U.S. patent number 3,806,673 [Application Number 05/308,205] was granted by the patent office on 1974-04-23 for pushbutton keyboard switch assembly with improved disc spring contact and printed circuit structure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Texas Instruments Incorporated. Invention is credited to Henry J. Boulanger.
United States Patent |
3,806,673 |
Boulanger |
April 23, 1974 |
PUSHBUTTON KEYBOARD SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH IMPROVED DISC SPRING
CONTACT AND PRINTED CIRCUIT STRUCTURE
Abstract
A keyboard system particularly useful when a low profile is
desirable as in miniature hand held calculators comprises an
electrically insulative circuit board on which a plurality of sets
of electrically conductive pads are arranged on one surface
thereof. Aligned with each set is an actuating element and
actuating button. The actuating element is supported on its
peripheral edge on at least one pad of a set and upon actuation
comes into bridging electrical contact with one or more pole pads
of the set which are arranged near the peripheral edge of the
actuating element. Certain of the pads are in electrical connection
with electrical circuitry arranged on the reverse side of the
board. In an alternative embodiment an electrical jumper is
provided so that two circuits may cross one another while being
maintained electrically separated from one another. For indefinite
actuation of an on-off or a constant switch a sliding button switch
is employed. The position of the sliding button controls the
direction of force exerted by a coil spring and hence actuation of
the switch. In another embodiment a double throw switch is
shown.
Inventors: |
Boulanger; Henry J. (Providence
County, RI) |
Assignee: |
Texas Instruments Incorporated
(Dallas, TX)
|
Family
ID: |
23193000 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/308,205 |
Filed: |
November 20, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
200/5A; 200/275;
200/17R; 200/516 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06C
7/02 (20130101); H01H 13/7006 (20130101); H01H
15/16 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01H
13/70 (20060101); H01H 15/00 (20060101); H01H
15/16 (20060101); G06C 7/02 (20060101); G06C
7/00 (20060101); H01h 013/52 () |
Field of
Search: |
;200/1R,5R,5A,159A,159B,166BH,172R,172B,17R,18,52R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Scott; James R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Haug; John A. Connors, Jr.; Edward
J. McAndres; James P.
Claims
I claim:
1. A keyboard system comprising an electrically insulative
substrate having generally planar opposed first and second
surfaces, a plurality of sets of pads arranged on one of the first
and second surfaces, an actuating element having a first at rest
convex configuration and a second actuated concave configuration
and having an outer peripheral margin circumscribed by an outer
peripheral edge, a said element aligned with each set, an actuating
button aligned with each actuating element and movable from an
actuated to an unactuated position and back, each set of pads
including a first crescent shaped pad of electrically conductive
material having a top surface elevated above said one of the first
and second surfaces, a second pad located radially inwardly of the
first crescent shaped pad and radially outwardly from the center of
said first crescent shaped pad and aligned with the actuating
element so that bridging electrical connection is made between the
pads upon actuation through contact with the outer peripheral
margin of the element.
2. A keyboard system according to claim 1 in which the second pad
has a top surface generally in the same plane as the top surface of
the first pad.
3. A keyboard system according to claim 1 including electrical
circuitry arranged on the other of said first and second surfaces
and an aperture is formed through the board in alignment with each
of the first and second pads on the said one surface and with a
portion of the electrical circuitry on the said other surface,
electrically conductive material located on the walls defining the
apertures in electrical communication with respective pads and
portions of electrical circuitry.
4. A keyboard system according to claim 3 in which each set of pads
includes a third arc shaped pad located on the imaginary
continuation of the crescent shaped pad and spaced from said pad,
the arc shaped pad having a top surface generally in the same plane
as that of the top surface of the crescent shaped pad.
