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US3787732A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Electronic switch apparatus sensitive to and actuated by touch

Assignee: Magic Dot Inc
•
Filing: 1972-12-18
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1992-12-18
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Abstract

Abstract An electronic switch which has no moving parts and is actuated by the capacitance of an operator providing a connection between earth ground and an input to the electronics associated with the switch or is actuated by the skin resistance of an operator causing a lowering of D.C. resistance across the face of the switch, or both, is disclosed. The electronic switch, in the preferred embodiment shown, includes three electrodes arranged with respect to each other upon the top surface of an insulator in a laterally spaced, electrically insulated relation with the third electrode performing as a conductive electrical shielding electrode between the first and second electrodes. The first and second electrodes are exposed to the finger of an operator upon the top surface of the insulator in a manner to allow the bridging of the first and second electrodes to thus provide a direct current path to be set up laterally between the first electrode and the second electrode to thereby provide an activation of the switch through the lowering of the D.C. resistance across the face of the switch. When the operator''s finger is removed, the shielding effect of the third electrode prevents any leakage currents from flowing between the first electrode and the second electrode from causing a switch activation. Further, the first and second electrodes are accessible to touch by the operator to thereby allow the operator''s touch to provide an alternating voltage signal to provide an activation of the switch. Electronics which allows activation of the switch is shown in the form of a first amplifier accepting the electronic signal input provided by the operator''s finger and providing a related signal to an integrator, shown in the preferred embodiment as a capacitor. A second amplifier is connected to the integrator to provide a switched output, with the switched output providing a first state for approximating an electrical short circuit and a second state for approximating an electrical open circuit.

Inventors

  • 👤 W Larson

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 22:54
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/96; H03K17/962

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 315 words
Electronic switch apparatus operable by the touch of an operator''s finger, comprising in combination: at least three switch electrodes arranged and insulated from each other with the first switch electrode and the second switch electrode laterally immovably fixed with respect to each other in a manner to prevent first switch electrode from coming into direct electrical contact with the second switch electrode and with the top surfaces of the first switch electrode and second switch electrode exposed to the finger of an operator for allowing an operator''s finger to touch both the first electrode and the second electrode and with the third switch electrode arranged electrically between the first switch electrode and the second switch electrode, laterally immovablE, and insulated from each of the first electrode and second electrode as a conductive electrical shielding electrode preventing by its presence a flow of electrical current between the first electrode and the second electrode; means for providing a connection to a reference; a first amplifier including input means and output means; a second amplifier including input means and output means; storage means; means for providing a connection to a source of D.C. potential for at least one of the first amplifier and second amplifier; means for providing a connection between at least one of the first amplifier and second amplifier and the reference means; means for connecting the storage means between the output means of the first amplifier means and the reference means; means for providing a connection between the output means of the first amplifier and the input means of the second amplifier; means for providing a connection between the first electrode and the input means of the first amplifier; means for providing a connection between the second electrode and the means for providing a connection to the source of D.C. potential; and means for providing a connection between the third electrode and the reference means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 315 words
Electronic switch apparatus operable by the touch of an operator''s finger, comprising in combination: at least three switch electrodes arranged and insulated from each other with the first switch electrode and the second switch electrode laterally immovably fixed with respect to each other in a manner to prevent first switch electrode from coming into direct electrical contact with the second switch electrode and with the top surfaces of the first switch electrode and second switch electrode exposed to the finger of an operator for allowing an operator''s finger to touch both the first electrode and the second electrode and with the third switch electrode arranged electrically between the first switch electrode and the second switch electrode, laterally immovablE, and insulated from each of the first electrode and second electrode as a conductive electrical shielding electrode preventing by its presence a flow of electrical current between the first electrode and the second electrode; means for providing a connection to a reference; a first amplifier including input means and output means; a second amplifier including input means and output means; storage means; means for providing a connection to a source of D.C. potential for at least one of the first amplifier and second amplifier; means for providing a connection between at least one of the first amplifier and second amplifier and the reference means; means for connecting the storage means between the output means of the first amplifier means and the reference means; means for providing a connection between the output means of the first amplifier and the input means of the second amplifier; means for providing a connection between the first electrode and the input means of the first amplifier; means for providing a connection between the second electrode and the means for providing a connection to the source of D.C. potential; and means for providing a connection between the third electrode and the reference means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 44 words
The electronic switch apparatus of claim 1, including an insulator having opposed major surfaces and at least three edges, with a first major surface of the insulator supporting the electrodes and the second major surface supporting the first amplifier, second amplifier, and storage means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 37 words
The electronic switch apparatus of claim 2, wherein each of the electrodes is arranged adjacent an edge of the insulator and wherein connection is made to the respective electrodes through connections around the edge of the insulator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 46 words
The electronic switch apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first electrode constitutes a rectangle of material, the second electrode comprises a rectangle of material; and wherein the third electrode comprises a band of conductive material arranged between the rectangles of the first electrode and second electrode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 46 words
The electronic switch apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first electrode constitutes a rectangle of material, the second electrode comprises a rectangle of material; and wherein the third electrode comprises a band of conductive material arranged between the rectangles of the first electrode and second electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 46 words
The electronic switch apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first electrode constitutes a rectangle of material, the second electrode comprises a rectangle of material; and wherein the third electrode comprises a band of conductive material arranged between the rectangles of the first electrode and second electrode.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3144592A Cited
US3728501A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-01-21 1977-07-23 1978-01-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-01-21 1981-07-23 1982-01-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-01-21 1985-07-23 1986-01-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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