Push-button keyboard assembly with EMI and RFI-shielded multiple individually-replaceable switch modules
OwnerEdward D. Siglinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A keyboard assembly includes a printed circuit board having conductive paths defining a plurality of switch sites. Contact terminals are connectable in electrical circuits with the conductive paths. The assembly also includes an electrically-groundable conductive panel overlying the board and having a plurality of apertures defined therein in registry with the switch site. A dielectric layer is disposed between the panel and board providing electrical isolation therebetween. A plurality of individually-replaceable EMI RFI-shielded switch modules are installed in registry with the apertures on the conductive panel, in overlying relation to the switch sites, and electrically connected to the conductive panel.
Claims42
An electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference-shielded switch module comprising:
- a body having upper and lower faces;
- first and second contact terminals disposed in said body, each of said terminals extending out of said upper and lower faces of said body, said terminals defining respective electrical contact faces on said upper face and respective connecting terminals on said lower face;
- a flexible conductive sealing member received over said upper face of said body and defining a cavity therebetween;
- a resilient conductive snap-action contact element in said cavity in contact with both of said terminal contact faces when depressed toward said body upper face;
- a non-conductive spacer in said cavity between said sealing member and said contact element providing electrical isolation therebetween;
- and,
- conductive retaining means surrounding a portion of said body and a portion of said sealing member for holding said body and sealing member together, said retaining means being electrically in contact with said sealing member for conducting electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference away from said sealing member.
An electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference-shielded switch assembly comprising:
- a switch site having a plurality of contact terminals;
- a non-conductive sealing member situated over said switch site and defining a cavity over said switch site;
- a resilient conductive snap-action contact element in said cavity in contact with a plurality of said terminals when depressed toward said switch site;
- a conductive wire mesh situated over said sealing member;
- retaining means for holding said wire mesh over said sealing member and holding both said wire mesh and sealing member over said switch site;
- and
- a conductive panel having an aperture, said aperture situated in registry with said switch site and wherein said sealing member and contact element are situated within said aperture of said panel and wherein said retaining means is located on said conductive panel.
An electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference-shielded switch assembly comprising:
- a switch site having a plurality of contact terminals;
- a conductive sealing member situated over said switch site and defining a cavity over said switch site;
- a resilient conductive snap-action contact element in said cavity in contact with a plurality of said terminals when depressed toward said switch site;
- spacer means in said cavity between said sealing member and said contact element for providing electrical isolation therebetween;
- retaining means for holding said wire sealing member over said switch site;
- and
- a conductive panel having an aperture, said aperture situated in registry with said switch site and wherein said sealing member and contact element are situated within said aperture of said panel and wherein said retaining means is located on said conductive panel, said conductive panel being electrically connected to said sealing member.
An electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference-shielded switch module assembly comprising:
- a body having upper and lower faces;
- first and second contact terminals disposed in said body, each of said terminals extending out of said upper and lower faces of said body, said terminals defining respective electrical contact faces on said upper face and respective connecting terminals on said lower face;
- a flexible conductive sealing member received over said upper face of said body and defining a cavity therebetween;
- a resilient conductive snap-action contact element in said cavity in contact with both of said terminal contact faces when depressed toward said body upper face;
- a non-conductive spacer in said cavity between said sealing member and said contact element providing electrical isolation therebetween;
- conductive retaining means surrounding a portion of said body and a portion of said sealing member for holding said body and sealing member together, said retaining means being electrically in contact with said sealing member for conducting electromagnetic interference and radio frequency interference away from said sealing member;
- and,
- a grounded conductive panel having an aperture and wherein said retaining means is connected to said grounded panel in said aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.