Including Auxiliary Dome/disc Type Spring Patents (Class 200/516)
-
Patent number: 7994445Abstract: A sheet switch module including a sheet switch (21) having a central contact (32) disposed on a circuit board (33), a circumferential contact (20) disposed circumferentially of the central contact (32), a spring (22) disposed above the central contact (32), and a transparent sheet member (23) configured to cover the spring (22), the sheet switch (21) forming a switching circuit such that the spring (22) provides electrical conduction between the central contact (32) and the circumferential contact (20) when the sheet member is pressed, the sheet member (23) being formed by a light guiding sheet (30) configured to guide light emitted from an LED (34) along an upper surface of the spring (22).Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2006Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenshi Aihara, Isao Miyashita
-
Publication number: 20110180379Abstract: A switch module with lighted key has a cover sheet having an adhesive layer on a rear surface, a dome-shaped contact spring adhered on a rear surface of the cover sheet by the adhesive layer, a substrate including a fixed contact switched to an electrically conducted state or an insulated state with the contact spring, and a light guide sheet arranged on a front surface side of the cover sheet. One or more recesses are formed in a region facing the contact spring of at least one of a front surface and a rear surface of the light guide sheet so as not to penetrate toward a surface on an opposite side.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2009Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: OMRON CORPORATIONInventors: Yoshimasa Osumi, Tomonobu Kato, Katsuyuki Tsukiyama, Mitsuru Okuda
-
Publication number: 20110155554Abstract: A push button switch using a metal dome is provided that can ensure stable contact between the metal dome and fixed electrodes without using a through-hole in a PCB, can maintain the stable contact even after being operated many times, and can be obtained at low cost. The push button switch includes: a central electrode to which a circuit trace is connected without using a through-hole and with which the apex of the metal dome comes into contact when the push button switch is depressed; and an annular electrode with which the outer circumference of the metal dome is in contact. These fixed electrodes are printed with a conductive ink on the PCB, and the springy metal dome is placed over these fixed electrodes. The structure of the printed layers is identical over the entire region of the annular electrode with which region the metal dome is in contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2010Publication date: June 30, 2011Applicant: SMK CORPORATIONInventors: Yasutaka KATAOKA, Kazutomo MAESHIMA
-
Patent number: 7960663Abstract: A luminous switch using an inorganic EL material is provided with a plurality of switch sections so as to reduce acoustic noise. The switch sections are provided with a plurality of protruding parts (112) and a plurality of supporting sections (113) formed on a surface of a structure (101); an elastic deformable conductor (124) arranged to have a convex surface opposed the protruding parts (112); a wiring sheet (102A) for covering the conductor (124); a luminous sheet (160) for covering the wiring sheet (102A); and a plurality of switch buttons (125) arranged above the luminous sheet (160). The luminous switch has a structure in which at least two supporting sections (113) are arranged around the protruding parts (112), and a space (111) is formed between the protruding parts (112) and a switch sheet (102). The conductor (124) is accommodated in the space (111). In a case main body (101), an electronic component (103) is mounted and a substrate (104) provided with wiring is arranged.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2007Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Takaaki Yoshihiro
-
Patent number: 7960667Abstract: A movable contact element includes a cover sheet to which a movable contact having a dome shape is bonded and which is stacked on a top surface of a pressure sensitive conductive sheet. The movable contact element is bonded to a top surface of a substrate having a fixed contact formed thereon, thereby forming a switch. Through the construction, it is possible to obtain the movable contact element, which has a simple construction and can perform various operations, and the switch using the same.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2008Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Satoshi Yoshihara, Tamotsu Yamamoto, Masaki Sawada
-
Publication number: 20110079496Abstract: This is directed to a dome switch that may prevent liquid from coming into contact with circuit elements of the switch. A deformable dome may include a conductive inner surface region and may be placed over a conductive contact pad such that the dome may deform and the conductive elements may contact each other. At least one sheath may be positioned between the conductive region of the dome and the contact pad positioned below the dome for preventing liquid external to the one or more sheaths from contacting the conductive portions of the switch. In some embodiments, a first sheath may be coupled to the inner surface of the dome about the conductive inner surface region and a second sheath may be coupled to a mounting surface about the conductive contact pad, such that when a user deforms the dome, one of the sheaths may extend into the other sheath.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2009Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Gloria Lin, Bruno Germansderfer
