Foil-type switching element with multi-layered carrier foil

• US 20070144882A1
• Filed: 12/08/2003
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SA (Aerospace Hi-Tech Holding Group Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SA (Aerospace Hi-Tech Holding Group Company Limited)
• Inventors: Decoster, Yves, Kirsch, Aloyse, Chabach, Driss, Bieck, Werner
• Granted Patent: US 7,543,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/278
• 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 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/002 Materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/014 composed of different layers; Lubricant in between
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/07 metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/004 High frequency adaptation or shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/008 Static electricity considerations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/12556 Organic component

Abstract

A foil-type pressure sensor includes a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from each other by means of a spacer, the spacer comprising at least one recess defining an active area of the pressure sensor. At least two electrodes are arranged in the active area of the pressure sensor between said first and second carrier foils in such a way that, in response to a pressure acting on the active area of the pressure sensor, the first and second carrier foils are pressed together against the reaction force of the elastic carrier foils and an electrical contact is established between the at least two electrodes. According to the invention, at least one of the carrier foils includes a multi-layered configuration with at least two layers of different materials.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. Foil-type pressure sensor comprising:

a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from each other by means of a spacer, said spacer comprising at least one recess defining an active area of the pressure sensor, and

at least two electrodes and a layer of pressure sensitive material arranged in the active area of the pressure sensor between said first and second carrier foils in such a way that, in response to a pressure acting on the active area of the pressure sensor, the first and second carrier foils are pressed together against a reaction force of elastic carrier foils and an electrical contact is established between the at least two electrodes via said layer of pressure sensitive material,

wherein at least one of said first and second carrier foils comprises a multi-layered configuration with at least two layers of different materials having different elastic properties so that the elastic properties of said at least one carrier foil are a combination of the individual elastic properties of said at least two layers.

17. Foil-type pressure sensor according to claim 16, wherein each of said first and said second carrier foils comprises a multi-layered configuration with at least two layers of different materials.

18. Foil-type pressure sensor according to claim 17, wherein the number of layers in the multi-layered configurations of said first and second carrier foils are different.

19. Foil-type pressure sensor according to claim 17, wherein the layers of the multi-layered configuration of said first carrier foil are made of materials which are different from the materials of the layers of the multi-layered configuration of said second carrier foil.

20. Foil-type pressure sensor according to claim 16, wherein said layers of said multi-layered carrier foil comprise materials having different mechanical properties.

21. Foil-type pressure sensor according to claim 20, wherein said layers of said multi-layered carrier foil comprise materials having a different modulus of elasticity.

22. Foil-type pressure sensor according to claim 16, wherein one of said layers of said multi-layered carrier foil comprises a dielectric resin layer.

23. Foil-type pressure sensor according to claim 16, wherein one of said layers of said multi-layered carrier foil comprises a metal foil.

24. Foil-type pressure sensor according to claim 16, wherein the multi-layered carrier foil comprises two layers of different metals.

25. Foil-type pressure sensor according to claim 16, wherein one of said layers of said multi-layered carrier foil comprises a material with a high chemical resistance.

26. Foil-type pressure sensor according to claim 16, wherein one of said layers of said multi-layered carrier foil comprises a flame-retarding material.

27. Foil-type pressure sensor according to claim 16, wherein the different layers of said multi-layered carrier foil have a different thickness.

28. Foil-type pressure sensor according to claim 16, wherein layers of said multi-layered carrier foil are extruded one onto the other.

29. Foil-type pressure sensor according to claim 16, wherein layers of said multi-layered carrier foil are laminated together.

30. Foil-type pressure sensor according to claim 16, wherein layers of said multi-layered carrier foil are deposited on top of one another.