×

Light conducting, elastomeric membrane keypad

  • US 4,636,593 A
  • Filed: 04/17/1986
  • Issued: 01/13/1987
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/13/1985
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An elastomeric membrane keypad adapted to be disposed between a housing and a circuit board having pairs of contacts and a plurality of light sources, said elastomeric membrane keypad comprising:

  • translucent sheet means having a top surface and a bottom surface and a predetermined thickness for conducting light from the light sources, and said sheet means further having a plurality of cavities and having a plurality of protruding keys each having a top surface and a bottom surface, each key attached to the bottom surface of said sheet means substantially at the periphery of the bottom surface of the key, and each key further having a portion extending below the top surface of said sheet means for directly receiving conducted light therefrom;

    a plurality of electrically conductive means each disposed on the bottom surface of a corresponding key; and

    ridge means disposed on the top surface of said sheet means at the periphery thereof and around each key for producing an area of high compression both between the keypad and the housing and around each key, whereby the tactile response of said keys is enhanced.

View all claims
  • 0 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×