Transparent capacitance membrane switch
First Claim
1. A capacitance membrane switch, comprisinga substrate supporting a first contact portion,a flexible membrane supporting a second contact portion aligned over said first contact portion,means for spacing said membrane from said substrate in the absence of an actuating force on said flexible membrane,said first and second contact portions, substrate, flexible layer, and means for spacing being together at least partially transparent to light travelling therethrough, thereby defining a zone of transparency surrounding and including said contact portions, anda capacitance element electrically connected to one of said first and second contact portions, said capacitance element being offset from said contact portions so as to be located outside said zone of transparency.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A more transparent capacitance membrane switch in which capacitance elements are offset from their associated switch locations so as to be out of the transparent field of view through the switch.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A capacitance membrane switch, comprising
a substrate supporting a first contact portion, a flexible membrane supporting a second contact portion aligned over said first contact portion, means for spacing said membrane from said substrate in the absence of an actuating force on said flexible membrane, said first and second contact portions, substrate, flexible layer, and means for spacing being together at least partially transparent to light travelling therethrough, thereby defining a zone of transparency surrounding and including said contact portions, and a capacitance element electrically connected to one of said first and second contact portions, said capacitance element being offset from said contact portions so as to be located outside said zone of transparency.
Specification