Abstract A method of forming a switching device having a movable contact that is an integral part of a metallic support substrate and is supported above the support substrate by a plurality of spring-like legs that are also an integral part of the support substrate. One or more of the switching devices is produced by forming one or more groups of curved, unconnected radially extending slots in a metallic substrate to define support legs, plastically deforming the legs defined by the slots past their elastic limit, and then precipitation hardening the complete structure. The slots can be formed by a photomasking technique followed by an acid etch with the etch being performed from both sides of the metallic support substrate. To provide a desired tactile response characteristic, and to assure movement of a central portion of the switching device past the plane of the metallic support substrate, a portion of each of the legs defined by the slots may be removed to thin that portion of each leg. The plastic deformation may be performed in a male-female die mechanism.
A method of making a switching device from a continuous, planar sheet of metallic material with the switching device characterized by a substantially planar, movable central portion coupled to a substantially planar peripheral supporting portion by a plurality of non-planar support legs with the central portion retaining its shape while effecting a switching action, the steps of: forming in a planar sheet of metallic material a plurality of curved, unconnected slots of substantially uniform width, each of said slots having a smooth curvature and each of said slots radiating outwardly from a central portion of said sheet of metallic material to a peripheral portion of said sheet of metallic material, at least a portion of each of said slots being adjacent at least a portion of at least another of said slots, and plastically deforming into the shape of heliclines only the portions of said sheet of metallic material between said adjacent slots such that said central portion of said sheet of metallic material is supported above the peripheral portion of said sheet of metallic material by said portions of said sheet of metallic material between said adjacent slots with said central portion of said sheet of metallic material being in a plane parallel to the plane of said peripheral portion of said sheet of metallic material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
217 words
A method of making a switching device from a continuous, planar sheet of metallic material with the switching device characterized by a substantially planar, movable central portion coupled to a substantially planar peripheral supporting portion by a plurality of non-planar support legs with the central portion retaining its shape while effecting a switching action, the steps of: forming in a planar sheet of metallic material a plurality of curved, unconnected slots of substantially uniform width, each of said slots having a smooth curvature and each of said slots radiating outwardly from a central portion of said sheet of metallic material to a peripheral portion of said sheet of metallic material, at least a portion of each of said slots being adjacent at least a portion of at least another of said slots, and plastically deforming into the shape of heliclines only the portions of said sheet of metallic material between said adjacent slots such that said central portion of said sheet of metallic material is supported above the peripheral portion of said sheet of metallic material by said portions of said sheet of metallic material between said adjacent slots with said central portion of said sheet of metallic material being in a plane parallel to the plane of said peripheral portion of said sheet of metallic material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 including the additional step of precipitation hardening said plastically deformed portions.