US3723673A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Keyboard switch assembly with wire conductor matrix contact array
Assignee: Addmaster Corp
•
Filing: 1971-10-13
•
Granted: 1973-03-27
•
Expires: 1991-10-13
Abstract
Abstract A keyboard switch device comprising rows and columns of intersecting wires conductors held taut and normally spaced slightly from each other by a separator sheet of non-conducting material having openings therein aligned with the intersections of at least certain of the conductors. The conductors are engaged by depressing different keys aligned with the conductor intersections and a relatively thick layer of soft elastomeric materialis interposed between the keys and conductors to normally hold the keys in raised position and to transmit pressure from the keys to engage the conductors. By merely changing the sizes, shapes and positions of the openings, the switching device can be made to produce different output coded signals. Also, by changing the configuration of the various rows and columns of conductors different switch matrix patterns can be produced.
Inventors
- 👤 J Clary
- 👤 L Wirtz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/78; H01H13/807; H01H13/702; H01H13/785; H01H13/80; H01H2201/00; H01H2201/004; H01H2201/022; H01H2201/03; H01H2203/00; H01H2203/008; H01H2207/00; H01H2207/01; H01H2207/016; H01H2221/00; H01H2221/036; H01H2221/042; H01H2221/064; H01H2225/00; H01H2225/002; H01H2227/00; H01H2227/002; H01H2227/006; H01H2239/00; H01H2239/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A keyboard operated switching device comprising a base, a first plurality of rows of wire conductors on said base, a relatively thin separator sheet of non-conductive material over said conductors, a second plurality of columns of wire conductors over said sheet, said second plurality of conductors extending across said first plurality of conductors, means maintaining said second plurality of conductors taut, a plurality of depressible keys over the intersections of said rows and columns of conductors, and a relatively thick layer of compressible elastomeric material intermediate said keys and said columns of conductors, said sheet having openings aligned with certain only of said intersections whereby to establish coded output circuits upon depression of said keys.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A keyboard operated switching device comprising a base, a first plurality of rows of wire conductors on said base, a relatively thin separator sheet of non-conductive material over said conductors, a second plurality of columns of wire conductors over said sheet, said second plurality of conductors extending across said first plurality of conductors, means maintaining said second plurality of conductors taut, a plurality of depressible keys over the intersections of said rows and columns of conductors, and a relatively thick layer of compressible elastomeric material intermediate said keys and said columns of conductors, said sheet having openings aligned with certain only of said intersections whereby to establish coded output circuits upon depression of said keys.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A keyboard operated switching device according to claim 1 wherein said separator sheet is replaceable by a second separator sheet having openings aligned with certain different ones of said intersections whereby to establish different coded output circuits upon depression of said keys.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
136 words
A key operated switching device according to claim 1 comprising a second separator sheet of non-conducting material on said columns of wire conductors, a third plurality of rows of wire conductors on said second separator sheet, a third separator sheet over said third plurality of wire conductors, a fourth plurality of columns of wire conductors over said third separator sheet and under said layer, the intersections of said third and fourth pluralities of conductors being aligned with said intersections of said first and said pluralities of conductors, said first and third separator sheets having openings aligned with certain only of said intersections, certain of saId openings in said first sheet being out of alignment with certain of said openings in said third sheet whereby to establish different coded output circuits upon depression of a said key.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3240885A
Cited
US3382338A
Cited
US3495232A
Cited
US3592979A
Cited
US3617660A
Cited
US3584162A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |