Capacitive switch assembly
First Claim
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1. A capacitive switch assembly comprising:
- (a) a base formed of electrically non-conductive material;
(b) a first layer disposed on the surface of said base and said first layer relatively thin with respect to the thickness of said base and formed of electrically conductive material;
(c) a second layer disposed on said first layer and formed of dielectric material having a thickness on the order of said first layer;
(d) a third layer disposed on said second layer and formed of conductive material with a thickness significantly greater than the thickness of said first or second layer but substantially less than said base, said third layer having at least one electrical discontinuity therein dividing said third layer into separate electrically isolated segments.(e) plunger means movable with respect to said base between an actuated and an unactuated position, said plunger means including a portion formed of electrically conductive elastically deformable material operative in said actuated position to span said discontinuity and electrically connect said segments, wherein said first and third layers are electrically effective as a capacitor in said actuated position of said plunger means; and
,(f) connector means on each of said first and third layers, adapted for connection to an electrical circuit.
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Abstract
A capacitive switch assembly formed on a glass substrate with one capacitive plate formed of a thin metal film deposited thereon covered by a dielectric spacer deposited thereover for spacing therefrom a second plate formed of conductive polymer paste screened on the dielectric spacer. Discontinuities are provided in the second plate which is brought in-circuit by a conductive elastomer shorting bar movable upon user actuation of the switch.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A capacitive switch assembly comprising:
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(a) a base formed of electrically non-conductive material; (b) a first layer disposed on the surface of said base and said first layer relatively thin with respect to the thickness of said base and formed of electrically conductive material; (c) a second layer disposed on said first layer and formed of dielectric material having a thickness on the order of said first layer; (d) a third layer disposed on said second layer and formed of conductive material with a thickness significantly greater than the thickness of said first or second layer but substantially less than said base, said third layer having at least one electrical discontinuity therein dividing said third layer into separate electrically isolated segments. (e) plunger means movable with respect to said base between an actuated and an unactuated position, said plunger means including a portion formed of electrically conductive elastically deformable material operative in said actuated position to span said discontinuity and electrically connect said segments, wherein said first and third layers are electrically effective as a capacitor in said actuated position of said plunger means; and
,(f) connector means on each of said first and third layers, adapted for connection to an electrical circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of making a capacitive switching assembly comprising the steps of:
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(a) depositing a layer of conductive materials on a dielectric substrate and forming one plate of a capacitor; (b) vapor depositing a spacer layer of dielectric material over said conductive material; (c) depositing a layer of conductive paste on said spacer layer, and dividing said layer into a plurality of electrically isolated segments; (d) curing said paste to form a second plate of a capacitor; and
,(e) providing a shorting bar for shunting between said divided segments of said second plate. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification