Abutting Contact Patents (Class 200/534)
  • Patent number: 11784643
    Abstract: A capacitive button interface assembly (100) and a method for assembling the same, comprising a housing member (202), an electrode board (204) coupled to the housing member (202), one or more resilient members (212) positioned between the housing member (202) and the electrode board (204), one or more alignment members (216) coupled to the electrode board (204), operable to align the electrode board (204) with respect to the housing member (202), and a cover (804) coupled to the housing member (202) to apply a force on the electrode board (204).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: MICRO MOTION, INC.
    Inventors: Clayton T. James, Atul Vasant Deshpande, Howard Irving Sohm, Jr., Anthony William Pankratz, Shaun E. Shanahan
  • Patent number: 9924003
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments of an electronic device including a key module for hermetically sealing an inside of the device. According to one embodiment, a portable device includes: a front cover; a rear cover; and a bezel that surrounds at least a portion of a space formed between the front and rear covers, and includes a first portion and an opening. Disposed within the space is a display including a screen exposed through the front cover; a plate including a support surface with multiple protrusions and an accommodation hole that provides a pathway leading to the opening; a key; and a first member including a via hole through which a portion of the key passes. When the key is inserted into the pathway and moved in a first direction, the inside space of the electronic device is hermetically sealed from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-Jae Jun, Jung-Woong Hyun, Soo-Gyu Lee
  • Patent number: 9605471
    Abstract: A vehicle rear door control system and method of controlling a vehicle rear door, such as a hatch or trunk is provided. The method detects the opening of a side door of a vehicle and senses with a plurality of proximity sensors movement of an object such as a driver or passenger of the vehicle exiting the vehicle and moving from a side to a rear of the vehicle. The method controls an actuator to open the rear door of the vehicle in response to the detected opening of the side door followed by the sensed movement of the driver or passenger from the side to the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Terry Lobsinger, Pietro Buttolo
  • Patent number: 9053877
    Abstract: A plunger switch and method comprises a multi-action plunger arrangement having first and second plungers in axial alignment such that the first plunger is centrally located about the second plunger. The second plunger has an annular wall for supporting at least one conductive wiper contact. The plunger switch further comprises first and second biasing members having differing load constants, such that the first and second plungers are actuated at different loads during use and a plurality of terminals for communicating an electrical path. The switch also comprises a housing having a central opening for supporting the plunger arrangement. The second plunger and second second biasing member cooperate with the conductive wiper contact such that compressing of the second biasing member from a normal position to a first actuated position results in a change of state of the switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Delta Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Dennis R. Young
  • Patent number: 9024219
    Abstract: A push switch of the present invention includes a case in which a concave portion is formed. The push switch of the present invention includes a movable member formed so as to be convex upward and arranged in the concave portion. The push switch of the present invention includes a protecting sheet provided above the movable member so as to cover the concave portion, the protecting sheet having an adhesive formed on a lower surface thereof. The push switch of the present invention is provided with an intermediate sheet between a lower surface of the adhesive and an upper surface of the movable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakaoka, Kojiro Yano
  • Patent number: 8993913
    Abstract: A cover glass pressure button (CGPB) is disclosed for an electronic device that has an image display module which is protected by a cover glass. When the cover glass is pressed, the CGPB senses the pressure to output a corresponding physical parameter to a control circuit for triggering a function of the image display module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Universal Cement Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Sheng Hou
  • Patent number: 8981247
    Abstract: A rear operation body is attached on a rear portion of a front case via a pair of front supporting plate springs. A front operation body is provided in a frontward of the front case and the front operation body and the rear operation body are connected via a penetration portion. A rear case is provided in a rearward of the front case, and a rear supporting plate spring is provided in the rear case. A flexible print substrate is provided in a frontward thereof and a plurality of detection members are mounted on the flexible print substrate. When an operation surface of the front operation body is pressed, the front supporting plate springs are deformed. Thereby, the rear operation body is moved such that any of the plurality of detection members is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadashi Sano
  • Patent number: 8841568
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing defining a receiving hole, and a power switch positioned on the housing. The power switch includes an operating button received in the receiving hole, an elastic member fixed to the operating button via an adhesive member, a printed circuit board, and a support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bin Dai
