U.S. patent number 3,789,167 [Application Number 05/316,656] was granted by the patent office on 1974-01-29 for multi-output level keyboard switch assembly with improved operator and contact structure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Chomerics, Inc.. Invention is credited to John G. Coulter, Richard E. Seeger, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,789,167 |
Seeger, Jr. , et
al. |
January 29, 1974 |
MULTI-OUTPUT LEVEL KEYBOARD SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED OPERATOR
AND CONTACT STRUCTURE
Abstract
A structure which includes a circuit board having a conductive
pattern thereon and supporting a resilient conductive layer by way
of an insulator layer having a plurality of windows therethrough in
alignment with portions of the conductive pattern, the resilient
layer divided into at least two sections held electrically apart by
pins coupled to a frame member in which the board and layers are
packaged.
Inventors: |
Seeger, Jr.; Richard E.
(Topsfield, MA), Coulter; John G. (Reading, MA) |
Assignee: |
Chomerics, Inc. (Woburn,
MA)
|
Family
ID: |
23230042 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/316,656 |
Filed: |
December 20, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
200/5A; 200/512;
200/292 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H
13/702 (20130101); H01H 2229/044 (20130101); H01H
2223/034 (20130101); H01H 2229/026 (20130101); H01H
2239/044 (20130101); H01H 2209/078 (20130101); H01H
2207/012 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01H
13/70 (20060101); H01H 13/702 (20060101); H01h
013/52 () |
Field of
Search: |
;200/1R,5R,5A,16A,159B,166C |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
3699294 |
October 1972 |
Sudduth |
3705276 |
December 1972 |
Seeger, Jr. et al. |
3721778 |
March 1973 |
Seeger, Jr. et al. |
|
Primary Examiner: Scott; J. R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dike, Bronstein, Roberts &
Cushman
Claims
What is claimed
1. In a keyboard or the like which includes an insulator board
having circuit pathways thereon, insulator means having a plurality
of windows therethrough in alignment with selected portions of said
pathways, a resilient electrically conductive layer means
positioned on said insulator and divided into at least two segments
that are spaced apart and electrically isolated from each other and
lie in part in substantially the same plane, each of said segments
covering at least one of said windows of said insulator layer,
first means for positioning and holding said segments in electrical
isolation from each other, second means for applying force to push
portions of said segments through said windows they overlie in
order to make contact with said pathways, third means for providing
electrical input signals to generate output signals represent of a
force applied to said segments, a plurality of electrical signal
output pins coupled to different ones of said pathways and in which
the third means comprises electrical signal input pins, a different
one of which is electrically coupled to each of said segments.
2. In a keyboard as called for in claim 1 in which said first means
comprises a frame which has a plurality of rods extending
therefrom, at least two of said rods extending through each of said
segments to locate said segments with respect to each other.
3. In a keyboard according to claim 2 in which said rods extend
through each of said layers and board to make a sandwich
thereof.
4. In a keyboard according to claim 3 in which said frame is formed
with a plurality of divider members defining windows in at least
partial alignment with said windows of said insulator layer and in
which said second means comprises an indicia layer of insulator
material positioned between said frame and said segments, said
indicia layer having a plurality of markings thereon which may be
seen through said windows in said frame.
5. In a keyboard or the like comprising electrical conductive layer
means divided into at least two segments electrically isolated from
each other,
a plurality of electrical pathways isolated from each other,
means for retaining said segments electrically isolated from each
other, insulator means for maintaining said segments electrically
isolated from said electrical pathways and having windows in
alignment to permit selected portions of said electrical pathways
to make electrical contact with each of said segments, means for
relatively moving said segments and said pathways with respect to
each other in order for selected segments to make electrical
contact with selected pathways through said windows, and first
electrical signal pins, a different one of which is electrically
coupled to each of said segments.
6. In a keyboard according to claim 5 in which second electrical
signal pins are coupled to different ones of said pathways.
Description
STATEMENT OF THE DISCLOSURE
This invention is directed to a new and improved key-board
structure and is more particularly directed to a keyboard structure
which is constructed to provide more than one output voltage
level.
This invention is an improvement over the keyboard structure shown
copending in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 154,752 filed June 12,
1971 by Richard E. Seeger,Jr., and William J. Lynn now U.S. Pat.
No. 3,721,778.
In the past i.e., as disclosed in the aforementioned application,
each of the keyboard output terminals provided the same output
voltage level to represent respective key depression or switch
closure. This was quite adequate as long as a single output level
was all that was needed to drive digital logic circuitry or the
like. But as time went on there grew the need for a keyboard to
supply not only the signals for logic circuits but also some
signals at much higher voltage levels to control operative or
analog devices such as a servomechanism.
