Universal logic switch
First Claim
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1. A logic switch operable over a predetermined range of input voltages, comprising:
- a housing;
mechanical switching means provided within said housing and adapted to be moved by manual force momentarily from a rest position to a second operating position, said switching means remaining in said second operating position only so long as manual force is applied thereto;
electronic switching means within said housing for producing an electrical switching function in a selected operating mode from one state of actuation of another state in response to movement of said mechanical switching means from one of said rest and second positions to the other of said rest and second positions, said operating modes including at least a momentary action mode and an alternate action mode;
circuit means within said housing for initializing said electronic switching means in one of said states of actuation upon interruption of power to said switch;
means provided within said housing for selecting the mode of operation of said electronic switching means; and
output buffer circuit means within said housing for providing a complementary output voltage.
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Abstract
A mechanically actuable switch having associated electronic circuitry contained within the switch housing, including circuitry operative to selectively provide momentary, alternate action, and multistation switching modes. Included within the switch housing are a voltage/current regulator, initializing logic, contact debounce logic, mode control circuitry, output buffers, an LED driver and an LED. The switch contact is typically a preformed wire spring configured to be pivoted about a central point from one state of actuation to another. The switch is operable over a wide operating voltage range, typically 3 to 18 volts.
37 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A logic switch operable over a predetermined range of input voltages, comprising:
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a housing; mechanical switching means provided within said housing and adapted to be moved by manual force momentarily from a rest position to a second operating position, said switching means remaining in said second operating position only so long as manual force is applied thereto; electronic switching means within said housing for producing an electrical switching function in a selected operating mode from one state of actuation of another state in response to movement of said mechanical switching means from one of said rest and second positions to the other of said rest and second positions, said operating modes including at least a momentary action mode and an alternate action mode; circuit means within said housing for initializing said electronic switching means in one of said states of actuation upon interruption of power to said switch; means provided within said housing for selecting the mode of operation of said electronic switching means; and output buffer circuit means within said housing for providing a complementary output voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A logic switch comprising:
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a manually operated actuator momentarily movable from a rest to a second operating position; switching circuit means for providing a switching function in a selected one of momentary, alternate action and multistation switching operating modes in response to movement of said actuator between said rest and said second operating positions; and means for selecting the operating mode of said switching circuit means, said selecting means comprising; second circuit means providing a divide-by-two function; and a terminal electrically connected to said second circuit means and adapted to be selectively electrically connected to a source of power for disabling said second circuit means to provide a momentary action switching mode, to a ground source for enabling said second circuit means to provide an alternate action switching mode, and to said terminal of others of said logic switches to provide a multistation switching mode. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A switch comprising:
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a housing defining a cavity therein and having an upper surface; a momentary action pushbutton actuator movable with respect to said housing from a rest position to an actuated position; printed circuit board means disposed within said cavity in confronting relation with said upper surface of said housing, said printed circuit board having three aligned contact lands thereon; a contact captured between said upper surface of said housing and said printed circuit board means and having an upper arm and a lower arm, said upper arm being spring biased against said upper surface of said housing, said lower arm being spring biased against said printed circuit board means and having a centrally disposed projection resting in pivotal electrical connection with a central one of said contact lands and two other projecting contact points each associated with one of the other two of said contact lands, one of said two other contact points being in electrical connection with one of said other two contact lands only in said rest position and the other of said two other contact points being in electrical connection with the other of said other two contact lands only in said actuated position; and means associated with said actuator for pivoting said contact in a first direction about said central projection upon movement of said actuator from said rest position to said actuated position and for returning said actuator to said rest position upon release of said actuator under the influence of the spring bias imparted to said upper arm. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A logic switch operable over a predetermined range of input voltages, comprising:
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a housing; mechanical switching means having at least a pair of switch contacts and a switch arm therebetween provided within said housing, said switch arm adapted to be moved by manual force momentarily from a rest position in contact with one of said pair of switch contacts to a second operating position in contact with the other one of said switch contacts, said switching means remaining in said second operating position only so long as manual force is applied thereto; electronic switching means within said housing for producing an electrical switching function in a selected operating mode from one state of actuation to another state in response to movement of said arm of said mechanical switching means from one of said rest and said second contact positions to the other of said rest and said second contact positions; circuit means within said housing for initializing said electronic switching means in one of said states of acutation upon interruption of power to said switch; means provided within said housing for selecting the mode of operation of said electronic switching means; and output buffer circuit means within said housing for providing a complementary output voltage.
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Specification