Abstract: In an interlock switch used with an electrical appliance such as a microwave oven. The interlock switch has a housing having an interior front wall, and a plurality of conductive switch elements. A pair of barriers define a pair of gaps with the interior front wall for mounting a buss, comprising a first segment, formed integrally with one of the conductive switch elements, and a second segment, formed integrally with another one of the conductive switch elements.

Abstract: A capacitive or a membrane switch is provided with a coil spring which has a conical base and a top cylindrical portion. The spring biases a switch key to its rest position. When the key is pressed, the conical base is compressed to provide an exponentially increasing counter-force and to actuate the switch at a predetermined actuation point. After the switch is actuated, the key continues to move and compresses the cylindrical portion of the spring to provide a linearly increasing counter-force which indicates overtravel operation of the switch.

Abstract: An interlock switch used with an electrical appliance such as a microwave oven. The interlock switch includes a cantilevered common switch element, and two other switch elements mounted on opposite sides of the common switch elements. When the appliance door is closed, the common switch element makes contact with the switch elements on one side and breaks contact with the switch element on the other side.

Abstract: An interlock switch used with an electrical appliance such as a microwave oven. The interlock switch comprises a housing having a plurality of conductive swtich elements operated by an actuator. At least two of the conductive switch elements are biased in opposite directions, thereby reducing the force that would otherwise be needed to operate the actuator.

Abstract: A gas discharge display has been disclosed in which a heater has been built into the unit. A single set of parallel conductive pins provide the connections for the unit's anode, cathode and heater strip.

Abstract: A pattern of transparent conductive material, such as tin oxide, is formed on a transparent vitreous substrate using a polycrystalline material, such as cadmium or zinc sulfide, to mask the substrate surface while depositing material forming the transparent conductive layer. The polycrystalline material and any overlying transparent conductive material are easily removed by a chemical etch, leaving the desired pattern of transparent conductive material adhering to the substrate. Two electrically conductive patterns may be formed in intersecting relationship and isolated, one from the other. The degree of electrical connection between the two patterns will be a function of the resistance of the polycrystalline material therebetween at points of crossing. In some instances, electroluminescence may be obtained by selecting the proper crystalline material wherein an electrical display may be created by selectively energizing crossing electrical conductors.

Abstract: A low profile switch key has a base which slidingly supports a pushbutton. The pushbutton is slidingly engaged with a plunger body by a lost motion connection. The plunger body carries cams which control the flexing of contactors to make and break conductive connections with adjacent stationary contacts. A coil spring biases the pushbutton upwardly to its rest position. The sliding lost motion between the pushbutton and plunger body allows the pushbutton to slide by itself over an initial pretravel interval when it is pressed. At the end of the pretravel interval, the pushbutton strikes the plunger body and carries the body downward to complete the key stroke. The plunger body resists sliding movement and therefore provides a perceptible pressure point which indicates actuation of the switch. The stationary contacts and associated overlying cams are interlocked when the pushbutton is depressed to provide a relatively low switch profile with respect to the length of the key stroke.

Abstract: A capacitive switch employs a conical conducting spring disposed within a switch housing in spaced relation to an underlying capacitive plate which is covered by a dielectric layer. The bottom coil of the spring engages slots of the housing so that the spring is held above the capacitive plate. A substantially zero capacitance is defined when the switch is in its rest state with the spring biasing a switch pushbutton upwardly. When the pushbutton is pressed, the spring is compressed against the underlying capacitive plate. The compressed coils of the spring define a predefined capacitance which indicates the depressed condition of the switch.

Abstract: A tactile feedback switch having a contactor element having a curvilinear portion which temporarily changes from a substantially convex shape to a substantially concave shape upon movement of the contactor element into engagement with an electrical contact. An indentation in the contactor element reduces the force otherwise needed to be applied to the top portion of the contactor element in order to maintain the contactor element in engagement with the electrical contact.

Abstract: An improved capacitive keyboard includes a plurality of switch keys that each define a minimum capacitance when in a fully extended rest state and a maximum capacitance when pressed. Each switch key has a plunger mechanism that compresses a capacitive spring when the key is pressed and releases the spring when the key is released. Each capacitive spring is affixed in operational orientation over an associated capacitive pad by soldering areas of the base coil of the spring to adjacent plated holes in a supporting printed circuit board. In operation, molten solder is applied at the underside of the printed circuit board and passes up through the plated holes by capillary action to contact the base coil of the spring. The hardened solder holds the spring in its operational position on the printed circuit board and conductively contacts the spring with an output terminal of the board.

