Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
  • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
  • H01H13/78—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard characterised by the contacts or the contact sites
  • H01H13/785—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard characterised by the contacts or the contact sites characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
  • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
  • H01H13/702—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
  • H01H13/70—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard
  • H01H13/702—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
  • H01H13/703—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches characterised by spacers between contact carrying layers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2201/00—Contacts
  • H01H2201/022—Material
  • H01H2201/032—Conductive polymer; Rubber
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2209/00—Layers
  • H01H2209/014—Layers composed of different layers; Lubricant in between
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2211/00—Spacers
  • H01H2211/026—Spacers without separate element
  • H01H2211/03—Ridges on layers
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2219/00—Legends
  • H01H2219/002—Legends replaceable; adaptable
  • H01H2219/014—LED
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2229/00—Manufacturing
  • H01H2229/04—Solder problems
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H2229/00—Manufacturing
  • H01H2229/042—Snap coupling; Snap mounting

Definitions

• the invention relates to a keyboard for the control box of an electrical appliance.
• Conventional keyboards for the control box of electrical devices such as calculators, telephones or the like generally include plastic support keys provided with metallic contact pads which act on a printed circuit.
• the plastic keys are guided and supported on said contactors.
• the invention proposes to dissociate the support keys from the layer of contactors but in an original manner so as to design a complete keyboard ready for use.
• the keyboard according to the invention comprises a ply which forms a plurality of contactors each projecting from said ply by means of a blister which is elastically deformable and which acts as a spring, said contactors being provided with support keys and contact pads intended to come into contact with a printed circuit, placed under the contactor sheet, when the keys are pressed.
• This keyboard is remarkable in that at least some of said contactors include pins arranged opposite the contact pads and which are intended to come to force fit into corresponding housings formed in the support keys.
• the contactor ply has projections intended to come to bear on the printed circuit so as to create a space between the latter and said contactor ply.
• the projections are arranged around the axes of movement of the contact pads.
• the contactor strip is traversed by one or more light-emitting diodes disposed between the contactors and under or between the keys while the contactor strip and the keys provide a free space between they and the housing so as to allow the light from the diodes to diffuse in this space after being diffused in the space comprised between the printed circuit and the sheet of contactors.
• pressing keys can be made individually or not in any material (plastic or other).
• the support keys are formed from a block in a key ply which covers the contactor ply, said keys each protruding from said key ply by means of a flexible blister which covers one or more of the Elastically deformable blisters from the contactor strip.
• the contactor ply and the key ply are formed by non-conductive silicone while the contact pads are constituted by conductive silicone.
• At least some of these keys each have at least one cut-out formed in the corresponding flexible blister of said key so as to allow the diffusion by this cut-out of light at least one diode which passes through the contactor strip and which is arranged under said button and between the contactors thereof.
• the keys are formed from a flexible material, such as silicone, at least some of these keys can be stiffened by plastic reinforcements which fit into the same pins of the contactor ply as said keys.
• the invention also proposes a method of manufacturing a keyboard, the keys of which are all integral with the same ply, as mentioned above, which is remarkable in that it consists in particular in manufacturing by molding the ply of contactors. at least some of which are provided with nipples and the support button ply provided with housings corresponding to said nipples, to superimpose the two plies and to press fit the nipples of the contactor ply in the corresponding housings of the key ply.
• FIGS. 2 and 3 are sections along II-II and III-III of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 4 shows in plan a sheet of support keys according to the invention
