Multiple electrical switch arrangement

CROSS-REFERENCE

Applicant claims priority from French patent application 0206608, filed May 30, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are applications that require multiple switches that can be individually operated by manipulation of a single actuator. One example is in a portable telephone with a screen that displays telephone numbers, and switches that allow the numbers to scroll up or down. When the desired name and telephone number are displayed, a person operates a validation switch to initiate a call. Further advances allow a user to select additional functions by incorporating additional switches that can be operated by the same actuator. The entire switch arrangement may lie in a body having a width and length of 6 millimeters each.

The above types of switch arrangements with three or five switches can be implemented by an actuator that tilts about two horizontal axes to close one of four select switches, and that can be depressed to close a fifth validation switch. One arrangement involves mounting four pairs of switch elements on a frame with one element of each pair deflected against the other element of the pair when the actuator is tilted in a particular direction. This involves eight contacts, in addition to two contacts for the validation switch. The presence of ten contacts that each must be connected to a trace on the circuit board on which the switch lies, results in complication and extra expense, as well as extra space required on the circuit board. In portable telephones, space is at a premium, and a reduction in the required space taken by the switch arrangement would be of value.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrical switch arrangement is provided with multiple switches, especially with three or five switches, in which a single validation switch is operated by depressing an actuator along a vertical axis, and one of a plurality of selector switches is operated by tilting the actuator about a selected horizontal axis. The switch arrangement includes a center tripper of the dome type, with a periphery engaged with an outer contact and a center that can be snapped down by depressing the actuator. The arrangement also includes a selection tripper lying on top of the center tripper and having radiating branches. The actuator has feet that each lies over one of the branches.

When the actuator is tilted, one of its feet presses a corresponding selection tripper branch against a selection contact. Current then flows between the selection contact, through the selection tripper, and through the center tripper to the periphery of the center tripper that continually engages an outer contact. In an arrangement with five switches, only six contact tails are required to be soldered to traces on a circuit board.

The actuator includes a socket that forms the feet that depress the selection tripper branches and that forms a vertical passage that slideably receives a pusher. The pusher can be separately depressed to reliably operate the validation switch, without depressing the socket whose feet operate the selection switches.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when used in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a top isometric view of a switch arrangement with five switches, of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2

is an exploded isometric view showing the components of the switch of FIG.

1

.

FIG. 3

is a side elevation view of the switch of FIG.

1

.

FIG. 4

is a plan view of the switch of FIG.

3

.

FIG. 5

is a sectional view taken along line

5

—

5

of FIG.

4

.

FIG. 6

is a sectional view taken along line

6

—

6

of FIG.

4

.

FIG. 7

is a sectional view similar to that of

FIG. 6

, but with the actuator including a handling button.

FIG. 8

is an isometric view of a switch of a second embodiment of the invention wherein the actuator is a single member and the cover is formed by two pieces.

FIG. 9

is an exploded isometric view of the switch of FIG.

8

.

FIG. 10

is a plan view of the switch of FIG.

8

.

FIG. 11

is a sectional view taken on line

11

—

11

of FIG.

10

.

FIG. 12

is another side sectional view of FIG.

10

.

FIG. 13

is a bottom view of the switch of FIG.

8

.

FIG. 14

is a bottom sectional view taken on line

14

—

14

of FIG.

12

.

FIG. 15

is a bottom view of the upper plate

24

of

FIG. 11

, and also showing the selection tripper.

FIG. 16

is a bottom isometric view of a switch arrangement of another embodiment of the invention wherein the contact tails that connect to a circuit board are in the form of flexible beams.

FIG. 17

is a side elevation view of the switch arrangement of FIG.

16

.

FIG. 18

is a side elevation view of the switch arrangement of FIG.

17

.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

1. Limited Description

As shown in

FIG. 1

, a switch arrangement

20

of the present invention includes a frame with a body

22

of molded plastic and a cover

24

which may be formed of sheet metal. An actuator

31

, which includes a pusher

32

and a socket

34

, can be manipulated to close any one or more of five electrical switches. A validation switch is closed when the pusher is depressed along a vertical axis

33

. One of four selection switches are closed when the pusher is tilted towards a selected one of four corners of the body. The five switches have tails

58

in two groups that project from opposite sides of the base, and that can be soldered to traces on a circuit board

55

(FIG.

3

). For use in a portable telephone, the body may have a horizontal width and length of 6 mm each.

