Keyboards incorporating keys pivotable against biased detent means to operate electrical switches
US4472610A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 21, 1983 |
| Grant date | Sep 18, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2239/024
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A keyboard, particularly for control of electronics in vehicles, has at least one key mounted in a recess in the keyboard and pivotable about a pivot to press against a shaped portion of a rubber gasket to operate an electrical switch. A display, preferably a multiple character LCD, for labellingthe switch is visible through a transparent member and connected to a p.c.b. by zebra striped members. The display is not obscured by a finger operating the key. The key has a transverse bore in which a compression spring is mounted with balls at the end of the spring to co-operate with stepped generally cylindrical members mounted with their axes perpendicular to the pivot pin and forming detent means to give the key a tactile operation. Preferably the key operates three switches by way of three shaped portions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.