Illuminated industrial membrane switch
US4350857A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 3, 1980 |
| Grant date | Sep 21, 1982 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 3, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H13/023
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An electrical switch is provided with a switch operator having a resilient pad on its distal end, the operator being mounted for axial movement in an operator housing to actuate contacts deposited in a double spiral pattern on a substrate coupled to the operator housing. The operator tip is moved first to contact the front side of a flexible membrane which has a conductive shorting patch on its back side, and which is separated from the contacts by a spacer. The operator pad is then moved further to deflect the membrane and close the gap formed between the shorting patch and the switch contacts, the travel of the operator and the action of the pad providing a sensation of feel to the user. The switch is constructed in single units and in arrays, and a lighting circuit is added by forming a bulb socket in the switch operator with spring tipped contact members that engage lighting terminals in an individual switch on lighting contact areas on the front side of a membrane used in the array.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.