Switch assembly having electrically illuminated character display devices between transparent actuators and switch arrays
First Claim
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1. A keyboard assembly, comprising:
- an array of electromechanical switches;
a thin flexible base plate adjacent the array of switches capable of transmitting actuating force to the switches;
a resilient cushion mounted between the flexible base plate and the array of switches for absorbing a portion of the actuating force applied to the devices and for dissipation of snap back forces from the switches; and
an array of electrically programmable illuminated character display devices positioned at selected locations on the base plate to correspond to the locations of individual switches in the electromechanical switch array.
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Abstract
A switch assembly having a lighted display module for programmable character display where the module is an active part during switch actuation since the module is displaced by and transmits an applied switch actuating force. The switch assembly consists of electromechanical switch arrays having the illuminated solid-state programming character display (LED-type) disposed above the switch array. Transparent pushbuttons are illuminated when depressed. The electromechanical switch arrays consist of a matrix of conventional dome switches although other conventional types of switches may be used.
81 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A keyboard assembly, comprising:
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an array of electromechanical switches; a thin flexible base plate adjacent the array of switches capable of transmitting actuating force to the switches; a resilient cushion mounted between the flexible base plate and the array of switches for absorbing a portion of the actuating force applied to the devices and for dissipation of snap back forces from the switches; and an array of electrically programmable illuminated character display devices positioned at selected locations on the base plate to correspond to the locations of individual switches in the electromechanical switch array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification