US 2020/0286698 A1Published application

Elastomeric keypad

AssigneeMerit Automotive Electronics Systems S.L.U.

InventorsMarek Wozniak, Przemyslaw Madon

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Abstract

The present invention relates to an elastomeric keypad (1) having at least one key (3) comprising an elastomeric dome (41) defining a chamber (42) and provided inside with an activating means (43), an activation means (44) cooperating with said activation means (44), and at least one compensating channel (48) opening at said chamber (42) to enable for a flow of fluid from said chamber (42), while said elastomeric dome (41) collapses, and to said chamber (42), while said elastomeric dome (41) releases. In order to suppress the sound intensity of the pushup event, at least one of said compensating channels (48) comprises at least one valve arrangement (5) generating fluid restrictions while the fluid returns to said chamber (42). Preferably said valve arrangement (5) has a form of a Tesla Valve.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An elastomeric keypad (1) having at least one key (3) comprising

an elastomeric dome (41) defining a chamber (42) and provided inside with an activating means (43),
an activation means (44) cooperating with said activating means (43) to transmit a signal indicating said key (3) activation to an external control system, and
at least one compensating channel (48) opening at said chamber (42) to enable for flow of fluid from said chamber (42), while said elastomeric dome (41) collapses, and to said chamber (42), while said elastomeric dome (41) releases, characterised in that
at least one of said compensating channels (48) comprises at least one valve arrangement (5) acting as a passive check valve generating fluid restrictions while the fluid returns to said chamber (42), while providing substantially laminar flow of fluid while said elastomeric dome (41) collapses.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/650,897Filed 26 Sep 2017
Published: 10 Sep 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H01H 13/82
Having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard: characterised by contact space venting means
H01H 2213/002
Venting: with external pressure
H01H 2213/006
With external pressure: labyrinth
H01H 2213/008
With external pressure: flaps cut out forming valves

Family

US 11,164,706 B2Related patent
US 2020/0286698 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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