Patent ID: 8110760

Claim:
An electrical switch comprising: a first switch element including: a first substrate having at least a central electrical conductor and a peripheral electrical conductor thereon; an electrically conductive first flexible dome disposed on said first substrate in electrical contact with the peripheral electrical conductor thereof and overlying the central electrical conductor thereof, said first flexible dome having a given actuating force, wherein said first flexible dome comes into electrical contact with the central electrical conductor of said first substrate when pressed towards said first substrate with the given actuating force; a second switch element disposed adjacent the first switch element, said second switch element including: a flexible second substrate having at least a central electrical conductor and a peripheral electrical conductor thereon; an electrically conductive second flexible dome disposed on said flexible second substrate in electrical contact with the peripheral electrical conductor thereof and overlying the central electrical conductor thereof, said second flexible dome having an actuating force that is less than the given actuating force of said first flexible dome, wherein said second flexible dome comes into electrical contact with the central electrical conductor of said flexible second substrate when pressed towards said flexible second substrate with a force less than the given actuating force; and an actuator disposed adjacent said second switch element and urged away therefrom by a spring therebetween, wherein said actuator is movable for exerting force on said second switch element via said spring, and for exerting force on said first switch element via said spring and said second switch element.