Directionally sensitive switch

• US 6,069,552 A
• Filed: 06/02/1999
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1999
• 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): EASTHOM, KARL D
• Application Number:
  US09/324,567
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 200/511-512, 200/562, 200/6 A, 200/6 R, 200/514, 338/12, 338/92, 338/95, 338/97, 338/99, 338/118, 338/154, 338/47, 338/96, 273/148 B, 463/38, 335/205
• US Class Current: 338/92
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2025/043 the operating member being rotatable around wobbling axis for additional switching functions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/04 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/078 Variable resistance by variable contact area or point
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Abstract

An electrical switch has spaced, facing coupler and carrier layers with a set of electrodes formed on the facing surfaces thereof. There is an aperture in the coupler layer. A conductive armature is disposed in the space between the coupler and carrier, aligned with the aperture. The coupler is a magnet and the armature is made of magnetic material so the armature is normally held in engagement with the coupler. A user can press on any part of the armature through the aperture to cause a first portion of the armature to break away from the armature and contact the electrodes on the carrier while a second portion of the armature remains in contact with the coupler. The electrodes are arranged to provide an output which is dependent upon the location of contact with the armature.

Claims

1. An electrical switch, comprising:

a carrier having a part of a set of electrodes formed on at least one side thereof, the electrodes being arranged to produce different outputs when contacted in different locations;

a coupler layer adjacent said one side of the carrier;

a spacer separating the carrier and coupler and defining at least one cavity therein between the carrier and coupler; and

a conductive armature disposed in said cavity and having a rim, one of the coupler and armature being a magnet and the other being made of magnetic material such that the magnetic attraction between the coupler and armature normally holds at least the rim of the armature on the coupler in an open position, wherein the entire armature is spaced from the carrier, the armature being movable to a closed position, wherein a first portion of the rim contacts the electrodes and a second portion of the rim remains in contact with the coupler, the armature being arranged such that any portion of the rim can act as said first portion and any portion of the rim can act as said second portion, depending on the location of an actuating force on the armature.

2. The switch of claim 1 further comprising an aperture in the coupler layer aligned with the armature.

3. The switch of claim 2 wherein the armature further comprises a crown upstanding from the rim, the crown extending at least partially into the aperture in the coupler layer.

4. The switch of claim 3 wherein the crown has a frusto-conical cross section.

5. The switch of claim 1 further comprising a post between the armature and carrier.

6. The switch of claim 5 wherein the post comprises a pressure sensitive electrical switch.

7. The switch of claim 6 wherein the pressure sensitive switch comprises carbon particles in a rubber matrix.

8. The switch of claim 1 wherein the armature is generally circular.

9. The switch of claim 1 wherein the set of electrodes further comprises a conductor formed on the side of the coupler layer facing the cavity and in contact with the rim.

10. The switch of claim 9 further comprising an aperture in the coupler layer aligned with the armature and wherein said conductor surrounds said aperture.

11. The switch of claim 9 wherein the set of electrodes on the carrier comprises a resistive element.

12. An electrical switch which is closable by an actuating member, said switch comprising:

a carrier having a part of a set of electrodes formed on at least one side thereof, the electrodes being arranged to produce different outputs when contacted in different locations;

a coupler layer adjacent said one side of the carrier and having an aperture therein;

a spacer separating the carrier and coupler and defining at least one cavity therein between the carrier and coupler; and

a conductive armature in said cavity aligned with the aperture and having a rim engageable with the coupler, one of the coupler and armature being a magnet and the other being made of magnetic material such that the magnetic attraction between the coupler and armature normally holds the armature in an open position, wherein the entire armature is spaced from the carrier, the armature being movable, under the force of said actuating member acting through the aperture, from its open position to a closed position, wherein a first portion of the rim contacts the electrodes and a second portion of the rim remains in contact with the coupler, the entire rim being both engageable with and separable from the coupler such that any part of the rim can act as said first portion and any part of the rim can act as said second portion, depending on the location of contact between the actuating member and the armature.

