US3715540A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Touch sensitive electronic switch
Assignee: Magic Dot Inc
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Filing: 1971-11-16
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Granted: 1973-02-06
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Expires: 1991-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A touch sensitive electronic switch which has no moving parts and is actuated by the skin resistance of an operator causing a lowering of D.C. resistance across the switch is disclosed. The electronic switch shown includes two electrodes laterally spaced and insulated from each other. The top surfaces of the electrodes are exposed to the finger of the operator upon the top surface of an insulator mounting the electrodes in a manner that the operator''s finger first touches an outer electrode and then an inner electrode to allow a direct current path to be set up laterally between the outer electrode and the inner electrode to thereby provide a lowering of the D.C. resistance across the switch. The relationship of the top surface of the outer electrode and the top surface of the inner electrode insures that the finger of the operator first touches the outer electrode before contact is made between the finger and the inner electrode to thereby allow the harmless grounding of the usual voltage in the operator''s body.
Inventors
- 👤 W Larson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:59
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/96; H03K17/9645; H03K17/945; H03K2017/9602; H03K2017/9604; H03K2017/9615; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S200/00; Y10S200/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
Electronic switch apparatus operable by the lateral bridging of the switch electrodes by the skin resistance of an operator, comprising in combination: insulating media having a top surface; first electrode means laterally immovably arranged with the insulating media with the top surface of the first electrode extending from and exposed to the finger of an operator upon the top surface of the insulating media; second electrode means laterally immovably arranged with the insulating media and the first electrode laterally around and about, spaced and insulated from the first electrode with the top surface of the second electrode extending from and exposed to the finger of an operator upon the top surface of the insulating media laterally from the first electrode and with the relationship between the level of a top surface of the first electrode and the level of the top surface of the second electrode and the lateral spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode such that P is at least equal to R minus the square root of the quantity (R2 - Y2) where P represents the height differential between the level of the top surface of the first electrode and the level of the top surface of the second electrode, Y represents the lateral spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode, and R represents the curvature of the smallest finger expected to operate the electrical switch, the relationship insuring that the finger of an operator touches the second electrode before contact is made between the finger and the first electrode to thereby allow good contact of the operator''s finger with the second electrode before contact is made with the first electrode and thereby allow the harmless grounding of the voltage in an operator''s body and allow a direct current path to be set up laterally between the first electrode and the second electrode as soon as the finger of the operator touches the first electrode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
322 words
Electronic switch apparatus operable by the lateral bridging of the switch electrodes by the skin resistance of an operator, comprising in combination: insulating media having a top surface; first electrode means laterally immovably arranged with the insulating media with the top surface of the first electrode extending from and exposed to the finger of an operator upon the top surface of the insulating media; second electrode means laterally immovably arranged with the insulating media and the first electrode laterally around and about, spaced and insulated from the first electrode with the top surface of the second electrode extending from and exposed to the finger of an operator upon the top surface of the insulating media laterally from the first electrode and with the relationship between the level of a top surface of the first electrode and the level of the top surface of the second electrode and the lateral spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode such that P is at least equal to R minus the square root of the quantity (R2 - Y2) where P represents the height differential between the level of the top surface of the first electrode and the level of the top surface of the second electrode, Y represents the lateral spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode, and R represents the curvature of the smallest finger expected to operate the electrical switch, the relationship insuring that the finger of an operator touches the second electrode before contact is made between the finger and the first electrode to thereby allow good contact of the operator''s finger with the second electrode before contact is made with the first electrode and thereby allow the harmless grounding of the voltage in an operator''s body and allow a direct current path to be set up laterally between the first electrode and the second electrode as soon as the finger of the operator touches the first electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
322 words
Electronic switch apparatus operable by the lateral bridging of the switch electrodes by the skin resistance of an operator, comprising in combination: insulating media having a top surface; first electrode means laterally immovably arranged with the insulating media with the top surface of the first electrode extending from and exposed to the finger of an operator upon the top surface of the insulating media; second electrode means laterally immovably arranged with the insulating media and the first electrode laterally around and about, spaced and insulated from the first electrode with the top surface of the second electrode extending from and exposed to the finger of an operator upon the top surface of the insulating media laterally from the first electrode and with the relationship between the level of a top surface of the first electrode and the level of the top surface of the second electrode and the lateral spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode such that P is at least equal to R minus the square root of the quantity (R2 - Y2) where P represents the height differential between the level of the top surface of the first electrode and the level of the top surface of the second electrode, Y represents the lateral spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode, and R represents the curvature of the smallest finger expected to operate the electrical switch, the relationship insuring that the finger of an operator touches the second electrode before contact is made between the finger and the first electrode to thereby allow good contact of the operator''s finger with the second electrode before contact is made with the first electrode and thereby allow the harmless grounding of the voltage in an operator''s body and allow a direct current path to be set up laterally between the first electrode and the second electrode as soon as the finger of the operator touches the first electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
322 words
Electronic switch apparatus operable by the lateral bridging of the switch electrodes by the skin resistance of an operator, comprising in combination: insulating media having a top surface; first electrode means laterally immovably arranged with the insulating media with the top surface of the first electrode extending from and exposed to the finger of an operator upon the top surface of the insulating media; second electrode means laterally immovably arranged with the insulating media and the first electrode laterally around and about, spaced and insulated from the first electrode with the top surface of the second electrode extending from and exposed to the finger of an operator upon the top surface of the insulating media laterally from the first electrode and with the relationship between the level of a top surface of the first electrode and the level of the top surface of the second electrode and the lateral spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode such that P is at least equal to R minus the square root of the quantity (R2 - Y2) where P represents the height differential between the level of the top surface of the first electrode and the level of the top surface of the second electrode, Y represents the lateral spacing between the first electrode and the second electrode, and R represents the curvature of the smallest finger expected to operate the electrical switch, the relationship insuring that the finger of an operator touches the second electrode before contact is made between the finger and the first electrode to thereby allow good contact of the operator''s finger with the second electrode before contact is made with the first electrode and thereby allow the harmless grounding of the voltage in an operator''s body and allow a direct current path to be set up laterally between the first electrode and the second electrode as soon as the finger of the operator touches the first electrode.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-06 | 1976-08-07 | 1977-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-06 | 1980-08-07 | 1981-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-06 | 1984-08-07 | 1985-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |