TOUCH SWITCH ARRAY PANEL

• US 3,701,869 A
• Filed: 04/01/1971
• Issued: 10/31/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abraham H. Jacob, John L. Franke
• Original Assignee: Abraham H. Jacob, John L. Franke
• Inventors: Franke, John L., Jacob, Abraham H.
• Primary Examiner(s): H. O. Jones
• Application Number:
  US05/130,198
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 200/167R,167A,DIG.1 340/365C,258C,337,21
• US Class Current: 200/308
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 5/0218 Discontinuous tuning using an electrical variable impedance element, e.g. a voltage variable reactive diode, by selecting the corresponding analogue value between a set of preset values

Abstract

A panel for an array of touch switches is defined by separated but adjacent conductive sections mounted on a support panel, a set of first switch sections, each constituting a contact for a selected one of the number of switches involved, being arranged on the panel in a given direction and a second and elongated switch section, corresponding to a contact common to all of the switches, being arranged on the panel so as to extend alongside but spaced from the set of first sections. The lines separating the second section from the individual first section may be in the form of indicia such as numbers, and where those indicia are of appreciable width their central portions are formed of conductive subsections which are parts of one or more of the conductive sections corresponding to the particular switch involved. The supporting panel may be light-transmissive, while the conductive sections may be substantially opaque, and particularly when the lines of separation are in the form of indicia, illuminating means may be provided on the underside of the support panel, thereby to provide for illumination of the lines defining the indicia corresponding to the particular switch actuated at any given time.

Claims

1. A touch switch panel comprising a support having a surface, a plurality of physically and electrically separated first conductive sections arranged in a given direction of said support surface, a second elongated conductive section on said support surface extending alongside and spaced from said first sections, and means for making separate electrical connections to said first sections respectively and to said second section.

2. The panel of claim 1, in which said second section is separated from said first sections respectively by lines shaped to form indicia corresponding to said first sections respectively.

3. The panel of claim 2, in which said indicia comprise numbers.

4. The panel of claim 3, in which said numbers are consecutive along the length of said second section.

5. The panel of claim 2, in which at least some of said indicia are of appreciable width with a central opening, said central opening being defined by a part of at least one of the adjacent sections, connected to its corresponding section proper by a break in the line defining the periphery of said indicia.

6. The panel of claim 2, in which at least some of said indicia are of an appreciable width with a central opening, said central opening being defined by two separated conductive subsections which are respectively parts of said second section and the associated first section, said subsections being connected to their corresponding sections proper by breaks in the line defining the periphery of said indicia.

7. In the panel of claim 1, a plurality of separated third conductive sections arranged in said given direction on said support surface alongside and spaced from said second section and on the other side of said second section from said fist sections, and means for making electrical connections to said third sections respectively.

8. The panel of claim 7, in which said second section is separated from said first sections respectively by lines shaped to form indicia corresponding to said first sections respectively.

9. The panel of claim 8, in which said indicia comprise numbers.

10. The panel of claim 9, in which said numbers are consecutive along the length of said second section.

11. The panel of claim 8, in which at least some of said indicia are of appreciable width with a central opening, said central opening being defined by a part of at least one of the adjacent sections, connected to its corresponding section proper by a break in the line defining the periphery of said indicia.

12. The panel of claim 8, in which at least some of said indicia are of an appreciable width with a central opening, said central opening being defined by two separated conductive subsections which are respectively parts of said second section and the associated first section, said subsections being connected to their corresponding sections proper by breaks in the line defining the periphery of said indicia.

13. The panel of claim 2, in which said support surface is light-transmissive, said conductive sections are substantially opaque, the spaces between said sections exposing said support surface, and individually actuatable illuminating means mounted in registration with said indicia respectively on the other side of said support surface from said sections.

14. The panel of claim 5, in which said support surface is light-transmissive, said conductive sections are substantially opaque, the spaces between said sections exposing said support surface, and individually actuatable illuminating means mounted in registration with said indicia respectively on the other side of said support surface from said sections.

15. The panel of claim 6, in which said support surface is light-transmissive, said conductive sections are substantially opaque, the spaces between said sections exposing said support surface, and individually actuatable illuminating means mounted in registration with said indicia respectively on the other side of said support surface from said sections.

16. The panel of claim 8, in which said support is light-transmissive, said conductive sections are substantially opaque, the spaces between said sections exposing said support surface, and individually actuatable illuminating means mounted in registration with said indicia respectively on the other side of said support surface from said sections.

17. The panel of claim 1, in which said conductive sections comprise conductive sheet parts adhered to said support surface, the separations between said sections being defined by areas etched away from said conductive sheet.

18. In combination with the panel of claim 1, a housing at least partially enclosing said panel and covering a portion of the section-carrying surface thereof, and exposing on that surface substantially only the area thereof where said second section is adjacent the other sections.

19. In combination with the panel of claim 2, a housing partially enclosing said panel and covering a portion of the section-carrying surface thereof, and exposing substantially only that area of said surface where said indicia-forming lines exist.

20. In combination with the panel of claim 5, a housing partially enclosing said panel and covering a portion of the section-carrying surface thereof, and exposing substantially only that area of said surface where said indicia-forming lines exist.

21. In combination with the panel of claim 6, a housing partially enclosing said panel and covering a portion of the section-carrying surface thereof, and exposing substantially only that area of said surface where said indicia-forming lines exist.

22. In combination with the panel of claim 8, a housing partially enclosing said panel and covering a portion of the section-carrying surface thereof, and exposing substantially only that area of said surface where said indicia-forming lines exist.

23. In combination with the panel of claim 13, a housing partially enclosing said panel and covering a portion of the section-carrying surface thereof, and exposing substantially only that area of said surface where said indicia-forming lines exist.

24. In combination with the panel of claim 14, a housing partially enclosing said panel and covering a portion of the section-carrying surface thereof, and exposing substantially only that area of said surface where said indicia-forming lines exist.

25. In combination with the panel of claim 15, a housing partially enclosing said panel and covering a portion of the section-carrying surface thereof, and exposing substantially only that area of said surface where said indicia-forming lines exist.

26. In combination with the panel of claim 16, a housing partially enclosing said panel and covering a portion of the section-carrying surface thereof, and exposing substantially only that area of said surface where said indicia-forming lines exist.