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. 06, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 21, 2000
I.E.E. International Electronics & Engineering S.A.R.L., Luxembourg, LU;
Abstract
A switching element of foil construction is presented, with a triggering layer of first resistive material applied to a first carrier-foil and a sensor layer of a second resistive material applied to a second carrier-foil. The two carrier-foils are arranged a certain distance from each other by means of spacers, in such a way that the triggering layer and the sensor layer are opposite each other and, when the switching element is not operated, are not in contact with each other, whereas, when the switching element is triggered, the triggering layer and the sensor layer are initially in contact with each other at a first point of their surface, and the area of contact increases as the pressure on the switching element is increased. The first and second resistive materials are tuned to each other in such a way that, when there is contact between the triggering layer and the sensor layer, the resistive of the boundary layer between the triggering layer and the sensor layer is essentially determined by the extent of the contact area. According to the invention, the sensor layer is designed so that, starting from the first point, its electrical resistivity varies with the distance from the first point in the direction increasing contact-area, in such a way that a predetermined triggering behavior of the switching element as a function of the compressive force acting on the switching element is obtained.