Abstract

A pressure sensitive switch has upper, middle and lower laminar elongated members, the middle member having an opening therethrough defining a cavity between the upper and lower members. A first array of substantially parallel, spaced-apart electrically conductive bands is fixed to a lower surface of the upper member and traverses the cavity. A second array of substantially parallel, spaced-apart electrically conductive bands is fixed to an upper surface of the lower member and traverses the cavity and the upper member bands, selected lower member bands being discretely connected to an electrical input lead and other lower member bands being discretely connected to an electrical output lead. An array of substantially parallel, spaced-apart dielectric bands narrower than the conductive bands is fixed to the lower member upper surface and traverses the cavity between the arrays of conductive bands at alternate overlapping points thereof and partially separates the arrays of conductive bands from electrical contact therebetween at said alternate overlapping points. The upper and lower members are resiliently flexible to permit the overlapping points of the arrays of conductive bands to close into and open out of electrical contact therebetween upon exertion and removal, respectively, of a threshold external compressive force to the cavity.