• FIGS. 5 and 6 are sections along V-V and VI-VI of FIG. 4,
• FIG. 7 shows in plan a control unit provided with a keyboard according to the invention.
• FIGS. 8 and 9 are sections along VIII-VIII and IX-IX of FIG. 7.
• FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a sheet 1 obtained by molding of non-conductive silicone which constitutes a plurality of contactors 2.
• Each contactor 2 protrudes from the ply 1 by a blister 3 which is flexible and elastically deformable and which has a stud 4 opposite which is arranged in the blister 3, a contact pad 5 of conductive silicone for example.
• FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show a ply 7 also obtained by molding of silicone and which constitutes a plurality of support keys 8.
• the keys 8 have different lengths and protrude from the ply 7 by blisters 9 while they are internally provided with at least one housing 10 of shape corresponding to that of the pins 4 of the contactors 2.
• FIGS 7, 8 and 9 show a control unit 11 in which is mounted a keyboard according to the invention.
• a printed circuit 12 provided with electronic components 13, 13 '.
• the ply 1 of contactors and the ply 7 of keys are joined together by force fitting of the pins 4 of the contactors in the housings 10 of the keys.
• the two layers 1 and 7 thus secured rest on the printed circuit 12 by the projections 6 so that there is a space between said circuit 12 and the layers.
• the blisters 3 of the contactors 2 ( Figures 2, 3 and 8) act as a spring so as to cause said contactors to return to their initial position after pressing the keys, the blisters 9 of the latter ( Figures 5 , 6 and 8) are simply flexible and intended to allow the sheet of keys to deform so that said keys accompany the contactors.
• light-emitting diodes 14 (FIG. 8) and 14 ′ (FIG. 9) are arranged in the printed circuit 12 and pass through openings 15, 15 ′ provided in the sheet 1 of contactors (FIGS. 1 to 3).
• the diodes 14 and 14 ′ are provided under long keys with several contactors (function and / or for example) and such that said diodes are arranged between the contactors 2 of said key.
• the plies 1 and 7 have peripheral edges which are arranged at a distance from the housing 11 (FIGS. 8 and 9).
• a translucent plate 17 is arranged in the housing 11 (FIGS. 8 and 9).
• the plate 17 has openings corresponding to the keys 8 which pass through said openings.
• This plate is supported on a flange 18 (FIGS. 7 to 9) of the housing while the keys come into abutment on the wafer by shoulders with which they are provided.
• the reinforcements 19 and 19 ' have openings intended to be crossed by the pins 4 of the contactors 2 of the keys concerned and possibly have a recess 20,20' to make room for the diodes 14, 14 'when these keys are pressed.
• the light coming from the diodes 14, 14 ′ can diffuse under the keys, between the contactors 2 and through the openings 16, blisters 9.
• said light can also be broadcast on the entire keyboard, thanks to the space between the ply 1 and the printed circuit 12, and the space between the plies 1, 7 and the housing 11.
• the keys 8 may not be part of a sheet 7 but be arranged individually.
• the projections 6 allow light scattering from the diodes 14, 14 ', these are not compulsory.
• the diodes can also be arranged under the single keys, the ribbon cable 1 and the keys possibly being translucent, or even between two keys.
• FIGS. 7 to 9 is given by way of example and numerous arrangements can be imagined depending on the applications envisaged (calculator, telephone, etc.).

Landscapes

• Push-Button Switches (AREA)
• Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
• Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
• Electrophonic Musical Instruments (AREA)
• Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)
• Control Of Electric Motors In General (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=9305445

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (10)

Families Citing this family (27)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 1984
  • 1984-06-26 FR FR8410056A patent/FR2566574B1/fr not_active Expired
• 1985
  • 1985-06-25 DE DE8585903016T patent/DE3561679D1/de not_active Expired
  • 1985-06-25 WO PCT/FR1985/000173 patent/WO1986000462A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1985-06-25 AT AT85903016T patent/ATE32637T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1985-06-25 AU AU44960/85A patent/AU582171B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1985-06-25 JP JP60502828A patent/JPS61502709A/ja active Pending
  • 1985-06-25 US US06/845,140 patent/US4710597A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1985-06-25 EP EP85903016A patent/EP0185721B1/de not_active Expired
  • 1985-06-26 CA CA000485375A patent/CA1238100A/fr not_active Expired
  • 1985-06-26 ES ES1985287675U patent/ES287675Y/es not_active Expired

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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