Abstract:
A commutating circuit breaker that progressively inserts increasing resistance into a circuit via physical motion of a shuttle that is linked into the circuit by at least one set of sliding electrical contacts on the shuttle that connect the power through the moving shuttle to a sequence of different resistive paths with increasing resistance; the motion of the shuttle can be either linear or rotary. At no point are the sliding stator electrodes separated from the matching stationary stator electrodes so as to generate a powerful arc, which minimizes damage to the sliding stator electrodes. Instead, the current is commutated from one resistive path to the next with small enough changes in resistance at each step that arcing is suppressed. The variable resistance can either be within the moving shuttle, or the shuttle can comprise a commutating shuttle that moves the current over a series of stationary resistors.
Abstract:
A contact structure for a switch that ensures stable electrical connection. The contact structure includes a substrate. A first fixed contact and a second fixed contact are arranged on the substrate and spaced from each other. An elastically deformable movable contact engages and disengages the first and second fixed contacts. The movable contact includes a recess. A conductive member is arranged on the movable contact for electrically connecting the first and second fixed contacts when the movable contact engages the first and second fixed contacts.
Abstract:
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the snap actuator is an angled magnetically permeable plate. One leg of the angled plate is attracted to a strip magnet placed on a circuitboard. This particular portion of the plate also has two spring fingers that make contact with spherical or domed contacts on the circuitboard or, in the alternative, have formed dome portions in the end of each finger for contacting flat contacts on the circuitboard so that a wiping action that is resistant to contamination results. The other leg of the angled plate serves as a lever arm to which key button pressure is applied. The angle between the plates or the edge of the strip magnet serves as a fulcrum for pivoting the plate under the influence of key pressure. When key pressure has built up sufficiently, the magnetic attraction is substantially broken and the angled plate is suddenly released, thereby breaking contact with the circuit contacts and allowing the circuit voltage to be sensed.
Abstract:
A push-button switch using one dome sheet of plastics with an electrode on one face and a second flat sheet of plastics with an electrode on the face opposite the first one. Between the sheets and below the second one plates of rigid material with holes below the dome are arranged. When the button is depressed the dome snaps over to the other side of the plastic sheet and the electrode contacts the electrode on the flat plastic sheet. By the hole in the plate below the flat sheet a chatter-proof contact is established.
Abstract:
A tactile switch plate for a keyboard member has a planar body portion provided with a plurality of outwardly deformed carrier portions corresponding in number and spacing to the number and spacing of the keys of the keyboard. Each of the carrier portions is resiliently flexible for movement toward the plane of the body and each carrier portion carries a preferably elastomeric switching member that is adapted to bridge the conductors and establish an electrical circuit between the conductors. The plate and switching members are produced by a molding process and the elastomeric switching members are cured by heat.
Abstract:
A push button switch has a spring contact plate and a circuit board in superposed position. The spring contact plate has one or more switch positions, each switch position comprising a prestressed domed portion surrounded by a flat sheet portion. The domed portion includes a central portion and radial webs connecting the central portion to the flat sheet portion. Spring contacts extend radially from the central portion, each contact between a pair of webs. The domed portion is prestressed to assume a stable position offset upwards from a plane coincident with the flat sheet portion, and the webs each have an upwardly bent portion at the junction with the flat sheet portion. A push button acts on the central portion and pressure on the push button causes the central portion to snap through the plane of the flat sheet portion, with the spring contacts contacting contact areas on the circuit board. Release of the push button enables the domed portion to snap back to the stable position.
Abstract:
A switching device having a movable contact element characterized by a set of unconnected, curved slots radiating outward from a central key area and equally spaced around the central key area. The radially extending unconnected, curved slots may be sections of a spiral, at least some of which sections overlap each other. Adjustment of the spring rate of the movable contact element is accomplished by adjusting the length of the slots or by regulating the distance of the inner terminus of the slots from a central point of the central key area. The movable contact element either contacts a second contact element for contact switching or approaches the second contact element for capacitive switching.A plurality of the switching elements can be formed in a planar array on a continuous metallic substrate to provide a keyboard. The movable switching elements can be formed on the metallized areas of a printed circuit board.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a contact structure of a switch capable of obtaining stable conduction. SOLUTION: The switch 1 has a first fixed contact 11 and second fixed contact 12 disposed separated each other on an insulator 10, and an elastically deformable movable contact 13 disposed to be connected or disconnected to both the first and second fixed contact 11 and 12. The first and second fixed contacts 11 and 12 contact to the movable contact 13 to electrically conducting therebetween through a metal wire 15 disposed on the movable contact 13. The movable contact 13 has a first contact face 13a contacting to the first fixed contact 11, and a second contact face 13b contacting to the second fixed contact 12. A recess 14 is formed to separate the first contact face 13a from the second contact face 13b. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI