Method and apparatus for providing backlighting for keypads and LCD panels

A keyboard assembly, comprising:

• a liquid crystal display panel having a light guide adapted to direct light to a backside of the liquid crystal display panel;
• an elastomeric member formed of a translucent material and extending along at least one side of said liquid crystal display panel;
• a light-emitting diode embedded in said elastomeric member at a position adjacent said light guide in light-transmitting communication with said light guide of the liquid crystal display panel and having a pair of electrical contacts not covered by said elastomeric member;
• and
• a printed circuit board having a pair of contacts disposed on a secondary surface in alignment with said pair of contacts of said light-emitting diode when said liquid crystal display panel is assembled with said printed circuit board, and a cover assembleable with said liquid crystal display panel, said elastomeric member and said printed circuit board and adapted to provide a bias force urging said light-emitting diode embedded in said elastomeric member in a direction toward said secondary surface of the printed circuit board when said cover, said liquid crystal display panel, said elastomeric member and said printed circuit board are assembled together, and maintain the electrical contacts of the light-emitting diode in electrical communication with the electrical contacts disposed on the secondary surface of the printed circuit board.

A keyboard assembly, comprising:

• a keypad having a plurality of keys disposed on an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from said upper surface, said keypad being formed of a translucent elastomeric material;
• a light guide disposed adjacent said lower surface of the keypad, said light guide being formed of a light-transmitting material;
• a light-emitting diode embedded within said light guide and having a pair of electrical contacts not covered by said light-transmitting material of the light guide;
• a printed circuit board having a pair of electrical contacts disposed on a secondary surface of the board in alignment with said pair of electrical contacts of the light-emitting diode when said light guide is assembled with said printed circuit board;
• and
• a means for providing a bias force urging said light-emitting diode embedded in said light guide in a direction toward said secondary surface of the printed circuit board when said keypad, said light guide and said printed circuit board are assembled together and maintain the electrical contacts of the light-emitting diode in electrical communication with the electrical contacts disposed on the secondary surface of the printed circuit board.

A method of forming a keyboard assembly, comprising:

• inserting a light-emitting diode having a pair of electrical contacts into a predefined position in a mold;
• closing said mold to form a defined mold cavity;
• inserting a liquefied elastomeric material into said mold cavity whereby said light-emitting diode is substantially embedded in said elastomeric material;
• at least partially curing said elastomeric material and thereby forming a keypad having a light-emitting diode embedded therein;
• removing said formed keypad from said mold cavity;
• providing a printed circuit board having a secondary surface with a pair of electrical contacts provided thereon;
• providing a cover;
• assembling said printed circuit board and said molded keypad together with said cover whereby said electrical contacts of said light-emitting diode is maintained in biased contact with said electrical contacts of said printed circuit board.