Abstract: An improved capacitive keyboard uses a standard printed circuit board provided in various locations with spaced conductor pairs. A conductive disc with a flat insulated lower surface is aligned above each conductor pair. All of the discs are suspended above the printed circuit board within apertures of a web of polymer foam material and held in position by a sheet of adhesive covered plastic that covers and adheres to the entire upper surface of the web and each of the discs.

Abstract: A capacitance type push-button switch which includes a movable member carried by the lower end of a key stem and including a holding member made of an elastic material of high compressibility and having a convex lower surface, a movable electrode made of an electrically conductive and flexible material held to the lower surface of the holding member, a dielectric film carried by the movable electrode and comprised of a synthetic resin of a fluoride type which can be brought into contact with two stationary electrodes to vary the capacitance therebetween, means including a pair of suspending pieces each carrying at their lower end portions a respective pawl adapted to engage the holding member when it is raised to its upper position for holding it in place, and means for releasing the pawls to bring the dielectric film into pressed contact with the stationary electrodes.

Abstract: A capacitive keyswitch comprising a first circuit support, an electrically insulating spacer, a dielectric structure, a second circuit support and an actuating assembly for actuating the keyswitch; the first circuit support is flexible and carries thereupon a first conductive circuit, the first conductive circuit includes a first conductive land; the second circuit support carries thereupon a second conductive circuit, the second conductive circuit including a second conductive land; the spacer has an aperture therethrough; the first conductive land, the second conductive land, and the aperture are substantially in register with the first conductive land and the second conductive land being in facing relation with respect to each other; the dielectric structure is interposed between the first and second conductive lands; the actuating assembly comprises a plunger and a pad; the pad is interposed between the plunger and the first circuit support whereby application of a force urging the plunger toward the firs

Abstract: A user, touch actuable capacitive switch for changing the level of an output signal to an electrical circuit. The switch includes an external, user touchable capacitive plate formed on a first dielectric panel and two internal capacitive plates formed on a second dielectric panel affixed to the first flexible dielectric panel, the two internal capacitive plates being oppositely disposed from said external capacitive plate on opposite sides of said second dielectric panel. Electrically conductive paths on the second dielectric panel interconnect the internal capacitive plates to the electrical circuit. A trim tab formed on the second dielectric panel permits the adjustment of the change of level of the output signal upon actuation of the capacitive switch.

Abstract: A capacitance keyboard switch is provided which is of substantially reduced vertical dimensions for reducing in a keyboard the overall space requirements therefore. The switch of the invention has an overall height of only 0.750 inches (19.05 mm), and a length of travel of as much as 0.150 inches (3.81 mm). This is achieved by eliminating a housing for the switch altogether, utilizing a cooperating plunger-snap-in guide combination, and a single sheet movable capacitor plate which cooperates with a plate on the printed circuit board. In addition, the entire assembly is mounted and supported on the printed circuit board with the components snapped together without the use of separate hardware, such as screws or nuts.

Abstract: A capacitance-type membrane switch in which ordinarily spaced-apart contacts are positioned other than directly over an associated capacitance spacing element with an inner insulating layer and outer conductive portions.

Abstract: A control lever switch for providing steplessly adjustable control values, e.g. directional commands, for a plurality of outputs is based upon the provision of a number of electrodes in a spaced array around a control lever, these electrodes being capacitively coupled to a transmitter electrode which is carried by the control lever and which is adjustable via the control lever both radially and circumferentially of the electrode array. Preferably, four 90.degree. segment electrodes are provided, with a circular gap in the center, appropriately connected to two output channels to give, in a vehicle control system, both directional control and speed control in each channel. The electrode array and the transmitter electrode may be provided on respective opposite sides of a circuit board over which the transmitter electrode can slide easily.

Abstract: A capacitive keyswitch is formed with a fixed horizontal plate that is imbedded in a horizontal printed circuit board below an overlaying dielectric layer and a moveable cantilever mounted plate that is hinged to the printed circuit board so as to project upwardly at an acute angle. When a plunger is actuated, a portion of it presses down on an overtravel mechanism that is formed from the moveable plate which causes the moveable plate to assume approximately a parallel position with respect to fixed horizontal plate, thereby changing the capacitance of the switch and actuating the switch. The overtravel mechanism consists of a tab cut out of a bent-up portion of the moveable plate so that the tab is bent along an intersection line formed by the intersection of the plane or moveable plate and the plane of the bent-up section.

Abstract: A capacitive keyswitch is formed by a flat, horizontal capacitor plate that is covered by a dielectric layer on a printed circuit board and a moveable capacitor plate that is secured to the printed circuit board by a pair of tabs and is hinged so that it projects upwardly at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal printed circuit board. The plastic plunger for actuating the switch is formed with an integrally molded cantilever overtravel arm, which preferably is formed as a segment of the circumference of a circle. The arm has an integral transversely projecting cylindrical rod at its end which contacts the moveable capacitor plate during actuation of the keyswitch.

