Key switch structure for a thin-gage electronic device
AssigneeOki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
InventorToyokazu Inaba
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A key switch structure is provided which improves the reliability of the elasticity of the switch. A front film has a metal front panel adhered to its underside. A switch panel pattern is formed in the front panel and includes an operational member or contact unitary with the front panel, connected thereto by spring portions formed of connection members and leg members, connected to supports of the metal front panel. The contact has a carbon film on its underside, and is separated from a fixed contact by a spacer film. The spring portions eliminate the problem of deformation by creep of the front film and thus improve the reliability of the key switch.
Claims8
A key switch structure for a thin-gage electronic device, comprising:
- a front film;
- a metal front panel attached to said front film;
- a substrate having at least one fixed contact thereon;
- a spacer film disposed between said metal front panel and said substrate to space said metal front panel from said fixed contact;
- at least one movable contact portion unitary and one-piece with said metal front panel, said movable contact portion comprising a movable contact member and spring means for unitarily connecting said movable contact member to said metal front panel and resiliently resisting movement of said movable contact member toward said substrate and said fixed contact, wherein depression of said front film at said movable contact portion of said metal front panel causes said movable contact member to contact said fixed contact on said substrate, and release of depression of said front film at said movable contact portion causes said spring means to move said movable contact member out of contact with said fixed contact.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.