Patent classifications
H01H2215/018
Key structure
A key structure includes a circuit board, a keycap, an elastic member and a metal member. The keycap has a bottom facing the circuit board. The elastic member is disposed between the circuit board and the keycap. The elastic member includes a dome portion, a hollow portion, and a contact pillar. The dome portion touches the bottom of the keycap. The hollow portion is located inside of the dome portion. The contact pillar is located in the hollow portion, and the contact pillar extends from the dome portion to the circuit board. The metal member covers the outside of the contact pillar. The metal member comprises a trigger portion, and the trigger portion is a convex portion extending toward the circuit board.
CONTROL DEVICES HAVING INDEPENDENTLY SUSPENDED BUTTONS FOR CONTROLLED ACTUATION
A control device includes a button assembly having one or more buttons and a button carrier that includes a plurality of resilient, independently deflectable spring arms. The control device may be configured as a wall-mounted keypad to control a load control device, or as a thermostat to control a temperature regulation appliance. The button carrier may be configured to prevent interference between the buttons during operation of the control device. The button assembly may be captured between a faceplate of the control device and a housing that is attached to a rear side of the faceplate. The control device may include one or more button retainers that are attached to the buttons and that are configured to align respective outer surfaces of the buttons relative to each other, and relative to the faceplate of the control device, when the buttons are in respective rest positions.
Push switch
A push switch includes a movable contact including a dome part that is shaped like a dome and configured to be inverted in shape when pressed, and a fixed contact including a first fixed contact, the movable contact being configured to be brought into contact with and away from the first fixed contact. The push switch is configured such that an operating load necessary to press the movable contact gradually increases after the movable contact starts to be pressed, decreases thereafter when the dome part is inverted, and increases again when the movable contact is further pressed, and the dome part contacts the first fixed contact after an inflection point at which the decreased operating load starts to increase again.
CONTROL DEVICES HAVING INDEPENDENTLY SUSPENDED BUTTONS FOR CONTROLLED ACTUATION
A control device includes a button assembly having one or more buttons and a button carrier that includes a plurality of resilient, independently deflectable spring arms. The control device may be configured as a wall-mounted keypad to control a load control device, or as a thermostat to control a temperature regulation appliance. The button carrier may be configured to prevent interference between the buttons during operation of the control device. The button assembly may be captured between a faceplate of the control device and a housing that is attached to a rear side of the faceplate. The control device may include one or more button retainers that are attached to the buttons and that are configured to align respective outer surfaces of the buttons relative to each other, and relative to the faceplate of the control device, when the buttons are in respective rest positions.
Keyboard device
A keyboard device includes a substrate, a thin film switch circuit, and a trigger device having a rubber dome and a metal dome. The trigger device is configured to trigger the thin film switch circuit in response to an external force. The rubber dome is arranged to provide a first tactile feel during a first pressing process while the external force is exerted and provide a first rebound force during a first relieving process after the external force has been removed. The metal dome is arranged to provide a second tactile feel during a second pressing process while the external force is exerted and provide a second rebound force during a second relieving process after the external force has been removed.
Control devices having independently suspended buttons for controlled actuation
A control device includes a button assembly having one or more buttons and a button carrier that includes a plurality of resilient, independently deflectable spring arms. The control device may be configured as a wall-mounted keypad to control a load control device, or as a thermostat to control a temperature regulation appliance. The button carrier may be configured to prevent interference between the buttons during operation of the control device. The button assembly may be captured between a faceplate of the control device and a housing that is attached to a rear side of the faceplate. The control device may include one or more button retainers that are attached to the buttons and that are configured to align respective outer surfaces of the buttons relative to each other, and relative to the faceplate of the control device, when the buttons are in respective rest positions.
MULTI-POLE DOME SWITCH
Implementations of a multi-pole dome switch configured to simultaneously, or nearly simultaneously, close or open two separate circuits are provided. In some implementations, a multi-pole dome switch may comprise a tactile metal dome and a conductive insert that are separated by an insulator. In some implementations, when the dome is depressed, the dome and the conductive insert are configured to simultaneously, or nearly simultaneously, make conductive contact with two traces of a first circuit and two traces of a second circuit, respectively, positioned thereunder on a PCB. In this way, the multi-pole dome switch is able to simultaneously, or nearly simultaneously, close two separate circuits. Succinctly put, in some implementations, the multi-pole dome switch may be configured to act as a double-pole, double-throw switch.
Push switch
A push switch includes a housing including a bottom wall and a side wall, the housing extending in a first axis direction and a second axis direction in a plan view, and a fixed contact member configured to come into contact with a movable contact member, the fixed contact member being embedded in the bottom wall of the housing by insert molding, wherein the fixed contact member includes: a first terminal exposed to an outside from a first end portion in the first axis direction of the housing; and first extension portions, constituting a pair, that are both ends of the first terminal in the second axis direction, the first extension portions being bent upward and being embedded in the bottom wall or the side wall of the housing, or in both the bottom wall and the side wall of the housing, by the insert molding.
Push switch and push switch system
A push switch includes a movable contact member, a first fixed contact, and a second fixed contact. The push switch is in a first contact state in a first contact position where the movable contact member contacts the first fixed contact, and is in a second contact state in a second contact position where the movable contact member contacts the second fixed contact. The push switch is not switched to an on state in response to transitioning from an off state to the first contact state, and is switched to the on state in response to further transitioning to the second contact state, and the push switch is not switched from the on state to the off state in response to the second contact state being released, and is switched from the on state to the off state in response to the first contact state being further released.
Method of manufacturing a switch
A switch includes a case, fixed electrodes, a movable electrode and a pressing member. The fixed electrodes and the movable electrode are arranged inside the recess. The pressing member is arranged so as to cover at least a part of the recess, and displaces the movable electrode from the second position to the first position by a pressing force from the outside. The pressing member includes a first bent part and a second bent part, and a deforming part disposed therebetween. The deforming part is opposed to the movable electrode with a gap in a state where the movable electrode is in the second position. The deforming part is configured to be flexibly deformed toward the outside of the case in a state where the movable electrode is in the first position in which the fixed electrodes are in a conductive state.