Electroluminescent flexible touch switch panel

• US 4,532,395 A
• Filed: 09/20/1983
• Issued: 07/30/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Timex Corporation (Tanager Group BV)
• Original Assignee: Timex Corporation (Tanager Group BV)
• Inventors: Zukowski, Raymond W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shepperd, John W.
• Application Number:
  US06/534,007
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5 A, 200/310, 200/313, 200/314, 200/317
• US Class Current: 200/314
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/02 Interspersed fingers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/01 from bottom to top layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/018 Electroluminescent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/028 Printed information
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/046 above switch site
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/008 Static electricity considerations

Abstract

A flexible touch switch panel of a known type with a deformable membrane carrying a switch closure member is provided with an overlying flexible electroluminescent laminated member providing lighting of the entire switch panel or selected areas thereof, including lighting of keytop indicia on the flexible touch switches.

Claims

1. An illuminated flexible touch switch comprising a first laminated switch portion and a second flexible laminated electroluminescent portion,

said first laminated switch portion including a flexible insulated membrane having a conductive switch closure member thereon, a spacer member having an opening aligned with the switch closure member, and an insulated backing member having a plurality of switch contact terminals areas thereon arranged to be connected by said switch closure member upon deformation of the flexible membrane,

said second flexible laminated electroluminescent portion including a first conductive layer, a dielectric matrix comprising a layer of electroluminescent phosphor and epoxy resin, a second transparent conductive layer, and a transparent insulating layer providing a keytop area thereon, wherein said first conductive layer is subdivided into at least two electrodes, and wherein at least two associated contact terminals are disposed on said flexible membrane, said contact terminals being in contact with said respective electrodes,

said keytop area being aligned with said switch closure member, whereby pressing the keytop area actuates the switch, and wherein one of said electrodes is aligned with said keytop area and smaller than the other electrode, whereby the keytop area is brighter than the background area.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said keytop area has an indicia imprinted thereon adapted to be illuminated by said phosphor.

3. A switch panel comprised of illuminated flexible touch switches according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of spaced keytop areas and a plurality of switch closure members aligned respectively with one another to provide an illuminated switch panel.