SWITCH CONTACT
First Claim
1. A switch conductor comprising:
- a substrate;
a first conductor arranged on said substrate, said first conductor having an outer conductor extending along a first substantially circumferential reference line extending around a center point, and having a plurality of first fingers having a tapered shape, each first finger extending substantially toward said center point from a respective position on said outer conductor; and
a second conductor arranged in said substrate, having an inner conductor substantially aligned with said center point and having a plurality of second fingers, each second finger extending from said inner conductor between a respective pair of said first fingers and having a taper substantially opposing that of adjacent first fingers.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A conducting contact pair for a switch has a first conducting contact formed by a plurality of outward extending radial fingers arranged on a substrate, and a second conducting contact formed by a plurality of inward extending radial fingers. The first conducting contact and the second conducting contact are arranged with each inward extending radial finger extending between a corresponding pair of adjacent outward extending radial fingers. A bridge conductor is selectively pressed against the first conducting contact and the second contact to bridge any of the inward extending fingers to either of pair of adjacent outward extending radial fingers that it extends between.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A switch conductor comprising:
-
a substrate;
a first conductor arranged on said substrate, said first conductor having an outer conductor extending along a first substantially circumferential reference line extending around a center point, and having a plurality of first fingers having a tapered shape, each first finger extending substantially toward said center point from a respective position on said outer conductor; and
a second conductor arranged in said substrate, having an inner conductor substantially aligned with said center point and having a plurality of second fingers, each second finger extending from said inner conductor between a respective pair of said first fingers and having a taper substantially opposing that of adjacent first fingers. - View Dependent Claims (3, 12, 13)
-
-
2. A switch comprising:
-
a substrate;
a first conductor arranged on said substrate, said first conductor having an outer conductor extending along a first substantially circumferential reference line extending around a center point, and having a plurality of first fingers having a tapered shape, each first finger extending substantially toward said center point from a respective position on said outer conductor;
a second conductor arranged in said substrate, having an inner conductor substantially aligned with said center point and having a plurality of second fingers, each second finger extending from said inner conductor between a respective pair of said first fingers and having a taper substantially opposing that of adjacent first fingers;
a support structure arranged above the first and second conductors;
a movable bridge conductor supported by the support structure to be movable between a first position where said movable bridge conductor does not make electrical contact with at least one of the first and second conductors, and a second position where said movable bridge conductor makes electrical contact with the first conductor and the second conductor, thereby establishing a conducting path between the first and second conductor. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15)
-
-
8. A switch conductor comprising:
-
a substrate; and
a pair of interleaved conducting contacts having a plurality of outward radially extending conductors, the conductors having a tapered shape opposed to adjacent conductors. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
-
-
9. A switch conductor comprising:
-
a substrate;
a first plurality of first conductors extending radially outward from a center reference point, each conductor terminating at a respective distal end and having a wider cross-section at the distal end than a cross-section at the center reference point;
a circumferential conductor extending from a first location to a second location on a perimeter circumscribing said respective distal ends; and
a plurality of second conductors extending radially inward from said circumferential conductor, each of said second conductors extending between an adjacent pair of said first conductors and having a shape to form a substantially uniform space between adjacent pair of first and second conductors. - View Dependent Claims (18)
-
-
10. A switch conductor comprising:
-
a substrate;
a first plurality of first conductors arranged on said substrate, each extending from a common conductor, outward from a common center reference, in a respectively different radial direction, each first conductor terminating at a respective distal end and having a narrower cross-section at the common center reference than a cross-section at the distal end;
a circumferential conductor arranged on said substrate, extending from a first location to a second location on a perimeter circumscribing said respective distal ends; and
a plurality of second conductors arranged on said substrate, extending radially inward from said circumferential conductor, each of said second conductors extending between an adjacent pair of said first conductors and having a shape substantially opposed to the adjacent conductors. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
-
11. A switch comprising:
-
a substrate;
a plurality of first conductors arranged on the substrate;
a plurality of second conductors are arranged such that a plurality of air gaps extend substantially outward from a center reference point, each of said plurality of air gaps bounded on one side by a respective one of said first conductors and on the other side by a respective one of said second conductors, said first and second conductors having substantially opposed tapering shapes;
a support structure arranged above plurality of air gaps;
a movable bridge conductor supported by said support structure to be movable between a first position where said movable bridge conductor makes contact with at least one of said first conductors and at least of said second conductors and a second position to bridge across at least one of said air gaps, and a second position where said movable bridge conductor does not bridge any of said air gaps. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
Specification