Membrane switch

• US 6,600,121 B1
• Filed: 11/19/2001
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ThinkLogix, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Think Outside Incorporated (iGo, Inc.)
• Inventors: Olodort, Robert, Tang, John, Cazalet, Peter M.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUEBKE, RENEE S
• Application Number:
  US09/989,831
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 200/343, 200/516, 200/406, 200/512
• US Class Current: 200/516
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/036 Return force
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2227/036 Minimise height
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2235/01 Spiral spring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/125 using a scissor mechanism as stabiliser

Abstract

A spring coupled to a multi-layered flex membrane is described. In one embodiment, the spring may be a layer coupled to the top layer of a key switch membrane. In another embodiment, the spring may be coupled to the key switch between a top layer and a spacer layer. The spring or spring layer may increase the resiliency of the key switch membrane to prevent the flex membrane from deforming.

Claims

1. A key switch, comprising:

a multi-layer flex membrane having a top side and a bottom side; and

a spring coupled to the flex membrane, the spring to increase a resiliency of the flex membrane, wherein the spring comprises a ring portion and a beam to extend across a diameter of the ring portion.

2. A key switch, comprising:

a flex membrane, comprising;

a base layer having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a first conductive trace along the top surface of the base layer;

a top layer having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a second conductive trace along the bottom surface of the top layer; and

a spacer layer disposed between the base layer and the top layer, the spacer layer having an opening to expose the first conductive trace to the second conductive trace; and

a spring disposed between the top layer and the spacer layer, wherein the spring increases a resiliency of the flex membrane.

3. A key switch, comprising:

a flex membrane, comprising;

a base layer having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a first conductive trace along the top surface of the base layer;

a top layer having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a second conductive trace along the bottom surface of the top layer; and

a spacer layer disposed between the base layer and the top layer, the spacer layer having an opening to expose the first conductive trace to the second conductive trace; and

a spring coupled to the flex membrane, the spring to increase a resiliency of the flex membrane, wherein the spring comprises a ring portion and a beam to extend across a diameter of the ring portion.

4. A flex membrane, comprising:

a base layer having a first conductive trace with a first contact region near a center of the base layer;

a top layer having a second conductive trace with a second contact region near a center of the top layer;

a spacer layer disposed between the base layer and the top layer, the spacer layer having an opening to expose the first contact region of the first conductive trace to the second contact region of the second conductive trace; and

a spring coupled to the top layer, the spring to increase a resiliency of the top layer, wherein the spring comprises a ring portion and a beam to extend across a length of the ring portion.