Individual acoustic wave switch
An individual acoustic wave switch includes a body with a top section having an acoustic wave cavity formed therein and a base section extending downwardly from the top section. An acoustic wave transducer is mounted adjacent to a surface of the acoustic wave cavity opposite the touch surface thereof so as to generate an acoustic wave in the acoustic wave cavity and to pick up a signal representing the acoustic wave energy in the cavity. The acoustic wave switch is readily mounted in an aperture of a substrate through which the base of the switch extends.
1. An acoustic wave switch comprising:
a body with a top section having an acoustic wave cavity having mass formed therein with a touch surface for actuating the switch, the body having a base section extending downwardly from the top section and the top section having a flange extending beyond the base section; and
an acoustic wave transducer mounted on the body adjacent a surface of the acoustic wave cavity opposite the touch surface thereof to generate an acoustic wave in the acoustic wave cavity.
2. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein the base section is hollow and the acoustic wave transducer is mounted in the base section.
3. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein the acoustic wave transducer is mounted directly on the surface of the acoustic wave cavity opposite the touch surface.
4. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein the acoustic wave transducer is an electromagnetic acoustic transducer.
5. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein the acoustic wave cavity includes a centrally located raised area.
6. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 1 , wherein the acoustic wave cavity includes a dome surface.
7. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 6 , wherein the flange includes a thickness greater than the peak thickness of the dome.
8. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 6 , wherein the top surface includes an area of reduced thickness between the dome surface and the flange.
9. An acoustic wave switch comprising:
a body having a base section with a thread on at least a portion of an outer surface thereof and a top section with a flange extending beyond the base section and an acoustic wave cavity having mass and a touch surface for actuating the switch formed in the top section; and
an acoustic wave transducer adjacent a surface of the acoustic wave cavity opposite the touch surface, the transducer generating an acoustic wave in the cavity.
10. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 9 , wherein the acoustic wave transducer is mounted directly on the surface of the acoustic wave cavity opposite the touch surface.
11. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 9 , wherein the acoustic wave transducer is an electromagnetic acoustic transducer.
12. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 9 , wherein the acoustic wave cavity includes a centrally located raised area.
13. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 9 , wherein the acoustic wave cavity includes a dome surface.
14. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 13 , wherein the flange includes a thickness greater than the peak thickness of the dome.
15. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 13 , wherein the top surface includes an area of reduced thickness between the dome surface and the flange.
16. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 9 , wherein the flange is tapered.
17. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 9 , wherein the base section includes a portion with a hexagonal outer surface, the hexagonal portion being disposed below the threaded portion.
18. An acoustic wave switch comprising:
a body having a hollow base section with a thread on at least a portion of an outer surface thereof, the hollow base section extending downwardly from a top section with a flange extending beyond the base section and an acoustic wave cavity having mass and a touch surface for actuating the switch being formed in the top section; and
an acoustic wave transducer mounted in the hollow base section adjacent a surface of the acoustic wave cavity opposite the touch surface to generate an acoustic wave in the acoustic wave cavity.
19. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 18 , wherein the acoustic wave transducer is mounted directly on the surface of the acoustic wave cavity opposite the touch surface.
20. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 18 , wherein the acoustic wave transducer is an electromagnetic acoustic transducer.
21. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 18 , wherein the acoustic wave cavity includes a centrally located raised area.
22. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 18 , wherein the acoustic wave cavity includes a dome surface.
23. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 22 , wherein the flange includes a thickness greater than the peak thickness of the dome.
24. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 22 , wherein the top surface includes an area of reduced thickness between the dome surface and the flange.
25. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 18 , wherein the flange is tapered.
26. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 18 , wherein the base section includes a portion with a hexagonal outer surface, the hexagonal portion being disposed below the threaded portion.
27. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 18 , wherein the flange includes an aperture therein to accommodate an O-ring.
28. An acoustic wave switch comprising:
a body having a base section with a thread on at least a portion of an outer surface thereof and a top section having an acoustic wave cavity having mass formed therein with a touch surface for actuating the switch; and
an acoustic wave transducer adjacent a surface of the acoustic wave cavity opposite the touch surface, the transducer generating an acoustic wave in the cavity.
29. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 28 , wherein the acoustic wave transducer is mounted directly on the surface of the acoustic wave cavity opposite the touch surface.
30. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 28 , wherein the acoustic wave transducer is an electromagnetic acoustic transducer.
31. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 28 , wherein the acoustic wave cavity includes a dome surface.
32. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 28 , wherein the base section includes a portion with a hexagonal outer surface, the hexagonal portion being disposed below the threaded portion.
33. An acoustic wave switch as recited in claim 28 , wherein the base section is hollow and the acoustic wave transducer is mounted in the base section.