-
Patent number: 7915556Abstract: An input panel for a portable electronic device including a switch sheet, a touch-sensing sheet and an interposing sheet is provided. The switch sheet includes a circuit board and at least one dome switch. The circuit board has at least one contact pad, and the dome switch is disposed on the contact pad. The touch-sensing sheet is disposed on the switch sheet for sensing a touch action. The interposing sheet is disposed between the switch sheet and the touch-sensing sheet. The touch-sensing sheet contacts the dome switch when the touch-sensing sheet is pressed, so that the dome switch is deformed elastically to switch on the contact pad.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2008Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: HTC CorporationInventor: Tsung-Yuan Ou
-
Patent number: 7910851Abstract: Disclosed is a printed circuit board configured for a dome-utilizing keypad configuration including at least one padstack having a plurality of dome switch targets and a plurality of target rings capable of accommodating different key dome locations of a dome keypad. Also disclosed is a padstack capable of accommodating different key dome locations. The disclosed padstack has a single dome switch targets input/output line for the plurality of dome switch targets of the padstack. The padstack also includes a single target rings input/output line for the plurality of target rings of the pad stack. In this way the disclosed printed circuit board includes a single circuit arrangement available for a plurality of different key pad designs.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.Inventors: Mark D Janninck, Alden R Alviar, Kenneth W Carlson
-
Patent number: 7902474Abstract: A portable electronic device may have an inverted dome switch assembly. The switch assembly may have an inverted dome that has a base and a conductive underside. The base may be attached to a button member. Two electrical contacts in the button member may face the conductive underside. Corresponding conductive traces may be connected to the contacts. The dome may bear against a housing member. The button member may be movable with respect to the housing member from an unactuated position to an actuated position. The dome switch may form a footprint based upon the dome base area. The housing member may extend into a portion of the footprint and not into the remaining portion of the footprint allowing that space to be otherwise utilized.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2008Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Adam D. Mittleman, Robert Scritzky, Bradley Hamel
-
Patent number: 7897889Abstract: A movable contact element including a lower sheet having a bottom surface, to which a substantially dome-shaped movable contact is bonded, is provided. The movable contact is made of a conductive thin metal plate, and an upper sheet with a light reflection property is disposed above the lower sheet. A space is formed between the lower sheet and the upper sheet, and a light transmitting portion is provided at the upper sheet. Light of a light emitting element from the side surface of the sheet propagates through the space between the upper sheet and the lower sheet with a light reflection property, while being reflected in a vertical direction, and lighting is performed through the light transmitting portions. Such a structure can perform lighting without unevenness by using one or two light emitting elements.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2008Date of Patent: March 1, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yousuke Chikahisa, Koji Tanabe
-
Patent number: 7888613Abstract: In an embodiment, a membrane switch may include a flexible light guide having a first refractive index. The flexible light guide may include a first wall, an opposing second wall, and one or more additional walls. One or more of the first wall, the second wall and the additional walls may be disposed adjacent to a substance including a second refractive index that is lower than the first refractive index.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2008Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: CoActive Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Peter Andrew Jeffery, Jason Tsi-Tsun Lin
-
Publication number: 20100264007Abstract: Disclosed is a portable terminal, including, a first conductor formed on one surface of a board and having a contact surface, a second conductor formed at an outer periphery of the first conductor and having a support surface, and a metal dome supported by the support surface and transformed responsive to a key being pressed so as to contact the contact surface, wherein the contact surface is located at a position lower than the support surface so as to increase a transformation stroke of the metal dome.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2010Publication date: October 21, 2010Inventors: Jae-Jun JUNG, Eun-Taek OH, Yong-Il KIM
-
