Abstract: A switch assembly for a printed circuit board comprises fixed and movable contacts mounted on the circuit board and a separate switch housing mounted on the board which encloses the contacts. The housing has a slidable actuator cam therein which closes and opens the contacts, depending upon its position, and holds them in one condition or the other. The cam is actuated by an externally extending lever. An improved assembly method is also disclosed for assembling switches to circuit boards.

Abstract: An electrical switch comprises a housing with at least one fixed contact thereon and at least one resilient movable contact which has a fixed end secured on said housing and an opposite movable end with a contact portion which is held by the fixed end in a position spaced from the fixed contact. The housing includes a supporting member located between the movable and fixed ends of the movable contact and on the same side as the fixed contact. The movable contact is engageable by actuating means which includes a rotatable cam which first contacts an intermediate wave-shaped portion to cause an inwardly directed portion of the movable contact to move first into engagement with the support member and to subsequently cause the contact portion to move into engagement with the fixed contact.

Abstract: A calculator system having a transparent keyboard includes an apparatus for electronically labeling the keyboard by displaying alphanumeric symbols through the keyboard. The apparatus comprises a keyboard selection device and a liquid crystal keyboard display device having a predetermined number of display planes each containing preselected symbols. The keyboard selection device operates both as a selection device and as an annunciator-feedback device, for selecting the symbols or legends of a given plane to label or configure the keyboard, and for feeding back to a user of the system the status of the selection device when it is activated. An alternative embodiment of the invention utilizes light-emitting diodes (LED's) for labeling the keyboard.

Abstract: A selector for a keyboard of a calculating machine comprises a series of sliders for indicating information relevant to operations to be performed and a plurality of switches driven by the sliders for the entering of this information in the machine. The sliders are slidably mounted on a common support, in front of which there is mounted the support of a printed circuit. A series of movable contacts, carried by the sliders, are actuatable by the sliders to contact the fixed contacts for the input of the said information.

Abstract: A keyboard system for an electronic pocket calculator or the like comprises a substrate board having a generally flat surface with a network of circuit paths thereon. The board is provided with switch contacts at a plurality of switching stations and terminals at a margin of the board for electrical interconnection to other electronic components (e.g., to the solid state logic components or the like on the motherboard of the calculator). Conductor paths and the network of circuit paths interconnect the contacts and the terminals. A dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate leaving the portions of the network of circuit paths exposed.

Abstract: In a hand-operated electronic calculator, a switchboard having push-button switches for digits and symbols, every two or more switches combined into V, or U, or square shaped groups either above the surface or recessed for receiving fingertips and actuated along two or more directions. Switch groups are arranged at finger locations, each group of switches being assigned to a certain finger, two or more groups to active fingers, and a group can be at a perpendicular direction to the other four fingers for thumb operating.

Abstract: A low profile keyboard switch with tactile feel and short key travel is disclosed. The keyboard may be a matrix connected keyboard and includes a lower, fixed contact and an upper, concave contact. The concave contact is supported at one end and operates as a cantilever beam. When pressure is applied by a key, at the unsupported end to cause buckling of the concave contact at its supported end, electrical contact is made with the lower fixed contact. The concave contacts possess the key return force and the snap action desirable for tactile feel and short key travel for a low-profile, low-cost keyboard switch.

Abstract: A multiple switch device is connectable on-line between a multiple conductor electrical cable termination assembly or the like and a receptacle or the like to which the assembly would otherwise be connected. The multiple switch device includes a plurality of slide switches that are selectively actuable to slide directly on contacts integrally molded in a common body part of the device to open or to close respective circuits. A plastic bridge molded in the common body part between respective pairs of contacts over which a common slide switch glides provides a generally continuous planar surface to facilitate such motion without unnecessary wear to the contacts or the slide switch.

Abstract: A multiple switch device is connectable on-line between a multiple conductor electrical cable termination assembly or the like and a receptacle or the like to which the assembly would otherwise be connected. The multiple switch device includes a plurality of slide switches that are selectively actuable to open or to close respective circuits between such assembly and such receptacle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a musical instrument operated by keys which in turn actuate change-over switches for selecting a predetermined one of a series of sound generators. The switches are provided by a composite structure constituted of aligned panels which carry the switch contact, the movable arms of which are operated by the keys.

Abstract: A modular pushbutton switch is removably mounted on a dielectric mounting member which has stationary contacts thereon. Contacts are removably mounted in a housing member and an actuating member moves the movable contacts and housing member into and out of engagement with the stationary contacts. Latching means is provided to maintain the movable contacts in one of two positions.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a mechanical pushbutton type pulse generating switch for use in a telephone set comprising, in general, pulse generating switch units, a push-break return-make switch unit, and an end pulse generating switch unit. The pulse generating switch unit has a common normally closed contact attached to one side surface of an operating or push-button shaft having a polygonal cross sectional configuration and a plurality of make-break contact groups attached to the remaining side surfaces of the operating shaft and brushes or wipers disposed in opposed relation with and for contact with the common and make-break contacts respectively. The push-break return-make switch unit circuit is connected in series to a parallel circuit consisting of the pulse generating switch unit circuit and the end pulse generating switch unit circuit.

Abstract: A tactile feedback keyboard switch assembly having opposing upwardly inclined leaf springs for biasing an actuating keytop which has downwardly extending members for causing selective engagement of contact members disposed in a diaphragm type contact assembly beneath the leaf springs upon depression of the keytop. A bifurcated action is achieved by providing interconnected contact members for each of the downwardly extending members.

