Abstract:
A pressure sensitive switch and circuit breaker comprising a body formed of a resilient, deformable inorganic insulating material such as silicone rubber having dispersed therethrough, including its outer surface, a quantity of electrically conductive discrete metal particles. The particles are so oriented in the body of insulating material when the latter is in its normal, unstressed condition that the body is non-conductive, but the particles are movable relatively to one another in response to the application of a compressive force on the body so as to effect engagement of a sufficient number of particles to establish a conductive path through the body. The resilience of the body material enables it to return to its normal condition following release of the compressive force, thereby effecting relative movement of the particles out of engagement with one another and restoring the body to its non-conductive state. Should the switch be subjected to an overload current the engaged particles may be consumed, thereby rendering the switch non-conductive and protecting the other parts of the circuit. Upon correction of the cause of the overload the switch once again may be rendered conductive by subjecting it to compressive force.
Abstract:
An electronic apparatus having a switch device capable of suppressing collision noise is disclosed. The switch device is equipped with a first fixed contact and a second fixed contact, and a metal dome that serves as a movable contact movable in a direction to be contacted with or separated from the first fixed contact. In a configuration in which the metal dome is moved to provide an electrical contact or a separation between the metal dome and the first fixed contact, whereby the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact are electrically connected therebetween, a conductive layer made of an anisotropie conductive sheet is provided between the first fixed contact and the metal dome.
Abstract:
A keyboard, particularly for control of electronics in vehicles, has at least one key mounted in a recess in the keyboard and pivotable about a pivot to press against a shaped portion of a rubber gasket to operate an electrical switch. A display, preferably a multiple character LCD, for labellingthe switch is visible through a transparent member and connected to a p.c.b. by zebra striped members. The display is not obscured by a finger operating the key. The key has a transverse bore in which a compression spring is mounted with balls at the end of the spring to co-operate with stepped generally cylindrical members mounted with their axes perpendicular to the pivot pin and forming detent means to give the key a tactile operation. Preferably the key operates three switches by way of three shaped portions.
Abstract:
A process (I), for producing a pressure-sensitive electroconductive sheet by (A), forming conductive circuits or electrodes in a flexible porous substrate and (B), applying, followed by curing a pressure-sensitive conductive paste to either or both sides of the substrate to form a pressure-sensitive conductive layer; and a process (II) for producing a pressure-sensitive electroconductive sheet by (A), forming conductive circuits or electrodes in a flexible porous subhstrate, (B), subsequently applying, followed by curing, a pressure-sensitive conductive paste to either side of the substrate to form a pressure-sensitive conductive layer, and (C), applying, followed by curing, insulating silicone rubber to the side of the substrate on which the pressure-sensitive conductive layer is not formed to form an insulating silicone rubber layer.
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:
A circuit board or sheet of homogeneous material having one or more circuit elements adhering to a surface thereof, said sheet providing a low through resistance path between each circuit element and opposed and aligned contacts positioned in surface contact with the opposite side of the sheet while providing a high isolation resistance between out of alignment contacts positioned on the opposite side of the sheet and between contacts positioned on the same side of the sheet positioned an isolation distance from said circuit elements. The circuit board with a circuit pattern is shown in various applications, such as keyboard or watch.
Abstract:
A touch-sensitive panel for outputting data corresponding to pressed positions on a touching plate included in the touch-sensitive panel and for sending the output data to a display device includes a plurality of first electrodes arranged on the touching plate, a plurality of second electrodes being opposed to the plurality of first electrodes and being capable of conducting to the plurality of first electrodes located at the pressed positions when the touching plate is pressed, a first connecting plate for connecting the plurality of first electrodes to the display device, a second connecting plate for connecting the plurality of second electrodes to the display device, an anisotropic electrically conductive bonding layer having a plurality of through holes and arranged on the first connecting plate, and a conductive layer including conductive particles, the conductive layer being laid between the plurality of first electrodes and the anisotropic electrically conductive bonding layer, the conductive particles being in the through holes.
Abstract:
A key signal entering device for thin electronic apparatus comprises paired electrodes provided on an insulating substrate, an anisotropically electroconductive sheet disposed on said electrodes and a layer of an electroconductive material disposed thereon. A key signal is generated by selectively pressing said device from above to modify the electroconductive area in the thickness direction of said anisotropically electroconductive sheet thereby electrically connecting said electrodes with said electroconductive layer. An alternative device comprises an anisotropically electroconductive sheet sandwiched between flexible sheets having electrodes arranged in mutually facing relationship, wherein a key signal is generated by pressing said flexible film to render said anisotropically electroconductive sheet conductive thereby electrically connecting electrodes on said flexible sheets.
Abstract:
An electrical connector in sheet form or the like which has a low through resistance in a volume between opposing surface contacts on opposite sides or surfaces of the sheet and provides a substantially higher isolation resistance in all volumes thereof between a contact on the surface of the sheet which is at a distance greater than the thickness of the sheet from any of the first of the above mentioned contacts.