13. The switch of claim 12 wherein the armature further comprises a crown upstanding from the rim, the crown extending at least partially into the aperture in the coupler layer.

14. The switch of claim 13 wherein the crown has a frusto-conical cross section.

15. The switch of claim 12 further comprising a post between the armature and carrier.

16. The switch of claim 15 wherein the post comprises a pressure sensitive electrical switch.

17. The switch of claim 16 wherein the pressure sensitive switch comprises carbon particles in a rubber matrix.

18. The switch of claim 12 wherein the armature is generally circular.

19. The switch of claim 12 wherein the set of electrodes further comprises a conductor formed on the side of the coupler layer facing the cavity.

20. The switch of claim 19 wherein said conductor surrounds said aperture.

21. The switch of claim 19 wherein the set of electrodes on the carrier comprises a resistive element.

22. An electrical switch which is closable by an actuating member, said switch comprising:

a carrier having a part of a set of electrodes formed on at least one side thereof, the electrodes being arranged to produce different outputs when contacted in different locations;

a coupler layer adjacent said one side of the carrier and having an aperture therein;

a spacer separating the carrier and coupler and defining at least one cavity therein between the carrier and coupler; and

a conductive armature in said cavity aligned with and at least partially spanning the aperture, one of the coupler and armature being a magnet and the other being made of magnetic material such that the magnetic attraction between the coupler and armature normally holds the armature in an open position, wherein the entire armature is spaced from the carrier, the armature being movable under the influence of an actuating force imparted by said actuating member on a first portion of the armature which creates a moment about a second portion of the armature, thereby causing the armature to tilt from its open position to a closed position, wherein said first portion of the armature contacts the electrodes and said second portion of the armature remains in contact with the coupler, the aperture being large enough relative to the actuating member to allow the actuating member to selectably move all portions of the armature at its periphery into contact with the electrodes.

23. The switch of claim 22 wherein the armature comprises a rim engageable with the coupler layer and a crown upstanding from the rim, the crown extending at least partially into the aperture in the coupler layer.

24. The switch of claim 23 wherein the crown has a frusto-conical cross section.

25. The switch of claim 22 further comprising a post between the armature and carrier.

26. The switch of claim 25 wherein the post comprises a pressure sensitive electrical switch.

27. The switch of claim 26 wherein the pressure sensitive switch comprises carbon particles in a rubber matrix.

28. The switch of claim 22 wherein the armature is generally circular.

29. The switch of claim 22 wherein the set of electrodes further comprises a conductor formed on the side of the coupler layer facing the cavity.

30. The switch of claim 29 wherein said conductor surrounds said aperture.

31. The switch of claim 29 wherein the set of electrodes on the carrier comprises a resistive element.

32. An electrical switch which is closable by an actuating member, said switch comprising:

a membrane switch having a flexible membrane and a substrate separated by a spacer having a first aperture therein, and a set of electrodes formed on facing surfaces of the membrane and substrate in the area of the first aperture, the membrane being movable through the first aperture to open and close the electrodes;

a coupler layer adjacent the membrane and having a second aperture therein;

a spacer separating the membrane and coupler and defining at least one cavity therein between the membrane and coupler; and

an armature in said cavity aligned with the second aperture and engageable with the coupler one of the coupler and armature being a magnet and the other being made of magnetic material such that the magnetic attraction between the coupler and armature normally holds the armature in an open position, wherein the entire armature is spaced from the membrane, the armature being movable, under the force of said actuating member acting through the second aperture, from its open position to a closed position, wherein a first portion of the armature anywhere at its periphery contacts and closes the membrane switch and a second portion of the armature anywhere at its periphery remains in contact with the coupler.

33. The switch of claim 32 wherein the electrodes are arranged to produce different outputs when actuated in different locations.

34. The switch of claim 32 wherein the armature comprises a rim, the entire rim being both engageable with and separable from the coupler such that any part of the rim can act as said first portion and any part of the rim can act as said second portion, depending on the location of contact between the actuating member and the armature.