Abstract: This invention relates to a keyboard switch assembly having a minimal number of components. A flexible printed circuit cable is configured in such a manner so that the flexible printed circuit cable contains complementary overlapping contact points interconnected by printed circuit electrical lines. A spacer plate with apertures corresponding to sets of complementary contact points is interposed between segments of the folded flexible printed circuit cable. A method for making a keyboard switch assembly with a flexible printed circuit multiple switch assembly is disclosed.

Abstract: A multiple switch in accordance with the present invention comprises a plurality of pushbuttons that are movable between an extended and a depressed position and are biased toward the extended position. The pushbuttons are paired and each pushbutton pair is associated with an individual lockout, a releasing-latching bar (RL bar) that is common to all of the pairs, and an individual releasing-nonlatching and releasing-latching bar (RNRL bar). Each pushbutton interacts with all three members when it is depressed.The lockout permits either pushbutton of the associated pair to be depressed individually but prevents both pushbuttons from being depressed simultaneously. As any pushbutton is depressed, the RL bar acts to release all pushbuttons previously depressed and latches the activated pushbutton in its depressed position.

Abstract: A multicontact switch for use in a keyboard is manufactured from a plurality of metallic strips and a printed circuit board. The strips are passed through rollers that form arched portions in the strips, and the arched portions are then aligned with contact areas on the printed circuit board. After this alignment the strips are spot welded to the printed circuit board while they are held in place by clamps. After one board has been welded to the strips it is moved from the welding station and another group of arched portions in the strips is aligned with another board. Following this alignment the strips are sheared between the two boards, thereby producing a completed multicontact switch structure.

Abstract: A keyboard has contact pairs on a substrate and has a support with openings therein secured over and spaced from the substrate with the support openings aligned with respective contact pairs on the substrate. Switch mechanisms disposed in the support openings each have a contact member which is movable in a switch housing by a plunger between a depressed position and a retracted position and each switch housing has stop and detent means mounting the mechanism on a support opening so that the contact element bridges a substrate contact pair when the contact element is in depressed position. Some switch mechanisms have a cam on the housing and a cam follower on the plunger for holding the contact element in depressed position until released by manual movement of the plunger and other mechanisms cooperate with guide means mounted in adjacent support openings to mount bar-type key cap means.

Abstract: A switching plate having a plurality of arch-shaped snap-type switching members formed in a continuous metallic sheet or from sections of a metallic sheet bonded to an insulating substrate. Adjacent of the switching members extend in transverse directions. The switching members will snap downward when forced sufficiently downward thereby achieving contact or capacitive switching.The switching members are formed in a metallic sheet by providing a first plurality of groups of parallel slots in one direction and a second plurality of groups of parallel slots in a transverse direction, one of the slots of the first group being longer than the other slots. The sheet is placed in a die having members conforming in shape to the desired arches, wherein the sheet is deformed elastically at desired locations to provide the arch-shaped snap-type switching members.

Abstract: For telephone sets and similar forms of apparatus in which pushbuttons are mounted more or less flush with the outside surface and actuated by pivoting, a series of such pushbuttons are mounted on a shaft secured in a housing. The pushbuttons are mounted on the shaft at one end and at the other end rest on pushbutton switch mechanisms. Each button is identical and interchangeable. Locating formations on buttons and housing interengage to locate the pushbuttons. The switch mechanisms are spring loaded and urge pushbuttons to a non-actuated position. Indicator windows for removable and interchangeable indicators can be provided.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a low-profile package containing one or more individually operated switches. More particularly, the present invention consists of an insulating housing having therein one or more single pole - single throw switches all of which have been stamped and formed from a single coplanar sheet of conductive material. The upper portion of the housing contains one or more switch actuators which can be depressed to provide momentary switch closure or rotated to provide continuous switch closure.

Abstract: A control for navigation receivers, radio compasses, radio, and aircraft telephony, transponders, and the like, comprising at least one control plate means arranged in series and spaced apart from each other behind a front plate, and sprocket wheel means having associated stop wheels for controlling frequencies and other suitable operational functions, respectively, connected with each other by coupling members and rotary knobs. Yieldable control contacts are mounted on the sprocket wheels which cooperate with rest controls mounted on a printed circuit and are operatively connected with the control plate means.

Abstract: An array of curved metal strips is supported over an array of conductors, and a key is supported over each intersection of a metal strip and a conductor. When a user depresses a key, a metal strip is pressed against a conductor to make an electrical connection. As the metal strip is deflected by the key, it snaps or buckles, providing tactile feedback to the user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to switches and switch actuating devices to be operated for purposes of arming a bomb or other missile as it is dropped or released from an aircraft. The particular bomb or missile in which this invention is applied is one in which there is a plurality of circuits which are to be armed by the closing of switches upon dropping or releasing of the bomb. The operation of the switches to closed position is normally accomplished by means of a pull-out wire; that is, a wire which is withdrawn from the bomb or missile at the time of release of the bomb, one end of the wire being attached to the aircraft. The conditions to be met are that the arming switches must be positively and surely maintained in open position until the bomb is released and the arming action is effected. The action of the pull-out wire in achieving the arming action must be sure and positive with minimum danger of malfunctioning, jamming or binding.