US3906222A - Electrical push-button switch with photo-electrical switching elements - Google Patents

Electrical push-button switch with photo-electrical switching elements Download PDF

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Publication number
US3906222A
US3906222A US525651A US52565174A US3906222A US 3906222 A US3906222 A US 3906222A US 525651 A US525651 A US 525651A US 52565174 A US52565174 A US 52565174A US 3906222 A US3906222 A US 3906222A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
casing
push button
switch
push
button
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
US525651A
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English (en)
Inventor
Paul Georges Astier
Pierre Canaby
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.)
Etat Francais
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Etat Francais
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 Etat Francais filed Critical Etat Francais
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3906222A publication Critical patent/US3906222A/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
    • H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
    • H03K17/965—Switches controlled by moving an element forming part of the switch
    • H03K17/968—Switches controlled by moving an element forming part of the switch using opto-electronic devices

Definitions

  • An electric switch comprising a push-button, a casing slidably supporting the push-button, and a return spring acting on the push-button to urge the pushbutton to a raised position, away from the bottom of the casing.
  • the casing includes two hollow portions facing one another and constituted of transparent material, a light source in one hollow portion and a photoelectric element in the other hollow portion.
  • the push-button carries a screen for blocking communication between the light source and the photoelectric element when the push-button is depressed to an operative position.
  • the hollow portions are constituted by two housings projecting from the bottom of the casing and made of transparent plastic material and the pushbutton includes an integral stem slidable in the casing and provided with two cavities in its free end corresponding in shape to the hollow portions to receive and cover the same when the push-button is depressed.
  • the invention relates to an electric switch controlled by a push button and comprising a photoelectric element.
  • the invention is particularly concerned with the construction of such switches.
  • Prior Art Conventional push button switches comprise a slidable button on which one presses and a push member fixed to the button which acts mechanically on an electrical contact.
  • the contact is closed all the time the push button is depressed and it opens as soon as the push button is released. This is the case, for example, for push buttons for door bells. Also, the button can be mechanically locked after having been depressed.
  • the button is depressed only to pro Jerusalem an electric signal and the button is then released and returns to its initial position by elastic means.
  • the electric signal is used, for example, to control a time switch or to control the alternate opening and closing of an electric circuit by acting on a bistable lever.
  • An object of the invention is to provide a push button switch in which the circuits and electrical contacts are separated in a totally sealed fashion from the push button and in which there is eliminated all mechanical action in the push button and all electrical contact by mechanical means which reduces the wear and allows a total number of operations which is 100 to 1,000 times higher than that of the known switches.
  • an electrical switch with a push button control comprising a push button which is slidable in a casing and which is urged to an initial position by elastic means, a luminous source and a photo-electric element secured to the casing in facing relation to one another and being separated by a free space; an opaque screen secured to the push button for entering said space when the push button is depressed, and electrical switch means for transforming variations of electrical current produced by said photo-electric element into signals controlling the opening or closing of an electrical circuit.
  • the luminous source and the photo-electric element are placed in housings of transparent meterial which isolates them totally from the interior of the casing.
  • These housings are preferably constituted by two hollow domes made of plastic material projecting from the bottom of the casing.
  • the push button has an integral stem which is slidable in the casing and which is provided, at its free extremity, with two cavities whose shape corresponds to those of said domes so that they cover them when the push button is depressed.
  • the push button and the stem are made of a transparent or translucent plastic material, for example, methyl methacrylate so that the exposed or front face of the push button is always weakly illuminated by the luminous source.
  • the switch preferably comprises one or more hollow bosses of transparent material projecting into the interior of the casing, in each of the bosses there is mounted a respective luminous source which is alternately extinguished and lit during each operation of the push button.
  • the illumination furnished by the luminous source facing the photo-electric element assures at the most a weak illumination, allowing the switch to be found in the dark.
  • the illumination furnished by the additional luminous sources in the bosses is a stronger illumination which indicates the state of a circuit in the case of a switch which successively controls the opening and the closing of the circuit.
  • the transparent stem of the push button has lateral grooves slidably receiving a respective boss, and the cavity which receives the housing containing the light source is covered with an opaque lining.
  • the push button switch of the invention resides in the absolute protection of its electric circuits against entry of water into the interior of the casing, all the electrical circuits being separated from the casing and placed in sealed housings. Thereby, the switch can be utilized on horizontal panels slightly inclined in a marine environment or a corrosive atmosphere or even immersed in Water.
  • Another advantage is the possibility of utilizing only static electronic components and eliminating all moving electric switch parts to provide increased resistance to wear and better reliability.
  • the only movable parts are the push buttons and the return spring.
  • Another advantage is the possibility of fabricating this switch by molding synthetic resin materials such as methyl methacrylate for the transparent parts and polyvinyl chloride for the opaque parts.
  • Such molded fabrication reduces the costs of manufacture by two to three times as compared to the known switches and provides improved properties of sealing and reliability.
  • Another advantage is that the mechanical portion of the switch is reduced to a push button and a return spring which is easily constructed and maintained and which provides reliable operation.
  • FIG. I is a front perspective view of the switch according to the invention partially broken away and in section.
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional view taken along line IIII in FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view taken along line llI-III in FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3, and
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic electronic circuit diagram.
  • FIG. 1 shows a switch 1 with a push button control mprising a casing 2, a push button 3 integral with a m 4 which slides in casing 2, a return spring 5 acting tween the stem and the casing, and a cover 6 which fixed to the casing and has a peripheral rim forming internal abutment for the push button 3.
  • This switch can operate as a continuous action switch close a circuit when the pushbutton is depressed and open it when the push button is released.
  • t can also operate as a bistable switch which altertely acts to open and close a circuit, during each sucssive action on the push button, this being the most rrent type in use.
  • holv transparent housings 7a and 7b projecting up- .rdly from the bottom of the casing.
  • the housings are rallel to one another, of circular cross-section and ve rounded tops in the form of domes.
  • One of the usings, for example the housing 7b contains a light .irce, for example, a lamp 70 or the extremity of an tic fiber emitting a light beam.
  • the other housing 7a ntains a photo-electric element 7d, for example a oto-electric cell or a photo-pile, facing the light urce.
  • Ihe stem 4 has at its free lower extremity, two cavis 8a and 8b, whose shape corresponds to that of usings 7a and 7b such that the housings are received the cavities and covered by the stem when the push tton 3 is depressed.
  • the stem 4 can contain a solid opaque lining 13 in vity 8a, or it can itself be opaque thereat, such that ten the push button is depressed, communication beeen the luminous source and the photo-electric ele- :nt is blocked. This causes a rapid drop in voltage or current intensity emitted by the photo-electric ele- :nt. This rapid variation of current constitutes a signal llized to control the opening or closing of an electric 'cuit.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the housings 7a, and the cavities 8a, 8b. There is seen in this figure, )m top to bottom, the cover 6, the push button 3 and integral stem 4, the spring 5, the casing 2 and an at- :hment nut 9 which is screwed on the external reads on casing 2.
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the housings 7a, and the cavities 8a, 8b. There is seen in this figure, )m top to bottom, the cover 6, the push button 3 and integral stem 4, the spring 5, the casing 2 and an at- :hment nut 9 which is screwed on the external reads on casing 2.
  • the casing comprises two ditional transparent bosses 11a and 11b projecting wardly from the bottom of the casing.
  • the cavities thin these bosses 11a and 1112 are open to the exter of the casing and each boss contains a luminous urce 12a, 12b.
  • the bosses 11a and 11b are engaged the grooves 10a and 10b and slide therein when the sh button is depressed.
  • Pushbutton 3 and the stem 4 can be constituted of a lnsparent or translucent material such that the light ams from luminous sources 12a and 12b illuminate a front face of the push button 3.
  • These luminous sources are connected to the electric circuit controlled by the switch. In the case of a bistable switch, they are lit and extinguished alternately during each successive operation and indicate the state of the circuit.
  • the cavity 8a is furnished with internal opaque lining 13.
  • the lamp 7c also illuminates the front face of the push button 3 but with a weaker light beam allowing the push button to be found in the dark.
  • the elements of the switch according to the invention can be formed by molding synthetic resins which are polymerizable in hot or cold state.
  • the casing and the element forming the push button and the stem which is preferably transparent, can be made of methyl methacrylate whereas the opaque cover can be made of polyvinylchloride.
  • FIG. 5 there is seen an electronic circuit containing the luminous source and the photo-electric element 7d which is a germanium photodiode.
  • Reference character 13' represents a trigger for shaping signals furnished by the photodiode 7d.
  • Reference character 14 is a bistable double rocker arm and reference character 15 is a transistor, sometimes blocked, sometimes saturated serving as a static switch.
  • the visible light sources 12a and 12b are connected in parallel to the circuit controlled by the transistor 15.
  • the lamp 70 can be replaced by an electroluminescent diode; the photodiode can be replaced by a photo-transistor; the discreet components of the electronic circuit can be replaced by an integral circuit.
  • An electric switch comprising a push button, a casing slidably supporting the push button, said casing having a bottom, resilient means acting on the push button and casing to bias the push button to a raised position away from the bottom of the casing, said casing including two hollow portions facing one another and constituted of transparent material, a light source in one hollow portion and a photo-electric element in the other hollow portion, and means on said push button for blocking communication between said light source and photo-electric element when the push button is depressed to an operative position, said hollow portions being constituted by two housings projecting from the bottom of the casing and made of transparent plastic material.
  • a switch as claimed in claim 3 wherein said casing includes at least one hollow boss projecting into the interior of the casing, and a second light source in said boss, said second light source being alternately lit and extinguished by operation of the push button.