FIG. 2

shows that the body

22

has an upwardly-opening cavity

26

with a cavity bottom wall

42

(which may not be flat and which may have steps). A center contact

46

lies on the bottom wall on the largely vertical axis

33

. An outer contact

44

is radially spaced from the center contact. Four select contacts

56

each lies in one of four recesses

54

in the body. A snap center tripper

28

which is formed of sheet metal, includes two identical tripper elements

28

A,

28

B that lie on one another and in a center portion of the cavity. The center tripper

28

has a peripheral portion

68

that lies on the outer contact

44

, and has a middle portion

70

that lies over the center contact

46

. When the middle portion

70

is depressed beyond a certain height, its resistance to further depression suddenly decreases and it snaps down against the center contact

46

. This closes a validation switch, by allowing current to flow between the center and outer contacts

46

,

44

through the conductive center tripper

28

.

A select tripper

72

, which includes two sheet metal element

72

A,

72

B that lie on one another, is used to close a selected one of four select switches. The select tripper

72

has four branches

78

that project in four horizontal and perpendicular directions from a middle portion

74

. It is noted that the middle portion has an upwardly-projecting dimple

76

.

The actuator

31

of

FIG. 2

includes a pusher

32

and a socket

34

. The socket

34

has a largely vertical passage

92

and a square section

94

of the pusher is slideably disposed within the vertical passage. When the pusher

32

is depressed, it depresses the middle portion

74

of the select tripper

72

, which depresses the middle portion

70

of the center tripper

28

, thereby causing the center tripper middle portion

70

to snap down against the center contact

46

on the bottom of the cavity

26

.

The socket

34

has four feet

88

that are radially (with respect to axis

33

). spaced from the vertical passage

92

. The feet lie at the ends of extensions

82

in the form of arms and the feet have lower surfaces

90

.

The cover

24

in

FIG. 2

is formed of sheet metal and has holes

66

that receive corresponding projections on the upper face

27

of the base. The cover has a downwardly-concave and preferably spherical surface portion

106

that can abut a corresponding spherical surface portion

104

on the socket, to hold down the socket. The cover has a plurality of cut-outs

110

through which the extensions

82

on the socket can project.

FIG. 5

shows the switch arrangement

20

in its initial position, wherein none of the five switches is closed. To control these switches, a person grasps the pusher

32

. To close the single verification switch, the person presses down on the pusher. This causes a knob, shown in

FIG. 6

at

116

, to depress the centers of the two trippers

28

,

72

(

FIG. 5

) so the bottom of the tripper

28

engages the center contact

46

.

To close one of the four select switches, a person who is grasping the pusher

32

of

FIG. 5

, tilts the pusher about a horizontal axis passing through a point

91

which is at the center of an imaginary sphere. This causes a corresponding one of the feet on arms

82

to depress a corresponding one of the select tripper branches

78

to move it down against a selected one of the four select contacts

56

. Each of the branches

78

extends at a generally upward incline from the middle portion at dimple

74

of the select tripper. With the select tripper having a concave upper surface, a properly constructed select tripper has its branch

78

snapped down against the select contact

56

. The actuator

31

can be tilted in the opposite direction to cause the opposite branch of the select tripper to snap down against the opposite select contact

56

.

When a select switch is closed, by a branch

78

snapping down against a corresponding select contact

56

, current can flow from the select contact

56

through the select tripper

72

, through the center tripper

28

, to the outer contact

44

. The center tripper

28

is slightly deformed in the initial position, to promote low resistance contact between the two trippers and avoid “rattling”. The two trippers each have a dimple, with one dimple nested in the other, to provide even better contact. Since the center tripper peripheral portion

68

is in constant engagement with the outer contact

44

, current can flow between the select contact

56

and through the two trippers to the outer contact

44

.

The outer contact

44

that is continually engaged by the periphery of the center tripper

28

, constitutes a common terminal for all five switches. That is, whenever one of the five switches is closed, current flows from or to the center contact

46

(when the verification switch is closed) or from one of the four select contacts

56

, and through the common contact formed by the outer contact

44

. This reduces the number of tails, each leading from one of the five contacts. The tails include six tails extending from center and outer contacts

46

,

44

and from the four select contacts

56

, that must be soldered to traces on the circuit board. An alternative would be to provide two tails for each of the five switches, which would result in ten tails to be soldered to the circuit board, instead of six. A reduction in the number of tails reduces cost and conserves the limited available space on the circuit board.

