Multi-pole dome switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10460890-B2
Application number	US-201816006790-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2018
Priority date	Jun 13, 2017
Publication date	Oct 29, 2019
Grant date	Oct 29, 2019

Abstract

Implementations of a multi-pole dome switch configured to simultaneously, or nearly simultaneously, close or open two separate circuits are provided. In some implementations, a multi-pole dome switch may comprise a tactile metal dome and a conductive insert that are separated by an insulator. In some implementations, when the dome is depressed, the dome and the conductive insert are configured to simultaneously, or nearly simultaneously, make conductive contact with two traces of a first circuit and two traces of a second circuit, respectively, positioned thereunder on a PCB. In this way, the multi-pole dome switch is able to simultaneously, or nearly simultaneously, close two separate circuits. Succinctly put, in some implementations, the multi-pole dome switch may be configured to act as a double-pole, double-throw switch.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multi-pole dome switch configured to be positioned on a printed circuit board having a first circuit and a second circuit, the multi-pole dome switch comprising:
a conductive dome configured to make conductive contact with a first trace and a second trace of the first circuit when depressed, the conductive dome comprises a centrally located opening that extends therethrough;
a conductive insert, the conductive insert comprises a downwardly extending feature having a contact portion, the downwardly extending feature of the conductive insert is configured to extend through the centrally located opening of the conductive dome and position the contact portion thereof to conductively connect a first trace and a second trace of the second circuit when the conductive dome is depressed; and
an insulator positioned between the conductive dome and the conductive insert, the insulator is configured to prevent contact between the conductive dome and the conductive insert.

2. The multi-pole dome switch of claim 1 , wherein the conductive dome further comprises a downwardly curved contact portion that makes conductive contact with the second trace of the first circuit when the conductive dome is depressed, the downwardly curved contact portion is an annular feature that encircles the centrally located opening of the conductive dome.

3. The multi-pole dome switch of claim 2 , wherein the insulator comprises an opening defined by a downwardly extending lip, the opening of the insulator is in coaxial alignment with the centrally located opening of the conductive dome, the lip of the insulator extends into the centrally located opening of the conducive dome and thereby prevents contact between the downwardly extending feature of the conductive insert and the centrally located opening of the conductive dome.

4. The multi-pole dome switch of claim 1 , wherein the insulator comprises an opening defined by a downwardly extending lip, the opening of the insulator is in coaxial alignment with the centrally located opening of the conductive dome, and the lip of the insulator extends into the centrally located opening of the conducive dome and thereby prevents contact between the downwardly extending feature of the conductive insert and the centrally located opening of the conductive dome.

5. The multi-pole dome switch of claim 1 , further comprising a non-conductive tape that is used to cover, and hold together as an assembly, the conductive dome, the conductive insert, and the insulator.

6. The multi-pole dome switch of claim 1 , wherein the conductive dome further comprises four legs, each of the four legs is configured to be placed into conductive contact with the first trace of the first circuit.

7. The multi-pole dome switch of claim 1 , wherein the insulator further comprises an annular flange that is resting on a top side of the conductive dome, the annular flange of the insulator is larger in diameter than an annular flange of the conductive insert resting thereon.

8. A multi-pole dome switch configured to be positioned on a printed circuit board having a first circuit and a second circuit, the multi-pole dome switch comprising:
a conductive dome configured to make conductive contact with a first trace and a second trace of the first circuit when depressed, the conductive dome comprises a centrally located opening that extends therethrough; and
an insulator having a conductive insert positioned on an underside thereof, the insulator is configured to prevent contact between the conductive insert thereon and the conductive dome, a portion of the insulator extends through the centrally located opening of the conductive dome and positions the conductive insert thereon to conductively connect a first trace and a second trace of the second circuit when the conductive dome is depressed.

9. The multi-pole dome switch of claim 8 , wherein the conductive dome further comprises a downwardly curved contact portion that makes conductive contact with the second trace of the first circuit when the conductive dome is depressed, the downwardly curved contact portion is an annular feature that encircles the centrally located opening of the conductive dome.

10. The multi-pole dome switch of claim 9 , wherein the portion of the insulator that extends through the centrally located opening of the conductive dome includes a lip thereon that is positioned between the conductive insert and an interior edge of the centrally located opening of the conductive dome.

11. The multi-pole dome switch of claim 8 , wherein the portion of the insulator that extends through the centrally located opening of the conductive dome includes a lip thereon that is positioned between the conductive insert and an interior edge of the centrally located opening of the conductive dome.

12. The multi-pole dome switch of claim 8 , further comprising a non-conductive tape that is used to cover, and hold together as an assembly, the conductive dome and the insulator.

13. The multi-pole dome switch of claim 8 , wherein the conductive insert includes an annular ledge extending from a top side thereof about which the insulator is molded.

14. The multi-pole dome switch of claim 8 , wherein the conductive dome further comprises four legs, each of the four legs is configured to be placed into conductive contact with the first trace of the first circuit.

15. A multi-pole dome switch configured to be positioned on a printed circuit board having a first circuit and a second circuit, the multi-pole dome switch comprising:
a first conductive dome configured to make conductive contact with a first trace and a second trace of the first circuit when depressed, the conductive dome comprises a centrally located opening that extends therethrough;
a second conductive dome, the second conductive dome comprises a centrally located downward protrusion, the centrally located downward protrusion is configured to extend through the centrally located opening of the first conductive dome and position a bottom portion thereof to conductively connect a first trace and a second trace of the second circuit when the second conductive dome is depressed; and
an insulator positioned between the first conductive dome and the second conductive dome that is configured to prevent contact between the first conductive dome and the second conductive dome;
wherein the multi-pole dome switch is configured so that depressing the second conductive dome depresses the first conductive dome.

16. The multi-pole dome switch of claim 15 , wherein the first conductive dome further comprises a downwardly curved contact portion that makes conductive contact with the second trace of the first circuit when the first conductive dome is depressed, the downwardly curved contact portion is an annular feature that encircles the centrally located opening of the first conductive dome.

17. The multi-pole dome switch of claim 16 , wherein a portion of the insulator extends into the centrally located opening of the first conductive dome, is positioned between the downward protrusion of the second conductive dome and an interior edge of the centrally located opening of the first conductive dome, and thereby prevents contact between the downward protrusion of the second conductive dome and the centrally located opening of the first conductive dome.

18. The multi-pole dome switch of claim 15 , wherein a portion of the insulator extends into the centrally located opening of the first conductive dome, is positioned between the downward protrusion of the second conductive dom

Assignees

• Zimmer Trent

Inventors

• Zimmer Trent

Classifications

• H01H2215/016

  Collapsing to second stable position · CPC title

• H01H2227/0261

  with an aperture in contact making centre of dome · CPC title

• H01H2225/006

  more then one pole · CPC title

• H01H2203/024

  Convex contact surface · CPC title

• H01H13/52

  the contact returning to its original state immediately upon removal of operating force, e.g. bell-push switch · CPC title