# US 6,774,331 B1 · Pressure sensitive switch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,774,331 B1 - Document ID: US6774331B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 10/312,735 - Filed: 2003-07-23 - Granted: 2004-08-10 - Earliest claimed: 2000-06-30 - Assignees: Vitelec B.V.; Tensor Corporation; Smartsense B.V. - Inventors: Frank Petrus Den Ridder; Hans Johannes Eckhardt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6774331B1 ## CPC - H01H 3/141: {Cushion or mat switches} - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) ## Abstract A pressure-sensitive switch, includes: an edge structure extending in a substantially closed contour; a first carrier which is connected on its edges to the edge structure and which is electrically conductive on its side connected to the edge structure; a second carrier which is connected on its edges to the edge structure and which extends substantially parallel to the first carrier and is electrically conductive on its side connected to the structure; and connecting elements for connecting the external connections to the first and the second carrier, wherein the distance between the carriers in their neutral position is substantially the same over the whole surface by a spacer which holes or by a set of spacers attached to at least one of the carriers. Owing to this uniform spacing between the carriers the switch is identical over its whole active surface, so that no local aberrations such as dimples have to be made. The switch can hereby be miniaturized more easily. This uniformity also ensures that the sensitivity of the switch extends over its whole surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Pressure-sensitive switch, comprising: an edge structure extending in a substantially closed contour; a first carrier which is connected on its edges to the edge structure and which is electrically conductive on its side connected to the edge structure; a second carrier which is connected on its edges to the edge structure and which extends substantially parallel to the first carrier and is electrically conductive on its side connected to the edge structure; spacers placed between the carriers inside the edge structure and fixed to at least one of the first and second carriers; and connecting means for connecting the external connections to the first and the second carrier, the distance between the carriers in their neutral position being substantially the same over the whole surface, the edge structure comprising double-sided adhesive tape, the adhesive layers thereof allowing a displacement between said first and second carriers, the switch becoming conductive upon the electrically conductive sides of the first and second carriers being brought into contact with each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the first and second carriers each comprise a foil, the foils facing each other and brought into contact with each other to make the switch conductive, and the spacers are fixed to only one of said foils. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein each foil is formed by metal foil, to an outermost switch side of which metal foil is applied a plastic layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacers are evenly distributed inside the edge structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) Switch as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spacers are fixed to both the first and second carriers to form a connected structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spacers are distributed in a pattern with varying density over an innermost surface of the at least one of the first and second carriers inside the edge structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) Switch as claimed in claim 4, wherein the spacers are screen-printing spacers attached to an innermost surface of the at least one of the first and second carriers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting means comprise extensions of the carriers outside the edge structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) Switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein the extensions of the carriers are separated by an extension of the edge structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) Switch as claimed in claim 8, wherein the extensions of the carriers are of unequal length. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the switch is less than 1 millimeter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) Switch as claimed in claim 9, wherein the extensions of the carriers are of unequal length. ### Claim 13 Pressure-sensitive switch, comprising: an edge structure extending in a substantially closed contour; a first carrier connected on its edges to the edge structure and having an electrically conductive side connected to the edge structure; a second carrier connected on its edges to the edge structure, extending substantially parallel to the first carrier, and having an electrically conductive side connected to the edge structure; a spacer with holes located intermediate the first and second carriers inside the edge structure and fixed to at least one of the first and second carriers; and connecting means for connecting the external connections to the first and the second carrier, the distance between the first and second carriers in their neutral position being substantially the same over the whole exterior switch surface, the edge structure comprising double-sided adhesive tape with adhesive layers allowing a displacement between said first and second carriers, the switch becoming conductive upon the electrically conductive sides of the first and second carriers being brought into contact with each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) Switch as claimed in claim 13, wherein, the spacer is fixed to one of electrically conductive sides. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) Switch as claimed in claim 14, wherein each of the first and second carriers comprise a metal foil attached to a plastic layer. ### Claim 16 Switch as claimed in claimed 13, wherein the holes are evenly distributed over a complete surface of the spacer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) Switch as claimed in claim 13, wherein the spacer is fixed to both the first and second carriers to form a connected structure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) Switch as claimed in claim 13, wherein the connecting means comprise extensions of the first and second carriers outside the edge structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) Switch as claimed in claim 18, wherein the extensions of the carriers are separated by an extension of the edge structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) Switch as claimed in claim 18, wherein the extensions of the carriers are of unequal length.