  • Patent number: 8822863
    Abstract: A water resistant switch assembly comprises a sealed compartment, and an electrical switch within the compartment. The sealed compartment includes a housing defining a cavity that maintains the electrical switch therein, the housing having an upper opening and a lower opening. The sealed compartment further includes an elastomeric member sealing said upper opening, and a moldable member sealing said lower opening, whereby the electrical switch is sealed from the ambient. The elastomeric member is sufficiently flexible for moving a switch button of the switch within said cavity when the elastomeric member is pressed from outside the switch assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Judco Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Tittle
  • Publication number: 20140216911
    Abstract: An emergency stop device including a body, a control button that is translatably movable along a control axis, at least one set of electric contacts that are normally closed and which include a mobile electric contact and a stationary electric contact, a flexible blade having a first free end and a second free end, and an actuation push member that can be translatably actuated, by the control button, between a rest position and an actuated position, and which is configured to engage with the flexible blade. The flexible blade includes a bearing area for the actuation push member, and the flexible blade is shaped to rigidify the bearing area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Dominique Benni, Alain Tardivon, Francis Chauvet, Eric Lemasson
  • Patent number: 8779315
    Abstract: A cover glass pressure button (CGPB) is disclosed for an electronic device that has an image display module which is protected by a cover glass. When the cover glass is pressed, the CGPB senses the pressure to output a corresponding physical parameter to a control circuit for triggering a function of the image display module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Universal Cement Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Sheng Hou
  • Publication number: 20140158512
    Abstract: Provided is a push/press switch design which allows for a reduced total height profile while maintaining a smooth operation with a large operation stroke by suppressing an extremely large sliding friction when a corner portion of a stem is pressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SMK Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Kato
  • Patent number: 8546715
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a key device for a mobile phone, which comprises a printed circuit board (PCB), a key disposed on the PCB and a metal dome disposed above the key. The metal dome is able to make electrical contact with the key. The key comprises a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode, and the third electrode is formed as two rings in which the first electrode and the second electrode are disposed respectively. In the key device for a mobile phone provided by the present invention, the key is formed with three electrodes, so when the metal dome makes contact with the first electrode or the second electrode, the three electrodes of the key are electrically connected with each other simultaneously. This imparts the key for a mobile phone with the compatibility, thereby reducing the product cost and shortening the duration of research and development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Huizhou TCL Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wei Chen
  • Publication number: 20130228440
    Abstract: A rear operation body is attached on a rear portion of a front case via a pair of front supporting plate springs. A front operation body is provided in a frontward of the front case and the front operation body and the rear operation body are connected via a penetration portion. A rear case is provided in a rearward of the front case, and a rear supporting plate spring is provided in the rear case. A flexible print substrate is provided in a frontward thereof and a plurality of detection members are mounted on the flexible print substrate. When an operation surface of the front operation body is pressed, the front supporting plate springs are deformed. Thereby, the rear operation body is moved such that any of the plurality of detection members is operated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tadashi Sano
  • Patent number: 8383976
    Abstract: A switch at least comprises a housing, an electrical member, a terminal and a connecting contact. The housing defining a cavity that includes two opposite sidewalls, and a pair of fixing grooves each defined by said sidewall and an extension wall spaced from said sidewall. The electrical member having a pair of leads disposed within said cavity. The terminal retained in the housing and having a contact portion abutting against said sidewall. The connecting contact retainably disposed within each said groove, and the connecting contact has a plate base abutting against said extension wall, a fixing portion attached onto an upper end of the plate base for clamping each said lead of the electrical member, and an spring portion reversely extending from an opposite bottom end of the plate base and designed to mechanically and electrically engage the contact portion of the second terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Yong-Hui Hu
  • Publication number: 20120325638
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing defining a receiving hole, and a power switch positioned on the housing. The power switch includes an operating button received in the receiving hole, an elastic member fixed to the operating button via an adhesive member, a printed circuit board, and a support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., FU TAI HUA INDUSTRY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: BIN DAI
