Keyboard assembly for a mobile device

A mobile device having a memory and a printed circuit board, comprising:

• a keyboard assembly including:
• a plurality of dome switches disposed on the printed circuit board;
• a plurality of keys, greater in number than the plurality of dome switches, arranged in a key configuration, each key for actuating at least one of the plurality of dome switches in an actuated dome switch pattern in response to depression of the key, the actuated dome switch pattern determining an actuated key, and at least one of the plurality of keys for actuating more than one of the plurality of dome switches;
• an operating system stored in the memory, the operating system determining the actuated key based on the actuated dome switch pattern;
• and
• an interface for communication between the keyboard assembly and the operating system;
• wherein the key board assembly further comprises a plurality of actuators, each of the plurality of actuators associated with one of the plurality of keys for actuating one of the plurality of dome switches in response to depression of the one of the plurality of keys;
• and wherein at least one of the plurality of actuators has at least two arms, each arm for actuating a different one of the plurality of dome switches in the actuated dome switch pattern.

A keyboard assembly for a mobile device having a printed circuit board, comprising:

• a plurality of keys arranged in rows in a key configuration;
• a plurality of dome switches, less in number than the plurality of keys, disposed on the printed circuit board and arranged in rows between the rows of keys such that each of the plurality of dome switches is positioned between two adjacent keys in a row;
• and
• a plurality of actuators each associated with one of the plurality of keys, at least one of the plurality of actuators having at least two arms, each arm for actuating a different one of the plurality of dome switches in an actuated dome switch pattern in response to depression of an actuated key.

A keyboard assembly for an electronic device having a printed circuit board, comprising:

• a plurality of dome switches disposed on the printed circuit board;
• and
• a plurality of keys, greater in number than the plurality of dome switches, each key for actuating at least one of the plurality of dome switches in an actuated dome switch pattern, the actuated dome switch pattern determining an actuated key, and at least one of the plurality of keys for actuating more than one of the plurality of dome switches;
• wherein the keyboard assembly further comprises a plurality of actuators, each of the plurality of actuators associated with one of the plurality of keys for actuating one of the plurality of dome switches in response to depression of the one of the plurality of keys;
• wherein a particular actuator includes an arm for maintaining the balance of a key when it is depressed;
• and wherein at least one of the plurality of actuators has at least two arms, each arm for actuating a different one of the plurality of dome switches in the actuated dome switch pattern.

A mobile device having a memory and a print circuit board, comprising:

• a keyboard assembly including:
• a plurality of dome switches disposed on the printed circuit board;
• a plurality of keys, greater in number than the plurality of dome switches, arranged in a key configuration, each key for actuating at least one of the plurality of dome switches in an actuated dome switch pattern in response to depression of the key, the actuated dome switch pattern determining an actuated key, and at least one of the plurality of keys for actuating more than one of the plurality of dome switches;
• an operating system stored in the memory, the operating system determining the actuated key based on the actuated dome switch pattern;
• and
• an interface for communication between the keyboard assembly and the operating system;
• wherein the keyboard assembly further comprises a plurality of actuators, each of the plurality of actuators associated with one of the plurality of keys for actuating one of the plurality of dome switches in response to depression of the one of the plurality of keys;
• wherein a particular actuator includes an arm for maintaining the balance of a key when it is depressed;
• and wherein at least one of the plurality of actuators has at least two arms, each arm for actuating a different one of the plurality of dome switches in the actuated dome switch pattern.