US4181964A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Integrated electronics assembly on a plastic chassis
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1975-07-02
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Granted: 1980-01-01
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Expires: 1995-07-02
Abstract
Abstract The invention defines a technique for assemblying all the parts of an electronic unit, for example a hand held calculator, directly on a plastic chassis without using individual printed circuit boards for various circuits of the calculator. Such parts of the calculator as the calculator chip, the display and the keyboard are all mounted on or formed on the plastic chassis in such a manner that only a cover has to be put over the plastic chassis to complete the calculator.
Inventors
- 👤 James H. Moore
- 👤 Gene D. Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 14:48
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/78; H01H13/785; H01H13/702; H01H2201/00; H01H2201/022; H01H2201/026; H01H2203/00; H01H2203/028; H01H2229/00; H01H2229/008; H01H2231/00; H01H2231/002; H01H2239/00; H01H2239/01; H05; H05K; H05K1/00; H05K1/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
An integrated electronic assembly comprising: a plastic chassis forming at least a portion of a housing for said assembly, an array of cross-bar matrix switches integrated with the plastic chassis, an integrated circuit device and a display device mounted on said chassis, each of the devices and the matrix switches being electrically interconnected.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
An integrated electronic assembly comprising: a plastic chassis forming at least a portion of a housing for said assembly, an array of cross-bar matrix switches integrated with the plastic chassis, an integrated circuit device and a display device mounted on said chassis, each of the devices and the matrix switches being electrically interconnected.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The integrated electronic assembly according to claim 1 wherein the array of cross-bar matrix switches includes a contact bus system and a curve beam or cantilevered switch bus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The assembly according to claim 2 wherein the contact bus system is formed in the surface of the plastic chassis and the curve beam switch bus is mounted on the plastic chassis and extends over, but not in contact with, the contact bus system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the contact bus system is formed on the surface of the plastic chassis and the curve beam switch bus is mounted on the plastic chassis and extends over, but not in contact with, the contact bus system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
The integrated electronic assembly defined in claim 1 wherein the integrated circuit device includes a lead frame, wherein the cross-bar matrix switches include a contact bus system and wherein the contact bus system, the interconnections between it and the integrated circuit device and the interconnections between the integrated circuit device and the display device are formed, at least in part, by the lead frame of the integrated circuit device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
A calculator comprising: (a) a plastic base, said base forming at least a portion of a housing for said calculator, (b) a key switch assembly mounted on said base, (c) a display device mounted on said base, (d) electrical conductors affixed directly to said base, and (e) a calculator electronics device mounted directly on said base and interconnected with said display device and said key switch assembly via said electrical conductors.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A calculator comprising: (a) a plastic base, said base forming at least a portion of a housing for said calculator, (b) a key switch assembly mounted on said base, (c) a display device mounted on said base, (d) electrical conductors affixed directly to said base, and (e) a calculator electronics device mounted directly on said base and interconnected with said display device and said key switch assembly via said electrical conductors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The calculator according to claim 6 wherein the key switch assembly is comprised of a plurality of metallic conductors in one surface of the plastic base and a plurality of flexible plastic strips extending across, but not in contact with, said metallic conductors, said plastic strips having a conductive material on one surface thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The key switch assembly of claim 7 wherein the conductive material on said plastic strips is positioned so that upon applying a compressive force to said strip and one of said metallic conductors a contact is made between said one of said metallic conductors and said conductive material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The calculator according to claim 6, wherein the key switch assembly is comprised of a plurality of metallic conductors on one surface of the plastic base and a plurality of flexible plastic strips extending across, but not in contact with, said metallic conductors, said plastic strips having a conductive material on one surface thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The key switch assembly of claim 9, wherein the conductive material on said plastic strips is positioned so that upon applying a compressive force to said strip and one of said metallic conductors, a contact is made between said one of said metallic conductors and said conductive material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The calculator according to claim 6, wherein said electrical conductors are formed by metal deposited on said base.
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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) | 1982-12-31 | 1983-07-02 | 1984-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-12-31 | 1987-07-02 | 1988-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-12-31 | 1991-07-02 | 1992-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |