# US 2010/0163391 A1 · Identification switch assembly

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- Number: US 2010/0163391 A1
- Document ID: US20100163391A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/411,394
- Filed: 2009-03-26
- Published: 2010-07-01
- Earliest claimed: 2008-12-31
- Inventors: Vincent Kuo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100163391A1

## CPC

- H01H 27/00: Switches operated by a removable member, e.g. key, plug or plate; Switches operated by setting members according to a single predetermined combination out of several possible settings (combined with plug-and-socket connectors H01R13/70; with current-carrying plug H01R31/08)
- H01H 27/04: Insulating plug or plate inserted between normally closed contacts
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)

## Abstract

The identification switch assembly according to the present invention has an identification switch and at least one driving card for driving the switch. The identification switch has a plurality of conductive electrodes, each having a conductive contact portion, and a plurality of resilient conductive terminals configured to be flexibly movable between an engaged position where they engage with the conductive electrodes and a disengaged position where they are away from the conductive electrodes. The driving card functions as a driving device for driving at least one of the resilient conductive terminals to flexibly switch its position from one of the engaged position and the disengaged position to the other. The identification switch assembly has the advantages of having a simple structure, being user friendly and being mountable to electronic devices and public facilities.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An identification switch, comprising:
a plurality of conductive electrodes, each having a conductive contact portion, the respective conductive contact portions being spaced apart from each other;
a plurality of resilient conductive terminals extending in a longitudinal direction, each having a contact corresponding to one of the conductive contact portions of the conductive electrodes, the resilient conductive terminals being flexibly movable between an engaged position, where the respective contacts are electrically engaged with the corresponding conductive contact portions, and a disengaged position, where the contacts are away from the corresponding conductive contact portions; and
at least one driving device configured to be movable relative to the resilient conductive terminals along a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction from a start position, where the driving device is away from the resilient conductive terminals, to a predetermined driving position, where at least one of the resilient conductive terminals is driven by the driving device to switch its position from one of the engaged position and the disengaged position to the other.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The identification switch according to claim 1, wherein the driving device is a homogenous, non-conductive and non-magnetic driving card.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The identification switch according to claim 2, wherein the driving card comprises a body and a driving teeth part extending from the body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The identification switch according to claim 3, wherein the driving card is an integrally formed plastic plate, and wherein the driving teeth part comprises at least one tapered tooth having a slant slide surface and formed correspondingly to at least one of the resilient conductive terminals.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The identification switch according to claim 1, further comprising a dielectric housing for accommodating at least part of the resilient conductive terminals.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The identification switch according to claim 5, wherein the dielectric housing is formed with an insert slot for receiving the driving device, the insert slot being oriented at an angle with respect to the longitudinal direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The identification switch according to claim 6, further comprising a latching/ejecting device for holding the driving device at the predetermined driving position as the driving device reaches the predetermined driving position, and for moving the driving device toward the start position until the driving device reaches at least a predetermined distance away from the predetermined driving position when the driving device held at the predetermined driving position is subsequently pushed inwardly.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The identification switch according to claim 7, wherein the latching/ejecting device comprises a push rod and an elastic member for driving the push rod.

### Claim 9

An identification switch assembly, comprising:
a plurality of conductive electrodes, each having a conductive contact portion, the respective conductive contact portions being spaced apart from each other;
a plurality of resilient conductive terminals extending in a longitudinal direction, each having a contact corresponding to one of the conductive contact portions of the conductive electrodes, the resilient conductive terminals being flexibly movable between an engaged position, where the respective contacts are electrically engaged with the corresponding conductive contact portions, and a disengaged position, where the contacts are away from the corresponding conductive contact portions; and
a plurality of driving cards configured to be movable relative to the resilient conductive terminals along a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction from a start position, where the driving device is away from the resilient conductive terminals, to a predetermined driving position, where at least one of the resilient conductive terminals is driven by the driving device to switch its position from one of the engaged position and the disengaged position to the other, each of the driving cards comprising a body and a driving teeth part extending from the body;
wherein the driving cards are distinct from each other in shapes of the driving teeth parts.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The identification switch assembly according to claim 9, further comprising a latching/ejecting device for holding the driving device at the predetermined driving position as the driving device reaches the predetermined driving position, and for moving the driving device toward the start position until the driving device reaches at least a predetermined distance away from the predetermined driving position when the driving device held at the predetermined driving position is subsequently pushed inwardly, and wherein the latching/ejecting device comprises a push rod and an elastic member for driving the push rod.
