Tactile touch switch panel
First Claim
1. A tactile feedback electrical switch assembly for intermittently altering the electrical condition of normally spaced apart conductors and comprising:
- (a) base pad means for receiving and retaining said electrical switching assembly thereon;
(b) a first insulative film having means insulatively mounting a plurality of spaced apart electrical switching conductors upon said base pad means with mutally adjacent conductors of said electrical switching conductor forming a pair of switch contacts;
(c) a tactile layer having a plurality of dome-shaped projections formed therein with said layer being arranged for mounting upon said base pad means in superimposed relationship with said first insulative film, and with each of said dome-shaped projections being in substantial registration with one discrete pair of switch contacts on said first insulative film and with an electrical conductor bridging contact area on the inner surface of said tactile layer within said dome and in substantial registration with said contacts; and
(d) said dome-shaped projection comprising a generally parabolic disc with a raised center portion and an annular ring projecting upwardly and outwardly from the edge of said parabolic disc, said annular ring joining said parabolic disc along a generally circular transition line, said transition line normally being located at the apex of an angle which is generally acute from the upper surface of said dome-shaped projection and wherein the upper surface of said parabolic disc extends above that of said annular ring, the arrangement being such that upon depression of said parabolic disc, said annular ring functions as a hinge for accommodating inversion of said parabolic disc and resultant contact between said bridging contact and said switch contacts.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A touch panel diaphragm-type switch array providing improved tactile feedback. A rigid substrate having a printed circuit conductor pattern thereon, with the pattern defining a plurality of switch locations, each including first and second separate electrical contacts is provided and superimposed thereover is a spacer having apertures in registration with the electrical contact pairs. Sandwiched between the substrate and the spacer is a thin layer of a suitable plastic material which is deformed in the areas defined by the apertures in the spacer to define dome-shaped projections surrounded by an annular ring. A bridging conductor is disposed on the underside of the dome-shaped projections. "Spider" members are supported by the side walls of the apertures and are disposed between the outer side of the dome-shaped projections and a flexible plastic cover layer which is affixed to the top side of the spacer layer. The cover layer is imprinted with indicia to visually define the switch positions. Depression of the cover layer with a finger acts through the spider to invert the dome to thereby bring the bridging conductor into electrical engagement with the first and second switching contacts on the substrate. A positive feel is imparted to the finger as the dome inverts and the electrical contact is established.
-
Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A tactile feedback electrical switch assembly for intermittently altering the electrical condition of normally spaced apart conductors and comprising:
-
(a) base pad means for receiving and retaining said electrical switching assembly thereon; (b) a first insulative film having means insulatively mounting a plurality of spaced apart electrical switching conductors upon said base pad means with mutally adjacent conductors of said electrical switching conductor forming a pair of switch contacts; (c) a tactile layer having a plurality of dome-shaped projections formed therein with said layer being arranged for mounting upon said base pad means in superimposed relationship with said first insulative film, and with each of said dome-shaped projections being in substantial registration with one discrete pair of switch contacts on said first insulative film and with an electrical conductor bridging contact area on the inner surface of said tactile layer within said dome and in substantial registration with said contacts; and (d) said dome-shaped projection comprising a generally parabolic disc with a raised center portion and an annular ring projecting upwardly and outwardly from the edge of said parabolic disc, said annular ring joining said parabolic disc along a generally circular transition line, said transition line normally being located at the apex of an angle which is generally acute from the upper surface of said dome-shaped projection and wherein the upper surface of said parabolic disc extends above that of said annular ring, the arrangement being such that upon depression of said parabolic disc, said annular ring functions as a hinge for accommodating inversion of said parabolic disc and resultant contact between said bridging contact and said switch contacts. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
Specification