FIG. 4

shows that the four select feet

88

lie near the corners of the square frame formed by the body and cover

24

. The actuator

31

can pivot about two perpendicular horizontal axes, including a first axis B—B and a second axis B′—B′ to tilt in any one of the four directions about the two axes to close a selected one of the four select switches.

FIG. 2

shows that the select tripper

72

(comprising two elements) has scallop cutouts that lie against cavity walls

48

, and that the branches

78

fit moderately closely within the body recesses

54

. This helps locate the selection tripper

72

to assure that the branches are always over the corresponding select contacts

56

.

2. Detailed Description

In the following description, similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The electrical switch

20

shown in

FIGS. 1

to

5

consists of a frame in two parts, a lower part

22

, made in the form of a body, or base molded in plastic, and a cover or upper part

24

which, in the first embodiment, is a closure plate made of cut, folded and pressed sheet metal.

The base

22

is the element of the switch arrangement

20

which carries the various fixed contacts of the switches, or switching channels, and it defines a cavity

26

which is open in the upper horizontal face

27

of the base.

The cavity

26

accommodates the other constituent components of the switch arrangement which are superimposed vertically. The components comprise a lower center or validation tripper dome

28

, of generally known design, an intermediate select tripper

30

incorporating the tripper elements, in this case in the form of a star with four branches, and a common actuator for the various switching channels of the switch.

Here, the common actuator is made in two pieces, one

32

of which is the main body of the actuator in the form of a vertical pusher and the other

34

of which accommodates the pusher

32

by sliding and comprises the four side arms

82

with feet

88

for controlling the switches or selection channels.

The components

28

to

34

are accommodated in the cavity

26

which is closed by the upper closure plate

24

which keeps the components inside the switch. The base

22

is of square parallelepiped shape closed at the bottom by its lower horizontal wall

36

which may, for example, rest on a printed circuit board (not shown) by its lower face

38

. The inner cavity

26

is defined by the lower wall

36

and by the side wall

40

.

The top

42

of the insulative base lower wall

36

is in this case a horizontal flat bottom of the cavity which accommodates various fixed contacts, each one of which is substantially flush, by means of its upper conducting face, with the upper face of the bottom

42

made of an insulating material.

Thus, the cavity bottom

42

comprises a first fixed outer contact

44

of annular shape which, according to the teachings of the invention, is the fixed contact common to the various switching channels of the switch

20

.

The annular contact

44

is centered on the vertical axis X—X which forms the general axis of symmetry of the switch and especially of the base

22

.

The cavity bottom

42

also comprises a fixed validation contact

46

which is made in the form of a fixed central pad centered on the axis X—X.

Apart from the bottom

42

, the cavity

26

is defined laterally by four convex cylindrical surface portions

48

having a vertical axis centered on the axis X—X and which extend substantially vertically in line with the external periphery of the common annular fixed contact

44

.

Between each pair of adjacent cylindrical surfaces

48

, the cavity

26

comprises a recess

54

of radial orientation which is defined by two substantially parallel walls

52

of radial orientation and by a radial transverse end wall of vertical orientation.

In the top view, the cavity

26

has the general shape of a star with four branches distributed angularly at 90° and each recess

54

of which extends in the direction of a corner of the base

22

.

In the bottom of each recess

54

, the bottom

42

of the cavity holds a fixed selection contact

56

.

The bottom

42

thus supports six fixed contacts, each one of which is electrically connected to the outside by a corresponding connection tail belonging to the set of six connection tails

58

which extend outwards from two opposed side faces

60

and

62

of the base.

In the examples shown in the figures, the base

22

, with its fixed contacts, is made according to a conventional L

5

technique of overmolding the body

22

made of an insulating material around the fixed contacts.

To close the cavity by means of the plate

24

, the upper face

27

of the body

22

comprises a set of lugs

64

(

FIG. 5

) which are accommodated through corresponding holes

66

in the plate

24

and which are hot crimped.

The central tripper

28

(

FIG. 2

) of the validation switch is in this case made in two identical superimposed pieces, each one of which is a dome in the general shape of a spherical cap with its convexity oriented upwards.

The tripper

28

(

FIG. 5

) is made from a conducting material and permanently rests, by means of its lower annular edge

68

, on the common fixed annular contact

44

.

