Abstract:
A keyboard switch assembly including a printed circuit board having four switch terminals on one side of the board, three of the terminals being arranged in a triangle and the fourth disposed within the triangle. Conductors on the one side of the board are respectively joined to the interior terminal and at least one of the three terminals. A conductive, generally triangular, snap-acting dome switch member is provided having arcuate apices, projections being respectively formed from the apices and respectively engaging the three terminals thereby spacing the periphery of the switch element from the one surface of the printed circuit board and the conductors thereon, at least the conductor connected to the interior terminal extending under the dome. The switch element has a fourth projection formed from the interior of the dome adjacent the center thereof which is in registry with the interior terminal and engages that terminal when the dome is deflected thereby completing an electrical circuit between the three terminals and the interior terminal. A layer of insulating material covers the conductors exclusive of the terminals. A sheet of insulating material covers the insulating layer and has an opening therein which receives and locates the switch member. Another sheet of insulating material covers the first sheet and the switch member. A plate covers the second insulating sheet and has an opening therein which receives a push button in registry with the switch element, depression of the push button actuating the dome of the switch member to a non-overcenter, deflected position in which the interior projection on the dome engages the interior switch terminal.
Abstract:
A keyboard has first and second nested planar members with depressions formed thereon. The upper member is transparent. The lower member may be color coded and carry replaceable key indicia in the depressions.The laminated overlay nested planar members are disposed adjacent to a conventional elastomeric diaphragm switch assembly having an upper layer of shaped protrusions abutting the lower most inner surfaces of the second or lower member depressions. Frame structure of variable form assists in retaining the laminated overlay members in fixed relationship to the elastomeric diaphragm switch assembly.
Abstract:
A membrane switch has a first silver conductor formed on a flexible membrane and a second silver conductor formed on a substrate, which may also be a flexible membrane. A spacer is positioned between and adhesively secured to the substrate and membrane in such a way that there is an opening in the spacer in register with the first and second conductors. Pressure applied to the membrane moves it toward the substrate through the opening in the spacer to cause electrical contact between the first and second conductors. There are means for impeding migration of the silver between the first and second conductors which essentially consists of orienting the conductors so as to provide the longest possible path between portions thereof.
Abstract:
The invention defines a technique for assemblying all the parts of an electronic unit, for example a hand held calculator, directly on a plastic chassis without using individual printed circuit boards for various circuits of the calculator. Such parts of the calculator as the calculator chip, the display and the keyboard are all mounted on or formed on the plastic chassis in such a manner that only a cover has to be put over the plastic chassis to complete the calculator.
Abstract:
A switch assembly includes an array of switches arranged on a substrate having a conductive pattern on a surface thereof defining a plurality of switch contacts. An apertured spacer is disposed adjacent the surface with an aperture being positioned in opposed relationship to each switch contact. A multi-conductive contact material is disposed to provide switch closure when forced through an aperture in the separator into engagement with a switch contact at a large number of separate conductive engagement regions. In one arrangement the multi-conductive contact material is a fine mesh woven wire screen stretched taut adjacent the separator while in another arrangement it is a uniaxially conducting material having a high density of parallel, spaced conductors extending perpendicular to the surface.
Abstract:
In an electronic calculator essentially comprising a multidigit display, a keyboard and a data processor unit, a multidigit liquid crystal display is deposited together with integral key actuators of the keyboard on a flexible circuit film which carries electrical conductor leaves in a desired pattern. The conductor leaves to be in contact with terminals of the liquid crystal display are formed to extend in the direction of length of the liquid crystal display to thereby establish room for a battery compartment.
Abstract:
Keyboards having flexible plastic domes which snap when depressed to provide tactile feel, at least some of said domes formed from a sheet of plastic and having a bar shaped concave snap initiator formed in said dome, and an actuator comprising at least one cross bar for engaging the snap initiator to initiate dome depression in situations in which the actuator used to depress the dome does not effectively produce snapping of the conventional dome because of the shape of the actuator.
Abstract:
A data entry pad for the entry of two-dimensional graphical data to a communication system includes a resistive grid area to which a conductive layer may be selectively contacted so that graphical data can be generated by external resistance measuring electronic circuitry. The resistive grid area is formed by a pattern of resistive inking on a base and is separated from the conductive layer by a foamed thermoplastic insulating separator. High resistance bands surround the grid area so as to linearize its output values.
Abstract:
A keyboard switch assembly including a printed circuit board having four switch terminals on one side of the board, three of the terminals being arranged in a triangle and the fourth disposed within the triangle. Conductors on the one side of the board are respectively joined to the interior terminal and at least one of the three terminals. A conductive, generally triangular, snap-acting dome switch member is provided having arcuate apices, projections being respectively formed from the apices and respectively engaging the three terminals thereby spacing the periphery of the switch element from the one surface of the printed circuit board and the conductors thereon, at least the conductor connected to the interior terminal extending under the dome. The switch element has a fourth projection formed from the interior of the dome adjacent the center thereof which is in registry with the interior terminal and engages that terminal when the dome is deflected thereby completing an electrical circuit between the three terminals and the interior terminal. A layer of insulating material covers the conductors exclusive of the terminals. A sheet of insulating material covers the insulating layer and has an opening therein which receives and locates the switch member. Another sheet of insulating material covers the first sheet and the switch member. A plate covers the second insulating sheet and has an opening therein which receives a push button in registry with the switch element, depression of the push button actuating the dome of the switch member to a non-overcenter, deflected position in which the interior projection on the dome engages the interior switch terminal.