Abstract: A gaseous display panel having a base plate and a face plate is disclosed. A plurality of groups of cathode segments are disposed on the base plate, and a plurality of anodes are disposed on the face plate. Each anode has a plurality of electrically conductive web portions extending across at least one of the cathode segments, the anodes, including the web portions, being deposited onto the face plate simultaneously with the application of a conductive layer used to outline the anode.

Abstract: An improved lighted key assembly includes ridges located adjacent to the base and a ledge above the base. An LED, supported by the ledge, has leads which are mounted against the ridges so that an intermediate portion of the leads is bent around the bottom of the ridges. When mounted to the printed circuit board of a keyboard, the intermediate portions of the leads are in physical contact with contact pads on the printed circuit board to pass electrical current from the contact pads, through the leads, to the LED.

Abstract: A snap action double throw switch has a dome-shaped switching element which is responsive to a downward pressure to flex downwardly into conductive contact with an underlying contact element. When pressure is removed, the dome snaps back to a stable position and thereby breaks contact with the contact element. In the stable position a spring arm of the dome element presses the top surface of the dome against an overlying conducting plate.

Abstract: A power mirror remote control switch includes a switch body which supports a printed circuit board and two stacked, insulated levels of conducting terminal fingers which extend over the board. A four-way position control key overhangs the terminal fingers. The control key is pressed to flex selected terminals into conductive contact with underlying portions of the printed circuit board, thereby establishing conductive connections for energizing motors which rotate or tilt at least two power mirrors. A sliding switch is provided to define which one of the two mirrors is to be moved in the direction defined by the position control key.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a sintered electrical contact having a contacting surface defining a plurality of voids is disclosed. The voids contain a corrosion retarding fluid which passes onto the contacting surface upon being worn down upon repeated engagement with a conductive element.

Abstract: In display panels consisting of an envelope formed by a face plate and a base plate sealed together and filled with a gas suitable for supporting cathode glow, and having masking of the sealing material within the envelope to prevent spurious reflection therefrom.

Abstract: An encoding switch generates selected patterns of voltage signals that correspond to the binary bits of a code word. A base of the switch supports a plurality of pairs of terminals. Each pair of terminals includes a conducting stationary terminal and a conducting moveable terminal that is positioned adjacent to the stationary terminal. An encoding module is inserted over the base to define a particular pattern of voltage signals. The module has a plurality of selectively detachable tabs that engage the movable terminals and press the terminals against adjacent stationary terminals when the module is slidingly engaged with the body. Relatively long tabs of the module establish connections corresponding to the data bits of a word and at least one short tab establishes a power connection for the switch.

Abstract: An improved lighted coding switch generates binary coded signals corresponding to selected numerals that are displayed in a window of the switch. The numerals are inscribed on a translucent peripheral wall of an encoding wheel that brushes switch contacts against a printed circuit board to define binary signals as the wheel rotates. When the wheel is at rest, a particular numeral is displayed in the window of the switch and the switch contacts of the wheel define an associated binary coded signal. The symbol that is positioned in the window is illuminated by a light emitting diode that is positioned to irradiate a portion of an annular area defined between the peripheral wall of the wheel and an inner hub of the wheel. The LED is inserted into the switch through an aperture in a back wall and the power wires of the LED are inserted through another aperture in the wall and are conductively connected to upstanding pins of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: The invention relates to a push-button or key switch comprising at least one contact member stationary in a case and a switch blade whose contact tongue is resiliently pivotal from one switching position into another switching position by means of a key push member supported on a return spring.

Abstract: An inertia switch including a cone-shaped inertia mass element movable from a stable condition wherein it supports a movable switch plunger in a position for maintaining a pair of switch blades in an open condition, into a collapsed condition in response to an impact bringing about an abrupt change in movement. In the collapsed condition the inertia mass will be out of its plunger supporting position allowing the same to activate the switch by permitting the switch blades to close.