Membrane switch

• US 20060131158A1
• Filed: 12/06/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Original Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
• Inventors: Hirata, Osamu, Hiraoka, Daisuke, Iwao, Naoki, Matsumoto, Tadanao, Takiguchi, Tsuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 7,211,760 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 2227/024 Spacer elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/032 Operating force
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/03 Avoiding erroneous switching

Abstract

A membrane switch which can be opened and closed with a small pushing load. A fixed contact point 4 is formed on one surface of a first sheet 3. Flexible movable contact points 7 opposed to the fixed contact point 4 via a space in a manner movable to and way from the fixed contact point 4 are formed on one surface of a second sheet 6, opposed to the one surface of the first sheet 3. Insulators are arranged on the flexible movable contact points at locations except for the locations of push portions of the flexible movable contact points 7.

Claims

1. A membrane switch comprising:

a first sheet having one surface;

a fixed contact point formed on said one surface of said first sheet;

a second sheet opposed to said one surface of said first sheet and having one surface;

a flexible movable contact point formed on said one surface of said second sheet such that said flexible movable contact point is opposed to said fixed contact point via a space in a manner movable to and way from said fixed contact point, said flexible movable contact point having a push portion; and

an insulator provided on said flexible movable contact point, at a location except for said push portion of said flexible movable contact point, or on said fixed contact point, at a location opposed to the location.

2. The membrane switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said insulator is formed by printing.

3. The membrane switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said insulator has a thickness not more than 70 μ

m.

4. The membrane switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein said insulator has a thickness not more than 70 μ

m.