TOUCH ENTRY SWITCH ARRAY

• US 3,732,389 A
• Filed: 02/14/1972
• Issued: 05/08/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David M. Piatt, George R. Kaelin
• Original Assignee: David M. Piatt, George R. Kaelin
• Inventors: Kaelin, George R., Piatt, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaefer, Robert K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, William J.
• Application Number:
  US05/225,826
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 200/167R,167A,DIG.1,159B 340/365C,365R,365A 200/1R,5A,5R
• US Class Current: 200/313
• 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 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/018 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/028 embedded in layer material
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/032 Metal foil
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2205/032 Several contacts formed in one plate or layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/038 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/06 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/082 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/014 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/002 Layer thickness

Abstract

A touch entry switch array comprising a layer of non-conductive material is sandwiched between two conductive layers. Orthogonally disposed conductors are arranged in a matrix and adapted to make electrical connection by deforming an upper resilient, transparent or translucent layer through respective apertures to establish electrical contact. Indicator means is provided to indicate through the apertures the actuation of the associated switch. In one form of the device, the orthogonal conductors are supported on the lower layer and the upper layer is constructed of transparent or translucent conductive material which may be deformed through the apertures to operate the associated switch. In another form of the invention, one set of conductors is supported on the upper layer to be deformed through the apertures to contact conductors on the lower layer.

Claims

1. A touch entry switch array having a plurality of individual switches arranged in a matrix, said array comprising:

first, second and third layers, said second layer being sandwiched between said first and third layers;

a plurality of first conductor means supported on said first layer;

a plurality of second conductor means supported on one of said first and third layers;

a plurality of third conductor means supported on said first layer means;

said first, second and third conductor means being mutually electrically insulated from each other;

a plurality of apertures through said second layer means, each aperture encompassing a region adjacent a pair of conductors comprising individual ones of said first and second conductor means;

a plurality of indicator means supported on said first layer and electrically connected to said third conductor means; and

operator means on said third layer for establishing electrical contact through said apertures between the first and second conductor means encompassed in the respective region, said third layer being translucent whereby the indicator means juxtapositioned each aperture may be viewed through said third layer.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of first conductor means comprises a plurality of first conductors disposed in a substantially parallel relationship and said plurality of second conductor means comprises a plurality of second conductors disposed in a substantially parallel relationship orthogonal to said first conductor.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said second conductors are supported on said first layer, contact means associated with each of said first and second conductors, said contact means being arranged in pairs of contacts, each pair of contacts being electrically connected to mutually exclusive first and second conductors, each pair of contacts being exposed to mutually exclusive regions encompassed by mutually exclusive apertures in said second layer;

and said third layer comprises a resilient translucent conductive layer adapted to establish electrical connection between the contacts of each of said pairs of contacts.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said indicator means comprises a plurality of light emitting indicators each connected between mutually exclusive ones of said first and third conductors.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said second conductors are supported on said third layer, said apertures each being positioned between projected intersections between mutually exclusive first and second conductors.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said indicator means comprises a plurality of light emitting indicators each connected between mutually exclusive ones of said first and third conductors.