A sliding-type signal input device, according to the present invention, includes: a housing having an inner space with an opened upper side; a slide button mounted in the inner space; a flexible printed circuit board which is coupled to enclose an inner wall of the inner space and/or an outer sidewall of the slide button, and which is provided with two or more terminal switches; and a conductor which is arranged to enclose the other one from among the inner wall of the inner space and the outer sidewall of the slide button, and which comes in contact with the terminal switches when the slide button is moved in a lateral direction so as to connect the terminal switches. According to the present invention, the slide-type signal input device can generate different types of input signals according to the direction of an operating force for sliding in a lateral direction such that the number of buttons included in the signal input device can be reduced, and it is possible to detect the operating force for sliding in the lateral direction even without comprising a separate pressure sensor, thereby simplifying the configuration, remarkably reducing manufacturing costs, and simultaneously generating two or more input signals.

A movable contact element includes a cover sheet to which a movable contact having a dome shape is bonded and which is stacked on a top surface of a pressure sensitive conductive sheet. The movable contact element is bonded to a top surface of a substrate having a fixed contact formed thereon, thereby forming a switch. Through the construction, it is possible to obtain the movable contact element, which has a simple construction and can perform various operations, and the switch using the same.

An improved handheld electronic device having an improved keyboard provides enhanced usability with fewer keys by enabling the keys to pivot slightly to provide multiple functions to the keys. The improved keyboard may, for example, include internal strips of conductive carbon that are disposed adjacent the keys and are electrically engageable with contacts on a printed circuit board. Specifically, when a key is pressed directly downward it collapses a single dome and connects together a set of primary contacts to provide a first function. When the key is pressed at the side thereof, the key pivots slightly, collapses the dome and connects together the primary contacts, and also engages a carbon strip with a pair of secondary contacts to connect together the secondary contacts, all of which provide a second function. The keyboard may be configured to be of a QWERTY configuration while using only a relatively small number of keys.

A pressure sensor comprises a first and a second terminal for connecting it to a read-out circuit, a resistive conductor and at least two pressure-actuatable switching elements. These at least two switching elements have different turn-on pressures, such that each of the at least two pressure-actuatable switching elements is in a substantially insulating state if an external pressure applied to the pressure sensor lies below the respective turn-on pressure and in a substantially conductive state if the external pressure applied to the pressure sensor lies above the respective turn-on pressure. The at least two pressure-actuatable switching elements and the resistive conductor are connected between the first and second terminal in such a way that an electrical resistance between the first and second terminal decreases when the pressure applied to the pressure sensor goes over one of the turn-on pressures.

A pressure-actuatable switching device for sensing a compressive force acting thereon comprises a first sheet element and a second sheet element, each one of the first and second sheet elements having a side facing towards the other sheet element and a side facing away from the other sheet element, a pressure sensitive polymer layer arranged between the first and second sheet elements and an evaluation circuit. The pressure sensitive polymer layer is electrically insulating when subjected to pressure not exceeding a certain pressure threshold and electrically conducting when subjected to pressure exceeding the pressure threshold. The evaluation circuit is electrically connected to the pressure sensitive polymer layer in such a way that it can evaluate whether the pressure sensitive polymer layer is electrically insulating or electrically conductive. The first sheet element comprises, on the side facing towards the second sheet element, at least one projection, such that a compressing force acting on the pressure-actuatable switching device is transmitted to the pressure sensitive polymer layer at least preponderantly through the at least one projection.

A pressure detection switch includes a membrane switch and a key pad arranged on the membrane switch. The membrane switch includes first and second insulation sheets arranged to face each other. An electric circuit, which includes a first electrode and a voltage-dividing resistor, and a resist film, which protects the electric circuit, are formed on the lower surface of the first insulation sheet and above the second insulation sheet. The resist film has an opening through which the voltage-dividing resistor is exposed from the lower surface of the first insulation sheet.

In a metal dome sheet to be hermetically adhered to a plurality of metal domes disposed at electrodes on a substrate and to other portions of the substrate via an adhesive layer, the present invention provides an adhesive layer removed portion at a portion of the adhesive layer between at least two adjacent metal domes as an air escape portion. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain a thin and light switch panel, which is also excellent in water resistance and dust resistance.

Described herein is a vandal-proof hermetically sealed keyboard (1) having a printed circuit (3), a plurality of keys (4) arranged on the printed circuit (3), and a metal plate (5) for protecting the printed circuit (3), a mat (6) made of rubbery material being set between the circuit (3) and the metal protective plate (5) and being provided with a plurality of mobile shaped portions (9), which each define the keys (4), and which engage slidably in respective guide seats (8) made through the protective plate (5).

Ein Folientastschalter weist eine Basisfolie 1, eine Oberfolie 2 und eine Schaltkammern 4 bildende Abstands­folie 3 auf. Um bei einer Tastenbetätigung gleichzeitig zwei Schaltkreise ohne zusätzlichen Hub schließen zu können, verlaufen in einem zentralen Bereich der Schalt­kammer 4 Leiterendstreifen 6 bis 11 von zwei Schalt­kreisen so parallel nebeneinander, daß die Gesamtbreite der Parallelanordnung wesentlich kleiner als der Durch­messer der Schaltkammer 4 ist. Außerdem sind zwei Kontaktflächen 14, 15 vorgesehen, die jeweils nur die Leiterendstreifen eines der Schaltkreise überdecken.