5. A keyboard system according to claim 4 in which the second pad
is intermediate the first and third pads adjacent one end of the
crescent shaped pad and including a fourth pad intermediate the
first and third pads adjacent another end of the crescent shaped
pad but spaced therefrom and located slightly radially inwardly of
the crescent shaped pad, an aperture through the substrate aligned
with the fourth pad on said one surface and a portion of the
circuitry on said second surface and electrically conductive
material located on the wall of the aperture in electrical
communication with the fourth pad and portion of the electrical
circuitry.
6. A keyboard system according to claim 5 in which the second and
fourth pads are generally cylindrical in shape.
7. A keyboard system according to claim 4 in which each set of pads
includes a fourth pad located on the imaginary continuation of the
crescent shaped pad and spaced from the third pad and said crescent
shaped pad, the second pad is intermediate the first and third pads
adjacent one end of the crescent shaped pad and including fifth and
sixth pads located slightly radially inwardly of the first crescent
shaped pad and adjacent opposite ends of said fourth pad and spaced
therefrom, a respective aperture aligned with the fifth and sixth
pads on said one surface and a portion of the electrical circuitry
on the said second surface, electrically conductive material
located on the walls defining the apertures in electrical
communication with the respective fifth and sixth pads and portions
of electrical circuitry, the fifth and sixth pads being joined
electrically on the said first surface so that two portions of
electrical circuitry can cross each other while being maintained
electrically separated from one another.
8. A keyboard system comprising
an electrically insulative substrate having first and second
planar, parallel surfaces,
a plurality of sets of apertures formed in the substrate extending
from the first to the second surface,
electrical circuiry including a plurality of circuits arranged on
the second surface aligned with the apertures,
a discontinuous annular common pad of electrically conductive
material on the first surface aligned with one of said apertures in
each set, the conductive material extending from the pad through
the aperture to the electrical circuitry,
at least one pole pad of electrically conductive material on the
first surface aligned with another of said apertures in each set,
the conductive material extending from the pole pad through the
said another aperture to the electrical circuitry, the pole pad
located adjacent the imaginary continuation of the discontinuous
annular pad but spaced therefrom radially inwardly, and
a generally circular shaped actuating element, having an
electrically conductive berm along its outer periphery aligned with
each set and movable into and out of bridging electrical connection
with the common and the pole pad through its berm.
9. A keyboard system according to claim 8 in which two pole pads
are provided in each set.
10. A keyboard system according to claim 8 in which one pad
comprises two jumper apertures and an electrically conductive
jumper arranged on the first surface extending from an electric
circuit on the second surface through one jumper aperture along the
first surface, through the second jumper aperture back to said
electric circuit thereby forming a discontinuous portion of the
said electric circuit on the second surface allowing another
circuit to cross the said electric circuit on the second surface
while being maintained electrically separated therefrom.
11. A keyboard system according to claim 8 in which the outer
diameter of the annular pad is approximately 0.500 inches, the
cylindrical pad is approximately 0.050 inches in diameter, the
center line located 0.200 inches from the center of the annular
pad, the pads having a top surface approximately 0.004 inches above
the first surface, the top surface of the annular pad being
approximately 0.025 inches in width, at least 0.025 inches of
clearance provided between any two pads, and the actuating element
is a snap acting disc measuring approximately 0.500 inches in
diameter.
12. A keyboard system according to claim 8 further including an
escutcheon for movably mounting buttons, a button mounted in the
escutcheon for and in alignment with each set movable to an
actuating and a non-actuating position, at least one of the buttons
being slidable between first and second extremities on the
escutcheon, a rockable support pivotably mounted on said escutcheon
and disposed beneath the slidable button, a first spring seat
formed in a bottom surface of the slidable button, a second spring
seat formed in a top surface of the rockable support, a coil spring
received between the first and second spring seat, the coil spring
exerting a downward force on the rockable support causing it to
rock with an end thereof moving toward the set in an actuating
direction when the slidable button is at one extremity, the coil
spring exerting no significant downward force on the rockable
support when the slidable button is at the other extremity.
