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:
Nov. 17, 1992
Filed:
Nov. 06, 1990
Jun Kitahara, Yokohama, JP;
Yoshiaki Kitazume, Sayama, JP;
Hiromichi Itoh, Yokohama, JP;
Takashi Tsunehiro, Ebina, JP;
Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A key input device including a plurality of keytops, with an elastic member being disposed between each keytop and a printed circuit board so as to be supported at a lower end portion thereof by an upper surface of the printed circuit board and pushed upwardly to cause the keytop to be biased upwardly. An engaging portion, provided on a main body of each keytop, prevents the keytop from coming out of a hole accommodating the respective keytops. The depressing stroke of the respective keytops can be defined by an upper casing an the printed circuit board regardless of the state of elastic deformation of the elastic member. An insulating substrate may be provided on the printed circuit board, with printed electrodes being formed on an upper surface of the insulating substrate in an opposed relationship to the keytops in such a manner that, when one of the keytops is depressed, the printed electrodes are brought into contact with the contact electrodes corresponding to the depressed keytop. Printed wiring conductors or strips can be formed on the upper surface of the printed circuit board on which the printed electrodes for the keytop switches are formed. The circuit elements or electronic components, connected through the printed wiring conductors or strips, can be mounted on the lower surface side of the printed circuit board resulting in a common printed circuit board for holding the keytop switches and the mounting of the electronic components.