Abstract:
A push-button switch includes insulating member having a surface, first and second stationary contacts electrically isolated from each other and provided at the surface of the insulating substrate, and a movable contact. The movable contact includes an elastic metal base having a dome-shape and having a concave surface spaced from the first stationary contact and an outer rim mounted on the second stationary contact, a nickel plated layer provided on the concave surface of the elastic metal base and having a thickness ranging from 0.05 μm to 0.5 μm, a copper plated layer provided on the nickel plated layer and having a thickness ranging from 0.05 μm to 0.7 μm, and a silver plated layer provided on the copper plated layer and having a thickness ranging from 0.1 μm to 2 μm. The push-button switch has a long operating life time, has a stable contact resistance, and is inexpensive.
Abstract:
A push-button switch includes insulating member having a surface, first and second stationary contacts electrically isolated from each other and provided at the surface of the insulating substrate, and a movable contact. The movable contact includes an elastic metal base having a dome-shape and having a concave surface spaced from the first stationary contact and an outer rim mounted on the second stationary contact, a nickel plated layer provided on the concave surface of the elastic metal base and having a thickness ranging from 0.05 μm to 0.5 μm, a copper plated layer provided on the nickel plated layer and having a thickness ranging from 0.05 μm to 0.7 μm, and a silver plated layer provided on the copper plated layer and having a thickness ranging from 0.1 μm to 2 μm. The push-button switch has a long operating life time, has a stable contact resistance, and is inexpensive.
Abstract:
A keyboard assembly incorporating multiple lighting modalities is disclosed herein. In one lighting mode, discrete indicator lights are embedded in the actuator keys to signify the state of an associated function. In a second mode, a plurality of legends, each sufficiently proximate to an associated function actuator key, are illuminated. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, function indicator lights in the actuator keys provide real-time user feedback such that scrolling through numerous display screen menus to determine availability of a desired function may be eliminated. Further, the backlit actuator legends enhances usability of system in low light clinical environments during ultrasound exams making the function actuator keys easy to locate. In addition, the backlit legends increases the contrast in high ambient light environments for improved readability. The combination of design features disclosed provides a relatively inexpensive, long lasting keyboard assembly that provides improved user feedback for more efficient operation.
Abstract:
A sheet switch comprises a pair of flexible insulative films, one of which is provided with a plurality of electrodes, resistances connected to the electrodes, respectively, and line patterns for externally connecting the electrodes via the resistances. The other insulative film is also provided with a plurality of second electrodes at positions corresponding to the first electrodes, respectively, and a space is defined between each of the facing electrodes. The line pattern is a laminated structure consisting of an underlayer formed of a low resistance paste and an upper layer formed of a high resistance paste coated over the underlayer. The underlayer formed of a low resistance paste is partially disconnected to define a gap, so that the resistance is formed integrally with the upper layer formed of a high resistance paste at a position corresponding to the gap.
Abstract:
An open-contact membrane switch element (1,2) comprising a plastic film substrate (10) carrying a first conductive circuit (13), a dielectric coating (30) applied to cover the circuit (13) on the substrate (10) in a pattern defining uncoated zones (31,32,34) around each contact (14-17) of the circuit (13), and a second conductive circuit (35) applied on the dielectric coating (30) and having conductive tracks (36,37) electrically interconnected at the uncoated zones (31,32,34) to portions of the contacts (14-17) of the first conductive circuit (13).
Abstract:
Disclosed is a data entry keyboard which has a multitude of depressible keys which are selectively depressed for the entry of predetermined data. In the keyboard, an insulating member is sandwiched between a first substrate having stationary electrodes and a flexible second substrate having movable electrodes. The stationary and movable electrodes face one another through apertures formed in the insulating member. Upper and lower marginal surface portions of the insulating member, including the respective peripheral edges of the apertures, are kept parallel to the first and second substrates corresponding thereto by a plurality of protuberances on the substrates so that voids with a predetermined width are left between the marginal surface portions and the individual substrates. The movable electrodes of the second substrate are electrically fixed, in the form of a cantilever each, to the extreme end portions of branch conductor strips which diverge from a main conductor strip at right angles thereto. When one of the keys is depressed, the second substrate is deformed to narrow the corresponding void, thus bringing the corresponding movable and stationary electrodes into contact with each other.
Abstract:
A membrane switch comprises an insulating substrate on the surface of which thin-film-like electrodes are formed with a connecting lug section provided integrally at one end of the substrate. Thin-film-like conductive layers continuing from the electrodes are extending up to the connecting lug section and the extended end portions of the conductive layers compose a connecting terminal section.
Abstract:
A pressure-sensitive element for use in a keyboard switch etc., comprising a conductive porous material which is rugged, an elastic insulator which bulges more than convex parts of the conductive porous material without covering the convex parts, and a conductive layer which opposes to the conductive porous material through the elastic insulator. When no pressure is applied, openings are formed between the convex parts of the conductive porous material and the conductive layer through the elastic insulator, whereby the pressure-sensitive element is in its nonconductive state. When a pressure is applied, the elastic insulator is deformed to bring the convex part of the conductive porous material into contact with the conductive layer, whereby the pressure-sensitive element is brought into its conductive state.
Abstract:
A keyboard for a musical instrument having a plurality of elongated keys with each key having a rearwardly extending actuating arm. The arm has an upper and a lower nonresilient switch actuator for actuating a respective first and second keyboard switch with each switch having a substrate with at least one fixed contact. A deformable membrane has coupled thereto a movable contact which is adapted for movement into and out of electrical connection with the fixed contact. The first and second switches are positioned so that the lower actuator normally maintains closed the first switch and when the key is actuated the first switch opens and the upper actuator closes the second switch. The deformable membrane is formed of Poron cellular urethane which distributes and absorbs the actuation force and springs back to its undeformed shape when not actuated.
Abstract:
An electrical touch switch having a printed circuit baseboard with two circuit patterns electrically isolated and spaced a predetermined distance from one another has a contactor having a resiliently flexible substrate with a plurality of small contactor dots positioned randomly with respect to the circuit patterns, each contactor dot is sufficiently large to span across the spacing between the circuit patterns and depression of any one of these dots against the circuit patterns will provide continuity between the circuit patterns; the contactor substrate also has embedded structural fibers which span across the contactor dots.