Actuator for elastic diaphragm switch keyboard

Claim 2

In an elastic diaphragm switch assembly including; an array of deflectable diaphragm switch contacts and an elastomeric sheet overlying said array of contacts with a plurality of projections depending therefrom in registration with respective contacts, the improvement comprising: a series of intersecting ribs carried on the same side of said elastomeric sheet as said projections and defining a matrix of individual rectangular isolation zones for said projections, said zones corresponding in number and position to said array of contacts to eliminate crosstalk and interference problems between adjacent switches.

Claim 3

The elastic diaphragm switch assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a keyboard, a rigid frame member lying below said keyboard and carrying key position separator openings, soft button means coupling said keyboard to said elastomeric sheet through said openings and raised pressure pads carried by said elastomeric sheet on the surface of said sheet and facing respective soft button means for each key position to insure even pressure distribution over the switch contact area of each zone.

Claim 4

The elastic diaphragm switch assembly as claimed in claim 2 wherein said series of intersecting ribs and said raised pressure pad are integrally molded within said elastomeric actuator sheet.

Claim 5

The elastic diaphragm switch assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said intersecting straight-line ribs are of rectangular cross section and have a thickness at least as great as the length of said projections depending from the same side of said elastomeric actuator sheet.

Claim 6

A keyboard comprising: an elastomeric keyboard means bearing indicia and defining keys thereon, an elastomeric actuator sheet including an input surface and an output surface on opposite sides thereof, a rigid frame member having openings therein corresponding to the keys of said keyboard member supporting said keyboard means and positioned intermediate of said keyboard means and said actuator sheet, a plurality of soft elastomeric buttons carried within said frame opening and mechanically coupling said keyboard means to said actuator sheet, a plurality of diaphragm switches in an array corresponding to the keys of said keyboard means and hAving an actuation surface confronting the output surface of said actuator sheet, a plurality of projections extending outwardly of the output surface of said elastomeric actuator sheet for contact with the actuation surface of respective diaphragm switches to close contacts of said switches relating to specific key areas of said keyboard means, one of said projections being responsive to deflection of said actuator sheet for effecting closure of said switch contact and a plurality of additional projections surrounding said one projection for stopping excessive deflection of said one projection, and a plurality of intersecting rectangular ribs projecting from the output surface of said elastomeric actuator sheet and defining individual rectangular isolation zones for the projections corresponding to each switch of said array, said series of intersecting ribs lying outside of the area defined by said switch contacts, said actuator sheet projections associated therewith, said soft elastomeric button, and said frame openings.

Claim 7

A keyboard comprising: an elastomeric keyboard means bearing indicia and defining keys thereon, an elastomeric actuator sheet including an input surface and an output surface on opposite sides thereof, a rigid frame member having openings therein corresponding to the keys of said keyboard member supporting said keyboard means and positioned intermediate of said keyboard means and said actuator sheet, a plurality of soft elastomeric buttons carried within said frame opening and mechanically coupling said keyboard means to said actuator sheet, a plurality of diaphragm switches in an array corresponding to the keys of said keyboard means and hAving an actuation surface confronting the output surface of said actuator sheet, a plurality of projections extending outwardly of the output surface of said elastomeric actuator sheet for contact with the actuation surface of respective diaphragm switches to close contacts of said switches relating to specific key areas of said keyboard means, one of said projections being responsive to deflection of said actuator sheet for effecting closure of said switch contact and a plurality of additional projections surrounding said one projection for stopping excessive deflection of said one projection, and a plurality of intersecting rectangular ribs projecting from the output surface of said elastomeric actuator sheet and defining individual rectangular isolation zones for the projections corresponding to each switch of said array, said series of intersecting ribs lying outside of the area defined by said switch contacts, said actuator sheet projections associated therewith, said soft elastomeric button, and said frame openings.

Claim 8

The keyboard as claimed in claim 5 wherein the input surface of said actuator sheet has integrally molded therein raised pressure pads corresponding in surface area and position to the openings within said frame member and the soft buttons carried thereby in contact with the input surface of said elastomeric actuator sheet.