Patent number: 7816614Abstract: A sheet switch includes an elastic sheet (4) and a circuit board (5). The elastic sheet has a first sheet (10) having a metal sheet (11) plated on an upper surface thereof, a bending portion (12) bent toward the circuit board from a lateral extension thereof and a tail portion (121) extending backwardly from the bending portion for connecting with the circuit board. The elastic sheet further has a plurality of moveable contacts (20) attached to a lower surface of the first sheet, wherein the bending portion of the first sheet having a conductive component (14) affixed thereon.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2007Date of Patent: October 19, 2010Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hua-Ping Li
-
Publication number: 20100206707Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes an operation member which includes an operation portion, a substrate which includes a switch detecting pattern and a ground pattern, and a sheet member which is disposed between the operation member and the substrate and provided with a metal piece for causing the switch detecting pattern to be electrically continuous to the ground pattern according to an operation to the operation portion, wherein the metal piece is in contact with the ground pattern, and the sheet member covers the metal piece with an insulating member in such a manner that at least a part of a surface of the metal piece is exposed.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2010Publication date: August 19, 2010Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takashi Yoshida
-
Patent number: 7741573Abstract: An operating body being made of a metal plate and being overlaid with polyamide resin layer, a side of the operating body having an operating part protruding from a front side of a switch case, and an other side having a driving part in an arm shape and a sliding guide in a frame shape surrounding the driving part, in which the driving part in the arm shape being compression pressed to be a thin plate, and the sliding guide being formed with an upper sliding contact in a hemisphere shape coming into contact with an undersurface of cover above the contact and a lower sliding contact formed long in back and forth direction coming into contact with a protective sheet under the contact.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2007Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Masahiro Masuda, Yasunori Yanai, Yoshikazu Yagi
-
Patent number: 7737373Abstract: A mobile terminal keypad is provided having a plurality of key switches on the keypad that provides a first signal or a second signal according to the pressure applied to the key switch. In each of the plurality of key switches, a plate is provided to sequentially contact with a first contact and a second contact according to the applied pressure.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2007Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Hee Sik In, Huhn Kim, Sang Yeon Lim, Hyun Ho Kim
-
Patent number: 7700890Abstract: A dome assembly for use in a keyboard assembly of an electronic device is provided. The dome assembly includes a deflectable dome shaped element having a concave surface terminating at a periphery and a number of elevating members disposed on the element adjacent the periphery and protruding away from the concave surface. The elevating members serve to space the periphery from a mounting surface. The element is movable between an undeflected position and a deflected position.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2008Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: Research In Motion LimitedInventor: Chao Chen
-
Patent number: 7687735Abstract: A packaging structure for depression switches includes an electronic substrate containing at least one switch electrode, a push-on switch located on the electronic substrate to connect the switch electrode to generate a command signal and a sealing member. The push-on switch and the electronic substrate form a first air chamber between them. The sealing member has a fastening portion to seal the push-on switch on the electronic substrate and a second air chamber formed with the electronic substrate to communicate with the first air chamber. By depressing the push-on switch to connect the switch electrode, air held in the first air chamber is squeezed and flows to the second air chamber without escaping.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2008Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Sipix Technology Inc.Inventors: Ming-Chih Chien, Jung-Hsiu Chen
-
Patent number: 7679016Abstract: A panel switch includes an insulating substrate, a resist layer provided on an upper surface of the insulating substrate, a cover sheet, an adhesive layer bonded onto an upper surface of the resist layer, and plural push switches activated upon being pressed via the cover sheet. The resist layer has plural contact openings and a communication opening provided therein. The contact openings and the communication opening exposes the upper surface of the insulating substrate from the contact openings and the communication opening. The communication opening allows the contact openings to communicate with each other. The adhesive layer is provided entirely on a lower surface of the cover sheet and covers the contact openings and the communication opening. The push switches are accommodated in the contact openings, respectively. In this panel switch, the adhesive layer can easily be printed on the cover sheet and bond the cover sheet securely to the insulating substrate.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2009Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Minoru Karaki, Takahiro Nishimura
