Sequentially operated membrane switches
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A membrane switch comprising:
- a membrane body having at least first and second flexing portions and at least first and second membrane contact members, said membrane body positioned adjacent circuit electric contact members associated with each of said first and second membrane contact members on said membrane body;
said first and second flexing portion normally biasing said first and second membrane contact members out of contact with said associated circuit electric contact members, and a force on said membrane switch first flexing said first flexing portion and causing said first membrane contact member to contact said associated circuit electric contact, said first membrane contact member contacting said associated circuit electric contact and causing actuation of a vehicle component to move in a first manner, and further insertion force causing said second flexing portion to flex and allow said second membrane contact member to contact its associated switch contact member said second membrane contact member contacting said associated switch contact member and causing a vehicle component to be actuated to move in a second manner which is distinct from said first manner; and
said second flexing portion requiring a greater insertion force to flex than said first flexing portion such that said first flexing portion moves initially to allow said first membrane contact to contact its associated circuit contact member.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An improved membrane switch includes multiple detents. A pair of electric circuits are completed by the membrane switch, and a pair of flexing portions are located on said membrane. A first flexing portion is overcome by a first lower insertion force to allow a first circuit to be complete, and a second flexing portion is only overcome by further insertion force. The second flexing portion is eventually overcome and completes a second circuit. The inventive membrane switch provides the operator with a clear indication and a detent feel for each of the two circuits.
56 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A membrane switch comprising:
-
a membrane body having at least first and second flexing portions and at least first and second membrane contact members, said membrane body positioned adjacent circuit electric contact members associated with each of said first and second membrane contact members on said membrane body; said first and second flexing portion normally biasing said first and second membrane contact members out of contact with said associated circuit electric contact members, and a force on said membrane switch first flexing said first flexing portion and causing said first membrane contact member to contact said associated circuit electric contact, said first membrane contact member contacting said associated circuit electric contact and causing actuation of a vehicle component to move in a first manner, and further insertion force causing said second flexing portion to flex and allow said second membrane contact member to contact its associated switch contact member said second membrane contact member contacting said associated switch contact member and causing a vehicle component to be actuated to move in a second manner which is distinct from said first manner; and said second flexing portion requiring a greater insertion force to flex than said first flexing portion such that said first flexing portion moves initially to allow said first membrane contact to contact its associated circuit contact member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of switching comprising the steps of:
-
providing a membrane switch having a first and second flexing portion and a first and second membrane electric contact, said membrane switch being positioned adjacent a circuit board, said circuit board being provided with associated circuit electric contacts for each of said first and second membrane contacts electric; providing an insertion force on said membrane to overcome said first flexing portion and cause said first membrane contact member to contact said associated circuit contact, said first membrane contact member contacting said associated contact member and causing a vehicle component to move in a first manner; providing further insertion force to overcome said second flexing area and cause said second membrane contact member to move into contact with said associated circuit contact on said circuit board, said second membrane contact member contacting its associated circuit contact and causing said vehicle component to move in a second manner which is distinct from said first manner. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A membrane switch comprising:
-
a membrane body having a first flexing portion positioned radially outwardly of a second flexing portion and a first electric membrane contact member positioned radially between said first and second flexing portions, a second electric membrane contact member positioned radially inwardly of said second flexing portion; a circuit board having first and second electric circuit contact members associated with said first and second electric membrane contact members, and positioned adjacent said membrane body, said first and second membrane contact members being normally biased away from said first and second circuit contact members by said flexing portions, and said first and second flexing portions having distinct insertion forces required to cause flexing such that upon the application of a first lower force, said first flexing portion is overcome and causes said first electric membrane contact member to move into contact with said first electric circuit contact, said first electric membrane contact contacting said first electric circuit contact causing a vehicle component to move in a first manner, while said second flexing portion still maintains said second electric membrane contact out of contact with said second electric circuit contact, and a further insertion force causing said second flexing portion to also flex and cause said second electric membrane contact member to contact said second electric circuit contact, said second electric membrane contact member contacting said second electric circuit contact causing the vehicle component to move in a second manner which is distinct from said first manner. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
Specification