John A Mathew

US Patent:

6737592, May 18, 2004

Filed:

Mar 14, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/389406

Inventors:

Andy Anh Hoang - Lake in the Hills IL
John Mathew - Barrington IL
Jeffrey C. Pflug - Winfield IL
Robert Kosberg - Wildwood IL

Assignee:

Motorola, Inc. - Schaumburg IL

International Classification:

H01H 300

US Classification:

200 1B, 200 5 R, 200339

Abstract:

A switch assembly ( ) comprising of a base portion ( ), a flexible pad ( ), a paddle ( ), and at least one button ( ). The flexible pad ( ) has a first dome ( ) and a second dome ( ). The paddle ( ) is slidably attached to the base portion ( ) and has a first end portion ( ) and a second end portion ( ). The first end portion ( ) of the paddle ( ) is positioned adjacent to the first dome ( ) of the flexible pad ( ). The second end portion ( ) of the paddle ( ) is positioned adjacent to the second dome ( ) of the flexible pad ( ). The button ( ) is slidably attached to the base portion ( ) and is capable of contacting the paddle ( ). The first dome ( ) of the flexible pad ( ) is capable of collapsing when a user applies a first force (F ) to the button ( ). The second dome ( ) of the flexible pad ( ) is capable of collapsing when the user applies a second force (F ) to the button ( ), the second force (F ) being greater in value than the first force (F ). The switch assembly ( ) may further include a white light emitting diode ( ) for providing a colored light for the switch assembly ( ) through the use of the flexible pad ( ).