-
Patent number: 7671285Abstract: A dome switch assembly that can reduce the SAR value and improve radiation performance of a mobile communication terminal and a mobile communication terminal having the same are provided. The ground layer of the dome switch assembly is connected to a hinge by a hinge contact unit. The hinge contact unit extends through a groove formed in the ground layer towards the inside area of the ground layer and is connected to a bottom surface of the groove. The position and length of the connection of the hinge contact unit to the ground layer may be adjusted so that the SAR value can be reduced and radiation performance can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2007Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hong-suk Choi
-
Patent number: 7622690Abstract: The invention relates to a movable contact used for a sheet having a movable contact for example used for an electronic device such as a mobile phone and provides a movable contact that realizes, even when having a smaller size, a required pressing force and a favorable click touch response. To realize this, a part surrounded by a conical circumferential edge in which a circular outer circumference edge when seen from the upper side has an inclined surface forms a spherical surface-like section that swells in an upward direction. Both ends of the circle having an identical distance to center line of the circle are straightly cut off. Then, parts at which these straight cut edges intersect with the circular edges are chamfered to have a circular arc to provide a movable contact having a substantially oval shape having circular arc corners.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2007Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Minoru Karaki, Akira Kamie, Nobumasa Nakao
-
Patent number: 7619176Abstract: A switch according to the present invention has a plurality of protruding parts and a plurality of support sections both of which are formed on a surface of a thin metal sheet by press molding. The switch includes a plurality of switch sections formed by elastic deformable conductors arranged so as to have a convex surface opposed to the protruding parts, a wiring sheet covering the conductors, and switch buttons. At least one support portion is provided around the protruding parts and a gap area is left between the protruding parts and a switch sheet. In this gap area, each conductor is accommodated at the same position as the protruding parts. The support sections are disposed in a dotted-form to accomplish improvement of a feeling of click that is one of the performances on which the user places much value. In addition, a casing, the protruding parts, and the support portions are press-molded of a thin metal sheet, thereby obtaining the effect of reducing wall thickness and increasing the rigidity.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2007Date of Patent: November 17, 2009Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Takaaki Yoshihiro
-
Patent number: 7605338Abstract: A movable contact unit includes a base sheet made of polyurethane resin, a domed movable contact made of thin metal sheet, and a pushing protrusion. The movable contact is held on a first face side of the base sheet. The pushing protrusion is formed on a second face of the base sheet at a place corresponding to a domed top of the movable contact.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Minoru Karaki, Masahiro Ito, Koji Tanabe, Hirotoshi Watanabe, Yousuke Chikahisa, Yasutaka Yamamoto
-
Patent number: 7564003Abstract: A detect switch (100) includes an insulative housing (2), a first, a second, a third and a fourth fixed terminals (11, 12, 13, 14), a moveable contact (3) electrically connecting with the third and the fourth fixed terminals, a driving mechanism depressing the moveable contact. The moveable contact has four periphery contact portions (32) each formed with a protrusion (33). One of the protrusions resists against the third fixed terminal in assembly. When the moveable contact is depressed to have a central contact portion (31) thereof contact with the first fixed terminal, the periphery contact portions tilt upwardly to leave away from corresponding fixed terminals for insulating the third and the fourth fixed terminals. The third and first fixed terminals are thereby electrically connected due to an engagement among the moveable contact and themselves.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2007Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yong-Hui Hu, Yusho Nakase
-
Patent number: 7560655Abstract: A movable contact includes a dome portion having substantially a dome shape and a periphery, and four projections provided on a concave surface of the dome portion. The periphery of the dome portion has substantially an oval shape having a longitudinal direction. The periphery having two linear peripheries in parallel with the longitudinal direction and two arcuate peripheries connected to the two linear peripheries at four corners. The four corners are arcuate. Two diagonal lines connecting the four corners intersect at a center of the dome portion. The four projections are located on the two diagonal lines at identical distances from the center. The movable contact contacts a fixed contact stably with an excellent click feeling on a pushing operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2008Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Minoru Karaki, Akira Kamie, Nobumasa Nakao
-
Patent number: 7557320Abstract: This invention is directed to a surface-mounted dome switch for use in an electronic device. The switch may include a dome having a conductive inner surface operative to create an electrical path between adjacent conductive pads of a circuit board. The dome may include a tab extending away from the periphery of the dome such that the tab is parallel to the circuit board when the dome is mounted to the circuit board. The tab may be mounted a pad on the circuit board using SMT, in the same manner that any other electronic device component would be mounted. In some embodiments, a raised edge may be inserted underneath the dome to increase the travel required to actuate the dome. The increased travel may provide a more pleasing user experience.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2008Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Wilhelmus M. C. Crooijmans, Christopher D. Prest
-
Patent number: 7525060Abstract: A movable contact point according to the present invention includes a dome-shaped portion protruded upwardly at its center portion and at least three protrusions formed, on the dome-shaped portion, to protrude downwardly at positions which are evenly spaced apart from the center position of the dome-shaped portion, wherein the protrusions are formed to have a quadrangular-pyramid shape protruding downwardly and having a spherical-shaped apex portion.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2008Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventor: Yoshiro Sano
-
Patent number: 7485824Abstract: An electrical switch, in the form of a short-stroke key is provided, including a housing having a base and a cover fixed to the base. A contact system is located in the housing, and an actuating member acts on the contact system in a switching manner. The base has a cutout in the underside that is positioned remote from the cover. The cover at least partially covers the base on the upper side and on the side face of the base, and an attachment on the cover engages the cutout in a flange manner such that the attachment is accommodated in the base and is at the most flush with the underside of the base.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2006Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignees: Marquardt GmbH, DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Axel Rastemborski, Bernd Hellbeck
-
Patent number: 7459651Abstract: A printed circuit board is provided for use in a keyboard assembly of a mobile device having a plurality of keys in a key layout. The printed circuit board has a plurality of contacts, such as dome switches, arranged in a contact layout. The contact layout is such that it can be used with a plurality of different key layouts, each actuating different combinations of contacts. Some keys in a particular key layout are overlying at least two of the plurality of contacts, and such keys actuate only one of the underlying contacts. As such, a common printed circuit board can be used for a plurality of complementary mobile device designs having different key layouts, thereby allowing a manufacturer to realize cost efficiencies.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2006Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: Research In Motion LimitedInventors: Paul Robert Chyc, Roman Peter Rak, Jason Griffin, Steven Fyke
-
Patent number: 7442894Abstract: An electrical switch system may include a contact-bearing support configured to delimit a recess in a substantially horizontal bottom, wherein at least two fixed electrical contacts are positioned in the recess. Additionally, the electrical switch system may include at least one dome-shaped first triggering device configured to be elastically deformable from a top rest position to form an electrical link between the at least two fixed electrical contacts. The electrical switch system may also include an actuating push-button mounted to be displaced substantially vertically downward relative to the support. Further, the electrical switch system may include a mechanism configured to return the push-button to the rest position and an elastic element configured to exert an elastic force on the push-button, wherein the elastic force is directed upward when the push-button is displaced downward beyond a contact position.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2008Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: CoActive Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jean-Christophe Villain, Michel Cour
-
