US3562464A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cam actuated switch having movable and fixed contacts on circuit board
Assignee: Tektronix Inc
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Filing: 1968-10-07
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Granted: 1971-02-09
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Expires: 1988-10-07
Abstract
Abstract A cam actuated switch apparatus is described in which both its movable and fixed switch contacts are mounted on a printed circuit board providing the electrical circuit to which the switch contacts are connected. One embodiment of the switch apparatus employs a cam actuator in the form of a rotatable drum having cam elements projecting from the periphery thereof for engagement with the movable contacts. In another embodiment the cam actuator is in the form of a sliding cam member which moves parallel to the surface of the printed circuit board to actuate the movable contacts thereon. As a result of mounting all the switch contacts directly on the printed circuit board there is a considerable reduction in lead inductance, capacitance, and series resistance, which enables the present switch apparatus to be used with circuits of higher frequency response. In addition, this also greatly reduces the number of soldered connections for the switch which makes it faster and less expensive to install and easier to repair, and provides the switch with greater reliability.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Howard Vollum
- 👤 Willem H Verhoff
- 👤 Anthony E Sprando
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H1/00; H01H1/12; H01H1/36; H01H1/40; H01H1/403; H01H19/00; H01H19/54; H01H19/60; H01H19/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A switching device comprising a printed circuit board having a plurality of conductive paths insulatively spaced from one another thereon, stationary contact members on said board and being part of at least some of said conductive paths, movable contact members having first sections connected to at least some others of said conductive paths and second sections including contact-engaging parts disposed so as to be connected with or disconnected from respective ones of said stationary contact members, said contact-engaging parts and said stationary contact members engaging each other at a contact area substantially greater than the thickness of each of said contact-engaging parts, mounting means mounted on said board adjacent said contact members and on the same side of said board on which said contact members are mounted, actuator means movably mounted in said mounting means for movement relative to said contact members, camactuating means provided on said actuator means for selectively engaging said second sections of said movable contact members for moving said contact-engaging parts into and out of engagement with said stationary contact members as said actuator means is moved relative to said contact members, and cam-engaging means provided by each of said second sections of said movable contact members for engagement by said camactuating means when said actuator means is moved relative to said contact members thereby causing said contact-engaging parts to wipingly move along said stationary contact members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
A switching device comprising a printed circuit board having a plurality of conductive paths insulatively spaced from one another thereon, stationary contact members on said board and being part of at least some of said conductive paths, movable contact members having first sections connected to at least some others of said conductive paths and second sections including contact-engaging parts disposed so as to be connected with or disconnected from respective ones of said stationary contact members, said contact-engaging parts and said stationary contact members engaging each other at a contact area substantially greater than the thickness of each of said contact-engaging parts, mounting means mounted on said board adjacent said contact members and on the same side of said board on which said contact members are mounted, actuator means movably mounted in said mounting means for movement relative to said contact members, camactuating means provided on said actuator means for selectively engaging said second sections of said movable contact members for moving said contact-engaging parts into and out of engagement with said stationary contact members as said actuator means is moved relative to said contact members, and cam-engaging means provided by each of said second sections of said movable contact members for engagement by said camactuating means when said actuator means is moved relative to said contact members thereby causing said contact-engaging parts to wipingly move along said stationary contact members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A switching device according to claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises drum means rotatably mounted in said mounting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A switching device according to claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises a sliding member slidably mounted in said mounting means and said mounting means define guide member means for guiding said sliding member along said contact members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A switching device according to claim 1 wherein stop means are provided by said mounting means and said actuator means to stop movement of said actuator means thereby limiting movement of said actuator means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A switching device according to claim 1 wherein means are provided by said mounting means and said actuator means to maintain said actuator means in a selected position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A switching device according to claim 1 wherein said second sections of said movable contact members define leaf spring members and said cam-engaging means define inverted V-shaped sections in said second sections.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-08 | 1974-08-10 | 1975-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-08 | 1978-08-10 | 1979-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-08 | 1982-08-10 | 1983-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |