Sequentially operated membrane switches

• US 5,717,176 A
• Filed: 07/17/1996
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Incorporated (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Automotive, Inc. (Lear Corporation)
• Inventors: Dahlstrom, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Application Number:
  US08/680,623
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 200/1 R, 200/1 B, 200/5 A, 200/5 R, 200/512-517, 200/275
• US Class Current: 200/1.00B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/64 wherein the switch has more than two electrically distinguishable positions, e.g. multi-position push-button switches
• 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 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/018 Consecutive operations

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.

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.

2. A membrane switch as recited in claim 1, wherein said second membrane contact member is positioned radially inwardly of said first membrane contact member.

3. A membrane switch as recited in claim 2, wherein said first flexing area is radially outward of said first membrane contact member.

4. A membrane switch as recited in claim 3, wherein said second flexing area is radially between said first and second membrane contact members.

5. A membrane switch as recited in claim 1, wherein a button face is formed on said membrane body in a generally central location, said button face providing an operator with a location to apply an insertion force.

6. A membrane switch as recited in claim 5, wherein said second membrane contact member is aligned with a center of said button face.

7. A membrane switch as recited in claim 1, wherein said circuit electric contact members are mounted on a circuit board.

8. A membrane switch as recited in claim 1, wherein the vehicle component is a vehicle window.

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.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the vehicle component is a vehicle window.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the actuation of said first membrane contact causing said window to move in a first manner is used to move a window to be fully closed or fully opened, and the actuation of a second membrane contact member to cause the window to move in a second manner is utilized to allow an operator to stop the movement at an intermediate position by releasing said switch.

12. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein said second flexing portion requiring a greater insertion force to flex in said first flexing portion such that said first flexing portion first moves to allow said first membrane contact to contact its associated circuit contact member.

13. A membrane switch as recited in claim 12, wherein the actuation of said first membrane contact causing said window to move in a first manner is used to move a window to be fully closed or fully opened, and the actuation of a second membrane contact member to cause the window to move in a second manner is utilized to allow an operator to stop the movement at an intermediate position by releasing said switch.

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.

15. A membrane switch as recited in claim 14, wherein the actuation of said first membrane contact causing said window to move in a first manner is used to move a window to be fully closed or fully opened, and the actuation of a second membrane contact member to cause the window to move in a second manner is utilized to allow an operator to stop the movement at an intermediate position by releasing said switch.

16. A membrane switch as recited in claim 14, wherein the vehicle component is a vehicle window.