Abstract:
A dual switch apparatus has two switches simultaneously actuated in response to a single touch force where at least one of the switches has a pressure responsive variable contact resistance. A first support member has a first and a second conductor disposed thereon and a second support member has a third and a fourth conductor disposed thereon so that the first and third conductors and the second and fourth conductors have mirror image conductor patterns. A semiconducting composition layer is disposed to cover at least one of the four conductors. The first and second support members are positioned facing one another with the first and third conductors and the second and fourth conductors transversely aligned so that a transverse force causes the first and third conductors and the second and fourth conductors to move into electrically conducting relationship. A spacer maintains the first and second support members in normally spaced relationship. A utilization circuit may be coupled across each of the first and third and second and fourth conductors. In one embodiment, the first conductor has two electrically isolated contact members with interdigiting fingers with the third conductor acting as a shunt.
Abstract:
A multiple touch switch apparatus has at least one multiple segment conductor ply on the top surface of a support ply. The segments are electrically insulated from each other by their lateral displacement but are immediately adjacent so that a selected one or more of the segments can be contacted in response to a single transverse touch force. A second support ply has a unitary conduction ply on its bottom surface spaced apart from, but facing, the multiple segment conductor ply. At least the second support ply and the unitary conduction ply are resilient deformable into contact with one or more segments of the multiple segment conductor ply. Each of the multiple segment conductors or the unitary conduction ply or both may incorporate a conductor layer and a pressure sensitive semiconductor composition layer disposed thereon. The semiconductor layer provides a pressure sensitive variable contact resistance in series with the switch. In another embodiment, each multiple segment conductor ply may be replaced by a single segment conductor.
Abstract:
In a push-button switch using an elastic and electrically conductive contact member movable into and out of engagement with adjacent but separated conductive paths on a substrate, the conductive paths are in the form of helices fitting within one another and the engaging surface of the contact member is provided with a series of lands arranged in a plurality of Lshaped patterns.