An element composed of glass displaying reduced electrostatic charging is provided. The element is suitable as a housing component for electronic elements, an element implantable in the human or animal body including glass tubes for reed switches or transponders and/or implants. The glass includes at least one alkali metal and/or an alkali metal oxide and has a surface. The concentration of at least one alkali metal and/or the alkali metal oxide increases from the surface in a direction of an interior of the element in such a way that a maximum concentration of the alkali metal and/or the alkali metal oxide occurs at a distance of not more than 60 nanometres, measured perpendicularly from the surface.

An Electro Static Discharge protection device that is provided to protect sensitive electronics on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from inadvertent electrical discharge. The protective device is formed as an intervening structure between a contact surface and a PCB and utilizing the same ground as used by the PCB. When an electrical discharge occurs, the discharge is directed toward the PCB and directed to at least one ground point on the PCB so as to avoid damage to sensitive components.

The present invention provides a key structure with electrostatic discharge protection, including a key cap; a metal support panel; a support element, connecting the key cap and the metal support panel and capable of guiding the key cap to move up and down relative to the metal support panel; and a membrane circuit board, disposed on the metal support panel. The membrane circuit board includes: a first membrane layer, having a first surface and a second surface; a second membrane layer, having a third surface and a fourth surface; and an electrostatic protection structure, including: a first conductive layer, formed on a first surface of the first membrane layer; a second conductive layer, formed between the second surface of the first membrane layer and the third surface of the second membrane layer; and a third conductive layer, formed on the fourth surface of the second membrane layer.

The present disclosure generally relates to the combination of MEMS intrinsic technology with specifically designed solid state ESD protection circuits in state of the art solid state technology for RF applications. Using ESD protection in MEMS devices has some level of complexity in the integration which can be seen by some as a disadvantage. However, the net benefits in the level of overall performance for insertion loss, isolation and linearity outweighs the disadvantages.

An Electro Static Discharge protection device that is provided to protect sensitive electronics on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) from inadvertent electrical discharge. The protective device is formed as an intervening structure between a contact surface and a PCB and utilizing the same ground as used by the PCB. When an electrical discharge occurs, the discharge is directed toward the PCB and directed to at least one ground point on the PCB so as to avoid damage to sensitive components.

An electronic device includes a tactile switch assembly. The tactile switch assembly includes a tactile switch structure. A grounding structure can be included in an electrostatic discharge path in the tactile switch structure. The grounding structure can result in a shorter electrostatic discharge path that minimizes damage caused by an electrostatic discharge event. Additionally, different grounding connectors are disclosed that can attach to a grounded component in the electronic device and to a tactile switch bracket associated with the tactile switch assembly. The grounding connector provides a grounding connection to the tactile switch bracket.

A switch unit has a display part configured to display an image, and an operation part provided on the display part in a stacked manner. The operation part includes a button made of a transparent material except for an edge, a transparent button case having an opening formed in a position corresponding to a display region of the display part and configured to position the button, and a transparent substrate provided below the button case and having an electronic component disposed in a position corresponding to the edge of the button. The button is disposed on the transparent substrate via the opening in the button case. A discharge gap in parallel with the electronic component is provided on a wire in a position corresponding to the edge of the button on the transparent substrate.

An accessory may be provided with a button controller having a microphone and switches. Plastic structures for the accessory may be formed by injection molding. Plastic structures may be molded around a printed circuit and wiring. The wiring may have a plastic jacket. The molded plastic structures may bond with the plastic jacket to retain the wiring. The molded plastic structures may be molded directly to the printed circuit board. Protrusions on the molded plastic structures may mate with openings in a metal clip. Housing structures may be mounted to the metal clip. The metal clip may be provided with a spring to short the metal clip to a trace on the printed circuit. The metal clip may also have a portion that receives electrostatic charge during electrostatic discharge events and that discharges the charge through the spring to the trace on the printed circuit.

A data entry and/or operating system, particularly a keyboard, also a POS keyboard, includes a lower part and an upper part as well as at least one circuit board and at least one retainer plate, the retainer plate lying on the lower part. One or more bushings are integrated for the purpose of connecting the circuit board to the retainer plate. The upper part is formed from a rubber mat having keys, and the stability of the keyboard is assured by the circuit board, bushing and metal retainer sheet. The lower part is connected to the upper part in a sealed manner.