Membrane switch and pressure sensitive sensor

• US 20030000821A1
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujikura Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujikura Limited
• Inventors: Tanaka, Kazuya, Ito, Koji, Takahashi, Katsuhiko, Imai, Takayuki, Nakajima, Toshifumi, Ochiai, Toshio
• Granted Patent: US 6,590,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/512
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/703 characterised by spacers between contact carrying layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/024 precious
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/002 Raised edge
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/024 Convex contact surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/05 to avoid damage by deformation of layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/002 Materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/004 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/004 Membrane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/006 Spacer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/008 Substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/01 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/024 Spacer elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/028 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/064 Eliminating tolerances

Abstract

A pressure sensitive sensor is composed of a pair of upper and lower electrodes sheets 1 and 2 disposed oppositely, a spacer 3 interposed between both of the sheets 1 and 2, and adhesives 4 and 5 between these electrode sheets 1 and 2 and spacer 3. In the spacer 3, a hole 31 is formed in a position of a contact portion 6. A diameter of this hole 31, convex portions 13 and a pressure sensitive electrode 22 are set in such a positional relationship that a peripheral portion of the hole 31 is overlapped between the convex portions 13 and the pressure sensitive electrode 22. Then, the adhesives 4 and 5 open more largely than the diameter of the hole 31 of the spacer 3 so as to be removed from the peripheral portion of the hole 31 on both surfaces of the spacer 3.

Claims

1. A membrane switch, comprising:

a pair of electrode sheets having electrodes formed respectively on opposite surfaces of a pair of sheetlike base materials disposed oppositely, the electrodes constituting a contact portion;

a spacer interposed between the pair of electrode sheets so that the electrode sheets are opposed to each other with a predetermined interval spaced therebetween, the spacer having a hole formed in a position of the contact portion; and

an adhesive for bonding the spacer between the pair of electrode sheets,

wherein the adhesive on at least one surface side of a peripheral portion of the hole of the spacer is removed.

2. The membrane switch according to claim 1, further comprising:

a convex portion formed on an opposite surface of the electrode sheet opposite to the peripheral portion of the hole of the spacer, from which the adhesive is removed, the convex portion having smaller temperature dependency of viscoelasticity than the adhesive.

3. The membrane switch according to claim 2,

wherein the convex portion is formed of a same material and in a same process as those of the electrodes.

4. A pressure sensitive sensor, comprising:

a pair of electrode sheets having electrodes formed respectively on opposite surfaces of a pair of sheetlike base materials disposed oppositely, the electrodes constituting a contact portion, and at least one of the electrodes being a pressure sensitive electrode;

a spacer interposed between the pair of electrode sheets so that the electrode sheets are opposed to each other with a predetermined interval spaced therebetween, the spacer having a hole formed in a position of the contact portion; and

an adhesive for bonding the spacer between the pair of electrode sheets,

wherein the adhesive on at least one surface side of a peripheral portion of the hole of the spacer is removed.

5. The pressure sensitive sensor according to claim 4, further comprising:

a convex portion formed on an opposite surface of the electrode sheet opposite to the peripheral portion of the hole of the spacer, from which the adhesive is removed, the convex portion having smaller temperature dependency of viscoelasticity than the adhesive.

6. The membrane switch according to claim 5,

wherein the convex portion is formed of a same material and in a same process as those of the electrodes.

7. The pressure sensitive sensor according to claim 4,

wherein the pressure sensitive electrode has a positive temperature property that a resistance value is increased as a temperature is elevated.