Abstract:
A sheet switch comprises a pair of flexible insulative films, one of which is provided with a plurality of electrodes, resistances connected to the electrodes, respectively, and line patterns for externally connecting the electrodes via the resistances. The other insulative film is also provided with a plurality of second electrodes at positions corresponding to the first electrodes, respectively, and a space is defined between each of the facing electrodes. The line pattern is a laminated structure consisting of an underlayer formed of a low resistance paste and an upper layer formed of a high resistance paste coated over the underlayer. The underlayer formed of a low resistance paste is partially disconnected to define a gap, so that the resistance is formed integrally with the upper layer formed of a high resistance paste at a position corresponding to the gap.
Abstract:
An open-contact membrane switch element (1,2) comprising a plastic film substrate (10) carrying a first conductive circuit (13), a dielectric coating (30) applied to cover the circuit (13) on the substrate (10) in a pattern defining uncoated zones (31,32,34) around each contact (14-17) of the circuit (13), and a second conductive circuit (35) applied on the dielectric coating (30) and having conductive tracks (36,37) electrically interconnected at the uncoated zones (31,32,34) to portions of the contacts (14-17) of the first conductive circuit (13).
Abstract:
Disclosed is a data entry keyboard which has a multitude of depressible keys which are selectively depressed for the entry of predetermined data. In the keyboard, an insulating member is sandwiched between a first substrate having stationary electrodes and a flexible second substrate having movable electrodes. The stationary and movable electrodes face one another through apertures formed in the insulating member. Upper and lower marginal surface portions of the insulating member, including the respective peripheral edges of the apertures, are kept parallel to the first and second substrates corresponding thereto by a plurality of protuberances on the substrates so that voids with a predetermined width are left between the marginal surface portions and the individual substrates. The movable electrodes of the second substrate are electrically fixed, in the form of a cantilever each, to the extreme end portions of branch conductor strips which diverge from a main conductor strip at right angles thereto. When one of the keys is depressed, the second substrate is deformed to narrow the corresponding void, thus bringing the corresponding movable and stationary electrodes into contact with each other.
Abstract:
A membrane switch comprises an insulating substrate on the surface of which thin-film-like electrodes are formed with a connecting lug section provided integrally at one end of the substrate. Thin-film-like conductive layers continuing from the electrodes are extending up to the connecting lug section and the extended end portions of the conductive layers compose a connecting terminal section.
Abstract:
A pressure-sensitive element for use in a keyboard switch etc., comprising a conductive porous material which is rugged, an elastic insulator which bulges more than convex parts of the conductive porous material without covering the convex parts, and a conductive layer which opposes to the conductive porous material through the elastic insulator. When no pressure is applied, openings are formed between the convex parts of the conductive porous material and the conductive layer through the elastic insulator, whereby the pressure-sensitive element is in its nonconductive state. When a pressure is applied, the elastic insulator is deformed to bring the convex part of the conductive porous material into contact with the conductive layer, whereby the pressure-sensitive element is brought into its conductive state.
Abstract:
A keyboard for a musical instrument having a plurality of elongated keys with each key having a rearwardly extending actuating arm. The arm has an upper and a lower nonresilient switch actuator for actuating a respective first and second keyboard switch with each switch having a substrate with at least one fixed contact. A deformable membrane has coupled thereto a movable contact which is adapted for movement into and out of electrical connection with the fixed contact. The first and second switches are positioned so that the lower actuator normally maintains closed the first switch and when the key is actuated the first switch opens and the upper actuator closes the second switch. The deformable membrane is formed of Poron cellular urethane which distributes and absorbs the actuation force and springs back to its undeformed shape when not actuated.
Abstract:
An electrical touch switch having a printed circuit baseboard with two circuit patterns electrically isolated and spaced a predetermined distance from one another has a contactor having a resiliently flexible substrate with a plurality of small contactor dots positioned randomly with respect to the circuit patterns, each contactor dot is sufficiently large to span across the spacing between the circuit patterns and depression of any one of these dots against the circuit patterns will provide continuity between the circuit patterns; the contactor substrate also has embedded structural fibers which span across the contactor dots.
Abstract:
A method of forming a switching device having a movable contact that is an integral part of a metallic support substrate and is supported above the support substrate by a plurality of spring-like legs that are also an integral part of the support substrate. One or more of the switching devices is produced by forming one or more groups of curved, unconnected radially extending slots in a metallic substrate to define support legs, plastically deforming the legs defined by the slots past their elastic limit, and then precipitation hardening the complete structure. The slots can be formed by a photomasking technique followed by an acid etch with the etch being performed from both sides of the metallic support substrate. To provide a desired tactile response characteristic, and to assure movement of a central portion of the switching device past the plane of the metallic support substrate, a portion of each of the legs defined by the slots may be removed to thin that portion of each leg. The plastic deformation may be performed in a male-female die mechanism.
Abstract:
This invention provides a keyboard assembly for installation in an electronic system of the type having discrete devices such as integrated circuit chips which are electrically actuated by the manual movement of keys. More particularly, the keyboard assembly consists totally of a cover, keys, cam plate, guide plate, contact plate, contacts deposited on flat flexible cable, a spacer, a base plate, and the bolts, etc. for mounting it.
Abstract:
A keyboard switch device comprising rows and columns of intersecting wires conductors held taut and normally spaced slightly from each other by a separator sheet of non-conducting material having openings therein aligned with the intersections of at least certain of the conductors. The conductors are engaged by depressing different keys aligned with the conductor intersections and a relatively thick layer of soft elastomeric materialis interposed between the keys and conductors to normally hold the keys in raised position and to transmit pressure from the keys to engage the conductors. By merely changing the sizes, shapes and positions of the openings, the switching device can be made to produce different output coded signals. Also, by changing the configuration of the various rows and columns of conductors different switch matrix patterns can be produced.