In the first embodiment, the top central region

70

(

FIG. 5

) is slightly curved with a radius less than that of the main part of the dome or tripper

28

.

According to a known design, the dome

28

is a resiliently deformable element, which is shown in its rest state in the figures. The dome is capable of being deformed by applying a generally vertical force to it in its central region

70

in order to cause a sudden change in state in which its central region or part

70

comes into contact with the fixed validation contact

46

. This establishes an electrical link between the two fixed contacts

44

and

46

or validation switching channel.

According to the teachings of the invention, each of the four similar selection switching channels consists of the common annular fixed contact

44

and of an associated fixed selection contact

56

.

A selection switching thus assumes the establishment of an indirect electrical link between the two fixed contacts

56

and

44

, through the central validation dome

28

which is itself always in electrical contact with the common annular contact

44

.

To this end, and according to the teachings of the invention, a common select tripper

30

is provided, in this case made in two identical superimposed pieces. The select tripper brings together four selection trippers formed by branches

72

, each one of which includes a lateral branch of overall radial orientation which extends outwards from a central portion

74

in the general shape of a spherical cap whose concavity is oriented vertically upwards.

The central portion

74

comprises at its center a curved region of smaller diameter with its convexity oriented upwards. The curved small region is provided in order to cooperate with the central region

70

of the central tripper, or validation member

28

in order to center the selection validation star

30

with respect to the central validation tripper member

28

. The tripper member

28

is itself held in a centered position with respect to the common annular fixed contact

44

in so far as, as will be explained herein below, the selection validation star tripper

30

is itself overall centered in the housing with respect to the axis X—X of the switch.

As can especially be seen in

FIG. 5

, each selection validation branch

72

extends radially outwards and upwards from the central portion

74

in the form of a spherical cap.

Each free end of a branch

72

forms a selection contact edge, in the shape of a circular arc, which is capable, as will be explained hereinbelow, of coming into electrical contact with a fixed selection contact

56

arranged vertically in line with the associated branch

72

below the latter, in the bottom

42

of the base

22

.

Each branch

78

is shaped and bent so as to form a tripper with sudden actuation, in the same way as the central dome

28

, when urging the branch

78

close to its folded free end section

80

, by means an associated side selection arm

82

of the single actuator.

To this end, as can be seen in the figures, the socket

34

of the actuator comprises a central part

84

in the general shape of a socket as defined by a side wall

86

, from which each arm

82

extends radially outwards.

Near its free external radial end, each arm

4

comprises a vertical foot

88

, oriented downwards, whose inner end surface

90

cooperates with the upper face of the bend

80

of the associated side selection branch in order to act on the latter.

The socket

84

defines on the inside a vertical passage

92

of square section which is complementary to the external square section

94

of the pusher

32

which is thus mounted so that it can slide vertically inside the socket

84

.

At its horizontal lower end

96

, the pusher

32

comprises four radial locking pads

98

, each one of which is capable of being accommodated in a complementary notch

100

formed in the lower face

102

of a part

84

of socket

34

. This limits the upward vertical sliding movements of the pusher

32

, in so far as the pads

98

come into abutment against the upper vertical wall of the notches

100

. The pusher

94

is thus free to slide vertically downwards, from the position in

FIGS. 5 and 6

, from its maximum high position shown in these figures.

The socket

34

is extended upwards by a spherical cap section

104

(

FIG. 6

) whose upper convex face is oriented upwards and which is provided in order to cooperate with the facing complementary concave inner face

106

of the central section

108

. The inner face

106

of is in the shape of a truncated spherical cap of the upper closure plate

24

so as to form a ball-joint articulation of the socket

34

with respect to the closure plate

24

, and therefore with respect to the insulating base

22

.

As will be explained hereinbelow, the common actuator consisting of the pusher

32

and the socket

34

with its side arms

82

, is capable of tilting around two tilting axes B—B and B′—B′ (

FIG. 4

) which are perpendicular to each other and intersect at a point located on the axis X—X. These two tilting axes of course are aligned with the pairs of corresponding side selection arms

82

as can be seen in FIG.

4

.

Finally, as can be seen in

FIGS. 2 and 5

, the cover, or upper plate

24

comprises four radially oriented cutouts

110

aligned with the arms

82

which allow the latter to pass slightly outside the bottom of the switch.

