Piezoelectric electronic switch

• US 5,231,326 A
• Filed: 01/30/1992
• Issued: 07/27/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Essex Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Essex Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Echols, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BUDD, MARK OSBORNE
• Application Number:
  US07/828,364
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 310/330-332, 310/338, 310/339, 310/317, 310/319, 310/315, 310/346, 341/34
• US Class Current: 310/339
• CPC Class Codes: B66B 1/462 Mechanical or piezoelectric input devices
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/145 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/964 Piezoelectric touch switches

Abstract

An electronic switch is disclosed using a piezoelectric push button transducer and an electronic switching circuit. The push button piezoelectric transducer is connected with the switching circuit with a polarity to provide a switching voltage in response to actuation of the push button switch by finger pressure. The connection is such that the polarity of the voltage generated as a result of differential thermal expansion of the piezoelectric transducer is opposite that produced by finger pressure on the push button switch and does not produce false switching from fast temperature rise. In order to protect against false switching due to high temperature soak of the electronic switch, a thermistor is provided in the electronic switching circuit.

Claims

1. In a push button switch of the type comprising a piezoelectric element having opposite faces with one face bonded to a flexible support pate to form a laminate, electrodes coupled with the opposite faces of said piezoelectric element, an electronic switching circuit responsive to a predetermined voltage having a first polarity to switch its conductive state, a push button for flexing said laminate and thereby generating a voltage between said electrodes having said first polarity and having a magnitude at least as great as that of said predetermined voltage, said electrodes being electrically coupled with said circuit for switching its conductive state when said laminate is flexed by said push button, said support plate and said piezoelectric element having different temperature coefficients of expansion whereby said laminate is flexed by a predetermined rate of temperature increase to generate a voltage between said electrodes having a magnitude at least as great as that of said predetermined voltage, the improvement comprising:

said push button being coupled with said laminate for flexing it in a direction opposite the direction the laminate is flexed due to increasing temperature, whereby the voltage produced by flexion of the laminate due to increasing temperature has a polarity opposite that of said first polarity.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said support plate is metal and is conductively bonded to said piezoelectric element.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said support plate is brass and said piezoelectric element is a ceramic plate.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said push button urges said piezoelectric element toward said support plate.

5. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said push button urges said piezoelectric element toward said support plate, one electrode is connected directly with said support plate and the other electrode comprises a metal layer contacting substantially the entire face of the piezoelectric element.

6. The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said metal layer comprises a metal foil, said metal foil being connected with said piezoelectric element by a conductive tape.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said metal foil is secured to the face of the push button by a layer of adhesive.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7 including a layer of thermal insulation between said push button and said piezoelectric element.

9. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said switching circuit comprises:

a semi-conductor switch having an input circuit and an output circuit,

and a thermistor in said input circuit for inhibiting switching of said semi-conductor switch in response to elevated temperature.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said semi-conductor switch is an FET.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10 wherein said thermistor has a negative temperature coefficient of resistance.

12. A push button switch comprising a piezoelectric element having opposite faces with one face bonded to a flexible support plate to form a laminate, electrodes coupled with the opposite faces of said piezoelectric element, a push button for flexing said laminate and thereby generating a voltage between said electrodes, and an electronic switching circuit, said electrodes being electrically coupled with said circuit for switching its conductive state when said laminate is flexed by said push button, said support plate and said piezoelectric element having different temperature coefficients of expansion whereby said laminate may be flexed by increasing temperature and generate a voltage between said electrodes, said push button being coupled with said laminate for flexing it in a direction opposite the direction the laminate flexes due to increasing temperature, said switching circuit comprising a switch having an input circuit and an output circuit and a thermistor in said input circuit for inhibiting switching of said switch in response to an elevation in temperature.

13. The invention as defined in claim 12 wherein said switch comprises a semiconductor.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13 wherein said semiconductor is an FET.

15. The invention as defined in claim 12 wherein said thermistor has a negative temperature coefficient of resistance.