Back to results
US 2004/0057769 A1Published application
Keypad assembly
AssigneeSiemens Information and Communication Mobile, LLC
InventorsIsaac Ward, Kenneth Weselake
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A keypad assembly utilizes touch-detecting apparatus such as force sensors or touchpad assemblies for registering key presses. In exemplary embodiments, the keypad assembly is suitable for use in electronic devices such as a mobile telephones, calculators, hand-held computers, or the like, having single piece molded housings wherein the keypad assembly is at least partially encapsulated within the housing.
Claims38
A keypad assembly, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a force sensor disposed on the substrate;
- and
- an encapsulation layer molded onto the substrate over the force sensor, the substrate and force sensor being at least partially encapsulated by the encapsulation layer,
- wherein the force sensor is suitable for sensing a force applied to the encapsulation layer over to the force sensor for registering a key press to the keypad assembly.
2 more elements
A keypad assembly, comprising:
- a means for sensing a force;
- means for supporting the force sensing means;
- and
- means, molded onto the supporting means, for encapsulating the substrate and force sensing means,
- wherein the force sensing means is suitable for sensing a force applied to the encapsulating means over to the force sensing means for registering a key press to the keypad assembly.
2 more elements
An electronic device, comprising:
- a keypad including a substrate and a force sensor disposed on the substrate;
- and
- a housing molded onto the substrate so that the force sensor is at least partially encapsulated by the housing,
- wherein the force sensor is suitable for sensing a force applied to a portion of the housing over to the force sensor for registering a key press of the keypad.
1 more element
A mobile telephone, comprising:
- a keypad including a substrate and a force sensor disposed on the substrate;
- and
- a housing molded onto the substrate so that the force sensor is at least partially encapsulated by the housing,
- wherein the force sensor is suitable for detecting a force applied to a portion of the housing over to the force sensor for registering a key press of the keypad.
1 more element
A keypad assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of electroluminescent sheets generally disposed one over the other, each of the plurality of electroluminescent sheets being capable of displaying a predetermined keypad when illuminated;
- and
- a touchpad disposed over the plurality of electroluminescent sheets for receiving a touch input, the touchpad being substantially transparent,
- wherein the touchpad is suitable for detecting a force applied thereto over a key of the keypad displayed by the electroluminescent sheet illuminated for registering a press of the key.
1 more element
A keypad assembly, comprising:
- means for displaying a first keypad when illuminated;
- means for displaying a second keypad when illuminated, the means for displaying a first keypad and the means for displaying a second keypad being generally disposed one over the other;
- means, disposed over the means for displaying a first keypad and means for displaying a second keypad, for receiving a touch input, the means for receiving a touch input being substantially transparent,
- wherein the means for receiving a touch input is suitable for detecting a force applied thereto over a key of the first keypad when the means for displaying the first keypad is illuminated or a key of the second keypad when the means for displaying the second keypad is illuminated for registering a key press.
1 more element
An electronic device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a keypad assembly disposed in the housing, the keypad assembly including:
- at least two electroluminescent sheets generally disposed one over the other, each of the at least two electroluminescent sheets being capable of displaying a keypad when illuminated;
- and
- a touchpad disposed over the at least two electroluminescent sheets for receiving a touch input, the touchpad being substantially transparent,
- wherein the touchpad is suitable for detecting a force applied thereto over a key of the keypad displayed by the electroluminescent sheet illuminated for registering a press of the key.
3 more elements
A mobile telephone, comprising:
- a housing;
- a keypad assembly disposed in the housing, the keypad assembly including:
- at least two electroluminescent sheets generally disposed one over the other, each of the at least two electroluminescent sheets being capable of displaying a keypad when illuminated;
- and
- a touchpad disposed over the at least two electroluminescent sheets for receiving a touch input, the touchpad being substantially transparent,
- wherein the touchpad is suitable for detecting a force applied thereto over a key of the keypad displayed by the electroluminescent sheet illuminated for registering a press of the key.
3 more elements
A method for manufacturing a keypad assembly, comprising:
- assembling a keypad, the keypad including a touch sensing assembly for registering a key press;
- and
- overmolding an encapsulation layer onto the keypad so that the substrate and force sensor are at least partially encapsulated within the encapsulation layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.