IP Library Granted Patent US 8,115,120
Granted Patent B2
US 8,115,120 · App. 12/179,372 · Granted Feb 14, 2012

Electrical switch with multiple switching channels

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,115,120
App. No.
12/179,372
Granted
Feb 14, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical switch with multiple switching channels may include a frame, a panel with which a pointing element comes into contact. The electrical switch may have a location element which locates the point of contact of the pointing element on the panel which may include a plurality of switching elements. The electrical switch may have a detection element which detects at least one control action independent of the position of the point of contact with the panel. The electrical switch may have an intermediate plate on which the panel acts in order to cause the change in state of the switching elements. The intermediate plate may be configured to cause the change in state of switching elements and detection element. The plate can be at least in part deformed in order to actuate the detection element after changing the state of the switching elements.

Claims (42)

1. An electrical switch with multiple switching channels comprises:

a support frame;

a panel which is mounted in a mobile manner relative to the frame and which comprises a face with which a pointing element is configured to come into contact;

an element which determines a point of contact of the pointing element on the face of the panel, comprising a plurality of electrical switching elements, each of which is associated with a switching channel, which are configured to change state selectively, depending on a position of the point of contact, when the pointing element comes into contact with the face of the panel;

a detection element which detects at least one control action which is configured to establish an associated switching channel when a pressing force with a value greater than or equal to a threshold value is exerted on the face of the panel by the pointing element, the switching channel being independent of the position of the point of contact with the face of the panel; and

an intermediate plate that is arranged between the panel and the frame, and on which the panel acts in order to cause a change in state of the switching elements,

wherein the intermediate plate is configured to cause the change in state of switching elements and is configured to act on the detection element under the at least one control action of the panel, and in that the intermediate plate can be at least in part deformed in order to actuate the detection element of the at least one control action after changing the state of the switching elements,

wherein the detection element is arranged at a center of the panel and the switching elements are distributed around the detection element, and in that the intermediate plate comprises a central portion for actuating the detection element and comprises radial portions extending radially outwards from the central portion, wherein an outer radial end of each radial portion is configured to cause a change in state of the switching element which is associated with the radial portion, and

wherein the central portion of the intermediate plate comprises a pusher made of an elastically deformable material, which is connected to inner ends of the radial portions.

2. The switch of claim 1 wherein the intermediate plate is configured to deform such that each radial portion is configured to rock entirely about its inner radial end connecting it with the central portion of the intermediate plate in order to change a state of the associated switching element and such that each radial portion is configured to rock about its outer radial end to actuate the detection element.

3. The switch of claim 1 wherein the outer radial end of each radial portion comprises a boss which projects relative to the radial portion, and which is configured to cooperate with the associated switching element.

4. The switch of claim 3 wherein the boss is configured to press on the frame such that the radial portion rocks about the boss to actuate the detection element.

5. The switch of claim 1 wherein the panel comprises a plurality of lower fingers, each of which is associated with a radial portion of the intermediate plate, which extends from an opposite face of the panel, with a free end of the finger being configured to press on the associated radial portion.

6. The switch of claim 5 wherein each lower finger is positioned radially such that it presses on the associated radial portion at a point of contact situated radially between the outer radial end and an inner radial end of a connection.

7. The switch of claim 1 wherein the intermediate plate is made in one piece by cutting and bending an elastically deformable metal plate.

8. The switch of claim 1 wherein the detection element comprises a single element forming a releasable stop for the central portion of the intermediate plate and which is configured to change state when the at least one control action is carried out on the panel.

9. The switch of claim 1 , further comprising an elastic element for returning the panel to a high rest position.

10. The switch of claim 1 wherein:

each switching element comprises two electrical contacts which are carried by the frame and which are configured to be electrically connected by an associated metal tongue under the at least one control action of the panel, and

the metal tongue is elastically deformable in order to connect the electrical contacts.

11. The switch of claim 10 wherein each metal tongue is part of a single metal piece comprising a central ring connected to an electrical contact common to all the switching elements.

12. The switch of claim 10 wherein the outer radial end of each radial portion of the intermediate plate is configured to press on an associated tongue in order to actuate the switching element.

13. The switch of claim 11 , further comprising an intermediate protection film arranged between the intermediate plate and the metal piece.

14. An electrical switch with multiple switching channels comprises:

a support frame;

a panel which is mounted in a mobile manner relative to the frame and which comprises a face with which a pointing element is configured to come into contact;

an element which determines a point of contact of the pointing element on the face of the panel, comprising a plurality of electrical switching elements, each of which is associated with a switching channel, which are configured to change state selectively, depending on a position of the point of contact, when the pointing element comes into contact with the face of the panel;

a detection element which detects at least one control action which is configured to establish an associated switching channel when a pressing force with a value greater than or equal to a threshold value is exerted on the face of the panel by the pointing element, the switching channel being independent of the position of the point of contact with the face of the panel, and wherein the detection element which detects the at least one control action is arranged at a center of the panel and the switching elements are distributed around the detection element; and

an intermediate plate that is arranged between the panel and the frame, and on which the panel acts in order to cause a change in state of the switching elements,

wherein the intermediate plate is configured to cause the change in state of switching elements and is configured to act on the detection element under the at least one control action of the panel, and in that the intermediate plate can be at least in part deformed in order to actuate the detection element of the at least one control action after changing the state of the switching elements,

wherein the intermediate plate comprises a central portion for actuating the detection element and radial portions extending radially outwards from the central portion wherein an outer radial end of each radial portion is configured to cause a change in state of the switching element which is associated with the radial portion,

wherein the intermediate plate is configured to deform such that each radial portion is configured to rock entirely about its inner radial end connecting it with the central portion of the intermediate plate in order to change a state of the associated switching element and such that each radial portion is configured to rock about its outer radial end to actuate the detection element, and wherein the outer radial end of each radial portion comprises a boss which projects relative to the radial portion, and which is configured to cooperate with the associated switching element, and

wherein the central portion of the intermediate plate comprises a pusher made of an elastically deformable material, which is connected to inner ends of the radial portions.

15. An electrical switch with multiple switching channels comprises:

a support frame;

a panel which is mounted in a mobile manner relative to the frame and which comprises a face with which a pointing element is configured to come into contact, wherein the panel comprises a plurality of lower fingers, each of which is associated with a radial portion of the intermediate plate, which extends from an opposite face of the panel, with a free end of the finger being configured to press on the associated radial portion;

an element which determines a point of contact of the pointing element on the face of the panel, comprising a plurality of electrical switching elements, each of which is associated with a switching channel, which are configured to change state selectively, depending on a position of the point of contact, when the pointing element comes into contact with the face of the panel;

a detection element which detects at least one control action which is configured to establish an associated switching channel when a pressing force with a value greater than or equal to a threshold value is exerted on the face of the panel by the pointing element, the switching channel being independent of the position of the point of contact with the face of the panel, and wherein the detection element which detects the at least one control action is arranged at a center of the panel and the switching elements are distributed around the detection element; and

the intermediate plate that is arranged between the panel and the frame, and on which the panel acts in order to cause a change in state of the switching elements, wherein the intermediate plate is configured to cause the change in state of switching elements and is configured to act on the detection element under the at least one control action of the panel, and in that the intermediate plate can be at least in part deformed in order to actuate the detection element of the at least one control action after changing the state of the switching elements,

wherein the intermediate plate comprises a central portion for actuating the detection element, and radial portions extending radially outwards from the central portion, wherein an outer radial end of each radial portion is configured to cause a change in state of the switching element which is associated with the radial portion,

wherein the intermediate plate is configured to deform such that each radial portion is configured to rock entirely about its inner radial end connecting it with the central portion of the intermediate plate in order to change a state of the associated switching element and such that each radial portion is configured to rock about its outer radial end to actuate the detection element, and

wherein the central portion of the intermediate plate comprises a pusher made of an elastically deformable material, which is connected to inner ends of the radial portions.

Assignments (10)
MERGER Recorded Nov 27, 2024
From: C&K HOLDINGS, LLC
To: BEIT HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 069418/0952 →
MERGER Recorded Nov 27, 2024
From: BEIT HOLDINGS, LLC
To: LITTELFUSE INTERNATIONAL HOLDING, LLC
Reel/Frame 069418/0962 →
MERGER Recorded Aug 7, 2024
From: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: C&K HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 068209/0727 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 22, 2017
From: LBC CREDIT PARTNERS III, L.P.
To: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 043955/0502 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2014
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH (FORMERLY KNOWN AS CREDIT SUISSE), AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; COACTIVE US HOLDINGS, INC.; C & K HOLDINGS, INC.; C & K COMPONENTS, INC.; LJ KEYPAD HOLDING, INC.; C&K COMPONENTS SAS; LJ SWITCH HOLDINGS 1, LLC; LJ SWITCH HOLDINGS 2, LLC; DELTATECH CONTROLS USA, LLC; LJ SWITCH HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 034181/0582 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2014
From: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: LBC CREDIT PARTNERS III, L.P., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 034172/0591 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 27, 2014
From: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC (F/K/A DELTATECH CONTROLS, INC.); C&K COMPONENTS SAS; C&K COMPONENTS, INC.
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 033645/0621 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 24, 2013
From: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC; DELTATECH CONTROLS USA, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 030489/0115 →
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION Recorded Apr 18, 2012
From: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 028069/0887 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2008
From: VILLAIN, JEAN-CHRISTOPHE; COUR, MICHEL
To: COACTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 021288/0425 →