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US 12,131,876 B2Granted
Membrane switch
AssigneePrimax Electronics Ltd.
InventorLei-Lung Tsai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A membrane switch includes a first conductive pattern, a second conductive pattern and a processor. The first circuit layer is aligned with the second conductive pattern. The first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern have different shapes. When the second conductive pattern is contacted with and covered by the first conductive pattern, a conductive contact surface is formed. The conductive contact surface has a resistance value corresponding to an area of the conductive contact surface. A processor judges whether a key signal is generated according to the resistance value.
Claims13
A membrane switch, comprising:
- a first circuit layer comprising a first conductive pattern;
- a second circuit layer comprising a second conductive pattern, wherein the second circuit layer is aligned with the first circuit layer, the second conductive pattern is aligned with the first conductive pattern, and the second conductive pattern and the first conductive pattern have different shapes;
- and
- a spacer layer arranged between the first circuit layer and the second circuit layer, and comprising a perforation, wherein the perforation is aligned with the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern,
- wherein after the first conductive pattern is penetrated through the perforation and the first conductive pattern is contacted with the second conductive pattern, a conductive contact surface is formed between the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern, and the conductive contact surface has a resistance value corresponding to an area of the conductive contact surface, wherein when a current flows from the first conductive pattern to the second conductive pattern through the conductive contact surface, a key signal is generated according to the resistance value,
- wherein the area of the conductive contact surface and the resistance value of the conductive contact surface are negatively correlated with each other.
3 more elements
A key structure with a membrane switch, the key structure comprising:
- a base plate;
- the membrane switch installed on the base plate, and comprising a first circuit layer, a second circuit layer and a spacer layer, wherein the first circuit layer comprises a first conductive pattern, the second circuit layer comprises a second conductive pattern, and the spacer layer comprises a perforation, wherein the second circuit layer is aligned with the first circuit layer, the spacer layer is arranged between the first circuit layer and the second circuit layer, the second conductive pattern is aligned with the first conductive pattern, the second conductive pattern and the first conductive pattern have different shapes, and the perforation is aligned with the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern,
- wherein after the first conductive pattern is penetrated through the perforation and the first conductive pattern is contacted with the second conductive pattern, a conductive contact surface is formed between the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern, and the conductive contact surface has a resistance value corresponding to an area of the conductive contact surface, wherein when a current flows from the first conductive pattern to the second conductive pattern through the conductive contact surface, a key signal is generated according to the resistance value, wherein the area of the conductive contact surface and the resistance value of the conductive contact surface are negatively correlated with each other;
- an elastic triggering element located over the membrane switch, and aligned with the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern;
- a keycap located over the elastic triggering element, wherein the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern are covered by the keycap;
- and
- a supporting element connected with the keycap and the base plate.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.