Pushbutton switch with magnetically coupled armature

• US 5,990,772 A
• Filed: 09/25/1998
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• 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
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TUYEN T
• Application Number:
  US09/160,645
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 335/205, 335/206, 335/207, 335/4, 200/512, 200/519, 200/520, 200/521, 200/404
• US Class Current: 335/207
• 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 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 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

An electrical switch has a substrate with at least one pair of spaced switch contacts arranged to be shorted by an electrically conductive armature. The armature defines a central axis with first and second portions on either side of the axis which portions terminate at first and second edges. The armature is normally held spaced from the contacts by magnetic attraction to a coupler layer disposed in spaced relation to the substrate. The armature is movable by an actuating force to engagement with the substrate. The armature separates from the coupler layer by a double pivoting motion. An actuating force applied to the armature remote from its central axis causes one edge of the armature nearest the actuating force to break away from the coupler layer. The armature then pivots about the opposite edge of the armature until the one edge bottoms on the substrate. This is followed by the opposite edge of the armature breaking away from the coupler layer and pivoting about the one edge until the opposite edge bottoms on the substrate.

Claims

1. An electrical switch, comprising:

a substrate;

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

an actuator for selectively opening or closing the switch contacts, the actuator comprising a coupler layer supported in spaced relation to the switch contacts and an electrically conductive armature disposed between the coupler layer and the switch contacts, the armature defining a central axis with first and second portions on either side of said axis terminating at first and second edges, one of the coupler layer and armature being a permanent magnet and the other being made of magnetic material such that the armature is normally held spaced from the switch contacts in engagement with said coupler layer by the magnetic attraction between the coupler layer and armature; and

an aperture in the coupler layer, with the armature being disposed with respect to the aperture such that an actuating force exerted through the aperture will act on the armature at a point remote from its central axis thereby creating a moment on the armature about the edge of one of said first or second portions of the armature and causing the other of said first or second portions of the armature to release from the coupler layer by a pivoting motion about said edge of the one portion.

2. The switch of claim 1 wherein the armature further comprises a button upraised from the surface of the armature and extending at least partially through the aperture, the button being spaced from the coupler layer to preclude binding of the button in the aperture.

3. The switch of claim 1 wherein the electrodes define first and second pairs of switch contacts, the first contacts being located so as to be shorted by said other portion of the armature and the second contacts being located so as to be shorted by said one portion of the armature.

4. The switch of claim 1 wherein the coupler layer is a permanent magnet, and further comprising an overlay made at least partially of magnetic material and disposed on the coupler layer on the side opposite the armature, the overlay being retained by the magnetic attraction between the coupler layer and the overlay.

5. The switch of claim 4 wherein the overlay comprises a plastic sheet fixed to a metallic sheet.

6. The switch of claim 5 further comprising indicia formed on the plastic sheet and disposed above the aperture.

7. An electrical switch comprising a substrate and at least one pair of spaced switch contacts arranged to be shorted by an electrically conductive armature, the armature having a central axis with first and second portions on either side of said axis terminating at first and second edges, a coupler layer disposed in spaced relation to the substrate, one of the coupler layer and armature being a permanent magnet and the other being made of magnetic material, the armature being normally held in a first condition by magnetic attraction between the coupler layer and armature, the switch contacts being formed on one of the facing surfaces of the substrate or coupler layer, the armature being movable by an actuating force to a second condition in engagement with the substrate, the armature being arranged to separate from the coupler layer by a double pivoting motion wherein an actuating force applied to the armature remote from the central axis causes one edge of the armature nearest the actuating force to break away from the coupler layer and pivot about the opposite edge of the armature until said one edge bottoms on the substrate, followed by the opposite edge of the armature breaking away from the coupler layer and pivoting about said one edge until the opposite edge bottoms on the substrate, the armature shorting the switch contacts in one of said first or second conditions and opening the switch contacts in the other of said first or second conditions.

8. The switch of claim 7 wherein the switch contacts are formed on the substrate and define first and second pairs of switch contacts, the first contacts being located so as to be shorted by said one edge of the armature and the second contacts being located so as to be shorted by said opposite edge of the armature.

9. The switch of claim 7 further comprising an aperture in the coupler layer, with the armature being disposed with respect to the aperture such that an actuating force exerted through the aperture will act on the armature at a point remote from its central axis thereby creating a moment about said opposite edge of the armature and causing said one edge of the armature to release from the coupler layer by a pivoting motion about said opposite edge.

10. The switch of claim 9 wherein the armature further comprises a button upraised from the surface of the armature and extending at least partially through the aperture, the button being spaced from the coupler layer to preclude binding of the button in the aperture.

11. The switch of claim 7 wherein the coupler layer is a permanent magnet, and further comprising an overlay made at least partially of magnetic material and disposed on the coupler layer on the side opposite the armature, the overlay being retained by the magnetic attraction between the coupler layer and the overlay.

12. The switch of claim 11 wherein the overlay comprises a plastic sheet fixed to a metallic sheet.

13. The switch of claim 12 further comprising indicia formed on the plastic sheet and disposed above the aperture.

14. The switch of claim 12 further comprising an opening in the metallic sheet in the vicinity of the armature.