The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 21, 1984
Filed:
Dec. 13, 1982
Robert J Johnson, Inver Grove Hgts., MN (US);
Charles N Miller, Apple Valley, MN (US);
G Patrick Bonnie, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Control Data Corporation, Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
An electrical switch comprising a touch panel includes a flexible membrane having a series of parallel, electrically conductive strips formed thereon; and an opposed substrate layer having conductive strips thereon parallel and orthogonal to the membrane strips. A series of filament spacers, running parallel to the substrate layer strips, are positioned between the membrane and substrate layer to maintain the membrane strips and substrate strips in spaced-apart relation to each other. The filament spacers are secured to an associated boundary or frame. Finger or instrument pressure selectively applied to the membrane and directed toward the substrate, can establish contact between a chosen membrane strip and substrate strip to close the switch. The elastic deformation of the filament spacers enhances contact closure and contact life expectancy. The presence of insulative dust, which interferes with the current flow between the contacts, is eliminated.