13. An actuating mechanism having two stable at rest positions in
the actuated and the non-actuated states comprising a support, a
button slidable on the support between two extremities, a first
spring seat formed in a bottom surface of the button, a rockable
member pivotably mounted on said support and located beneath the
button, a second spring seat formed on a surface of the member in
facing relation with the bottom surface of the button, a spring
received on and extending between the first and second spring
seats, a switch including an actuating element adapted to close an
electrical circuit upon actuation, the actuating element aligned
with a portion of the rockable member, when the button is at one
extremity the spring applies a downward force on the member causing
it to rock and actuate the actuating element, when the button is at
the other extremity the spring exerting insufficient downward force
to cause actuation of the actuating element.
14. An actuating mechanism according to claim 13 in which the
rockable member is generally T-shaped having a main body portion
with two ends, a cross bar formed at one end and the second spring
seat formed at the other end.
15. An actuating mechanism according to claim 14 in which a stop
wall contacts the support preventing sliding movement.
16. An actuating element according to claim 15 in which a channel
is formed along a longitudinal axis of the sliding button, the
channel in communication with the bottom wall of the sliding
button, the main body portion of the rockable member received in
the channel capturing the spring between the button and the
rockable member.
17. An actuating element according to claim 16 including two tabs
laterally extending from the sliding button, the tabs received
beneath the support to prevent movement of the sliding button away
from the support.
18. A keyboard system according to claim 1 in which at least one
double throw switch is provided by further including in at least
one set of pads another pad of electrically conductive material on
said one surface aligned with one of said apertures, the conductive
material extending from the said another pad through its respective
aperture to the electrical circuitry, the and another pad is
located on the imaginary continuation of the discontinuous crescent
pad but spaced therefrom, and means providing a slight bias against
the actuating element against the set of pads so that bridging
electrical connection is effected between the crescent pad and the
said another pad through the actuating element when unactuated, and
when the actuating element is actuated bridging electrical
connection is effected between the crescent pad and the second pad.
Description
The present invention relates generally to keyboard systems and
more particularly is directed to an improved push-button keyboard
system for establishing electrical connections in response to
actuation.
In recent years numerous types of keyboard systems have been
developed for use in transmitting coded electrical information in
various types of machines. Typically such keyboard systems utilize
pushbutton members appropriately symbolized in a manner indicative
of a numeric, alphabetic or mathematic function generated in
response to depression of the pushbutton member to establish
electrical connection between various conductive paths and various
circuit elements coupled to the system in order to achieve a
desired function. However, particularly as the cost of associated
equipment has decreased dramatically in recent years coupled with
an increase in the use and availability of various devices
incorporating such systems the need has arisen for extremely
inexpensive readily manufactured keyboard systems which may be
economically and accurately produced on a mass production basis
with a high degree of accurate repeatability. For example, the need
of miniaturized electronic-calculators, units for addressing
computer systems, credit card verifiers, telephone dialing and the
like which necessarily require various types of keyboard
arrangements has enormously increased in recent years requiring the
provision of inexpensive, reliable and extremely durable keyboard
systems which may be manufactured in a simple and economic manner
on a relatively large volume basis. Particularly, in the computer
field the need for durable, reliable yet inexpensive systems which
can address electrical information either directly to a system or
through a remote terminal or the like, while occupying a minimal
amount of space, has become increasingly urgent. Such a system is
disclosed and claimed in copending and coassigned application Ser.
No. 148,503, filed June 1, 1971. In that application a plurality of
spaced sets of conductive members including U and rivet shaped are
arranged at a surface of a support in electrical communication with
conductive paths on an opposite surface of the support. A plurality
of actuatable conductive elements, one for each set of conductive
members, are provided to establish bridging electrical connection
between conductive members of a set application of a preselected
deflecting force to the conductive elements. While this structure
is very effective for many applications it is not readily adaptable
to a two pole design which is required for binary encoding or for
touch tone telephones, or in general to more complex circuitry.
