Membrane switch

• US 7,348,513 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Wen-Kuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad; Elvin
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAROC, LHEIREN MAE ANGLO
• Application Number:
  US11/474,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20070144884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 200/512, 200513-517
• US Class Current: 200/512
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/703 characterised by spacers between contact carrying layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites

Abstract

A membrane switch solves the problem of requiring a spacing layer or spacers as in the prior art, and includes an upper membrane, a lower membrane. The upper membrane has an upper elastic tongue, an upper hollow portion formed around the upper elastic tongue, and a first conductive trace printed on a top surface of the upper membrane with a first contact formed on the upper elastic tongue. The lower membrane has a lower elastic tongue corresponding to the upper elastic tongue, a lower hollow portion formed around the lower elastic tongue, and a second conductive trace printed on a bottom surface of the lower membrane with a second contact on the lower elastic tongue. The lower elastic tongue penetrates through the upper hollow portion of the upper membrane and elastically extends above the upper elastic tongue. When the lower membrane is depressed, the second contact contacts the first contact.

Claims

1. A membrane switch, comprising:

an upper membrane, formed with an upper elastic tongue and an upper hollow portion along a periphery of said upper elastic tongue, said upper membrane printed with a first conductive trace on a top surface thereof, said first conductive trace extending to said upper elastic tongue; and

a lower membrane, formed with a lower elastic tongue corresponding to said upper elastic tongue and a lower hollow portion along a periphery of said lower elastic tongue, said lower membrane is printed with a second conductive trace on a bottom surface thereof, said second conductive trace extends to said lower elastic tongue, wherein said lower elastic tongue passes through said upper hollow portion of said upper membrane and is elastically extended above said upper elastic tongue, whereby

when said lower membrane is depressed, said second conductive trace of said lower membrane contacts said first conductive trace of said upper membrane.

2. The membrane switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper membrane and said lower membrane are made of an insulated material.

3. The membrane switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein said insulated material is Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and is mixed with a strengthening material.

4. The membrane switch as claimed in claim 3, wherein said strengthening material is fiberglass or a mineral substance.

5. The membrane switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper hollow portion and said lower hollow portion are U-shaped.

6. The membrane switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first conductive trace of said upper membrane is formed with a first contact on said upper elastic tongue, said second conductive trace of said lower membrane is formed with a second contact on said lower elastic tongue, when said lower membrane is depressed, said first contact contacts said second contact.

7. The membrane switch as claimed in claim 6, wherein said first contact and said second contact are mutually overlapped.

8. The membrane switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper elastic tongue is formed with a cutout at a free end thereof, said second conductive trace of said lower elastic tongue is disposed within said cutout, the free end of said upper elastic tongue forms two front edges at two sides of said cutout and abuts against said lower elastic tongue.

9. The membrane switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said lower elastic tongue extends above said upper elastic tongue and is oblique relative to said upper elastic tongue.

10. The membrane switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper elastic tongue and said lower elastic tongue are respectively formed with at least one orientating element.

11. The membrane switch as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a base board, said base board having a plurality of posts, said orientating elements being through holes, said posts passing through said corresponding holes.