A compression activated switch includes an electrically conductive contact layer pair formed of a conductive first contact layer for electrically connecting to a power source, and a conductive second contact layer spaced from the first contact layer for connecting to an application, and a resilient layer sandwiched between said first and second contact layers and having at least one resilient layer port; so that weight placed on the switch compresses the resilient layer and thereby advances said first contact layer toward said second contact layer until the first and second contact layers make electrically conductive contact through the at least one resilient layer port, closing the switch. A switch assembly includes multiple compression activated switches arrayed either horizontally or vertically and separated by insulating structures.

A compression activated switch includes an electrically conductive contact layer pair formed of a conductive first contact layer for electrically connecting to a power source, and a conductive second contact layer spaced from the first contact layer for connecting to an application, and a resilient layer sandwiched between said first and second contact layers and having at least one resilient layer port; so that weight placed on the switch compresses the resilient layer and thereby advances said first contact layer toward said second contact layer until the first and second contact layers make electrically conductive contact through the at least one resilient layer port, closing the switch. A switch assembly includes multiple compression activated switches arrayed either horizontally or vertically and separated by insulating structures.

In a contact member, a mesh-like contact including one or more layers of a metal other than a noble metal is embedded in such a manner as to be exposed from one of the surfaces of a rubbery elastic body. The contact member includes a highly conductive metal coat layer only in the regions of the mesh-like contact which are exposed from the rubbery elastic body, the coat layer having conductivity higher than that of the metal on the outermost surfaces of the mesh-like contact.

A rotary switch with a knob having an axis of rotation and moveable to a plurality of angular positions and an elongated member extending in a longitudinal direction relative to the axis of the knob. A conductive member is positioned near a plurality of angularly displaced traces formed on a Printed Circuit Board. When the knob is rotated, the rotation is translated to longitudinal movement of the conductive member, which contacts at least one trace to close a circuit.

Shown are a switch and a manufacturing method thereof. The switch has a base substrate; and an electrode disposed on a first surface or a second surface of the base substrate. The flexible electrode includes: a substrate in a range of about 5 to 70 vol %; conductive particles embedded in the substrate in a range of about 29.9 to 94.9 vol %; and a degradation inhibitor in a range of 0.1 to 1 vol %, based on a total of 100 vol % of the electrode. In particular, the substrate of the electrode is flexible and thus the electrode is flexible.

A rotary switch with a knob having an axis of rotation and moveable to a plurality of angular positions and an elongated member extending in a longitudinal direction relative to the axis of the knob. A conductive member is positioned near a plurality of angularly displaced traces formed on a Printed Circuit Board. When the knob is rotated, the rotation is translated to longitudinal movement of the conductive member, which contacts at least one trace to close a circuit.

A keypad with a contact element in a form of a contact pill for intermittent contacting of printed circuit board (PCB) contacts on a PCB, where the contact element includes a plurality of irregularly shaped electrically conductive particles, and where the contact element is connected to the keypad or to an element of the keypad.

Embodiments are directed to a dome switch and methods related to the use thereto. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a key cap. The embodiment may further include a domed structure having upper and lower portions. The domed structure may be configured to deform in response to an input force received at the upper portion by the key cap. The embodiment may further include a collar affixed to the lower portion and extending toward the key cap. The collar may resist deformation of the domed surface.

A switch contact element, having a layered structure comprising three layers: the bottom layer is silicone rubber, the middle layer is a continuous base metal sheet layer, and the upper layer is a discontinuous (stripe-shaped, raised-point-shaped or lattice-shaped) precious metal plated layer or a double-metal composite layer of a discontinuous base metal plated layer and a precious metal plated layer. The thickness of the bottom layer is greater than that of the middle layer, the thickness of the middle layer is greater than that of the upper layer, and the thickness of the upper layer meets the conditions that the conductive current is greater than safe current of conductive contacts on a circuit board, and the service life of a switch for the design is ensured.

Embodiments are directed to a dome switch and methods related to the use thereto. In one aspect, an embodiment includes a key cap. The embodiment may further include a domed structure having upper and lower portions. The domed structure may be configured to deform in response to an input force received at the upper portion by the key cap. The embodiment may further include a collar affixed to the lower portion and extending toward the key cap. The collar may resist deformation of the domed surface.