BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to electrical switches, and, more particularly, to momentary elec¬ trical switches of the membrane-type that operate in a normally closed fashion. Membrane switches have been widely used in recent years for many low-voltage applications. This is due in large part to the switch's simple mechanical construction and its flat front face, which allows convenient placement of descriptive graphics and which seals the switch interior from contamination.

Membrane switches typically include a circuit board having spaced electrical contacts fixed on its upper surface, an overlaying spacer with an aperture aligned with the contacts, and a resilient membrane overlaying the spacer. An electrical contact on the underside of the membrane is normally spaced a predeter¬ mined distance above the circuit board contacts, where¬ by a normally open switch is provided. A downward force applied to the membrane lowers the membrane con- tact into electrical contact with the spaced circuit board contacts, to short the latter together and there¬ by close the normally open switch. The circuit board can be either rigid or flexible, depending on the

application.

The normally open configuration of the momentary membrane switch described briefly above limits its application. In situations where a normally closed configuration is desired, supplemental elec¬ tronic circuitry is required.

It should be appreciated from the foregoing that there is a need for an electrical switch having substantially all of the attributes of conventional momentary membrane switches, but operating in a normally closed fashion. The present invention fulfills this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is embodied in a momen¬ tary electrical switch of the membrane-type that operates in a normally closed fashion, without the need for supplementary electronic circuitry. The switch is constructed with very few separate elements, and it has substantially all of the attributes of conventional normally open membrane switches such as a thin construc- tion and suitability for displaying graphics informa¬ tion on its flat top surface.

More particularly, the membrane switch of the invention includes a circuit board having an electrical contact fixed on its upper side, and switch means located immediately above the circuit board and including an electrical contact on its underside, normally positioned to touch or contact the circuit board contact and thereby provide a normally closed switch. The switch means contact is located on a first portion of the switch means, while a second portion of the switch means is normally spaced a predetermined distance above the circuit board. Positioning means.

including an overlaying resilient membrane, hold the switch means in its prescribed position.

In one embodiment of the invention, the switch means is a flat, elongated rocker, with the first portion and associated electrical contact located at one end and with the second portion located at the other end, spaced above the circuit board. A downward force applied to the portion of the resilient membrane overlaying the rocker's second portion lifts the rocker's first portion and its underlying contact out of electrical contact with the circuit board contact, against the yielding resistance of the resilient mem¬ brane. This opens the normally closed switch. Upon removal of the downward force, the resilient membrane forceably returns the rocker to its normal position, with its contact contacting the circuit board contact.

In the first embodiment, a ridge is preferably located on the rocker's underside, between its first and second ends and in continuous contact with the circuit board. A downward force applied to the second end of the rocker pivots the rocker about the ridge, to lift the rocker contact away from the circuit board contact and thereby open the normally closed switch.

In a second embodiment of the invention, the switch means is substantially in the shape of a disk, with the switch means contact located on the underside of the disk's periphery and with the disk's center portion spaced above the circuit board, λ circular ridge depends from the disk's periphery and carries the disk's contact, for normal electrical contact with the circuit board contact. In this embodiment, a downward force applied to the portion of the resilient membrane overlaying the disk's center causes the disk's entire peripheral edge to deform upwardly, away from the circuit board contact. Upon removal of the downward

force, the internal stress in the deformed disk returns the disk to its original position, with its contact touching the circuit board contact.

The positioning means of both embodiments of the switch preferably further includes spacer means located between the circuit board and the resilient membrane, surrounding the switch means. The spacer means functions to prevent lateral movement of the switch means relative to the circuit board. In addition, the maximum thickness of the spacer means is preferably slightly less than that of the switch means, such that the overlaying resilient membrane applies a continuous downward force to hold the switch means in its prescribed position. The switch is preferably free of any separate means for attaching the switch means to the spacer means or the circuit board.

In another aspect of the invention, applicable to both embodiments, the membrane switch further includes a normally open set of contacts. In particular, a second contact is fixed on the upperside of the circuit board and an aligned second contact is fixed on the underside of the switch means, in the portion of the switch means normally spaced above the circuit board. A downward force applied to that portion of the switch means moves the respective second contacts into electrical contact with each other. The second circuit board lead can advantageously be fixed on a second circuit board located immediately beneath the first circuit board and accessible through an aperture formed in the first circuit board.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the

invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a combined normally closed and normally open membrane switch constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the elongated rocker of the membrane switch of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the elongated rocker of the membrane switch of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the mem¬ brane switch of FIG. 1, shown in its assembled condi¬ tion;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view similar to