  • Patent number: 8334226
    Abstract: Presented is a variety of products and apparatuses employing a conductive nonwoven web. Products and apparatuses include an RFID system, a radiofrequency shielding system, a flexible electronic circuit component, a heating element, an antenna, an electromagnetic energy shield, a membrane switch, a keypad, and a packaging system. In one embodiment, the conductive nonwoven web contains conductive carbon fibers in combination with pulp fibers and/or synthetic fibers. Electric pathways are formed into the conductive material using ultrasonic energy. The electric pathways can be used to produce various electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Davis-Dang H. Nhan, Thomas Michael Ales, Thomas David Ehlert, Sudhanshu Gakhar
  • Publication number: 20120312674
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing and a power button assembly mounted on the housing. The housing defines an assembly hole and an assembly portion around the assembly hole, and the assembly portion includes a side wall. The power button assembly includes a pressing button received in the assembly hole, a printed circuit board, and a support plate connected to the printed circuit board. The support plate is fixed on the housing, such that the printed circuit board is positioned opposite the pressing button. The support plate includes a plurality of positioning portions bent towards the printed circuit board along an imaginary outline corresponding to the side wall, respectively, and the positioning portions are inserted in the assembly portion and abut the side wall correspondingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shezhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Bin DAI
  • Publication number: 20120305377
    Abstract: A cover glass pressure button (CGPB) is disclosed for an electronic device that has an image display module which is protected by a cover glass. When the cover glass is pressed, the CGPB senses the pressure to output a corresponding physical parameter to a control circuit for triggering a function of the image display module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL CEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chih-Sheng HOU
  • Publication number: 20120305378
    Abstract: A cover glass pressure button (CGPB) is disclosed for an electronic device that has an image display module which is protected by a cover glass. When the cover glass is pressed, the CGPB senses the pressure to output a corresponding physical parameter to a control circuit for triggering a function of the image display module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSAL CEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chih-Sheng HOU
  • Publication number: 20120292172
    Abstract: A push switch (100) includes an insulative housing (1) defining a first space (111) communicating with an upper face (11) thereof and a second space (121) communicating with a lower face (12) thereof, a number of contacts (2) retained in the insulative housing, a dome sheet (3) positioned in the first space, a metal shell (5) covering the insulative housing, a button (4) positioned between the metal shell and the dome sheet, and an IC element (6) assembled in the second space. The contacts includes a grounding contact (21), a switch contact (22), and a signal contact (23). The dome sheet constantly contacts the grounding contact. The button is operable for actuating the dome sheet to connect with the switch contact. The IC element contacts the grounding contact, the switch contact, and the signal contact. The IC element undertakes high current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHIA-CHIN SU, SHUN-JUNG CHUANG
  • Publication number: 20120211344
    Abstract: An input device includes a printed circuit board for outputting a signal, a supporting base fixed on the printed circuit board, and a cap pivoted to the supporting base. A protrusion is formed on an end of the cap for contacting against the printed circuit board when the cap is not pressed down. The cap pivots relative to the supporting base when the cap is pressed down. The input device further includes a resilient conductive component disposed between the printed circuit board and the cap for being pressed by the cap to conduct the printed circuit board when the cap is pressed down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: Chen-Yi Liang, Cheng-Hsiang Chuang, Chun-Chien Chen, Shun-De Bai, San-Pao Kao
  • Patent number: 8232495
    Abstract: A power button assembly includes a printed circuit board having terminals and a dome for trigging the terminals, a support base fixed on the printed circuit board, and a push button positioned between the printed circuit board and the support base. The push button is capable of moving along a first axis relative to the support base. One of the push button and the support base includes a guiding groove, and the other includes a guiding element slidably received in the guiding groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zi-Ming Tang
  • Patent number: 8212170
    Abstract: A movable contact point board provided with contact points is urged in a direction of being away from stationary contact points by return springs each having the same size and the same characteristic, and is arranged as opposed to the stationary contact points. Return springs have the respective ends for supporting locations in the movable contact point board which are away from each other as having the contact points in the movable contact point board therebetween and support heights of the return springs at the stationary side differ with each other by D. When a plunger equipped with a holding portion having a flat surface as a bottom surface presses the movable contact point board, the contact point in the movable contact point board gets in contact with the stationary contact point at an inclined posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Horikoshi, Masanori Endo