Patent number: 7435922Abstract: Described is a keypad and its method of manufacture. In one embodiment, a keypad is provided that includes a substrate having a plurality of donut-shaped recesses located at each site of a button for inputting user information, a plurality of cushions each filled with an incompressible fluid (e.g., water), a flex circuit layer, a plurality of metal membranes and an over-molded thermoplastic elastomer layer. During the over-molding of the thermoplastic elastomer layer, the plurality of cushions filled with an incompressible fluid prevents collapse of the space between the flex circuit layer and the plurality of metal membranes. After the layers of the keypad are assembled, the incompressible fluid is removed which leaves a space between the flex circuit layer and the plurality of metal membranes.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2007Date of Patent: October 14, 2008Assignee: Animas CorporationInventors: J. Michael Wittig, John Barrella
-
Publication number: 20080237020Abstract: A casing, in which a plurality of contacts are fixed, an operation element which is arranged so as to be able to move in translation in the casing, a conductive dome-like member which is arranged in the casing and which is resiliently deformable under the action of the displacement of the operation element between a first state and a second state of commutation, the light source is fixedly joined to the casing, the switch device further defines a spacer which connected the casing for fixing the tail of the contacts so as to prevent the contacts from distorting.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Inventors: Lie-Yi Hu, Yong-Hui Hu
-
Patent number: 7429707Abstract: A push switch which includes a switch case, a first movable contact, and a second movable contact. The switch case has a central fixed contact on an inner bottom face of its recess that has an open top, and a peripheral fixed contact. The first movable contact is curved protruding upward, and has a hole at its center. The first movable contact is disposed over the peripheral fixed contact with a space in between. The second movable contact is curved protruding upward, and is placed on the first movable contact. A pressing force for resiliently inverting the second movable contact is set greater than a pressing force for resiliently inverting the first movable contact; and two tactile feedbacks are produced by pressing from a side of the second movable contact.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2007Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasunori Yanai, Takashi Tomago
-
Patent number: 7399937Abstract: A movable-contact unit to be used in an operating panel of various electronic devices is disclosed. The movable-contact unit is formed of movable contacts directly held on an inorganic EL sheet. To obtain adequate tactile feedback from the movable contacts even in a low temperature environment, a holding section of adhesive is patterned on the underside of the inorganic EL sheet such that the area of the holding section is not less than 25% and not greater than 50% of the area of the movable contact. Then the movable contact is held adhesively by this patterned holding section of the adhesive.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2007Date of Patent: July 15, 2008Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takahiro Nishimura
-
Publication number: 20080164133Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-step operation electrical switch having an elastic conductive plate, which is deformed to establish an electrical contact when a pressing force is applied thereto and is restored to the initial state to break the electrical contact when the pressing force is removed. According to the present invention, the elastic plate has a plurality of dome portions formed integrally therewith, each of the dome portions bulges in the direction opposite to the direction in which the elastic plate is pressed and is depressed by the pressing force applied thereto. The applied pressing force varies with the dome portions. In order to prevent an electrical contact from being established when no pressing force is applied to the elastic plate, spacer portions are necessary. According to the present invention, inclined spacer portions are provided along the outer peripheries of a first and a second dome portions, respectively.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2005Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicant: Japan Aviation Electronice Industry LimitedInventor: Isao Hayafune
-
Publication number: 20080149470Abstract: A switch sheet is used in combination with a substrate having a first contact and a second contact. The switch sheet is comprised of an elastically deformable dome of a conductive material; and a sheet covering the dome and including an embossment projecting from a top of the dome. The sheet is so dimensioned as to have the dome suspended over the first contact and in contact with the second contact.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2007Publication date: June 26, 2008Applicant: FUJIKURA LTD.Inventor: Toshimizu TOMITSUKA
-
Patent number: 7378609Abstract: A metal dome switch assembly with a good snap ratio and having a desired click characteristic near to that of an isolated metal dome includes a carrier base layer and adhesive layer which have a plurality of holes bounded by annular sections which engage the lower outer surfaces of the domes and are larger than the keypad actuation posts, at positions corresponding to fixed contact points on a circuit board. The switch array is especially important in cell phone designs where the snap ratio, tactile feel, is desirable. The switch array can also incorporate an electroluminescent (EL) lamp while still improving the snap ratio.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2007Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Inventor: John Fedorjaka