That is, if another U or rivet shaped conductive member were placed
adjacent an actuatable conductive element it would be very
difficult to assure that all the members of the set were bridged
upon actuation. Thus reliability of actuation is deleteriously
affected as soon as more than three portions are to be bridged.
Briefly, in accordance with this invention a plurality of
discontinuous annular electrically conductive support pads are
arranged on a surface of a support each supporting an actuatable
conductive element in the form of a disc. A disc retainer maintains
the discs in the desired location on the support pads. A plurality
of electrically conductive pads are located within the annular pad
adjacent to the discontinued portion. Each of the conductive pads
are electrically connected to conductive paths on the reverse side
of the support so that upon predetermined deflection of the discs
bridging electrical connection is effected between the pads. For
momentary actuation the discs are deflected by respective push
buttons which are slidable in a direction perpendicular to the
plane upon which the discs are supported. For extended actuation a
disc is deflected by a button which is slidable in a direction
parallel to the plane upon which the disc is supported which motion
is translated to a perpendicular direction. This button has an at
rest position in both the actuated and non-actuated positions.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a keyboard
system having single or multiple pole switching action.
It is also an object to provide a single or double throw switching
device usable in a keyboard system. It is another object of the
invention to provide a keyboard system having an improved switch
for extended actuation, such as an on-off switch.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a reliable,
durable, accurate yet inexpensive keyboard system which is
conducive to mass production manufacturing techniques.
The above objects and still further objects of the invention will
immediately become apparent to those skilled in the art after
consideration of the following preferred embodiments which are
provided by way of example and not of limitation.
In the accompanying drawings in which several preferred embodiments
are illustrated;
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a miniature hand held calculator
incorporating the keyboard system of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the keyboard system used in the
FIG. 1 calculator, the keyboard partly broken away to show the
interrelationship of several of the component parts including an
actuating element and electrically conductive pads;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged blow apart perspective view of an alternative
set of electrically conductive pads with a retainer for the
actuating elements partly broken away;
FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on lines 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of a circuit board useful in the
calculator of FIG. 1, the actuating elements for each station
appearing in dashed lines;
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a portion of a modified form of the
circuit board;
FIG. 7 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 6 of a portion of another
modified form of the circuit board;
FIG. 8 is a cross section taken on lines 7--7 of FIG. 2 showing a
slide switch for extended actuation in the unactuated state;
FIG. 9 is the same view as FIG. 8 but showing the slide switch in
the actuated state;
FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the slide button of the FIGS.
8 and 9 switch;
FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the FIG. 10 slide button;
FIG. 12 is a front view of the slide switch support shown in FIGS.
8 and 9;
FIG.13 is a bottom view of the support of FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a keyboard system useful in
telephone dialing incorporating the instant invention;
FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of a circuit board useful in the
keyboard system of FIG. 14, the actuating elements for each station
appearing in dashed lines; and
FIGS. 16 and 17 are top plan views of keyboard systems similar to
that of the system shown in FIG. 14 but having modified keyboard
arrangements.
Like reference characters indicate like elements throughout the
several views of the drawings.
Numeral 10 in FIG. 1 indicates generally a miniature, hand held
calculator which includes a digitial read out section 12 and a
keyboard system 14. The keyboard system 14 is shown in FIG. 2
partly broken away and comprises escutcheon 16 mounting a plurality
of manually depressable pushbutton members 18 on which are arranged
characters symbolic of the operation effected by their actuation.
It will be noted that the pushbutton members are provided with a
shoulder 20 to limit outward movement. Aligned with each pushbutton
18 is an actuating element 22 and aligned with each actuating
element is a set 24 of electrically conductive pads mounted on
circuit board 26. Actuating elements are maintained in their proper
location by means of retainer 28 preferably of a suitable
electrically insulative material. A layer 30 of flexible material,
such as polyethylene terephthalate is preferably placed over
retainer 28 to seal each of the electrically conductive pad sets
24. Escutcheon 16 is spaced by any suitable means from layer 30 to
permit movement of button 18 from an unactuated to an actuated
position. FIG. 5 illustrates electrically conductive circuitry 50
of the reverse side of circuit board 26 to which the conductive
pads are electrically connected as explained below.