  • Patent number: 8188400
    Abstract: A wireless dongle includes a shell having a base board of which an appropriate portion is made of elastic materials to be acted as a switch section, a printed circuit board mounted in the shell and spaced from the base board of the shell, and an elastic member made of elastic materials. The printed circuit board defines a contact area facing toward the switch section of the shell. The elastic member is mounted between the switch section of the shell and the contact area of the printed circuit board, and further spaced from the contact area. The elastic member can be elastically pressed to contact the contact area of the printed circuit board by means of pressing the switch section of the shell against the elastic member so as to trigger an electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Cheng Uei Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsung-Shih Lee
  • Patent number: 8124902
    Abstract: A push button switch includes a base part (22) provided with a snap dome (23b) and a fixed contact (23a), a cover member (24) disposed to cover the base part (22) and having at one side surface an opening (42), an operating controller (25) disposed to slide inside the opening (42) in a lateral direction and configured to press the snap dome (23b) downwardly. The cover member (24) includes side extended potions (36) provided to extend downwardly from the cover member (24) along side surfaces of the base part across the operating controller (25) in a direction perpendicular to a sliding direction of the operating controller (25). Lower end portions of the side plate portions (36) are provided with extensions (38) disposed adjacent to some of the solder pad portions (41) provided on a lower surface of the base part (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Citizen Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Masashi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8063329
    Abstract: A key mechanism (22) includes a key body (222), a resilient metal sheet (226), a circuit board (26). The circuit board (26) is placed between the key body (222) and the resilient metal sheet (226). The circuit board (26) includes a first surface (2622) facing the key body (222) and a second surface (2624) facing the resilient metal sheet (226). The first surface (2622) has a number of ground points connecting to the key body (222). The second surface (2624) has a switch unit corresponding to the resilient metal sheet (226).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Chi Mei Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Po-Hua Huang
  • Publication number: 20110180380
    Abstract: A wireless dongle includes a shell having a base board of which an appropriate portion is made of elastic materials to be acted as a switch section, a printed circuit board mounted in the shell and spaced from the base board of the shell, and an elastic member made of elastic materials. The printed circuit board defines a contact area facing to the switch section of the shell. The elastic member is mounted between the switch section of the shell and the contact area of the printed circuit board, and further spaced from the contact area. The elastic member can be elastically pressed to contact the contact area of the printed circuit board by means of pressing the switch section of the shell against the elastic member so as to trigger an electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventor: Tsung-Shih Lee
  • Publication number: 20110164365
    Abstract: A portable computing device is disclosed. The portable computing device can take many forms such as a laptop computer, a tablet computer, and so on. The portable computing device can include at least a single piece housing. The single piece housing including a plurality of steps. The plurality of mounting steps are formed by at least removing a preselected amount of housing material at predetermined locations on the interior surface. At least some of the mounting steps are used to mount at least some of the plurality of internal operating components to the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Stephen R. McClure, Joshua D. Banko, John P. Ternus, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Kevin Gibbs
  • Publication number: 20110114464
    Abstract: A power button assembly includes a printed circuit board having terminals and a dome for trigging the terminals, a support base fixed on the printed circuit board, and a push button positioned between the printed circuit board and the support base. The push button is capable of moving along a first axis relative to the support base. One of the push button and the support base includes a guiding groove, and the other includes a guiding element slidably received in the guiding groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicants: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: ZI-MING TANG
  • Publication number: 20110094869
    Abstract: A power button assembly includes a printed circuit board having a switch, a support plate engaging with the printed circuit board, and a push button to activate the switch. The support plate includes abutting portions to elastically abut against the push button, and one of the support plate and the push button includes hook portions, and the other includes latching portions engaging with the hook portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicants: HON FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: BIN DAI
  • Patent number: 7732723
    Abstract: An auxiliary contact configuration for a switching device, the switching device comprising a frame part (2) and the auxiliary contact configuration comprising a first auxiliary contact position (5) provided in the frame part (2) and arranged to receive an auxiliary contact (8), and a movable auxiliary contact control device (10) comprising a first control element (11) arranged to control the auxiliary contact (8) installed in the first position (5). The auxiliary contact configuration comprises a second auxiliary contact position (6) provided near the first auxiliary contact position (5), and the auxiliary contact control device (10) comprises a second control element (12) arranged to control the auxiliary contact (8) installed in the second position (6) in a manner different from the manner in which the first control element (11) is arranged to control the auxiliary contact (8) installed in the first position (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Rainer Kolmonen, Harri Mattlar
  • Patent number: 7723632
    Abstract: An electrical switch has two fixed contacts and a moving contact, a spring urging the moving contact towards contacting the fixed contacts, and an actuating mechanism for moving the moving contact away from the fixed contacts against urging by the spring and, alternatively, allowing the moving contact to contact the fixed contacts under the action of the spring. The actuating mechanism has an engaging member for engaging and retaining the moving contact and includes a spring acting on the engaging member for separating the moving contact from the fixed contacts through an instant spring-release action. One of the engaging member and the contacts is configured such that the moving contact will be engaged and moved by the engaging member out of contact with one of the fixed contacts earlier than with the other fixed contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Defond Components Limited
    Inventor: Kin Yu Wong
  • Publication number: 20100090952
    Abstract: A computer mouse includes a housing and a button assembly. The button assembly includes a button, a circuit board, a first conductive sheet, and a second conductive sheet. The button is exposed out of the housing. The circuit board is received in the housing, and includes a first contact and a second contact. The first conductive sheet has a first magnet fixed thereon, and is electrically connected to the first contact of the circuit board. The second conductive sheet is electrically connected to the second contact of the circuit board. The second conductive sheet is fixed to the button and contactable with the first conductive sheet when the button is pressed. The second magnet and the first magnet form a repulsive force therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Applicants: HONG FU PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO. LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: QIANG ZHANG, JI-YING JIN, CHUANG YUE, LIE ZHANG, EN-LONG HAO, HONG-YI TAO
  • Publication number: 20090321238
    Abstract: Presented is a variety of products and apparatuses employing a conductive nonwoven web. Products and apparatuses include an RFID system, a radiofrequency shielding system, a flexible electronic circuit component, a heating element, an antenna, an electromagnetic energy shield, a membrane switch, a keypad, and a packaging system. In one embodiment, the conductive nonwoven web contains conductive carbon fibers in combination with pulp fibers and/or synthetic fibers. Electric pathways are formed into the conductive material using ultrasonic energy. The electric pathways can be used to produce various electronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: KIMBERLY-CLARK WORLDWIDE, INC.
    Inventors: Davis-Dang H. Nhan, Thomas Michael Ales, Thomas David Ehlert, Sudhanshu Gakhar
  • Publication number: 20090266699
    Abstract: An electrical contact area on a printed circuit board (“PCB”), that would otherwise be subject to abrasion and possibly also corrosion, can be protected by covering it with another, more durable contact structure that is bonded to the first-mentioned contact area using an anistropic conductive adhesive (“ACA”). The more durable contact structure may include a member of PCB material or the like with electrically connected electrical contacts on its upper and lower surfaces. At least the upper one of these contacts (which is exposed for the service that involves possible abrasion and/or corrosion) may be given high durability by plating it with hard gold. The lower of these contacts is adhered to the main PCB via the above-mentioned ACA.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventors: Fletcher R. Rothkopf, Teodor Dabov, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Jun Sun, Michael Rosenblatt
  • Publication number: 20090223802
    Abstract: This novel jumper features an integrated mechanical switch that allows resetting the CMOS memory of computer motherboards just by actuating a reset button on the jumper, instead of moving a prior-art jumper back and forth over the CMOS-reset block. The disclosed jumper can also be adapted for use as temporary button for powering on, restarting and resetting motherboards when tested alone; in this case the jumper just needs to be inserted over the corresponding pair of pins on the front-panel header of the motherboard. This jumper is also applicable to other electric or electronic devices where operating the jumper's integrated switch is more convenient or safer than moving prior-art jumpers or manually shorting up pins on printed circuit boards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Inventor: Juan Zak
  • Publication number: 20090050463
