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:
Jun. 16, 1998
Filed:
Mar. 04, 1996
Edwin D Lorenz, Grand Blanc, MI (US);
Michael G Taranowski, Greendale, WI (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
A multiple position or continuously variable capacitive switch which operates by producing a series of discernable changes in the capacitance between a pair of conductors (14,16) disposed in a spaced coplanar relationship on a surface of a non-conductive substrate (12). A dielectric layer (18) is applied over the conductors (14,16) and exposed areas of the substrate (12) surface. A resilient conductive pad (20) is positioned atop the dielectric layer (18) and a user movable actuator (28) is moved to controllably increase the capacitance between the conductors (14,16) by creating progressively greater areas of compression between conductive pad (20) and dielectric layer (18).