US3560675A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Depressible diaphragm overlay switch for displays
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1969-05-26
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Granted: 1971-02-02
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Expires: 1989-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A two layer planar multicontact switch including a first substrate layer having a plurality of parallel conductive lines deposited on the upper surface thereof and a second diaphragm layer located over the substrate layer and having a plurality of parallel conductive lines deposited on the lower surface thereof. The conductive lines on the substrate are normal to the conductive lines on the diaphragm such that a plurality of matrix switch intersections are formed. The conductive lines on the substrate and the diaphragm have insulating material selectively deposited thereon to electrically isolate the upper and lower conductive lines except at the points of intersection. The diaphragm layer may be mechanically depressed at the intersection points to selectively connect the upper lines with the lower lines to form switch closure contacts. The diaphragm and the substrate are formed from transparent material so that the switch can be employed in combination with a visual display.
Inventors
- 👤 Morris Krakinowski
- 👤 George R Stillwell Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:20
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/78; H01H13/785; H01H13/702; H01H13/703; H01H2201/00; H01H2201/022; H01H2201/026; H01H2207/00; H01H2207/022; H01H2209/00; H01H2209/024; H01H2209/03; H01H2209/038; H01H2209/04; H01H2209/046; H01H2209/052; H01H2209/06; H01H2209/068; H01H2209/074; H01H2209/082; H01H2211/00; H01H2211/006; H01H2211/018; H01H2227/00; H01H2227/018; H01H2229/00; H01H2231/00; H01H2231/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A multicontact switch device comprising: a suBstrate layer of material; a plurality of separate lines of electrically conductive material disposed on a first surface of said substrate layer; a plurality of separate lines of electrically insulating material disposed exclusively on and coextensive with first portions of each of said conductive lines, second portions of each of said conductive lines, second portions of each of said conductive lines remaining uncovered by said insulating material; a layer of elastomeric material; a plurality of separate lines of electrically conductive material disposed on a first surface of said elastomeric layer; a plurality of separate lines of electrically insulating material disposed exclusively on and coextensive with first portions of each of said conductive lines on said elastomeric layer, second portions of each of said conductive lines remaining uncovered by said insulating material; and said elastomeric layer being disposed on said substrate layer with said first sides of said layers proximate to each other and separated by said lines of insulating material to form a plurality of switch contacts including said uncovered second portions of said elastomeric layers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A multicontact switch device comprising: a suBstrate layer of material; a plurality of separate lines of electrically conductive material disposed on a first surface of said substrate layer; a plurality of separate lines of electrically insulating material disposed exclusively on and coextensive with first portions of each of said conductive lines, second portions of each of said conductive lines, second portions of each of said conductive lines remaining uncovered by said insulating material; a layer of elastomeric material; a plurality of separate lines of electrically conductive material disposed on a first surface of said elastomeric layer; a plurality of separate lines of electrically insulating material disposed exclusively on and coextensive with first portions of each of said conductive lines on said elastomeric layer, second portions of each of said conductive lines remaining uncovered by said insulating material; and said elastomeric layer being disposed on said substrate layer with said first sides of said layers proximate to each other and separated by said lines of insulating material to form a plurality of switch contacts including said uncovered second portions of said elastomeric layers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A multicontact switch device according to claim 1 wherein said substrate layer and said elastomeric layer are transparent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A multicontact switch device according to claim 1 wherein said substrate layer is a layer of rigid material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A multicontact switch device according to claim 1 wherein said substrate layer is a layer of flexible material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
111 words
A multicontact switch device according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of conductive lines on said substrate layer includes N parallel conductive lines extending in a first direction and said plurality of conductive lines on said elastomeric layer includes M parallel conductive lines extending in a direction normal to said first direction to form N X M switch elements including said uncovered second portions of said conductive lines of said substrate layer spaced from said uncovered second portions of said conductive elements on said elastomeric layer by said lines of insulating material and wherein each switch element is adapted to be brought into selective contact by deformation of said elastomeric layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A multicontact switch device according to claim 5 wherein each one of said N X M switch contacts is adapted to connect a different unique pair of said conductive lines, each of said unique pairs including one of said N conductive lines and one of said M conductive lines.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
A multicontact switch device according to claim 5 wherein said substrate layer is the display screen of a display device including means for generating a visual display on said screen, and further including means connected between said conductive lines on said screen and elastomeric layer and said generating means for providing a distinctive signal to said generating means in response to contact of said switch elements, said distinctive signal being representative of the position of said switch elements relative to said screen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3226473A
Cited
US3308253A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-01 | 1974-08-03 | 1975-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-01 | 1978-08-03 | 1979-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-01 | 1982-08-03 | 1983-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |