US 7,012,200 B2Granted

Integrated volume control and switch assembly

AssigneeSonion Roskilde A/S

InventorNiels Thor Møller

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Abstract

An integral volume control and switch assembly comprising a resilient conductive member serving for switching between a first and second switch state and a resilient tactile member serving for providing a user with a tactile feedback upon change of switch state. The resilient tactile member and the resilient conductive member are formed by separate members. Hereby the assembly can be further miniaturised without the resilient tactile member and the resilient conductive member being too small to handle in a manufacturing process. In addition, it is possible to adjust angular position of the rotatable member where switch function and tactile feedback occurs. Preferably the resilient tactile member and the resilient conductive member are spatially separated along a rotational axis of the rotatable member. The assembly according to the invention is suitable for hearing aids.

Claims26

Dependent claims

An integral volume control and switch assembly comprising

a base plate being penetrable by first and second conductive switch legs, the base plate further supporting a resilient conductive member adapted to establish an electrical connection between the first and second conductive switch legs in a first switch state of the assembly, and adapted to break said electrical connection in a second switch state,
a variable resistance means responsive to an angular position of a rotatable member, the variable resistance means being electrically connected between third and fourth conductive legs, and
a resilient tactile member adapted to provide a tactile feedback to a user at a predetermined angular position of the rotatable member, to indicate to the user, a change between the first and second switch states,
wherein the resilient tactile member is electrically separate from the electrical connection between the first and second conductive switch legs.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/777,632Filed 13 Feb 2004
Published: US 2005/0178644 A118 Aug 2005
Granted: 14 Mar 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

H04R 25/00
Electric hearing aids
H01C 10/36
The contact moving in an arcuate path: structurally combined with switching arrangements
H01H 3/0213
Operating parts, i.e. for operating driving mechanism by a mechanical force external to the switch: combined operation of electric switch and…
H04R 25/603
Mounting or interconnection of hearing aid parts, e.g. inside tips, housings or to ossicles: of mechanical or electronic switches or control elements