Marquardt Gmbh

Temic Telefunken Microelectronic Gmbh

Ekkehard Sachs

Karl Mueller

August Geiger

Ralf Sauer

Kai-Uwe Marquardt

Georg Seitz

Karl Müller

Hubert Willmann

Jakob Marquardt

Roland Wolfschlager

Ernst-Ludwig Klein

Joachim Lach

Erich Marquardt

A housing part ( ) of plastic may be used for an electronic key ( ) of a locking system in a motor vehicle. The housing part ( ) has an actuating member ( ) for an electrical switch ( ), the actuating member ( ) being designed in a manner of a surface ( &prime;) which can be elastically deformed for the actuation and if appropriate extends essentially in the surface ( ) of the housing part ( ). The actuating member ( ) acts in an actuating manner on a plunger ( ) or the like of the electrical switch ( ). The actuating member ( ) is arranged on a rigid supporting element ( ) which is essentially undeformable when the actuating member ( ) is actuated. Both the actuating member ( ) and the supporting element ( ) are prefabricated as half-parts. The half-parts are encapsulated with the plastic of the housing part ( ) in the production of the housing part ( ) in such a way that the supporting element ( ) is facing the electrical switch ( ).

Housing part with an actuating element

An electronic key for actuating a lock, in particular for use in locking systems in automobiles, is described. The housing of the electronic key has the shape of a thin wedge, the narrow end of the wedge being designed for insertion into the lock. The parts active for the actuation of the lock are also accommodated here. Moreover, the housing has a receptacle for a key bit for a mechanical lock.

Electronic Key

According to known methods, several circuit board pieces in a three-dimensional arrangement of an electronic module are connected together electrically by the film connectors and arranged around an operator control or actuator element in the three-dimensional form. The assembly of such modules is, however, very costly because the circuit boards must all be fastened mechanically. By using film connectors with greater stiffness, circuit board pieces can be held over these directly without additional mechanical securing devices and the three-dimensional circuit board arrangement can be secured by appropriate securing devices in the three-dimensional form. A preferred application is for electronic modules with operator control and/or actuator elements where the space available is very limited, in particular for modules fitted in motor vehicles.

Electronic module

A pushbutton switch having a frustoconical switch cap of plastic, which acts as a restoring element, is proposed, which switch cap permits a very exact switching operation in comparison with known switch caps of rubber or silicone. In order to achieve optimum switching characteristics with defined switching displacements and forces, a thermoplastic elastomer is used which, as a block copolymer, has special properties regarding the flexibility of the switch cap. In this case, the material selection and dimensions of the switch cap determine the special properties of the pushbutton switch.

Snap disk type switch

Keyboard

Dual component keyboard unit

A pushbutton switch, suitable particularly for keyboards of business machines substantially comprises a cup-shaped casing which may be made in two parts and has its cup edge side closed by a pushbutton. Against the side of the button, the upper end of a return spring is applied whose lower end bears against an angle leg of a contact member, and which is secured against buckling preferably by a holding member. Another angle leg of the contact member applies against a shank surface which is provided with a shoulder for permitting an abrupt tilting of the contact member upon pushing the button. Movable contacts may be provided on one or the other angle legs of the contact member. The fixed contacts are then located accordingly. The fixed contacts may be formed by end portions of connecting elements extending to the outside or by elements of a circuit board. To assemble the keyboard a plurality of such switch casings are manufactured integrally with a cover plate. Beneath the individual buttons, a base plate is provided preferably carrying the fixed contacts.

Pushbutton switch

Growing community of inventors

Spaichingen, Germany

Ekkehard Sachs