Reference may be had to FIGS. 3 and 4 for details of an exemplary
actuating station including a set of electrically conductive pads.
It should be noted that set 24' of FIGS. 3 and 4 is a modified
version of that shown in FIG. 2, two pole pads being shown rather
than the single pole pad of FIG. 2. Circuit board 26 is composed of
an electrically insulative material such as epoxy bonded glass
cloth and may have a thickness of approximately 1/32 of an inch. An
additional insulative support member 32 (shown only in FIGS. 3 and
4) may be provided beneath circuit board 26 if it is desirable to
provide more rigidity and support for the associated electronic
components, power supplies, display means and the like. Circuit
board 26 has two generally parallel opposite planar surfaces 34, 36
with a plurality of sets of conductive pads 24 arranged on surface
34. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 a set 24' comprises a discontinuous
annular or crescent shaped pad 38. Arc shaped pad portion 41 is
aligned with the imaginary continuation of pad 38 but is separated
therefrom. Aperture 40 extends through circuit board 26 as does
conductive pad 38 which is electrically connected to a portion of
electrically conductive circuit 50 on surface 36 of board 26. Pad
41 is not connected to circuit 50 but is used for support of the
actuating element. Located adjacent pads 38 and 41 spaced slightly
radially inwardly therefrom are pole pads 42, 44. Pads 42, 44 are
aligned with respective apertures 46, 48 and extend through circuit
board 26 from surface 34 to other portions of circuit 50 on surface
36. Received on pads 38 and 41 is actuating element 22 which may
take the form of a disc having a non-developable surface to render
it snap acting. That is upon depression of element 22 from that
configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, convex surface facing
upwardly, force increases with distance travelled for a first
distance which is followed by a second distance when force
decreases with distance travelled. This negatively sloped portion
of the force versus distance curve is referred to as the snap
portion. In order for this to occur the central portion of the disc
must travel beyond the plane on which the periphery of the disc
rests. Thus pads 38 and 41 extend above the surface 34 a sufficient
distance to permit snap action of disc 22. A disc which has been
found to be satisfactory is a stainless steel disc 0.5 of an inch
in diameter and the pads extend approximately 0.004 inches above
surface 34. The height of pole pads 42, 44 is chosen to be
approximately the same as that of pads 38, 41. Disc 22 is
preferably gold plated on the bottom (as seen in FIG. 3) peripheral
margin 23 forming a conductive berm. The peripheral edge of the
disc 22 rests upon common pad 38 and arc shaped pad 41. As seen in
FIG. 4 the edge is supported sufficiently above surface 34 of
circuit board 26 so that any tendency of the disc to work its way
beneath retainer 28 is avoided. Retainer 28 is chosen having a
thickness appreciably more than the distance pads 38 and 41 extend
above surface 34 to allow sufficient space to receive disc 22.
Flexible sheet 30 is placed over the disc and is adhesively
attached to retainer 28 to seal the sets of conductive pads from
gross contaminants such as dust, dirt and even liquids. Spring 52
may be used to transmit force from the button to disc 22 and is
captured in cavity 54 of button 18. Upon deflection of disc 22 to
and beyond its over center position and the disc makes bridging
electrical contact between common pad 38 and pole pads 42, 44
through berm 23. Pole pads are positioned so that disc 22 does not
come into electrical contact therewith when the disc is in the
unactuated state but does come into contact therewith with the disc
22 is in the actuated state. The pole pads thus are located near
enough to the outer periphery of the disc when the disc is seated
on common pad 38 to permit electrical contact with the disc in only
the actuated state of the disc yet far enough away from the center
of the disc to permit the disc to snap through center. It has been
found that for satisfactory "feel" the pole pad must be located so
that no portion of it is closer to the center of the disc than half
the disc's radius. For optimum "feel" the pole pad must be
positioned closely adjacent the outer periphery of the disc. For
0.5 inch diameter discs these pads are located so that the pad
center is approximately 0.200 inches from the center of the disc.
