Electronic Switch Mechanism
AssigneeGyrus AMCI Inc., d.b.a. Olympus Surgical Technologies America
InventorJoey D. MAGNO
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A switch mechanism (12) includes a housing (16, 18) with a fenestration (21), a switch element (22) held in the housing, and a membrane switch held in the fenestration. The membrane switch includes a flexible membrane (20) and a rigid rib (26). The rib is constrained to linear movement by guides (37, 38) in the housing so that contact with the membrane causes the membrane to deform and the rib to translate to actuate the switch element.
Claims20
A switch mechanism comprising:
- a housing, the housing having a fenestration;
- a switch element held in the housing;
- a membrane switch, the membrane switch being held in the fenestration and including a flexible membrane and a rigid rib,
- wherein the rib is constrained to linear movement by guides in the housing so that contact with the membrane causes the membrane to deform and the rib to translate to actuate the switch element.
The switch mechanism of 3 wherein the membrane supports off center activation of the switch mechanism.
A switch mechanism comprising:
- a housing, the housing having a fenestration;
- a switch element held in the housing;
- a membrane switch, the membrane switch being held in the fenestration and including a flexible membrane and a rigid rib,
- wherein the rib is constrained so that contact with the membrane causes the membrane to deform and the rib to move to actuate the switch element.
A switch mechanism comprising:
- a housing, the housing having a fenestration;
- a switch element held in the housing;
- a membrane switch, the membrane switch being held in the fenestration and including a flexible membrane and a rigid rib,
- wherein the rib is constrained to pivotal movement by fulcrums in the housing so that contact with the membrane causes the membrane to deform and the rib to rotate about one of the fulcrums to actuate the switch element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.