US 2005/0110601 A1 · Dual output magnetically coupled pushbutton switch

Abstract

A magnetically coupled pushbutton switch may be improved by adding protuberances to the top of an armature to create a weak heel on the armature. The protuberances impose a physical barrier which prevents the weak heel from becoming fully magnetically coupled to the magnetic coupler layer, so the initial tactile feedback is lost. Eliminating the double tactile feedback of a magnetically coupled pushbutton switch has some significant advantages over the prior art. Now, a very light actuation force will move an armature with a weak heel from the rest position to a partially actuated position, but without sacrificing any of the final tactile feedback. The improved armature design also makes it possible to use a magnetically coupled pushbutton switch to produce a dual output. The initial travel of a dual output switch does not create any feedback to the user, so there is no longer a need to stabilize the bottom of the heel end of the armature. A dual output armature can electrical connect a common electrical conductor placed under the heel end of the armature to two separate electrical conductors positioned under the toe end of the armature such that there is no output until the armature is fully actuated, at which time all three electrical conductors are simultaneously electrically connected by the dual output armature.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An improved armature, for use with a magnetically coupled pushbutton switch of the type at least having a magnetic coupler layer and a substrate layer, the armature comprising:

an electrically conductive magnetic material having a top surface and a bottom surface;
a crown that raises above the top surface, the crown being closest to a heel end of the armature and farthest from a toe end of the armature;
and
at least one protuberance that is closer to the heel end than to the toe end such that when the armature is in a rest position within the magnetically coupled pushbutton switch, there is a gap between the magnetic coupler layer and the heel end of the armature.

1 more element

A single tactile magnetically coupled pushbutton switch comprising:

a magnetic coupler layer having an aperture;
an armature made from an electrically conductive magnetic material having a top surface and a bottom surface;
a crown in the armature that rises above the top surface, the crown being closest to a heel end of the armature and farthest from a toe end of the armature;
at least one protuberance in the armature that is closer to the heel end than to the toe end such that when the armature is in a rest position within the single tactile magnetically coupled pushbutton switch, there is a gap between the magnetic coupler layer and the heel end of the armature;
a spacer layer having a cavity in which the dual output armature is housed;
a substrate layer that carries electrical conductors of the switch;
a first stable position of the switch, where the armature is magnetically coupled to the magnetic coupler layer in a rest position;
a second stable position of the switch, where the armature is partially actuated such that the heel end of the armature has broken away from the magnetic coupler layer and traveled to the substrate layer, but the toe end of the armature is in contact with the magnetic coupler layer;
and
a third stable position of the switch, where the heel end of the armature and the toe end of the armature are in contact with the substrate layer, in a fully actuated position;

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dual output magnetically coupled pushbutton switch

Life of this patent

Dual output magnetically coupled pushbutton switch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20