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Capacitive switch

  • US 4,047,241 A
  • Filed: 04/12/1976
  • Issued: 09/06/1977
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1976
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A capacitive switch comprising:

  • an electrical circuit, said circuit having a substrate of insulative material, first and second pads of conductive material on a surface said substrate, each of said pads having a terminal adapted to transfer electrical signals, said pads being separated by a region of the surface of said substrate and having coupling surfaces remote from said substrate; and

    a capacitive coupling member, said member having a switch stem positioned opposite said pads and said region, said stem including a transverse portion extending so as to span said pads but displaced therefrom, a ribbon of resilient conductive material having ends fixed to respective ends of said transverse portion and having such a length that the ribbon is bowed toward said pads, said ribbon comprising a substrate of resilient plastic material, a layer of metallic material deposited on one surface of said substrate of resilient plastic material, and a coating of insulative material on said layer of metallic material, a buffer layer of elastic material on the face of said transverse portion opposite the bowed portion of said ribbon, and means for guiding said switch for reciprocating movement in the direction of said substrate so that as said switch stem moves toward said substrate a monotonically increasing area of said ribbon mechanically contacts said pads.

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