Strain gauge proportional push button

A proportional push button for use on a transmitter device, the proportional push button comprising:

• a flexible button membrane;
• a snap-action dome switch positioned beneath the flexible membrane and attached to a printed circuit board, the snap-action dome switch being proximate to the flexible membrane such that depression of the flexible membrane causes the a movable member of the snap-action dome switch to collapse and thereby form a closed circuit in the dome switch;
• and
• a strain gauge structure formed on or applied to the printed circuit board and positioned adjacent the dome switch, the strain gauge structure generating an electrical output proportional to an amount of deflection of the printed circuit board, with the deflection of the printed circuit board being caused by pressure exerted thereon by depression of the flexible membrane and the snap-action dome switch.

A transmitter device comprising:

• a printed circuit board;
• and
• a plurality of proportional push buttons positioned on and adjacent to the printed circuit board, each of the plurality of proportional push buttons comprising:
• a flexible membrane;
• a dome switch positioned beneath the flexible membrane and attached to the printed circuit board, the dome switch being proximate to the flexible membrane such that depression of the flexible membrane causes the dome switch to snap down and thereby form a closed circuit in the dome switch;
• a strain gauge structure positioned adjacent the dome switch and configured to generate an electrical output proportional to an amount of deflection of the printed circuit board caused by pressure exerted thereon by depression of the flexible membrane and the dome switch, the strain gauge structure comprising an arrangement of strain gauge resistors;
• and
• push button monitoring circuitry in operable communication with the arrangement of strain gauge resistors to process electrical output therefrom;
• wherein the printed circuit board comprises an arrangement of slots formed therein adjacent each strain gauge structure, with each arrangement of slots at least partially surrounding the arrangement of strain gauge resistors of a respective strain gauge structure to isolate the strain gauge structure from a strain gauge structure of any adjacent proportional push buttons.