Importance

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Abstract

A magnetically enhanced membrane switch operator is constructed with a rigid ferromagnetic base plate. This base plate is spaced from a rigid ferromagnetic cover plate, which has an opening through it. A resilient flexible membrane sheet is suspended between the base plate and the cover plate, and is located in close proximity to the cover plate. The sheet carries a circular magnetic disk which, in the rest condition operation of the switch operator, is adhered by magnetic attraction to the cover plate. To operate the switch, sufficient force to overcome the magnetic attraction between the magnet and the cover plate, along with the force required to distort the resilient membrane sheet, is used to move the sheet toward the base plate. When the membrane sheet is moved into close proximity to the base plate, magnetic attraction between the base plate and the magnet facilitates closure of the switch at the end of its travel. The force of attraction between the magnet and the base plate is less than the resilient return force of the flexible membrane; so that when pressure on the membrane through the opening in the cover plate is removed, the return force of the membrane causes the magnet and the resilient flexible membrane sheet to be returned to the original standby position where the magnet is attracted to the rigid cover plate.

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First Claim