Push button switch assembly including single or plural sequentially closed switches
First Claim
1. A push switch capable of performing a two step switching operation in response to a pressing force, said push switch comprising:
- an insulating substrate having disposed thereon at least one outer pole contact and at least one inner pole contact, electrically insulated from said outer pole contact; and
dome means including an extending peripheral area, said dome means having an electrically conductive surface, said conductive surface being disposed opposing said inner and outer pole contacts wherein;
(i) said conductive surface of said peripheral area contacts said outer pole contact when a first pressing force is applied to the dome means at a first time, and(ii) said conductive surface contacts said inner pole contact, while maintaining contact between said conductive surface of said peripheral area and said outer pole contact, when a second pressing force, which is greater than said first pressing force, is applied to the dome means at a second time different from said first time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A push switch is capable of performing a first switching operation and subsequently a second switching operation when a pressing force is applied to the switch. The push switch includes (a) an insulating membrane having at least one dome with at least a portion thereof overlaid by or serving as an inner conductor and at least a portion of its outer periphery overlaid by or serving as an outer conductor, (b) an insulating substrate having thereupon an inner pole contact disposed at a position opposing to the inner conductor and an outer pole contact disposed at a position opposing to the outer conductor, respectively, and (c) a spacer placed between the insulating membrane and the insulating substrate for spacing the conductor apart from the pole contacts during the time when no pressing force is applied to the switch. When a light pressing force is applied to the dome, the outer conductor will first come in contact with the outer pole contact causing a first switching operation to take place, and subsequently with a further pressing, the inner conductor will come in contact with the inner contact causing a second switching operation to take place.
274 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A push switch capable of performing a two step switching operation in response to a pressing force, said push switch comprising:
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an insulating substrate having disposed thereon at least one outer pole contact and at least one inner pole contact, electrically insulated from said outer pole contact; and dome means including an extending peripheral area, said dome means having an electrically conductive surface, said conductive surface being disposed opposing said inner and outer pole contacts wherein; (i) said conductive surface of said peripheral area contacts said outer pole contact when a first pressing force is applied to the dome means at a first time, and (ii) said conductive surface contacts said inner pole contact, while maintaining contact between said conductive surface of said peripheral area and said outer pole contact, when a second pressing force, which is greater than said first pressing force, is applied to the dome means at a second time different from said first time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification