Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Pattern-sheet controlled
Utility Patent
1998-12-07
2001-01-02
Scott, J. R. (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Pattern-sheet controlled
C200S517000, C235S441000
Utility Patent
active
06169257
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electrical switch assembly that can be built into a connector that connects to pads of a smart card, the present switch detecting the presence of a smart card in its fully inserted position. The object of the invention is to provide a switch whose height is less than that of the present state of the art, and which has very high switching reliability when made in mass production.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a switch assembly is provided that is rugged, of high reliability in mass production, and of very small thickness. The switch assembly includes a molded support of insulative material with an upwardly-opening support cavity. Outer and central contacts are mounted on the support and have dome-engaging parts lying in the support cavity. A dome-like tripping device, or tripping dome, lies in the cavity, with a periphery lying on the dome-engaging part of the outer contact and with a center portion lying over the dome-engaging part of the central contact. A cover has an upper face on which a card can slide, and a downwardly-opening cover cavity which receives the support. An actuating device comprises a piece of sheet metal having a heel that lies in a rear portion of the cover cavity when it is fixed to the cover. The actuating device has a second part substantially engaged with the center portion of the tripping device to depress it and thereby operate the switch, and has an actuating lever that extends through an opening in the cover and above the upper face of the cover.
The outer and central contacts are formed of strips of sheet metal with intermediate portions embedded in the molded support and lying coplanar, with the dome-engaging parts lying forward of the intermediate portions and with connection ends for soldering to traces on a circuit board. The dome-engaging part of the central contact is bent downwardly to lie below the plane of the intermediate portions and below the dome-engaging part of the outer contact.
The support and the heel of the actuating device lie in different cavity parts at the bottom of the cover, and they are both fixed in place by studs of the cover that project through holes in the support and in the heel of the actuating device. A film that covers the tripping dome, is wrapped about the sides of the molded support.
The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 5118912 (1992-06-01), Itabashi
patent: 5660272 (1997-08-01), Janniere et al.
patent: 5760352 (1998-06-01), Ishihara et al.
patent: 5775937 (1998-07-01), Bricaud et al.
patent: 5807124 (1998-09-01), Bricaud et al.
patent: 5854458 (1998-12-01), Ramamurthy et al.
patent: 6045049 (2000-04-01), Nishimura et al.
patent: 0 474 519 B1 (1991-06-01), None
patent: WO95/533244 (1995-05-01), None
Bricaud Hervé Guy
Valcher Fabrice
ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.
Peterson Thomas L.
Scott J. R.
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