-
Patent number: 7350285Abstract: A method of manufacturing a movable contact unit includes manufacturing a movable contact, sticking the movable contact to a base sheet made of insulating resin, and applying demagnetization to the movable contact so that the residual magnetic flux density is smaller than the operation magnetic flux density of the magnetic sensor. In manufacturing the movable contact, elastic metal plate material is processed into a downwardly opening dome shape to form the movable contact. In a method of manufacturing a switch panel, the movable contact unit is overlaid on a wiring board having a contact, including pair an outer fixed contact and a central fixed contact, that corresponds to the movable contact so that the lower end of the outer periphery of the movable contact is mounted on the outer fixed contact.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2006Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideki Mitsuoka, Hiromichi Koyama
-
Patent number: 7329823Abstract: A movable contact element includes a base sheet provided on its bottom surface with adhesive portions which are dotted around; an adhesive portion with a predetermined width which surrounds the entire edges of the base sheet; adhesive portions with a predetermined width which surround rectangular holes formed in the base sheet; and adhesive portions with a predetermined width which surround the circumferences of the circular movable contact points.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2006Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akira Sadamori, Hiromichi Koyama
-
Publication number: 20080006517Abstract: A movable-contact unit to be used in an operating panel of various electronic devices is disclosed. The movable-contact unit is formed of movable contacts directly held on an inorganic EL sheet. To obtain adequate tactile feedback from the movable contacts even in a low temperature environment, a holding section of adhesive is patterned on the underside of the inorganic EL sheet such that the area of the holding section is not less than 25% and not greater than 50% of the area of the movable contact. Then the movable contact is held adhesively by this patterned holding section of the adhesive.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2007Publication date: January 10, 2008Inventor: Takahiro Nishimura
-
Patent number: 7301113Abstract: A dome-shaped diaphragm includes a convex portion; a base portion provided on an outer periphery of the convex portion; and a pressing force reducing portion provided in at least one of the convex portion and the base portion. Examples of the pressing force reducing portion may be a hole portion, a reduced thickness portion or any other feature that reduces the pressing force.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2005Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.Inventors: Tatsuya Nishimura, Toshiaki Kasai, Yuuitsu Sakuraba, Nobumasa Misaki
-
Publication number: 20070235310Abstract: A sheet switch includes an elastic sheet (4) and a circuit board (5). The elastic sheet has a first sheet (10) having a metal sheet (11) plated on an upper surface thereof, a bending portion (12) bent toward the circuit board from a lateral extension thereof and a tail portion (121) extending backwardly from the bending portion for connecting with the circuit board. The elastic sheet further has a plurality of moveable contacts (20) attached to a lower surface of the first sheet, wherein the bending portion of the first sheet having a conductive component (14) affixed thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2007Publication date: October 11, 2007Inventor: Hua-Ping Li
-
Patent number: 7230197Abstract: A movable contact is made of a resilient and electrically conductive thin metal plate so that a depressing operation onto the top thereof allows turning over of the central section thereof. The movable contact is shaped like a dome bowing upward and open downward, and includes at least three projections radially placed at the center where the turn-over occurs. A top view of the projection shows a long and narrow shape extending in the radial direction. The downward protruding amount of the respective projections increases along the radial direction from the center to the outer side, and the respective projections each have a flat face having a given width along the circumferential direction. When the movable contact is in operation, the movable contact touches the object at an outer section of the flat face and along the circumferential direction.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2006Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiro Sano, Tetsuya Fukuda
-
Patent number: 7217893Abstract: A two-stage button structure includes: a silver paste PCB, a metal dome, a film, a flexible contact body, and a button body. When the button body is pressed to a first stage, the pair of conductive blocks of the flexible contact body respectively passes through the pair of through holes of the film to respectively electrically contact the first and the second conductive areas in order to generate a first stage signal. When the button body is pressed to a second stage, the metal dome is pressed via the contact pin to touch the third conductive area and the pair of conductive blocks respectively electrically contact the first and the second conductive areas at the same time so that the second and the third conductive areas electrically connect with each other to generate a second stage signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2006Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: Altek CorporationInventors: Yu-Cheng Huang, Tzu-Chih Lin
-
Patent number: 7199321Abstract: A metal dome switch includes a touch element protruding from a center of the metal dome switch, a connecting element integrally extended from a periphery of the touch element and a mountable surface integrally formed on the touch element. Since the touch element, the connecting element and the mountable surface are integrally formed; the manufacture cost of the metal dome switch can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2006Date of Patent: April 3, 2007Assignee: Altek CorporationInventor: Yu-Cheng Huang
-
Patent number: 7196282Abstract: A movable contact unit arrangement includes a movable contact disposed close to a magnetic sensor. The movable contact unit includes a base sheet made of insulating resin, and a movable contact made of elastic metal plate material and having a downwardly opening dome shape. The movable contact is stuck to the base sheet. The magnetic sensor has an operation magnetic flux density during operation, and the movable contact is a demagnetized movable contact so that a residual magnetic flux density of the movable contact is smaller than the operation flux density of the magnetic sensor.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2006Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideki Mitsuoka, Hiromichi Koyama
-
Patent number: 7186939Abstract: A small movable contact unit and a panel switch which prevent peeling from an edge even though the width between the edge of a base sheet and a movable contact is narrowed. The movable contact unit includes the movable contact and base sheet. The movable contact has a round dome shape and is made of a resilient metal sheet. The base sheet is an insulating film which adheres a dome tip of the movable contact with an adhesive applied to its undersurface for holding the movable contact at a predetermined position. A supplementary adhesive is applied to a ring non-adhesive area of the movable contact disposed near the edge of the base sheet at a portion toward the edge of the base sheet. Accordingly, the movable contact disposed near the edge is adhered to and held by the base sheet using the adhesive including the supplementary adhesive.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2005Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Naoki Sera, Hiromichi Koyama
-
Patent number: 7178223Abstract: A method of manufacturing a movable contact unit includes manufacturing a movable contact, sticking the movable contact to a base sheet made of insulating resin, and applying demagnetization to the movable contact so that the residual magnetic flux density is smaller than the operation magnetic flux density of the magnetic sensor. In manufacturing the movable contact, elastic metal plate material is processed into a downwardly opening dome shape to form the movable contact. In a method of manufacturing a switch panel, the movable contact unit is overlaid on a wiring board having a contact, including pair an outer fixed contact and a central fixed contact, that corresponds to the movable contact so that the lower end of the outer periphery of the movable contact is mounted on the outer fixed contact.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2005Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hideki Mitsuoka, Hiromichi Koyama
-
Patent number: 7157657Abstract: A mobile electronic device is disclosed. The device includes a printed circuit board, a first button module, a second button module and an actuator module. The printed circuit board has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first button module includes a plurality of first dome-like switches disposed on the first surface. The second button module includes a plurality of second dome-like switches disposed on the second surface. The actuator module actuates the plurality of first and second dome-like switches.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2006Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Benq CorporationInventor: Hsin-Ping Lin
-
Patent number: 7151236Abstract: A switching device intended for assembly on an electric printed circuit mounting plate includes contacts to be electrically connected when a switching operation is performed. The switching device includes a switch component associated with an actuator, which allows for an electrical connection to be established between said contacts when it is deflected under pressure transmitted by the actuator. The switching device also includes a base plate equipped with holding means for holding the switch component prior to the assembly of the switching device on the mounting plate, the switch component being disengaged from the holding means when the device is assembled on the mounting plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2003Date of Patent: December 19, 2006Assignee: Dav Societe AnonymeInventors: René Ducruet, Laurent Mounier