The outer radius of pad 38 is approximately 0.250 and is
approximately 0.025 inches in width. Pole pads 42, 44 are
approximately 0.050 inches in diameter. Preferably a clearance of
at least 0.025 inches is provided between any two pads. A width of
0.075 inches of berm 23 for the above dimensions to insure proper
bridging electrical connection has been found to be satisfactory.
FIG. 15 illustrates electrically conductive circuitry 50 of a
circuit board 26 in which the sets of conductive pads utilize the
double pole pad embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4. It will be understood
that the particular number of actuating stations is one of choice
determined by the desired design parameters of the unit into which
the keyboard is used. It will be seen that depression of any disc
22, shown in phantom in FIG. 15, causes bridging electrical
connection with two separate circuits. With the arrangement shown
in copending application Ser. No. 148,503 this would be much more
difficult to reliably achieve with a conductive member located to
contact a central portion of the actuating disc. Further, in that
application the outer conductive elements must extend a sufficient
amount above the inner conductive element to provide proper
actuation of the disc. While that structure is very effective for
its intended use it requires precise handling and the circuitry
with which it can be used is limited in its complexity. Structures
made in accordance with the instant invention are not only
conducive to mass manufacturing techniques but also can be used
with more complex circuitry requiring multiple pole switching,
double throw switching, means for jumping circuits and the like. A
particular board made in accordance with this invention is
preferably constructed by starting with electrically insulative
board 26 having a layer of copper of two ounces per square foot on
both sides 34 and 36. The required number of apertures are then
formed as by drilling and another layer of copper of one ounce per
square foot is added to both surfaces, as by plating. This results
in a height of approximately 0.004 inches above the surface of the
original substrate. A mask is then placed over the board and the
copper is etched away from the board except for the desired
configuration. Electrical connection is effected to those portions
which are designed to carry current and a thin layer of oxidation
resistant metal such as gold may be deposited thereon. This
includes pads 38, 42, and 44 and circuitry 50.
FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment with an alternative set 24" of
conductive pads. Common pad 38 and aperture 40 are the same as in
FIGS. 3 and 4 as are pole pad 42 and aperture 46. However, in this
embodiment two separated arc shaped pads 60 and 62 are located on
the imaginary continuation of pad 38 and spaced therefrom. A jumper
pad 64 is provided extending from apertures 66, 68, aperture 66
being adjacent and intermediate pads 60 and 62 while aperture 68 is
adjacent and intermediate pads 62 and 38. As in the case of pad 42,
the jumper pad 64 and apertures 66 and 68 are located slightly
radially inwardly from pad 38 and the imaginary continuation
thereof. This arrangement is particularly advantageous when the
electrical circuitry on the reverse side is complex and it is
desired to cross two circuits such as circuits 72 and 74 while
maintaining them electrically separated from one another. Thus
circuit 72 located on surface 36 of board 26 extends to aperture
68, across jumper 64 on surface 34 of board 26, back to circuit 72
on surface 36. Passing beneath jumper 64 on side 36 is circuit 74
electrically separated from circuit 72.
Another type of jumper is shown in FIG. 7 in which pad set 24'"
comprises common pad 38' which is similar to common pad 38 of FIG.
6, aperture 40' corresponding to aperture 40 of pole pad 38, but
with an additional aperture 43 so that circuits 70 and 71 can cross
each other while being maintained electrically separated from one
another. As seen in FIG. 7 circuit 70 on surface 36 leads to
aperture 40', across a portion of pad 38' on surface 34 to aperture
43 and then back to circuit 70 on surface 36 so that circuit 79
passes beneath in electrical separation from that portion of pad
38' forming part of circuit 70.
