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:
Apr. 07, 1992
Filed:
Mar. 19, 1991
Dale R Sogge, Franklin, MA (US);
Edward F O'Brien, Providence, RI (US);
David A Czarn, Cumberland, RI (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A pressure responsive switch having upper and lower contact assemblies with a snap acting member and an electrically conductive member sandwiched therebetween. The assemblies each include an insulating body with a hollow center and an electrically conductive member having a contact in the center portion and extending externally of the body. The snap acting member is in constant engagement with the sandwiched conductive member and normally in engagement with the electrically conductive member of the upper assembly. When a pressure is applied which is sufficient to cause the snap acting member to snap into its second stable state, the connection thereof with the electrically conductive member in the upper contact assembly is broken and connection is made with the electrically conductive member in the lower assembly. The switch is normally closed by removing the portion of the electrically conductive member in the lower assembly which extends externally thereof. The switch can be provided as normally open by removing the portion of the electrically conductive member in the upper assembly which extends externally thereof. In accordance with another embodiment, the switch is provided for operation in conjunction with a printed circuit board. The switch comprises an electrically conductive contact member fixed to the board and having a contact bump and an air conducting passageway. An electrically conductive support for a flexible conductive member is secured to the board within the fixed conductive member the flexible member moving into and out of engagement with the bump in response to pressure changes.