US5121091A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Panel switch
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1990-09-27
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Granted: 1992-06-09
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Expires: 2010-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A panel switch according to the present invention has a switching unit comprising a plurality of switches which are not provided with individual click mechanisms and at least one click mechanism for the switching unit. Because the switching unit does not incorporate individual click mechanisms, the panel switch can be formed into a small size. In addition, by the integration of the provided click mechanism, the degree of freedom on the design of the panel switch is enlarged, and a small-sized panel switch which is excellent in switching feeling can be offered.
Inventors
- 👤 Terumi Fujiyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/78; H01H13/807; H01H13/702; H01H2215/00; H01H2215/05; H01H2215/054; H01H2225/00; H01H2225/002; H01H2225/018; H01H2225/024; H01H2225/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A panel switch comprising: a switch unit including a plurality of switches arranged on a stationary substrate board through which a shock or vibration is transmitted to an operator who operates any one of said plurality of switches so as to give an input through said switch unit; a vibration unit for applying a shock or vibration to said substrate board; a control circuit for detecting said input by the operator, for controlling said vibration unit so as to excite the vibration unit in accordance with said input.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
A panel switch comprising: a switch unit including a plurality of switches arranged on a stationary substrate board through which a shock or vibration is transmitted to an operator who operates any one of said plurality of switches so as to give an input through said switch unit; a vibration unit for applying a shock or vibration to said substrate board; a control circuit for detecting said input by the operator, for controlling said vibration unit so as to excite the vibration unit in accordance with said input.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said substrate board has a lower side and is made of a ferromagnetic material selected from a group consisting of iron, stainless steel and plastic containing therein a magnetic material, and said vibration unit is composed of a coil and a ferromagnetic rod held in said coil so that said ferromagnetic rod is moved to and from the lower side of said substrate board when said ferromagnetic rod is magnetized and demagnetized by said control circuit through said coil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vibration unit is composed of a movable bobbin having at least a center hole formed therein and wound thereon with a coil, and a holder slidably holding said movable bobbin and having one end making contact directly with the substrate board of said switch unit and the other end attached with a magnet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said substrate board is made of ferromagnetic materials, and said vibration unit is composed of an electrical magnet having N and S magnetic poles which face said substrate board, and a holding cover attached to said switch unit and holding said electrical magnet so as to allow said electrical magnet to move to and from said substrate board.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
123 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vibration unit is composed of at least an electromagnet attached to said switch unit and including a stationary magnetic pole piece having one and the other end, a movable magnetic pole piece having one end pivotally attached to said one end of said stationary magnetic pole piece and the other end which is a free end adapted to engage with and disengage from the other end of said stationary magnetic pole piece when said movable magnetic pole piece swings about said one end as a fulcrum, and a spring urging the other end of said movable magnetic pole piece to be away from the other end of said stationary magnetic pole piece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vibration unit is composed of a movable magnetic pole piece rotatably supported to said substrate board, a spring disposed between said movable magnetic pole piece and said substrate board so as to urge said movable magnetic pole piece toward said substrate board, and a magnetic pole piece for moving said movable magnetic pole piece from said substrate when an electromagnet is energized.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said substrate board is made of ferromagnetic materials, and said vibration unit is composed of a spring member having one end attached to said substrate board and the other end urged away from said substrate board, a stopper holding the other end of said spring member with a predetermined space from said substrate board and an electromagnet attached to said spring in the vicinity of the other end thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said substrate board has a lower surface, and said vibration unit is composed of a bobbin having a hollow inside and wound thereon with a coil and provided on said lower surface of said substrate board, a magnetic pole piece arranged so as to surround said coil, a plate disposed in the hollow inside of said bobbin, a permanent magnet attached to said magnetic pole piece, and carrying said plate for applying a magnetic field to said coil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vibration unit is composed of a plunger having a movable rod adapted to bump against said substrate board.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein said vibration unit is composed of an electromagnet mounted to said housing, said substrate board which is rotatable about one end thereof as a fulcrum, and a permanent magnet mounted on said substrate board and normally attracted by said electromagnet, for replusing said electromagnet when the latter is energized.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said substrate board is made of ferromagnetic materials, and said vibration unit is composed of an electromagnet provided to said substrate board through the intermediary of a spring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch unit is a multi-stage switch provided on said substrate board and adapted to be switched multistagely by a pressing force.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vibration unit is composed of a motor mounted on said substrate board, a cam attached to said motor, a leaf spring having one end attached to said substrate board and the other end engaged with said cam so that the other end of said leaf spring strikes upon said cam when said cam comes off from said leaf spring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein said switch unit is composed of a membrane switch and a button mounted on said casing, for driving said membrane switch, and said vibration unit is mounted on said membrane switch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
102 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said substrate board is transparent, said switch unit is composed of a light-transmitting membrane switch arranged on said transparent substrate board and having a lower side on which said transparent substrate board is laid and a lower part, and said vibration unit is composed of a key disposed in the lower part of said membrane switch, for striking said transparent substrate board, an electromagnet for driving said key, and a printed circuit board arranged on the lower side of said membrane switch and carrying thereon said electromagnet and a light emitting element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vibration unit is arranged on a printed circuit board having a display element, through the intermediary of a damper, and at least one switch panel having a transparent insulating substrate is provided on said vibration unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vibration unit is disposed on a printed circuit board, having a light emmitting element through the intermediary of a damper, and at least one switch panel having a transparent insulating substrate is provided on said vibration unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
68 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, further including a cover hinged to an apparatus body, for opening and closing said apparatus body, wherein said switch unit is disposed in said cover while said vibration unit includes a movable part and is disposed in said apparatus body at a position where said movable part makes contact with said cover when said cover is opened or closed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
79 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, further including a cover hinged to an appartus body, for opening and closing said apparatus body and having a front surface and a rear surface on which a pushing projection is formed, wherein said switch unit is disposed on the front surface of said cover, said vibration unit transmits vibration to said pushing projection through a vibration transmitting element which abuts against said pushing projection when said cover is opened.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch unit is composed of a position detecting tablet comprising at least upper and lower resistors, and dot spacers disposed therebetween.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said control circuit delivers a drive signal for controlling a shock and vibration to said vibration unit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said switch unit comprises a transparent touch panel underneath which said switches are arranged, and said substrate board is transparent.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
64 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vibration unit is composed of a movable bobbin having at least a center hole formed therein and wound thereon with a coil, and a holder slidably holding said movable bobbin and having one end making contact indirectly with the substrate board of said switch unit and the other end attached with a magnet.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 9, wherein said plunger has a silencer member through which said movable rod bumps against said substrate board.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 2, wherein said rod is urged away from said substrte board by means of a spring.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
41 words
A panel switch as set forth in claim 2, wherein said vibration unit includes a silencer member through which said rod bumps upon said substrate board, whereby a bumping sound, generated by said rod bumping upon said substrate board, is reduced.
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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) | 1995-06-09 | 1995-12-09 | 1996-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-09 | 1999-12-09 | 2000-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-09 | 2003-12-09 | 2004-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |