DEPRESSIBLE DIAPHRAGM OVERLAY SWITCH FOR DISPLAYS

• US 3,560,675 A
• Filed: 05/26/1969
• Issued: 02/02/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: George R. Stillwell Jr, Krakinowski Morris
• Original Assignee: George R. Stillwell Jr, Krakinowski Morris
• Inventors: KRAKINOWSKI MORRIS, Stillwell, George R. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US04/827,586
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• US Class Current: 200/46
• 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 2201/026 non precious
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/022 Plug
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/03 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/038 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/04 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/052 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/06 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/074 elastomeric
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/082 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2211/018 on printed conductors only
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/018 Printed contacts; Metal foil
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/00 Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/004 CRT

Abstract

A two layer planar multicontact switch including a first substrate layer having a plurality of parallel conductive lines deposited on the upper surface thereof and a second diaphragm layer located over the substrate layer and having a plurality of parallel conductive lines deposited on the lower surface thereof. The conductive lines on the substrate are normal to the conductive lines on the diaphragm such that a plurality of matrix switch intersections are formed. The conductive lines on the substrate and the diaphragm have insulating material selectively deposited thereon to electrically isolate the upper and lower conductive lines except at the points of intersection. The diaphragm layer may be mechanically depressed at the intersection points to selectively connect the upper lines with the lower lines to form switch closure contacts. The diaphragm and the substrate are formed from transparent material so that the switch can be employed in combination with a visual display.

Claims

1. A multicontact switch device comprising:

a suBstrate layer of material;

a plurality of separate lines of electrically conductive material disposed on a first surface of said substrate layer;

a plurality of separate lines of electrically insulating material disposed exclusively on and coextensive with first portions of each of said conductive lines, second portions of each of said conductive lines, second portions of each of said conductive lines remaining uncovered by said insulating material;

a layer of elastomeric material;

a plurality of separate lines of electrically conductive material disposed on a first surface of said elastomeric layer;

a plurality of separate lines of electrically insulating material disposed exclusively on and coextensive with first portions of each of said conductive lines on said elastomeric layer, second portions of each of said conductive lines remaining uncovered by said insulating material; and

said elastomeric layer being disposed on said substrate layer with said first sides of said layers proximate to each other and separated by said lines of insulating material to form a plurality of switch contacts including said uncovered second portions of said elastomeric layers.

2. A multicontact switch device according to claim 1 wherein said substrate layer and said elastomeric layer are transparent.

3. A multicontact switch device according to claim 1 wherein said substrate layer is a layer of rigid material.

4. A multicontact switch device according to claim 1 wherein said substrate layer is a layer of flexible material.

5. A multicontact switch device according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of conductive lines on said substrate layer includes N parallel conductive lines extending in a first direction and said plurality of conductive lines on said elastomeric layer includes M parallel conductive lines extending in a direction normal to said first direction to form N X M switch elements including said uncovered second portions of said conductive lines of said substrate layer spaced from said uncovered second portions of said conductive elements on said elastomeric layer by said lines of insulating material and wherein each switch element is adapted to be brought into selective contact by deformation of said elastomeric layer.

6. A multicontact switch device according to claim 5 wherein each one of said N X M switch contacts is adapted to connect a different unique pair of said conductive lines, each of said unique pairs including one of said N conductive lines and one of said M conductive lines.

7. A multicontact switch device according to claim 5 wherein said substrate layer is the display screen of a display device including means for generating a visual display on said screen, and further including means connected between said conductive lines on said screen and elastomeric layer and said generating means for providing a distinctive signal to said generating means in response to contact of said switch elements, said distinctive signal being representative of the position of said switch elements relative to said screen.