Landscapes

  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Switches Operated By Changes In Physical Conditions (AREA)
  • Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
US525651A 1973-11-22 1974-11-20 Electrical push-button switch with photo-electrical switching elements Expired - Lifetime US3906222A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7341527A FR2271714B1 (ja) 1973-11-22 1973-11-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3906222A true US3906222A (en) 1975-09-16

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ID=9128085

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US525651A Expired - Lifetime US3906222A (en) 1973-11-22 1974-11-20 Electrical push-button switch with photo-electrical switching elements

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3906222A (ja)
JP (1) JPS5083768A (ja)
DE (1) DE2455429A1 (ja)
FR (1) FR2271714B1 (ja)
GB (1) GB1479470A (ja)

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3993900A (en) * 1974-08-02 1976-11-23 Societa Italiana Elettronica S.P.A. Shutter for optical detection
FR2415335A1 (fr) * 1978-01-23 1979-08-17 Graniou Louis Electr Touche de commande opto-electronique, a signalisation lumineuse incorporee
FR2435752A2 (fr) * 1978-09-05 1980-04-04 Graniou Louis Electr Touche de commande opto-electronique, a signalisation lumineuse incorporee
US4223217A (en) * 1977-05-12 1980-09-16 Eaton Corporation Fiber optic electric switch
US4251723A (en) * 1978-11-06 1981-02-17 Firma Leopold Kostal Opto-electronical switching device, specially for motor vehicles
US4283613A (en) * 1979-04-19 1981-08-11 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Construction for attaching knob to manipulation rod of push-button type mechanism
US4285097A (en) * 1977-02-15 1981-08-25 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Structure for fixing a knob to a part to be operated through the knob
FR2525415A1 (fr) * 1982-04-20 1983-10-21 Thyssen Aufzuege Gmbh Emetteur d'ordre, en particulier pour circuits de commande d'ascenseurs
FR2619245A1 (fr) * 1987-08-04 1989-02-10 Josef Franken Interrupteur electrique a pression
US4880969A (en) * 1986-04-30 1989-11-14 Litton Systems, Inc. Optical touch panel with heat sink
US4935621A (en) * 1987-10-30 1990-06-19 Pikulski Joseph L Optical switch with collimating lenses, antifreeze and/or index matching fluid for control of electrical equipment
DE3900737A1 (de) * 1989-01-12 1990-07-26 Hurst & Schroeder Gmbh Vorrichtung zum einstellen von schalt- und steuereinrichtungen eines haushaltsgeraets
US5294900A (en) * 1992-09-25 1994-03-15 Eaton Corporation Switch assembly
US5564535A (en) * 1995-03-28 1996-10-15 United States Of America Side impact energy absorber
FR2773257A1 (fr) * 1997-12-31 1999-07-02 Otis Elevator Co Bouton poussoir opto-electronique, notamment pour les ascenseurs
US5965878A (en) * 1997-11-05 1999-10-12 Rockwell Science Center, Inc. Performing quadrature and push button function utilizing two IR emitter/detector pairs
US20080173797A1 (en) * 2007-01-19 2008-07-24 The Boeing Company Photoelectric switch
US7855715B1 (en) * 2005-07-27 2010-12-21 James Harrison Bowen Switch with depth and lateral articulation detection using optical beam
US20110108403A1 (en) * 2009-11-11 2011-05-12 Universal Entertainment Corporation Push button

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3504560A1 (de) * 1985-02-11 1986-08-14 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Anordnung zum anschluss von in baugruppentraeger einschiebbaren baugruppen
FR2647947B1 (fr) * 1989-05-30 1993-03-26 Techniphone Systeme d'interface entre un organe de commande tel qu'un bouton-poussoir et un dispositif de fermeture et d'ouverture d'un circuit electrique
JP2889434B2 (ja) * 1992-06-30 1999-05-10 シャープ株式会社 照光式スイッチ
GB2333589A (en) * 1998-01-24 1999-07-28 Motorola Ltd Illuminated optical switch
DE102008032746A1 (de) * 2008-07-11 2010-01-21 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Steckdoseneinheit und Tastschaltereinheit