FIG. 4, but with a downward force being applied to one end of the elongated rocker, to open the normally closed contacts and simultaneously close the normally open contacts;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a combined normally closed and normally open membrane switch constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the disk- shaped switch element of the membrane switch of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the disk- shaped switch element of FIG. 6, taken substantially in the direction of the arrows 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the mem¬ brane switch of FIG. 6, shown in its assembled condi¬ tion; and FIG. 10 is a side sectional view similar to FIG. 9, but with a downward force being applied to the center of the disk-shaped switch element, to open the

normally closed contacts and simultaneously close the normally open contacts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in the exemplary drawings, the present invention is embodied in a momentary membrane switch that is arranged in a normally closed configura¬ tion, without the need for supplementary electronic circuitry. A first embodiment of the switch, depicted in FIGS. 1-5, includes an upper circuit board 11 having a first set of spaced electrical contacts 13 fixed on its upper surface, and a lower circuit board 15 having a second set of spaced electrical contacts 17 fixed on its upper surface. The upper circuit board is posi¬ tioned immediately over the lower circuit board, with an aperture 19 in the upper board aligned with the second set of contacts. A thin spacer 21 overlays the upper circuit board and includes an aperture 23 aligned with the two set of contactss 13 and 17. A thin resil¬ ient membrane 25 overlays the spacer, including its aperture, to provide the switch with a uniform, flat upper surface.

In accordance with the invention, the switch further includes a thin, elongated rocker 27 located within the aperture 23 of the spacer 21 and sized to be confined in that aperture without any substantial lateral movement. Electrical contacts 29 and 31 (FIG. 3) are located on the bottom side of the rocker, one contact at each end. The first rocker contact 29 is positioned in alignment with the first set of circuit board contacts 13, and the second rocker contact 31 is similarly positioned in alignment with the second set of circuit board contacts 17.

As shown in FIG. 4, the rocker 27 is

configured such that it rests on the upper circuit board 11 with its first contact 29 normally touching and electrically shorting together the first set of spaced circuit board contacts 13 and with its second contact 31 normally located slightly above the second set of circuit board contacts 17. Thus, the first set of contacts provides a normally closed switch configura¬ tion while the second set of contacts simultaneously provides a normally open switch configuration. FIG. 5 depicts the position of the rocker 27 when a downward force is applied, as for example by a finger, to the portion of the membrane 25 overlaying the end of the rocker that is spaced slightly above the circuit boards 11 and 15. This pivotally lowers that end of the rocker until its second contact 31 projects into the aperture 19 of the upper circuit board 11 to contact the second set of circuit board contacts 17. Simultaneously, the first rocker contact 29 pivotally lifts away from the first set of circuit board contacts 13. Yielding resistance to this pivoting movement is provided by the resilient membrane 25, which stretches upwardly in the region of the rocker's first end. When the downward force is removed, the stretched membrane forceably returns the rocker to its original position (FIG. 4).

Thus, the invention provides a membrane switch having all of the attributes of conventional membrane switches, e.g.. a set of normally open contacts, a thin, simple construction, and a flat upper surface suitable for carrying appropriate graphics information, as for example indicated by the reference numeral 32. In addition, however, the invention provides a second set of contacts, this set in a normally closed configu¬ ration. This additional feature significantly enhances the switch's utility without introducing any real draw

backs. The normally open and normally closed configura¬ tions can be used cooperatively as an electrical and mechanical lockout mechanism.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first end of the rocker 27, which is associated with the first set of circuit board contacts 13, includes a pressure pad 33 centrally located on its upper side to provide the rocker with a maximum thickness that is slightly greater than the thickness of the spacer 21. This stretches the membrane slightly upwardly, even when no downward force is being applied to the rocker's second end, to ensure that a continuous downward force is applied to the rocker's first end. This maintains the rocker's first contact 29 in continuous electrical contact with the first set of circuit board contacts 13, thus shorting those latter contacts together.

The two ends of the rocker 27 are separated from each other by a shallow ridge 35 depending from the rocker's bottom surface, substantially perpendic- ular to the rocker's longitudinal axis. A downward force applied to the rocker's second end causes the rocker to pivot on this ridge, which remains in contin¬ uous contact with the upper circuit board 11.

The two circuit boards 11 and 15, the spacer 21 and the resilient membrane 25 can all be formed of any suitable plastic material such as polycarbonate or polyester. The rocker 27 can be formed of either spring stainless steel or rigid polycarbonate or poly¬ ester. The sets of contacts 13 and 17 fixed on the two circuit boards, as well as the contacts 29 and 31 fixed on the underside of the rocker, are preferably silver and coated on their respective surfaces using conven¬ tional circuit board techniques. In assembling the various elements of the switch, the circuit boards 11 and 15, spacer 21, and resilient membrane 25 are

cemented together in their appropriate positions, with the rocker 27 simply being positioned in the spacer's aperture 23 without any positive attachment means. The aperture and rocker are sized relative to each other such that only the prescribed pivoting movement is permitted. This greatly simplifies construction of the switch and enhances its reliability.

