Switches and systems employing the same to enhance switch reliability and control

• US 20070051609A1
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Almax Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: White Electronic Designs, Corp. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Parkinson, Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 7,417,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/512
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/78 characterised by the contacts or the contact sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/79 characterised by the form of the contacts, e.g. interspersed fingers or helical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/02 Interspersed fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/006 Spacer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/036 Minimise height
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/004 Conductive ink
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/01 combined with other elements on the same substrate

Abstract

A switch is delineated comprising a first conductive region; a second conductive region aligned with the first conductive region, the second conductive region including a first conductive pattern forming a first switch terminal and a second conductive pattern forming a second switch terminal, the first conductive pattern separated by a space from the second conductive pattern; and a third conductive region between the first conductive region and the second conductive region, the third conductive region electrically coupling the first switch terminal to the second switch terminal to provide a first indication when the switch is open and a second indication when the switch is closed. Also delineated is a control panel including a plurality of such switches, as well as an appliance including such a control panel.

Claims

1. A switch, comprising:

a first conductive region;

a second conductive region aligned with the first conductive region, the second conductive region including a first conductive pattern forming a first switch terminal and a second conductive pattern forming a second switch terminal, the first conductive pattern separated by a space from the second conductive pattern; and

a third conductive region between the first conductive region and the second conductive region, the third conductive region electrically coupling the first switch terminal to the second switch terminal to provide a first indication when the switch is open and a second indication when the switch is closed.

2. The switch of claim 1 wherein the first conductive region comprises a plurality of conductive members.

3. The switch of claim 2 wherein the conductive members are parallel to each other.

4. The switch of claim 2 wherein the plurality of conductive members comprises a first set of parallel members and a second set of parallel members, the first set being orthogonal to the second set.

5. The switch of claim 2 wherein the plurality of conductive members comprises a plurality of circular members arranged concentrically to each other.

6. The switch of claim 1 wherein the first conductive region comprises a conductive plate.

7. The switch of claim 2 wherein the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern form a plurality of interdigitated fingers.

8. The switch of claim 7 wherein the interdigitated fingers are orthogonal to the plurality of conductive members.

9. The switch of claim 1 wherein the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern form a plurality of spirals.

10. The switch of claim 1 wherein the third conductive region comprises a material applied over portions of the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern.

11. The switch of claim 10 wherein the material comprises an ink.

12. The switch of claim 11 wherein the ink comprises a carbon ink.

13. The switch of claim 1 wherein the first indication comprises an electrical resistance between the first terminal and the second terminal of greater than or equal to one Mega-ohm.

14. The switch of claim 1 wherein the second indication comprises an electrical resistance between the first terminal and the second terminal of less than one Mega-ohm.

15. The switch of claim 1 wherein electrical current flows between the first terminal and the second terminal whether the switch is open or closed.

16. The switch of claim 1 wherein a portion of the first conductive region contacts the third conductive region whether the switch is open or closed.

17. A control panel, comprising:

a first support layer;

a second support layer;

a spacer between the first support layer and the second support layer; and

a plurality of switches between the first support layer and the second support layer, at least one switch of the plurality of switches comprising;

a first conductive region;

a second conductive region aligned with the first conductive region, the second conductive region including a first conductive pattern forming a first switch terminal and a second conductive pattern forming a second switch terminal, the first conductive pattern separated by a space from the second conductive pattern; and

a third conductive region between the first conductive region and the second conductive region, the third conductive region electrically coupling the first switch terminal to the second switch terminal to provide a first indication when the switch is open and a second indication when the switch is closed.

18. The control panel of claim 17 wherein the spacer has a thickness of less than or equal to 0.012 inches.

19. The control panel of claim 17 wherein at least one of the first support layer and the second support layer has a thickness in the range of 0.005 inches to 0.030 inches.

20. The control panel of claim 17 further comprising:

means for measuring resistance across the plurality of switches; and

means for controlling an appliance in response to the measured resistance across one or more of the plurality of switches.

21. A system, comprising:

an appliance; and

a control panel coupled to the appliance for controlling the appliance, the control panel comprising;

a first support layer;

a second support layer;

a spacer between the first support layer and the second support layer; and

a plurality of switches between the first support layer and the second support layer, at least one switch of the plurality of switches comprising;

a first conductive region;

a second conductive region aligned with the first conductive region, the second conductive region including a first conductive pattern forming a first switch terminal and a second conductive pattern forming a second switch terminal, the first conductive pattern separated by a space from the second conductive pattern; and

a third conductive region between the first conductive region and the second conductive region, the third conductive region electrically coupling the first switch terminal to the second switch terminal to provide a first indication when the switch is open and a second indication when the switch is closed.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the spacer has a thickness of less than or equal to 0.012 inches.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein at least one of the first support layer and the second support layer has a thickness in the range of 0.005 inches to 0.030 inches.

24. The system of claim 21 further comprising:

means for measuring resistance across the plurality of switches; and

means for controlling the appliance in response to the measured resistance across one or more of the plurality of switches.