state keyswitch arrangement
US4307617A (en) * 1980-05-12 1981-12-29 Honeywell Inc. Indicating and control apparatus utilizing Hall effect elements
US4295118A (en) * 1980-05-21 1981-10-13 The Singer Company Latching relay using Hall effect device
US4311981A (en) * 1980-11-17 1982-01-19 Luzynski Anthony J Magnetic switch
US4518835A (en) * 1982-09-01 1985-05-21 General Instrument Corp. Force responsive switch
US6097272A (en) * 1998-11-17 2000-08-01 Korry Electronics Co. Contactless switch
US6616296B1 (en) * 1999-01-12 2003-09-09 Thierry Cassan Flash-light with tubular case comprising a safety system managed by a microprocessor
EP1152441A4 (en) * 1999-11-10 2003-09-03 Idec Izumi Corp ELECTRICAL PART AND EMERGENCY STOP SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE COMPRISING THE SAME
US6842123B1 (en) 1999-11-10 2005-01-11 Idec Izumi Corporation Electromechanical switching device and emergency shut-off and communication system utilizing same
EP1152441A1 (en) * 1999-11-10 2001-11-07 Idec Izumi Corporation Electric part, and emergency stop system and communication device having the same
US6867680B1 (en) * 2000-06-30 2005-03-15 Otto Controls Division, Otto Engineering, Inc Dual magnet hall effect switch
US20040263296A1 (en) * 2001-11-08 2004-12-30 Yukihiro Asa Compact magnetic induction switch
US7068132B2 (en) * 2001-11-08 2006-06-27 Asa Electronic Industry Co., Ltd. Compact magnetic induction switch
US20090026054A1 (en) * 2007-07-25 2009-01-29 Roland Lee Trigger Arrangement with Feedback Response
US7820931B2 (en) * 2007-07-25 2010-10-26 Symbol Technologies, Inc. Trigger arrangement with feedback response
US20090121816A1 (en) * 2007-11-14 2009-05-14 Iproc, Panasonic Corporation Switch and switch device using same
US8154367B2 (en) * 2007-11-14 2012-04-10 Panasonic Corporation Switch and switch device using same
US8093976B2 (en) * 2007-12-13 2012-01-10 Panasonic Corporation Vehicle switch
US20090153278A1 (en) * 2007-12-13 2009-06-18 Masaru Shimizu Vehicle switch
US20100007402A1 (en) * 2008-07-10 2010-01-14 Przemyslaw Chamuczynski Weatherproof switch for indoor and outdoor information clusters and function switches
US8279029B2 (en) * 2008-07-10 2012-10-02 Flextronics Automotive, Inc. Weatherproof switch for indoor and outdoor information clusters and function switches
US20100236911A1 (en) * 2009-03-17 2010-09-23 Jorg Wild Push-button
US8207805B2 (en) * 2009-03-17 2012-06-26 W. Gessmann Gmbh Push-button
US10117504B2 (en) 2014-08-09 2018-11-06 Apple Inc. Wearable band including magnets
US9693609B2 (en) 2014-08-11 2017-07-04 Apple Inc. Magnetic actuated attachment mechanisms for wearable devices
US9585445B2 (en) 2014-08-11 2017-03-07 Apple Inc. Magnetic buckle
US20160042897A1 (en) * 2014-08-11 2016-02-11 Apple Inc. Mechanisms having a magnetic latch and tactile feedback
US10123608B2 (en) 2014-08-11 2018-11-13 Apple Inc. Wearable band including magnets
US20190053610A1 (en) * 2014-08-11 2019-02-21 Apple Inc. Wearable band including magnets
US10609990B2 (en) 2014-08-11 2020-04-07 Apple Inc. Magnetic actuated attachment mechanisms for electronic devices
US10674803B2 (en) * 2014-08-11 2020-06-09 Apple Inc. Wearable band including magnets
US10172426B2 (en) 2015-09-16 2019-01-08 Apple Inc. Magnetic band clasp
US20170092451A1 (en) * 2015-09-30 2017-03-30 Kyocera Corporation Switch and electronic device
US20230066790A1 (en) * 2021-09-02 2023-03-02 Medtronic Minimed, Inc. Ingress-tolerant input devices comprising sliders
US11817285B2 (en) * 2021-09-02 2023-11-14 Medtronic Minimed, Inc. Ingress-tolerant input devices comprising sliders

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT996844B (it) 1975-12-10
JPS5413586B2 (ja) 1979-05-31
NL7314201A (ja) 1974-04-23
DE2251530A1 (de) 1974-04-25
FR2204081A1 (ja) 1974-05-17
FR2204081B1 (ja) 1978-02-10
GB1412510A (en) 1975-11-05
DE2251530B2 (de) 1975-12-11
JPS4974384A (ja) 1974-07-18

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