Each cutout

110

is limited radially outwards by a transverse edge

112

which is extended vertically downwards by a vertical pad

114

for positioning, in the high position, the free end

78

-

80

of the associated selection tripper branch

72

. The branch bears, by means of its upper face, on the lower free end facing the pad

114

.

Thus, in the rest position, each selection tripper branch

72

(

FIG. 5

) bears vertically upwards against the free end of an associated pad

114

which it will “leave” during selection actuation for the purpose of switching the associated selection channel to this branch.

The resilient stack, which is mounted so that it is slightly compressed vertically, consisting of the central validation dome

28

and of the pieces

30

, ensures the upward resilient return of the socket

34

with its convex spherical surface

104

bearing axially against the concave surface

106

of the upper closure plate

24

.

We will now describe the operating mode of the switch

20

according to the first embodiment that has just been described.

In this embodiment, it is possible for the actuating pusher

32

to be moved vertically, parallel to its general axis, independently of the socket piece

34

with its selection arms

82

.

It is thus possible, starting from the high rest position that is illustrated in

FIGS. 5 and 6

, to initiate only a single switching operation by pressing vertically downwards on the pusher, which then slide downwards inside the socket

34

.

By means of this vertical downwards travel, the central knob

116

, which projects vertically downwards below the lower horizontal face

118

of the pusher

32

, then presses on the top

76

of the central tripper validation member

28

until initiating the validation operation with, in addition, the perception of a tactile sensation, or effect, by the user. The cooperation of the knob

116

with a central raised region

70

of the central validation dome

28

makes the sudden “inversion”, or change of state, of the central dome easier.

During the vertical downwards travel of the central part of the validation dome

28

, the central portion

74

-

76

of the selection tripper piece

30

also moves simultaneously downwards. However, there is no change in the state of the selection tripper branches

72

, that is to say that there is no unwanted switching of any selection channel.

When the user desires to activate a selection channel, he only has to tilt the whole actuator in two parts

32

-

34

around one of the two tilting axes B—B, B′—B′ and in the clockwise or anticlockwise direction which corresponds to the desired selection channel.

This tilting is obtained by acting substantially on the high part of the pusher

32

, which projects vertically outside the switch

20

so that the lower socket

84

is simultaneously tilted sideways with the corresponding selection arm

82

which tilts downwards by pressing by its lower free end

88

,

90

, on the free facing end

80

of the associated selection branch

72

.

This tilting movement initiates the sudden change in state of the branch

72

which is pressed vertically. Its free end edge

78

establishes an electrical contact with the associated fixed selection contact

56

, establishing an electrical link between this contact

50

and the common fixed contact

44

, through the central conducting dome

28

.

During this tilting movement, the branch which is diametrically opposite that which establishes the selection switching remains vertically pressing upwards against the associated pad

114

of the closure plate

24

and no action takes place on the central validation dome. When the user releases his lateral or transverse force from the top part of the pusher

32

, the actuator

31

returns to its rest position shown in the figures. Such return is the effect of the resilient return force exerted by the branch

72

which is acted on, and by the other two branches offset by 90°. The other branches have flexed slightly during tilting, but with less travel given the proximity of the tilting axes B—B, B′—B′ to the point of contact between the lower ends

90

of the two aligned selection arms

82

which cooperate with the upper facing portions of the free ends

80

of the two aligned selection branches.

In the tilted selection position, and given the independence of the central pusher

32

with respect to the actuating piece

34

which carries the arms

82

, it is possible for the user then to initiate validation switching by acting on the pusher. The pusher then initiates, as described above, a change in state of the central validation dome

28

, under the same conditions as those described above and this being so although the movement axis of the pusher

32

is then inclined with respect to the vertical.

To handle the actuator in two parts

32

,

34

, an operating button

120

is generally provided, an exemplary embodiment of which is shown in FIG.

7

.

The button comprises a body

122

which comprises a vertical central pin or finger

124

which is mounted tightly inside a complementary central hole

126

formed in the body of the pusher

32

.

The angular orientation of the button

120

with respect to the switch is obtained by means of a polarization flap

128

formed in a corner of the pusher

32

.

The vertical position of the button

120

with respect to the pusher

32

is obtained by the abutment of its lower face

130

onto the top

132

of the notch defining the flap

128

.

Moreover, axial clearances are provided between the lower end

134

of the pin

124

and the bottom

136

of the hole

126

, and between the upper face

138

of the pusher

32

and the bottom

140

of the hole

142

which accommodates the upper end of the pusher

32

.

We will now describe the second embodiment illustrated in

FIGS. 8

to

14

through comparison and contrast with that which has just been described with reference to the first embodiment.

In the first embodiment, the tails, or connection pins

58

are bent and lie parallel and in a coplanar manner with the lower face

38

of the base

22

. In the second embodiment, the connection tails

58

(

FIG. 8

) are folded vertically upwards along vertical side faces

60

and

62

of the insulating base

22

, whose general design is virtually identical in all aspects to that described above, and especially with regard to the arrangement oi the various fixed contacts.

As can be seen especially in

FIG. 11

, the upper face of the fixed selection contacts

56

is in this case vertically offset downwards with respect to the plane of the upper face of the common fixed contact

44

and of the central fixed validation contact

46

.

The single actuator

32

-

34

is made in a single piece molded from an insulating material.

Near its radially inner root, which connects it to the central body of the lower part

34

of the actuator, each selection arm

82

(

FIG. 9

) comprises two opposed side bosses

142

.

The upper closure plate

24

is a plate molded from plastic, whose lower flat face

144

(

FIG. 11

) bears vertically or the upper face

27

of the base

22

. The plate comprises a series of four holes

146

(

FIG. 13

) which open out into the lower face

114

, two of which accommodate two positioning pins

147

formed to be facing on the upper face

27

of the base

22

.

The upper plate

24

is fixed, in the assembled position, to the base

22

by an upper metal cage

150

, whose side faces

152

each comprise a recess

154

for catching onto a complementary notch

156

formed in a corresponding side face of the base

22

.

In its lower face, and on each side of each cutout

110

in which a branch

82

lies, the upper closure plate

24

comprises a pair of opposed side notches

148

which accommodate the bosses or lugs

142

of the associated arm

82

.

In this second embodiment, the free ends

80

of each selection tripper branch

72

always press mutually against the lower end face

90

of the associated side selection arm

82

, and this being so whatever the movements of the actuator

32

,

34

.

As above, the lower part

34

of the actuator, with its four side arms

82

, is still oriented angularly with respect to the base

22

since the arms

82

and the branches

72

are accommodated in the radial recesses of the base

22

and in the cutouts

110

of the upper plate

24

.

During the validation actuation, the two complementary guiding surfaces in convex

104

and concave spherical cap sections are separated from each other.

When tilting the actuator

32

,

34

, in order to initiate selection switching, the lugs

142

associated with the branch

82

opposite the selection arm

82

that it is desired to use, come into abutment in the bottom of the associated recesses

158

of the closure plate

24

, at the end of the travel of the actuator

32

,

34

.

As can be seen in

FIG. 15

, the width of each selection branch

72

is such that it lies opposite facing portions of the lower plane face

144

of the upper plate

24

.

Thus, when tilting for the purpose of selector switching, the free end of the branch

72

, which is diametrically opposed to the selection branch which is being acted on by means of a corresponding side arm, leaves the lower face

90

of the free end

88

of the associated arm

82

by resting elastically supported against the facing portions of the lower face

144

of the upper plate

24

.

In the variant embodiment shown in

FIGS. 16

to

18

, the connection tails

58

are folded downwards with a hairpin-shaped profile which allows their elastic deformation, each one thereby operating as a flexing beam.

Furthermore, the free elastic support end

160

, on the upper face of a conducting track belonging to a printed circuit board, is aligned with the other ends

160

. This makes it possible to reduce the overall size on the printed circuit board.

The various designs according to the invention enable great miniaturization of a switch with five switching channels.

Thus, by way of example, the side of the base measures 6 mm and the total height of the switch, including the pusher, is also about 6 mm.

According to a variant embodiment (not shown), it is possible to remove the lower validation domes

28

.

The trippers

30

then rest by means of their central region on the central fixed contact

46

with which they are always in electrical contact, thus forming the common fixed contact.

The switch still has its four selection switching channels, as described above, and the validation channel corresponds to the electrical switching of the common fixed central contact with at least three fixed selection contacts

56

.

Although terms such as “above,” “below,” “lying on,” etc. are used to describe the switch assembly as it is illustrated, it should be understood that the switch assembly and its parts can be used in any orientation with respect to the Earth.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art, and consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.