    Abstract: A button apparatus includes a button, a cover pivotally engaged with the button, and a chassis secured to the cover. The chassis includes a frame, an opening defined in the frame, and an elastic element connected between two opposite sides of the frame. The elastic element includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion. The button includes two pressing portions extending outwardly from two opposite sides thereof. The two pressing portions are arranged at two opposite sides of the elastic element. When the button is depressed, it moves relative to the cover from an original position to a depressed position, causing one of the first and second contact portions to be resiliently distorted and abut one of the two opposite sides of the body. When the button is released, the elastic element restores the button to the original position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: TSUNG-CHIN WANG, FENG-YANG MA
  • Publication number: 20090050462
    Abstract: An integrated conductive button, includes a housing and a printed circuit board mounted in proximity to the housing. The printed circuit board includes at least one electric contact portion disposed thereon and a button member is supported by the housing and includes at least one elongated post having a conductive elastomeric material disposed on a tip of the at least one elongated post. An elastomeric web skirt surrounds the at least one elongated post and is disposed against a seat surface of the housing. Upon pressing the button member, the elastomeric web skirt buckles to allow the conductive elastomeric material on the tip of the elongated post to contact the at least one electric contact on the printed circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: FREUDENBERG-NOK GENERAL PARTNERSHIP
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Duwel
  • Publication number: 20090032381
    Abstract: A switch at least comprises a housing, an electrical member, a terminal and a connecting contact. The housing defining a cavity that includes two opposite sidewalls, and a pair of fixing grooves each defined by said sidewall and an extension wall spaced from said sidewall. The electrical member having a pair of leads disposed within said cavity. The terminal retained in the housing and having a contact portion abutting against said sidewall. The connecting contact retainably disposed within each said groove, and the connecting contact has a plate base abutting against said extension wall, a fixing portion attached onto an upper end of the plate base for clamping each said lead of the electrical member, and an spring portion reversely extending from an opposite bottom end of the plate base and designed to mechanically and electrically engage the contact portion of the second terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventor: Yong-Hui Hu
  • Publication number: 20090014308
    Abstract: The invention provides a lateral pushing type push-button switch which is small and thin, and in which a movable-contact depressing stroke that is longer than that in the prior art can be ensured without increasing the height of the switch. In the lateral pushing type push-button switch of the invention, a pair of guiding portions (8) against which an actuating portion (9b) that is projected from a pressing portion (9a) of an operating member (9) into a housing (1) is buttable are disposed in a cover (7) which is attached to an upper portion of the housing (1). The switch has a second actuating member (10) which is formed in continuously with a peripheral portion (10a) that is accommodated in a peripheral side portion of the housing (1), and which is projected into the housing (1) to be opposed to the actuating portion (9b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Asada
  • Publication number: 20090000937
    Abstract: A miniature switch module includes a battery harness attached to a circuit board. A diaphragm or pushbutton type switch and a battery are sandwiched between the retainer and circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: Playhard, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Moore, Christian J. Moore
  • Publication number: 20080251370
    Abstract: A switch device is provided with an operation key 3 having a first contact portion 315. The operation key 3 is dislocated in a push direction by a push operation. A base member 4 has a second contact portion 41 and a third contact portion 42 electrically conducted by a contact with a first contact portion 315 by the dislocation of the operation key 3 in the push direction. In the base member 4, the second contact portion 41 and the third contact portion 42 are arranged in parallel to each other. A conductive piece 410 projecting toward a third contact portion 42 is connected to the second contact portion 41, and a tip portion of the conductive piece 410 is embedded in the base member 4. A conductive piece 420 projecting toward the second contact portion 41 is connected to the third contact portion 42, and a tip portion of the conductive piece 420 is embedded in the base member 4.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO
    Inventor: Wataru AOKI
  • Publication number: 20080251368
    Abstract: An electronic device, e.g. a mobile telephone, may comprise an input device such as a rocker key device for operating functions in the electronic device. The input device may comprise a switch device with at least one switch pad mounted on a support structure, and an input actuator for actuating the switch device. Each switch pad comprises a plurality of press detection switches. Each press detection switch of the multiple press detection switches is configured to output a signal upon depression of the press detection switch, when the switch pad is actuated by means of the input actuator. Some embodiments of the present invention provide the user of a communication device with a more reliable input of data/commands and at the same time achieves a higher redundancy for such input. The invention also reduces the height of a portable electronic device and also the number of components required for doing this, and therefore reduces the cost of the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: SONY ERICSSON MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
