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:
Mar. 20, 2012
Filed:
Mar. 10, 2009
Christopher Larsen, Mississauga, CA;
Albert Beyginian, Aurora, CA;
Theodor Nuica, London, CA;
Omron Dualtec Automotive Electronics Inc., Oakville, CA;
Abstract
A switch assembly operating an electrical circuit using an elastomeric pad is provided. The elastomeric pad comprises one or more collapsible domes that are positioned such that a plunger element supported by the switch assembly collapses the domes when an actuation button is tilted. The plunger element may have a limiting mechanism to limit downward movement of the plunger element such that the collapsible domes are not overloaded. The body and plunger may also be formed with complementary profiled portions that restrict any one or more of fore/aft, side-to-side and up/down movements of the plunger with respect to the body to prevent abnormal loading on the collapsible domes to increase the lifecycle of the elastomeric portion. The elastomeric portion may also be adapted to provide both single and dual double detent feedback by using passive collapsible domes that provide tactile feedback without operating on the electrical circuit.