Abstract: A variable capacitor for use in a keyboard comprises a stationary capacitor plate of thin, conductive, sheet material on an insulative substrate and having a substantially planar face. A movable member formed from a single piece of conductive sheet material includes a movable capacitor plate having a substantially planar, and continuous face in overlaying spaced apart relation to the stationary plate. The movable plate is struck from the body of a short length of a strip of sheet material to provide a pair of longitudinal side edges and an outer free edge transverse thereto, with a portion opposite the free outer edge projecting laterally outward and integral with a pair of supporting, spring-like, deflectable legs which extend downwardly toward the substrate to join an integral base strip mounted on the substrate.

Abstract: A capacitance type contact switch has a conductive push button in the form of a bottomed cylinder which is slidably contained in first and second fitting members attached to a support plate. One end of a conductive spring member presses on the inside of a bottom portion of the push button to bias the push button toward the back of a front contact plate, while the other end of the spring member is in contact with a conductive seat member. An electrical circuit substrate contained in a switch case is connected to the seat member by means of a lead wire. Thus, electrical conduction may be provided between the contact plate and the electrical circuit substrate by means of the push button, spring member, seat member, and the lead wire. The switch is operated when a user touches the front contact plate to form a capacitance, the charging voltage of the capacitance being detected to control the switch in a manner known per se.

Abstract: A tri-state capacitance controlled keyswitch having a deformable concave electrode moveable by means of an actuator toward and away from a pair of capacitor plates underlying a dielectric layer in order to change the capacitive coupling between the capacitor plates. The electrode is normally remote from the dielectric layer in a weak capacitance open circuit position, a first higher capacitance closed circuit position exists when the electrode is undeformed and is in contact with the dielectric layer, and a second highest capacitance closed circuit position exists when the electrode is deformed and is in contact with the dielectric layer.

Abstract: A capacitive keyswitch is described having a plunger that is movable along an axis between a released or undepressed position and a depressed position. A flexible capacitance plate is mounted on the plunger for movement therewith in a desired path. Two rigid capacitance plates are mounted with contact surfaces substantially parallel with the axis and in the path of the flexible capacitance plate for deflecting and deforming the flexible capacitance plate to the contour of the contact surfaces as the flexible capacitance plate is frictionally slid over the rigid plates.

Abstract: A sealed adjusting device for mounting in the wall of a sealed instrument housing that includes at least one adjustable element, such as a potentiometer. The adjusting device comprises an elongated sleeve-like mounting hub capable of being sealingly secured in the housing wall, and a normally freely rotatable or freely turnable knob structured as a hollow capsule rotatably inserted onto one end of the mounting hub. The other end of the mounting hub receives or is connected with a portion of the adjustable element. A spring is provided within the mounting hub to hold the knob in its freely turnable or rotatable position. The knob is operatively connected with a clutch-sleeve for temporary engagement with the rotatable operating end of the adjustable element when the knob is pushed against the spring.

Abstract: In a capacitive key for use in a keyboard, an operator depresses a plunger which alters the separation between the plates of a capacitor, thereby altering its capacitance. It is desirable to provide plunger overtravel which permits further depression of the plunger after the capacitor has been altered. In the present invention a portion of the movable capacitor plate is formed into a spring which elastically deforms after the capacitor has been altered, to permit overtravel of the plunger.

Abstract: A capacitive switch includes: an electrical circuit formed by two spaced pads of conductive material on an insulative substrate; and a capacitive coupling member on the end of a keystem wherein the end of the keystem has a looped ribbon formed by two layers of insulating material sandwiching a layer of conductive material. As the keystem is urged toward the substrate a monotonically increasing area of the ribbon mechanically contacts the pads so that a monotonically increasing capacitive coupling is made between the two spaced pads.

Abstract: A switching module for a solid-state keyboard or the like comprising an actuating key manually movable between a first and a second position and a variable capacitor. The capacitor has a rigid stationary electrode and another electrode movable toward and away from the stationary electrode between a first position in which the electrodes are separated by an air gap and a second position in which the air gap is substantially eliminated for effecting a change in capacitance of the variable capacitor. The movable electrode has a rigid dielectric member secured thereto on its side toward the stationary electrode, this dielectric member having a dielectric constant substantially greater than air. The switching module further comprises a cam coupling the actuating key and the movable electrode for effecting movement of the movable electrode and the dielectric member between their first and second positions in response to movement of the actuating key between its first and second positions.

Abstract: A multi-electrode grid for aligning polarized particles such as asbestos hin a dielectric medium.

Abstract: A keyboard switch arrangement mounted on a base plate and having a plurality of key stem holder blocks, each of which protects a key stem from slipping out and has coupling portions of ridges and grooves on the outer side walls coupled in contiguous relation to one another in a manner that one ridge in one block is fitted in one groove of the adjacent block.