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"That’s an amazing invention, but who would ever want to use one of them?"
President Rutherford B. Hayes ; Said in 1876, after Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the telephone to him at the White House
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7705259 | Thin key sheet and thin key unit incorporating the thin key sheet Mobile phones are in a trend of having thinner configuration due to emphasis on the design. Thus, in order to meet this demand, the present invention aims to thin the key sheet portion as much as possible. A thin key sheet and a thin key unit incorporating the thin ... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7439465 | Switch arrays and systems employing the same to enhance system reliability An input system is delineated comprising an array of touch regions. At least one touch region is aligned with a sensing structure. The sensing structure comprises a first conductive region; a second conductive region aligned with the first conductive region, the sec... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7417202 | Switches and systems employing the same to enhance switch reliability and control A switch is delineated comprising a first conductive region; a second conductive region aligned with the first conductive region, the second conductive region including a first conductive pattern forming a first switch terminal and a second conductive pattern formin... | 08/26/2008 |
| 7361413 | Electroluminescent device and methods for its production and use A luminescent device comprises an electroluminescent phosphor in operative contact with a light-emitting material wherein excitation of the electroluminescent phosphor by an alternating current electrical field causes the emission of light by the light-emitting mate... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7351368 | Flocked articles and methods of making same A method of manufacturing a molded article using lamination of a flocked surface onto a backing film is provided. Also provided is a flocked article comprising an antimicrobial agent. ... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7338697 | Co-molded direct flock and flock transfer and methods of making same A method of decorating a molded article is provided that includes the steps of: (a) providing a mold insert comprising a plurality of flock fibers and a permanent adhesive layer; (b) positioning the mold insert in ... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7301114 | Movable contact unit A movable contact unit includes a first movable contact stuck on an adhesive layer beneath a lower face of an insulating film, and a second movable contact placed on the insulating film such that it is overlaid on the first movable contact via the insulating film in... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7283066 | Illuminated keyboard A keyboard is provided having illuminating keys. The keyboard includes a light channeling upper clamshell and preferably key members constructed at least partially of translucent material so that light produced from a light source is channeled upwardly to the upper ... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7272982 | Gathering data concerning publication usage Methods and systems for measuring and gathering data relating to publication usage by participants in publication readership studies. Some methods and systems employ portable monitors carried by participants of the studies along with publications fitted with various... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7193536 | Illuminated keyboard A keyboard is provided having illuminating keys. The keyboard includes a light channeling membrane and key members constructed at least partially of translucent material so that light produced from a light source is channeled upwardly to the upper surfaces of the ke... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7193535 | Illuminated keyboard A keyboard is provided having illuminating keys. The keyboard includes a light channeling membrane and key members constructed at least partially of translucent material so that light produced from a light source is channeled upwardly to the upper surfaces of the ke... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7172303 | Illuminated keyboard A keyboard is provided having illuminating keys. The keyboard includes a light channeling membrane and key members constructed at least partially of translucent material so that light produced from a light source is channeled upwardly to the upper surfaces of the ke... | 02/06/2007 |
| 7063471 | Access control apparatus A keypad unit for an access system including an outer housing having an integral bezel. A carrier is mounted within the housing, and an overlay including key zones is mounted to the carrier. A PCB assembly is suspended within the carrier by a non-compressive, but co... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7049536 | Electroluminescent lamp membrane switch An electroluminescent lamp membrane switch includes a deformable substrate. Graphic indicia is imprinted on the substrate. An electroluminescent lamp is imprinted on the graphic indicia layer and a membrane switch is formed on the lamp. ... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7019242 | Electroluminescent metal dome keypad The present invention relates to an EL metal dome keypad which comprises a plurality of domes which are disposed at positions corresponding to fixed contact terminals of a printed circuit board and are brought into contact with or separated from the fixed contact te... | 03/28/2006 |
| 7005596 | Cover member for illuminated pushbutton switch An illuminated pushbutton switch cover member has a key seat and a resin key top. An indicator portion provided in the resin key top is illuminated with light from an internal light source provided below the key seat, and the light is emitted from the inside to the ... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6967056 | Key sheet A key sheet comprising a key top, a translucent resin film, and a symbol layer. The key top is made of resin and has a top surface and a rear surface. The key top includes a gate corresponding section in a position corresponded to a gate of a mold for injecting resi... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6943495 | Micro electro mechanical system controlled organic LED and pixel arrays and method of using and of manufacturing same Organic light emitting devices are disclosed that use a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) structure to enable a pixel and pixel array wherein each pixel contains a MEMS and an OLED element. A MEMS structure is used for switching the OLED element. These OLED/MEMS... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6936783 | Push-button switch member and manufacturing method of same A push-button switch member which utilizes light energy without any loss for back-lighting on a display section and which realizes the back-lightening to the display section with an even luminance while suppressing power consumption and having high visibility and th... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6929771 | Method of decorating a molded article A method of providing a molding article with a plush surface is provided. The method includes providing a flocked transfer, securing the transfer in place in a mold, and molding the article such that the transfer is embedded in the surface of the article. The articl... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6926418 | Integrated light-guide and dome-sheet for keyboard illumination An integrated light guide for use in an electronic device having a plurality of key buttons to allow a user to input signals in the device, the light guide having a plurality of domes used as touch areas of the key buttons and a plurality of light escapement areas d... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6927352 | Lateral displacement multiposition microswitch A multiposition microswitch that includes a cavity, a mobile portion made of a deformable material extending above the cavity, at least three conductive tracks extending on the cavity bottom, and a contact pad on the lower surface of the mobile part. The mobile part... | 08/09/2005 |
| 6918677 | Illuminated keyboard A keyboard is provided having illuminating keys. The keyboard includes a light channeling membrane and key members constructed at least partially of translucent material so that light produced from a light source is channeled upwardly to the upper surfaces of the ke... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6677709 | Micro electromechanical system controlled organic led and pixel arrays and method of using and of manufacturing same Organic light emitting devices are disclosed that use a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) structure to enable a pixel and pixel array wherein each pixel contains a MEMS and an OLED element. A MEMS structure is used for switching the OLED element. Thes... | 01/13/2004 |
| 6583935 | Low reflection, high transmission, touch-panel membrane Low reflective, flexible, transparent, laminates having a sheet of flexible plastic substrate, a conductive outer layer on one side of the sheet, and an anti-reflective stack of at least one pair of oxide layers on at least one of the sides of the sheet, ... | 06/24/2003 |
| 6545236 | Vehicle interior component having a flexible cover with integrated circuitry A vehicle interior component for use with a vehicle having a vehicle system includes a substrate and a flexible cover covering a portion of the substrate. The cover includes a cover material and electronic circuitry integrated with the cover material and ... | 04/08/2003 |
| 6423171 | Keypad for portable telephone and manufacturing method thereof A keypad for a portable telephone and manufacturing method thereof is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of printing characters on a transparent, planar film; pre-forming the planar film through a pressing process such that the planar film has a pr... | 07/23/2002 |
| 6355895 | Spacing structures for large touch panels A technique for building touch-sensitive panels which permits construction of large, low-cost electronic whiteboards with improved feel. The electronic whiteboards are of the resistive membrane type, in which a touch on a flexible membrane causes the memb... | 03/12/2002 |
| 6224278 | Key pad with rigid key top having both silicone and urethane adhesion layers A key pad with rigid resin key top, preventing key top detachment or dislocation, and allowing to omit key detachment prevention means such as collar and to simplify the structure, and adhering to a silicone rubber key pad 1,7 with silicone base adhesive ... | 05/01/2001 |
| 6196738 | Key top element, push button switch element and method for manufacturing same A key top element capable of being manufactured while permitting a design of a display section thereof to be readily modified and corrected, accommodating a variety of data for design formation, and capable of exhibiting increased design properties. The k... | 03/06/2001 |
| 6130593 | Switch panel having a magnetically-retained overlay An electrical switch has a substrate with at least one pair of spaced switch contacts arranged to be shorted by an electrically conductive armature. The armature defines a central axis with first and second portions on either side of the axis which portio... | 10/10/2000 |
| 6114645 | Pressure activated switching device A pressure actuated switching apparatus includes first and second conductive layers and a plurality of discrete spaced apart dots between the first and second conductive layers. The dots serve as a standoff for separating the conductive layers and are fab... | 09/05/2000 |
| 5973282 | Sheet-shaped switch A sheet-shaped switch including a first insulating sheet having a plurality of fixed electrodes formed on an upper surface thereof, a second insulating sheet having movable electrodes which are formed on a lower surface thereof such that the movable elect... | 10/26/1999 |
| 5965856 | Pressure sensitive switch A sheet-like pressure sensitive switch is disclosed. A spacer 2 of an insulating material is interposed between a first film 1 of an insulating material which is provided with a first electrode 1a and a second film 3 of an insulating material which is pro... | 10/12/1999 |
| 5921382 | Magnetically enhanced membrane switch 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 betw... | 07/13/1999 |
| 5911317 | Light permeable metal plated rubber key The subject invention relates to a type of light permeable metal plated rubber key, comprising mainly a rubber key that is made of silicone rubber, or a key with a hardened head (hardness: SHORE D45 or higher); on top of the key is printed with light perm... | 06/15/1999 |
| 5909021 | Keypads: Apparatus and methods of making The keypad is made of a) a formed plastic shell; b) graphics and background printed on the interior surface of the formed plastic shell; and c) a plastic filling the hollow cavity or cavities of the formed plastic shell. The formed plastic shell of the ke... | 06/01/1999 |
| 5873454 | Sheet type key top A sheet type key top of a push button switch which is disposed over a switch contact used for the input portion of a portable electric appliance or a machine control portion or the like, and through which the underlying switch is depressed to turn it on o... | 02/23/1999 |
| 5871088 | EL sheet diaphragm and a switch using the same An EL sheet diaphragm including a diffusion type EL sheet having a diaphragm portion exhibiting a dome shape and a flange supporting portion disposed about the outer circumference of the diffusion type EL sheet. The diffusion type EL sheet including a tra... | 02/16/1999 |
| 5834715 | Keyboard A key base plate mounting a membrane sheet with a contact thereon is fixed to a keyboard substrate through a screw. A peripheral edge portion of the key base plate fixed to the keyboard substrate is opposed to a packing fixed to the keyboard substrate. An... | 11/10/1998 |