    Inventors: Per Anders HOLMBERG, Roland BENGTSSON
  • Publication number: 20080251369
    Abstract: An electronic switch may include a horizontal bottom plate, a top side of the plate may support at least two electrical contacts. A contactor may be positioned on the top side of the plate and may be elastically deformable to electrically link the at least two electrical contacts. A pushbutton may be positioned vertically above the contactor such that manual displacement of the pushbutton downward may provoke the elastic deformation of the contactor. A first elastic sheet may include a top film protecting the contactor. The top film may be fixed to the top side of the plate to secure the contactor vertically on the plate to form an opening so that the pushbutton may act directly on the contactor. A second elastic sheet may position the pushbutton horizontally relative to the contactor on a top side of which the top film may be fixed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Christophe Villain, Michel Cour
  • Publication number: 20080128256
    Abstract: A switch includes a case having an upper surface having a hole provided therein, an operating unit inserted into the hole movably up and down, plural switch contacts activated upon the operating unit moving up and down, and a guide wall protruding downward from an inner edge of the hole. The operating unit has a side surface facing the guide wall. The guide wall has a cutout provided therein. This switch operates reliably with a good feeling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventor: Shuichi KOIZUMI
  • Publication number: 20080105528
    Abstract: A conductive tracing for a keyboard including a pair of electrically conductive paths that are electrically isolated from each other. The pair of electrically conductive paths may each include conductive surfaces that are electrically coupled together. Each of the plurality of conductive surfaces of the pair of electrically conductive paths extend radially between a canter portion and a peripheral portion of the conductive tracing. One or more of the conductive surfaces may include a pair of outer edges that are substantially parallel to a respective radial direction that the outer edges extend in. The conductive surfaces of one of the pair of electrically conductive paths may be complementary formed to the conductive surfaces of another of the pair of electrically conductive paths. The conductive tracing may be substantially symmetric about an axis that passes through the center portion of the conductive tracing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventor: Ngoc Minh Luong
  • Publication number: 20080023316
    Abstract: The switch structure according to the present invention is obtained by interposing an elastic connection member between the circuit board provided with electrodes and a push switch fixed to a case of an electronic device. The elastic connection member has a structure in which conductive layers and insulation layers are alternately laminated. The conductive layers of a first lamination layer surface on which the conductive layers and the insulation layers of the elastic connection member are exposed abut against the electrodes so that the electric connections therebetween are established. The push switch is pushed down, and a contact portion thereof abuts against the plurality of conductive layers on a second lamination layer surface, whereby the electrodes are in a conductive state. Even if the push switch is pushed strongly, the elastic connection member deforms to absorb the force. As a result, the switch structure which hardly breaks is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Konishi, Hisashi Fujieda, Fumiyoshi Nagakura, Akiko Asahata, Masaji Kondo, Shigeki Yagi
  • Patent number: 7301111
    Abstract: A slide switch includes an operational member slidable in a direction along a virtual plane, a plurality of movable contacts arranged surrounding the operational member, a plurality of fixed contacts provided in correspondence with the movable contacts to render at least one of the movable contacts into a conductive state when the operational member is operated, a support member for slidably supporting the operational member via a sliding face provided on the back face of the operational member, a guide mechanism which allows integral displacement of the operational member and the support member in response to a depressing operation of the operational member in a normal direction and an urging mechanism operable to return the support member in the absence of the depressing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato Kondo, Takayuki Nagata, Akihito Shichida, Akira Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7161103
    Abstract: A movable contact assembly includes a base sheet made of insulating film, a contact provided under a bottom surface of the base sheet, and a conductive layer comprising silver paste on the base sheet. The silver paste contains 12 wt % to 15 wt % of resin binder and 35 wt % to 88 wt % of silver particles. The resin binder includes polyester resin having a glass-transition point ranging from 30° C. to 40° C. and an average molecular weight ranging from 30000 to 35000. The silver particles contain 70 wt % to 80 wt % of flake-shaped silver particles and 20 wt % to 30 wt % of dendritic silver particles. This conductive layer of the movable contact assembly can be baked at a low temperature, and does not have cracks and is not peeled off even when being bent. In addition, this conductive layer can easily cope with static electricity and has high reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Karaki, Makoto Sadakane