Claims
- 1. A bypass switch for use in an electronic device, comprising:a substrate on which first, second, and third terminals are mounted; a primary element, having first and second opposing ends, mounted to a bottom surface of the substrate and electrically coupled to the first terminal at its first end and to the second terminal at its second end, wherein the primary element is electrically conductive; a bypass element, having first and second opposing ends, mounted to the bottom surface of the substrate and electrically coupled to the third terminal at its first end and vertically aligned, at its second end, with the second end of the primary element, wherein the bypass element is electrically conductive; and an actuator mechanically coupled to the bypass element and extending through the substrate, the actuator having an actuating surface accessible at a top surface, opposite the bottom surface, of the substrate, wherein a downward force exerted upon the actuating surface of the actuator forces the second end of the bypass element away from the second end of the primary element, thereby electrically decoupling the bypass element and the third terminal from the first and second terminals.
- 2. The bypass switch of claim 1, wherein, in the absence of a downward force upon the actuating surface of the actuator, the second end of the bypass element contacts the second end of the primary element, thereby electrically coupling the bypass element and the third terminal to the first and second terminals.
- 3. The bypass switch of claim 2, wherein the primary element and the bypass element comprise elongated, metal elements.
- 4. The bypass switch of claim 1, wherein the second and third terminals are formed on the top surface of the substrate.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a continuation of and related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/332,778, Hughes et al., entitled Bypass Device for Amplifier, filed Jun. 14, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,294,846.
US Referenced Citations (19)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/332778 |
Jun 1999 |
US |
Child |
09/894624 |
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US |