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US 5,187,647 AGranted
Electronic instrument keypad assembly with Z-axis oriented electrical interconnect
AssigneeJohn Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.
InventorSteven T. Kaneko
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A keypad structure includes a stiff backing element and an elastomeric cover that have between them a first membrane on which is defined a shorting conductive layer, a second membrane on which is defined a main conductive layer, the second membrane on which the main conductive layer is defined as being adjacent the elastomeric cover rather than the stiff backing element as in the prior art. A third membrane provides spacing between the main and shorting conductive layers when the keypad is not compressed. An elastomeric interconnect can then be used to connect exposed contacts on the main conductive layer with other circuitry in an instrument utilizing the keypad.
Claims20
A keypad comprising:
- a stiff backing element having first and second opposite sides;
- a first membrane layer disposed at the first side of the stiff backing element, a first side of the first membrane layer confronting the stiff backing element, a second side of the first membrane layer having shorting circuitry defined thereon;
- spacing means, a first side of the spacing means confronting the second side of the first membrane layer, the spacing means defining apertures in the vicinity of the shorting circuitry;
- a second membrane layer, said second membrane layer being flexible and adapted for being depressed on a first side thereof, a second side of the second membrane layer confronting the spacing means and having a first portion of main circuitry defined thereon, the main circuitry including an exposed second portion, said first portion of the main circuitry being substantially coextensive with said shorting circuitry for contacting said shorting circuitry when said flexible membrane layer is depressed;
- and
- a conductive interconnector in direct contact with said exposed second portion of the main circuitry and separate from said second membrane layer for connecting said main circuitry to circuitry external to the keypad and disposed at the second side of said stiff backing element, said interconnector extending at least to said second side of said stiff backing element so as to be adapted for Z-axis assembly.
3 more elements
A keypad comprising:
- a stiff backing element having first and second opposite sides;
- a first membrane layer disposed at the first side of the stiff backing element, a first side of the first membrane layer confronting the stiff backing element, a second side of the first membrane layer having shorting circuitry defined thereon;
- spacing means, a first side of the spacing means confronting the second side of the first membrane layer, the spacing means defining apertures in the vicinity of the shorting circuitry;
- a second membrane layer, said second membrane layer being flexible and adapted for being depressed on a first side thereof, a second side of the second membrane layer confronting the spacing means and having a first portion of main circuitry defined thereon, the main circuitry including an exposed second portion, said first portion of the main circuitry being substantially coextensive with said shorting circuitry for contacting said shorting circuitry when said flexible membrane layer is depressed;
- and
- a conductive interconnector in pressure contact with said exposed second portion of the main circuitry for connecting said main circuitry to circuitry external to the keypad and disposed at the second side of said stiff backing element, said interconnector extending at least to said second side of said stiff backing element so as to be adapted for Z-axis assembly.
3 more elements
An electronic instrument comprising:
- a keypad comprising:
- a stiff backing element having an opening therein;
- a first membrane layer, a first side of the first membrane layer confronting the stiff backing element, a second side of the first membrane layer having shorting circuitry defined thereon;
- spacing means, a first side of the spacing means confronting the second side of the first membrane layer, the spacing means defining apertures in the vicinity of the shorting circuitry;
- and
- a second membrane layer, a first side of the second membrane layer confronting the spacing means and having main circuitry defined thereon, the main circuitry including an exposed portion for connection to circuitry external to the keypad;
- and the instrument further comprising:
- a substrate having first and second faces;
- electronic circuitry defined on a first face of said substrate, said electronic circuitry having at least one exposed electrical connection;
- and
- a conductive interconnector disposed to connect said exposed portion of the main circuitry to said at least one electrical connection on the substrate and extending through said opening so as to be adapted for Z-axis assembly.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.