US 6,392,178 B1Granted

Membrane switch having layers containing rigid resin in contact parts

AssigneeAlps Electric Co., Ltd.

InventorJunichi Kuratani

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a membrane switch which is not subject to stress relaxation at contacts and is resistant to the reduction in actuating force even if the ambient temperature of the switch becomes high. A first flexible insulating substrate having a first contact pattern and a second flexible insulating substrate having a second contact pattern are disposed in facing relation via a spacer member having an opening at an area in which the first contact patterns face each other; wiring patterns conductive-connected to corresponding contact patterns are provided on at least one of the first flexible insulating substrate and the second flexible insulating substrate; and the first and second contact patterns are conductive-connected by pressure applied to a contact comprising the first and second contact patterns. The wiring patterns are conductive layers containing resin made of a mixture of conductive powder and binder resin, and a part of the second contact pattern includes a layer containing resin that is more rigid than the binder resin.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A membrane switch, comprising:

a first flexible insulating substrate;
a first contact pattern formed on said first flexible insulating substrate;
a second flexible insulating substrate;
a second contact pattern formed on said second flexible insulating substrate, said first contact pattern facing said second contact pattern;
a spacer member disposed between said first flexible insulating substrate and said second flexible insulating substrate, said spacer layer having an opening at an area in which said first contact pattern and said second contact pattern face each other;
wiring patterns conductive-connected to corresponding contact patterns formed on at least one of said first flexible insulating substrate and said second flexible insulating substrate, said first contact pattern and said second contact pattern being conductive-connected by pressure applied between contacts comprising said first contact pattern and said second contact pattern,
wherein said wiring patterns are conductive layers containing thermoplastic resin that includes a mixture of conductive powder and thermoplastic binder resin, and at least one layer of said second contact pattern has a conductive layer containing thermosetting resin that includes a mixture of conductive powder and thermosetting binder resin.

4 more elements

A membrane switch, comprising:

a stationary plate;
a first flexible insulating substrate provided on the stationary plate;
a first contact pattern formed on the first flexible insulating substrate;
a second flexible insulating substrate;
a second contact pattern formed on the second flexible insulating substrate, the first contact pattern facing the second contact pattern;
a spacer member disposed between the first flexible insulating substrate and the second flexible insulating substrate, the spacer layer having an opening at an area in which the first contact pattern and the second contact pattern face each other;
wiring patterns conductive-connected to corresponding contact patterns formed on at least one of the first flexible insulating substrate and the second flexible insulating substrate, the first contact pattern and the second contact pattern being conductive-connected by pressure applied between contacts comprising the first contact pattern and the second contact pattern,
wherein the wiring patterns are conductive layers containing thermoplastic resin that includes a mixture of conductive powder and thermoplastic binder resin, the second contact pattern comprises a layer containing insulating thermosetting resin and a conductive layer containing thermoplastic resin laminated with the layer containing the insulating thermosetting resin being applied as a substrate.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.