The pressure pad 33 located on the upper surface of the first end of the rocker 27 is preferably spaced from the rocker's peripheral edge. This posi¬ tion is, in turn, spaced a corresponding amount from the surface interface of the spacer 21 and overlaying resilient membrane 27. This spacing reduces the possi¬ bility that stretching of the membrane will break the surface bond between the membrane and the underlying spacer.

In some switch applications, it is desirable to utilize one or more light sources as status indica¬ tors and thus provide feedback to the switch operator. To this end, apertures 37 and 39 are formed in the respective circuit boards 11 and 15, adjacent to the first set of contacts 15, and corresponding cutouts 41 are formed in the overlaying rocker 27. The corre¬ sponding portions of the overlaying resilient membrane 25 are made transparent or translucent, as indicated by the reference numeral 43. Thus, light emitted by light bulbs 45 located beneath the switch is visible from above the switch. Suitable electronic circuitry (not shown) can be used to switch the two bulbs on and off and thereby indicate the switch's status.

FIGS. 6-10 depict a second embodiment of a momentary membrane switch constructed in accordance with the present invention. Elements of this switch embodiment that have corresponding elements in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5 are identified by the same

reference numerals, but with associated primes.

The individual switch elements of the switch embodiment of FIGS. 6-10 are similar to those of FIGS. 1-5, with the elongated rocker 27 of the first embodi- ment being replaced by a disk-shaped switch element 27'. The first and second sets of spaced circuit board contacts 13• and 17' are located on the same circuit board 11', as depicted in FIG. 6. The aperture 23' formed in the spacer 21' is substantially circular and sized to receive the switch element without permitting any significant lateral movement of the element rela¬ tive to the circuit board.

As best shown in FIGS. 7-8, the first switch contact 29' is located on a circular ridge 47 projec- ting downwardly and outwardly from the periphery of the disk-shaped switch element 27', while the second switch contact 31' is located on a shallow projection in the center of the element's underside. When the switch is assembled, the first switch contact is aligned with the first set of circuit board contacts 13' and the second switch contact is aligned with the second set of circuit board contacts 17' .

FIG. 9 depicts the second switch embodiment in its assembled condition. The first switch contact 29' touches and shorts together the first set of circuit board contacts 13', while the second switch contact 31' is spaced slightly above the second set of circuit board contacts 17' . The thickness of the switch element 27' is preferably sized to be slightly thicker than the thickness of spacer 21', to ensure that the overlaying resilient membrane 25' applies a continuous downward force to the switch element, to maintain the electrical connection between the first switch contact 29' and the first set of circuit board contacts 13'. FIG. 10 depicts the second switch embodiment

when a downward force is applied, as for example by a finger, to the portion of the membrane 25' overlaying the center of the disk-shaped switch element 27' . This downward force lowers the center of the element's under- side into contact with the circuit board 11', whereby the second switch contact 31' shorts together the second set of spaced circuit board contacts 17'. Simul¬ taneously, the circular ridge 47 on the element's under¬ side deforms upwardly, away from the circuit board, whereby the first switch contact 29' is moved away from the first set of spaced circuit board contacts 13' . The ridge deformation results from the upward, reactive force applied to the element by the circuit board. Upon removal of the downward force, the internal stress in the deformed switch element returns it to its original position (FIG. 9) .

The spacer 21' includes an inwardly projecting lip 49 that functions both to inhibit lateral movement of the disk-shaped switch element 27'and to isolate the periphery of the element 27' from any downward force. Without such isolation, a downward force applied off- center might cause both sets of contacts 13' and 17' to be shorted together.

It will be appreciated that the switch embodi- ment of FIGS. 6-10 could be modified to include a lower circuit board, with the second set of contacts carried on that lower board and accessible through an aperture in the upper board. Such an alternative embodiment would be analogous in this respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. Conversely, it will be appreciated that the switch embodiment of FIGS. 1-5 could be modified such that both of the circuit board contacts 13 and 17 are located on the same aperture.

It should be appreciated from the foregoing description that the present invention provides an

improved membrane switch that includes not only the customary normally open switch configuration but also a normally closed switch configuration. In one embodi¬ ment, a downward force applied to the switch pivots a special rocker, to close one set of contacts and open another. This pivoting is yieldably resisted by an overlaying resilient membrane, which forceably returns the rocker to its original position when the downward force is removed. In another embodiment, a downward force applied to the switch lowers the center portion of a special disk into contact with an underlying circuit board while the disk's periphery deforms upwardly and out of contact with the circuit board. Internal stress in the deformed disk returns the disk to its original position when the force is removed.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to the presently preferred embodi¬ ments, it will be appreciated that those of ordinary skill in the art can make various modifications to the embodiments without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the invention is defined only by the following claims.