Patent · US Expired

Tactile sensor, in particular for electrical equipment

US6003390A · kind A · utility

56Cited by
12References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 25, 1997
Grant dateDec 21, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 25, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH03K17/9643
  • WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A tactile sensor includes, under a control key accessible to the user, at least one piezo-electric member which is responsive through the control key to any depression of the latter. For connecting it to an electrical circuit of any kind, the piezo-electric member is sandwiched between a top or forward metal electrode to which it is attached and a bottom or rearward metal electrode which is attached to a support of any kind. For holding the piezo-electric member in place relative to the support of the bottom electrode, the top electrode is fixed to the support by at least one fixing point. Applications include controlling various devices such as on/off switches, changeover switches, dimmers or keypads.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.