While there are undoubtedly many ways of converting one voltage
level to another voltage level using circuitry, this would have
been quite expensive. Accordingly, there developed a need for the
above to be accomplished using the basics of the keyboard structure
shown in the above mentioned application without substantially
raising the cost of keyboard construction.
The present invention accomplishes the above multiple voltage level
output requirement in a novel manner while using the basics of the
prior keyboard structure with a minimum of costly
modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
The keyboard of the present invention provides multiple voltage
level outputs from different terminals thereof by using a
multi-segment conductive layer or pad positioned on an insulator
layer having a plurality of windows therethrough in alignment with
portions of a conductive pattern, the segments of the conductive
layer being electrically separated from each other by retaining
means and in the preferred embodiment being coupled to different
input or supply signal terminals. Key or switch-like members of the
keyboard are depressible to force the conductive segments through
selected ones of the windows of the insulator layer against
portions of the conductive pattern in order to provide output
signals at keyboard output terminals coupled to different portions
of the conductive pattern.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top view of a keyboard of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a bottom view with the parts cut away of the
keyboard;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view broken at the center and taken along
line 3--3 of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference should now be had to FIGS. 1 to 4 for a description of
the preferred embodiment of the disclosure.
The keyboard comprises a frame 10 preferably of insulator material
more preferably of plastic such as A.B.S a high impact polystyrene
or may be constructed of other type plastics such as polypropylene.
The frame is provided with a plurality of divider members 11 which
form the walls of windows 12 extending through frame.
The underside of the divider members 12 includes a plurality of
rods 13 (preferably formed at the same time as the frame i.e., by
molding [see FIG.2]) which extend downwardly as shown in FIG. 4.
The rods 13 are preferably of the same plastic material as the
frame 10 and preferably may be softened by heat to form the head
13a to hold the keyboard assembly together as shown in FIG. 4.
Alternatively the rods may be threaded and nuts may then be used to
hold the keyboard assembly together.
Positioned directly below the frame member 11 is a thin plastic
insulator layer 14 e.g., of Mylar which has indicia applied
thereto. The indicia may be marked thereon using inks or may be
applied thereto using other conventional techniques.
The layer 14 is provided with a plurality of holes 14a through
which the rods 13 extend to locate it within the confines of the
frame.
Positioned directly below the layer 14 is a conductive plastic
layer 15 which is divided into at least two segments 15a and 15b.
The conductive layer is preferably of a resilient material such as
plastic e.g., silicone rubber filled with 10 to 80 percent by
volume of silver flakes. Rubber is defined as a plastic for the
purposes of this invention.
The segments 15a and 15b are electrically isolated from each other,
lie in substantially the same plane, and are preferably held
isolated by at least two of the rods 13 extending through holes
15aa formed in each of the segments 15a and 15b.
Reference may be had to U.S. Pat Nos. 3, 140, 342 and 3, 576, 387
for a description of other material compositions suitable for use
as the layer comprising segments 15a and 15b.
The segments 15a and 15b are positioned over an insulator plastic
layer 16 e.g., of Mylar having a plurality of windows extending
therethrough in line with windows 12. The rods 13 also extend
through holes 16b in layer 16 to locate the layer 16 within the
frame 10.
Below the layer 16 is a typical circuit board 17 e.g., of Bakelite
having a plurality of conductive electrical contacts or pathways 18
formed thereon. See the aforementioned application for typical
circuit patterns or pathways.
The circuit pattern may be formed conventionally from copper which
is etched or by the spraying of conductive paint.
The electrical pathways are at least in part aligned with the
windows 16a so that the application of a presence (by a finger) to
the force applying layer 14 can push portions of the conductive
layer segments through the windows 16a against the pathways 18. In
this manner electrical contact is made between the conductive
segments and the pathways 18. When the force is withdrawn, the
resiliency of the conductive layer causes it to withdraw and spring
back from the conductive layer and break contact. The rods 13
extend through holes 17a in the board to hold the assembly
together.
In order to make electrical contact with the conductive segments
15a and 15b as well as the pathways 18, there are provided pins
20-30 supported in connector supports 20a-23a mounted to the board
17.
Electrical conductor pins 20 and 23 are electrically coupled
directly to segments 15a and 15b respectively so that different
input voltage levels may be applied to the segments e.g., + 6v to
pin 23 and segment 15b and + 30v to pin 20 and segment 15a. The
pins 20 and 23 are preferably enbedded in the segments 15a and 15b
and extend through holes 16b formed in the layer 16.
Electrical contact is made to the pathways 18 via pins 21 and 22 as
shown. The left side of FIG. 3 represents the keyboard under the
indicia marking X and the right side of FIG. 3 represents the
keyboard under the indicia marking O with the parts below the other
indicia broken away.
* * * * *