IP Library Granted Patent US 10,096,441
Granted Patent B2
US 10,096,441 · App. 15/349,869 · Granted Oct 9, 2018

Electronic apparatus having a switch device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,096,441
App. No.
15/349,869
Granted
Oct 9, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic apparatus having a switch device capable of suppressing collision noise is disclosed. The switch device is equipped with a first fixed contact and a second fixed contact, and a metal dome that serves as a movable contact movable in a direction to be contacted with or separated from the first fixed contact. In a configuration in which the metal dome is moved to provide an electrical contact or a separation between the metal dome and the first fixed contact, whereby the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact are electrically connected therebetween, a conductive layer made of an anisotropic conductive sheet is provided between the first fixed contact and the metal dome.

Claims (28)

1. A switch device comprising:

a first fixed contact separates from a second fixed contact;

an anisotropic conductive sheet directly contacts said first and second fixed contacts, wherein said anisotropic conductive sheet is electrically conductive in only one of its three dimensions; and

a movable contact to be moved to contact said anisotropic conductive sheet in order to provide electrical conduction between said first fixed contact and said second fixed contact, wherein said moveable contact has an outer peripheral edge portion electrically coupled on said first fixed contact.

2. The switch device of claim 1 , wherein said anisotropic conductive sheet is made of a flexible material.

3. The switch device of claim 1 , wherein said anisotropic conductive sheet is made of an insulative resin material.

4. The switch device of claim 1 , wherein said anisotropic conductive sheet contains thin metallic wires aligned within to provide electrical conductivity in only said one dimension.

5. The switch device of claim 1 , wherein said movable contact has a metal dome formed in an elastically deformable dome shape and has an outer peripheral edge portion being arranged electrically in contact with said first fixed contact.

6. The switch device of claim 5 , wherein said metal dome is covered by an insulative film on one surface.

7. The switch device of claim 5 , wherein said metal dome is located opposite a pressing protrusion for pushing said metal dome.

8. The switch device claim 1 , wherein said switch device is located between a housing plate and a base plate of a touch pad.

9. The switch device claim 1 , wherein said first and second fixed contacts having one side directly contacts said anisotropic conductive sheet, and another side directly contacts a substrate.

10. The switch device claim 9 , wherein said substrate is directly attached to a touch pad having a pseudo button area.

11. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a display chassis having a display device; and

a body chassis having a keyboard and a touch pad, wherein said touch pad includes a switch device having

a first fixed contact separates from a second fixed contact;

an anisotropic conductive sheet directly contacts said first and second fixed contacts, wherein said anisotropic conductive sheet is electrically conductive in only one of its three dimensions; and

a movable contact to be moved to contact said anisotropic conductive sheet in order to provide electrical conduction between said first fixed contact and said second fixed contact, wherein said moveable contact has an outer peripheral edge portion electrically coupled on said first fixed contact.

12. The electronic apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said anisotropic conductive sheet is made of a flexible material.

13. The electronic apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said anisotropic conductive sheet is made of an insulative resin material.

14. The electronic apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said anisotropic conductive sheet contains thin metallic wires aligned within to provide electrical conductivity in only said one dimension.

15. The electronic apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said movable contact has a metal dome formed in an elastically deformable dome shape and has an outer peripheral edge portion being arranged electrically in contact with said first fixed contact.

16. The electronic apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said metal dome is covered by an insulative film on one surface.

17. The electronic apparatus of claim 15 , wherein said metal dome is located opposite a pressing protrusion for pushing said metal dome.

18. The electronic apparatus claim 11 , wherein said first and second fixed contacts having one side directly contacts said anisotropic conductive sheet, and another side directly contacts a substrate.

19. The electronic apparatus claim 18 , wherein said substrate is directly attached to said touch pad having a pseudo button area.

20. The electronic apparatus claim 11 , wherein said switch device is located between a housing plate and a base plate of said touch pad.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2019
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 049694/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 11, 2016
From: KITAMURA, MASAHIRO; FUJINO, TAKANE; HORIUCHI, MITSUO
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 040292/0570 →