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3235741A (en) * 1961-04-24 1966-02-15 Invac Corp Switch
US3336482A (en) * 1964-06-19 1967-08-15 Square D Co Plunger operated photoelectric switch convertible from normally on to normally off
US3588512A (en) * 1969-07-01 1971-06-28 Harry F Hollien Apparatus using radiation sensitive switch for signalling and recording data
US3758785A (en) * 1970-09-30 1973-09-11 Licentia Gmbh Key operated optical switch for electronics input keyboard including semiconductor light emitting and light sensitive components and reciprocating shutter
US3783274A (en) * 1972-04-06 1974-01-01 H Towne Solid-state switch

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3235741A (en) * 1961-04-24 1966-02-15 Invac Corp Switch
US3336482A (en) * 1964-06-19 1967-08-15 Square D Co Plunger operated photoelectric switch convertible from normally on to normally off
US3588512A (en) * 1969-07-01 1971-06-28 Harry F Hollien Apparatus using radiation sensitive switch for signalling and recording data
US3758785A (en) * 1970-09-30 1973-09-11 Licentia Gmbh Key operated optical switch for electronics input keyboard including semiconductor light emitting and light sensitive components and reciprocating shutter
US3783274A (en) * 1972-04-06 1974-01-01 H Towne Solid-state switch

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3993900A (en) * 1974-08-02 1976-11-23 Societa Italiana Elettronica S.P.A. Shutter for optical detection
US4285097A (en) * 1977-02-15 1981-08-25 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Structure for fixing a knob to a part to be operated through the knob
US4223217A (en) * 1977-05-12 1980-09-16 Eaton Corporation Fiber optic electric switch
FR2415335A1 (fr) * 1978-01-23 1979-08-17 Graniou Louis Electr Touche de commande opto-electronique, a signalisation lumineuse incorporee
FR2435752A2 (fr) * 1978-09-05 1980-04-04 Graniou Louis Electr Touche de commande opto-electronique, a signalisation lumineuse incorporee
US4251723A (en) * 1978-11-06 1981-02-17 Firma Leopold Kostal Opto-electronical switching device, specially for motor vehicles
US4283613A (en) * 1979-04-19 1981-08-11 Alps Electric Co., Ltd. Construction for attaching knob to manipulation rod of push-button type mechanism
FR2525415A1 (fr) * 1982-04-20 1983-10-21 Thyssen Aufzuege Gmbh Emetteur d'ordre, en particulier pour circuits de commande d'ascenseurs
US4880969A (en) * 1986-04-30 1989-11-14 Litton Systems, Inc. Optical touch panel with heat sink
FR2619245A1 (fr) * 1987-08-04 1989-02-10 Josef Franken Interrupteur electrique a pression
US4868384A (en) * 1987-08-04 1989-09-19 Josef Franken Electric pressure switch
US4935621A (en) * 1987-10-30 1990-06-19 Pikulski Joseph L Optical switch with collimating lenses, antifreeze and/or index matching fluid for control of electrical equipment
DE3900737A1 (de) * 1989-01-12 1990-07-26 Hurst & Schroeder Gmbh Vorrichtung zum einstellen von schalt- und steuereinrichtungen eines haushaltsgeraets
US5294900A (en) * 1992-09-25 1994-03-15 Eaton Corporation Switch assembly
US5564535A (en) * 1995-03-28 1996-10-15 United States Of America Side impact energy absorber
US5965878A (en) * 1997-11-05 1999-10-12 Rockwell Science Center, Inc. Performing quadrature and push button function utilizing two IR emitter/detector pairs
FR2773257A1 (fr) * 1997-12-31 1999-07-02 Otis Elevator Co Bouton poussoir opto-electronique, notamment pour les ascenseurs
US7855715B1 (en) * 2005-07-27 2010-12-21 James Harrison Bowen Switch with depth and lateral articulation detection using optical beam
US20110026997A1 (en) * 2005-07-27 2011-02-03 Bowen James H Switch with Depth and Lateral Articulation Detection
US7982716B2 (en) * 2005-07-27 2011-07-19 Bowen James H Switch with depth and lateral articulation detection
US20080173797A1 (en) * 2007-01-19 2008-07-24 The Boeing Company Photoelectric switch
US7645980B2 (en) * 2007-01-19 2010-01-12 The Boeing Company Photoelectric switch having a prism with a reflective surface being positioned by a release button
US20110108403A1 (en) * 2009-11-11 2011-05-12 Universal Entertainment Corporation Push button
US8471195B2 (en) * 2009-11-11 2013-06-25 Universal Entertainment Corporation Push button including a photosensor
AU2010241278B2 (en) * 2009-11-11 2014-07-24 Aruze Gaming America, Inc. Push button

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2271714A1 (ja) 1975-12-12
FR2271714B1 (ja) 1976-10-01
JPS5083768A (ja) 1975-07-07
DE2455429A1 (de) 1975-05-28
GB1479470A (en) 1977-07-13

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