Also shown in FIG. 7 is pad 75 which is located on the imaginary
continuation of crescent shaped common pad 38'. Aperture 77 is
provided in pad 75 electrically connecting pad 75 to circuit 79 on
surface 36 of board 26. Pads 83 and 85 are provided spaced radially
inwardly of the imaginary continuation of crescent shaped common
pad 38' and are in electrical connection with circuit 73 through
respective plated apertures 81, 87. Thus pad set 24'" comprises a
double throw switch with pad 75, normally closed being bridged with
comon pad 38' when the disc 22 is in the unactuated position. A
light spring load caused by spring 52 helps to insure that this
electrical connection is maintained when the disc is unactuated.
Actuation of the disc will cause bridging of normally open pads 83,
85 with common pad 38' and separation of common pad 38' and pad 75.
This switch may be useful for instance to shift from one memory to
another.
With particular reference to FIGS. 8-13 a slide switch 80 is shown
which is adapted for extended or indefinite actuation. The switch
has two positions of rest, the actuated and the unactuated. Slide
switch 80 comprises slide button 82 which slides parallel to the
top surface of escutcheon 16. Button 82 is formed with two tabs 84
which extend transversely therefrom and which are captured beneath
the escutcheon 16 to prevent button 82 from becoming dislodged. A
knurled or serrated surface 86 may be provided on button 82 to
facilitate actuation thereof. A protuberance 88 is formed on the
bottom wall of the button and serves as a first spring seat.
Protuberance 88 is formed near one end of the button for a purpose
which will become obvious below. Located beneath button 82 is slide
switch support 90 which is generally T shaped having a cross arm 92
which fits into a mating opening in escutcheon 16 and prevents
support 90 from moving laterally. The main body portion 96 is
adapted to fit within a channel 98 formed in button 82 thereby
permitting relative sliding movement of button 82 and support 90.
Located near the end of body 96 remote from the cross bar 92 is
protuberance 100 which serves as a second spring seat. Coil spring
102 extends between the first and second spring seats. It will be
seen that in the position of FIG. 8 in which the spring is in an at
rest position essentially no force is exerted by spring 102. As the
button is moved from the FIG. 8 to the FIG. 9 position the force
exerted by spring 102 is initially primarily in a direction
parallel to the surface of the escutcheon and the plane formed by
the peripheral edge of the disc; the perpendicular moment being
insufficient to cause actuation of disc 22; however, as the button
approaches the position of FIG. 8 and rocks into the position shown
and is placed in compression nearly all the force of the spring
becomes perpendicular to the plane formed by the edge of the disc
and hence forces knee 104 of support 90 downwardly thereby causing
actuation of the disc and bridging electrical connection of the
respective conductive pads. Protuberances 88, 100 are virtually
aligned in this position with the axial centerline of the spring
slightly over centered so that the moment of force parallel to the
surface of the escutcheon is opposite to the button return
direction so that button 82 remains in the actuated state until a
sliding force is exerted against it to return it to the unactuated
position. That is, as button 82 moves to the actuated position
spring 102 reaches its maximum compression before reaching the
position shown in FIG. 9. In the unactuated position the return
force of disc 22 is sufficient to cause support 90 to return to its
FIG. 8 position. Thus by means of coil spring 102 a horizontal
motion is translated into a vertical force with spring 102 rocking
back and forth within the confines of the cavities formed between
button 82 and support 90.
FIG. 14 shows a keyboard system 110 including a plurality of keys
18' especially useful in telephone dialing apparatus. The circuit
board shown in FIG. 15 may be used in the system of FIG. 14 and
comprises a two pole arrangement as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIGS.
16 and 17 show variations 112, 114 employing different keyboard
arrangements, all of which are made in accordance with the
invention.
Various changes and modifications in the above-described
embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art
and any of such changes or modifications are deemed to be within
the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the
appended claims.
* * * * *