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US 6,824,321 B2Granted
Keypad assembly
AssigneeSiemens Communications, Inc.
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.
Claims16
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:
- 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.
3 more elements
A mobile telephone, comprising:
- a housing;
- a keypad assembly disposed in the housing, the keypad assembly including:
- 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.
3 more elements
A keypad assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of electroluminescent sheets generally disposed one over the other, each of the plurality of electroluminescent sheets including an embedded image of a keypad that is displayed when the electroluminescent sheet is illuminated;
- and
- a touchpad disposed over the plurality of electroluminescent sheets for receiving a touch input,
- wherein the touchpad detects a force applied thereto over a key of the embedded image of a keypad displayed by an illuminated electroluminescent sheet for registering a press of the key.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.