Switch with magnetically-coupled armature

• US 5,666,096 A
• Filed: 05/07/1996
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Memtron Technologies Co. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Duraswitch Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Van Zeeland, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DONOVAN, LINCOLN D
• Application Number:
  US08/646,083
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 335/4, 335/5, 333/1, 333/104, 333/166, 333/238, 333/106, 333/105
• US Class Current: 335/4
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/06 acting through a wall or enclosure, e.g. by bellows, by magnetic coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/165 by relative movement of a point of contact or actuation and a resistive track
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/16 by rolling; by wrapping; Roller or ball contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/506 making use of permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/042 Permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/004 Magnet
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/00 Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/065 using separate operating parts, e.g. a push button surrounded by a rotating knob
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 36/00 Switches actuated by change of magnetic field or of electric field, e.g. by change of relative position of magnet and switch, by shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 5/02 Energy stored by the attraction or repulsion of magnetic parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/04 Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof, or flameproof casings

Abstract

A switch has a carrier sheet with electrodes formed on an internal side thereof to form switch contacts. An armature is held in slidable contact with the internal side of the carrier and the electrodes by a magnet disposed on the external surface of the carrier. The magnet is carried in a knob mounted on the external side of the membrane carrier for rotary, linear or complex motion. When a user manipulates the knob the magnet drags the armature either into or out of shorting relation with the electrodes. A magnetic detent gear can be incorporated to provide tactile feedback. A pushbutton version of the switch can be made with a pivotable armature normally held spaced from electrodes on the substrate by a magnet. A membrane and spacer may be added to protect and seal the electrodes and armature.

Claims

1. An electrical switch, comprising:

a carrier having first and second surfaces;

a set of electrodes disposed on one of said carrier surfaces and defining at least one pair of spaced switch contacts;

an actuator for selectively opening or closing the switch contacts, the actuator comprising at least two electrically conductive balls made of magnetic material and disposed on said one of the carrier surfaces, and a magnet movably mounted on the other of the carrier surfaces, with the poles of the magnet located directly opposite the balls such that the balls are normally held in sliding engagement with said one surface of the carrier by the magnetic attraction between the balls and magnet, movement of the magnet causing corresponding movement of the balls into and out of Shorting relation with the switch contacts.

2. The switch of claim 1 further comprising two magnets placed side by side with opposite poles adjacent the carrier, each magnet being directly opposite one of the balls.

3. An electrical switch, comprising:

a carrier having first and second surfaces;

a set of electrodes disposed on one of said carrier surfaces and defining at least one pair of spaced switch contacts;

an actuator for selectively opening or closing the switch contacts, the actuator including;

an electrically conductive armature having a vertex disposed on said one of the carrier surfaces, the armature having at least two faces extending from the vertex such that the armature faces are pivotable about the vertex; and

a coupler movably mounted on the other of the carrier surfaces,

one of the coupler and armature being a permanent magnet and the other being made of magnetic material such that one face of the armature is normally held in engagement with said one surface of the carrier by the magnetic attraction between the coupler and armature, movement of the coupler causing corresponding pivoting of the armature about the vertex to move the faces into and out of shorting relation with the switch contacts.

4. The switch of claim 3 wherein the armature has two faces.

5. An electrical switch comprising:

a spacer sandwiched between a flexible membrane layer and a substrate layer, the membrane and substrate layers each defining internal surfaces contacting the spacer, the spacer having at least one opening therein;

at least one set of spaced electrodes disposed on the internal surface of the substrate in the area of the spacer opening to define switch contacts, the electrodes including a common electrode and at least two other electrodes;

an electrically conductive armature disposed in the spacer opening between the membrane and substrate, the armature having a vertex resting on the common electrode and at least two faces extending from the vertex such that the armature faces are pivotable about the vertex; and

a coupler fixedly mounted on the substrate beneath at least one of the armature faces, one of the coupler and armature being a permanent magnet and the other being made of magnetic material, the armature faces being engageable with one of said other electrodes upon depression of the membrane in the area of a selected armature face, depression of the membrane causing pivotal movement of said face into shorting relation between the common and one of said other electrodes.

6. The switch of claim 5 wherein the armature has two faces.

7. The switch of claim 5 wherein the coupler is fixedly mounted on the substrate beneath each of the armature faces such that the armature faces are alternately held in contact with one of said other electrodes by the magnetic attraction between the coupler and armature, depression of the membrane in the area of a selected armature face causing pivotal movement of said face into shorting relation between the common and one of said other electrodes.

8. An electrical switch, comprising:

a carrier having first and second surfaces;

a set of electrodes disposed on one of said carrier surfaces and defining at least one pair of spaced switch contacts;

an actuator for selectively opening or closing the switch contacts, the actuator comprising an electrically conductive armature disposed on said one of the carrier surfaces, and a coupler movably mounted on the other of the carrier surfaces, the coupler being a permanent magnet and the armature being made of magnetic material such that the armature is normally held in engagement with said one surface of the carrier by the magnetic attraction between the coupler and armature, movement of the coupler causing corresponding movement of the armature into and out of shorting relation with the switch contacts; and

a pre-load plate made of magnetic material fixedly mounted adjacent the coupler on its side opposite said other carrier surface.

9. The switch of claim 8 further comprising a base plate and wherein the actuator further comprises:

a shaft mounted for rotation in the base plate; and

an actuating plate mounted beneath the base plate for rotation with the shaft, the coupler being attached to the actuating plate.

10. An electrical switch, comprising:

a carrier having first and second surfaces;

a set of electrodes disposed on one of said carrier surfaces and defining at least one pair of spaced switch contacts;

an actuator for selectively opening or closing the switch contacts, the actuator comprising an electrically conductive armature disposed on said one of the carrier surfaces and a knob having a protrusion therefrom, the knob being movably mounted on the other of the carrier surfaces and having a coupler therein which moves with the knob, the coupler being a permanent magnet and the armature being made of magnetic material such that the armature is normally held in engagement with said one surface of the carrier by the magnetic attraction between the coupler and armature, movement of the coupler causing corresponding movement of the armature into and out of shorting relation with the switch contacts; and

a detent plate made of magnetic material, the detent plate having at least one depression engageable with the protrusion of the knob, the detent plate being attracted to the knob by the magnetic attraction between the coupler and detent plate.