Thin keypad assemblies and components for electronics devices and methods
AssigneeMotorola, Inc.
InventorsRichard J. Dombrowski, Ryszard J. Gordecki, Daniel P. Rodgers, Patrick J. Cauwels, Steve C. Emmert
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Abstract
A method for a keypad assembly including a keycap layer 110 having multiple user interface key caps flexibly coupled to a carrier portion, a luminescent layer 120 disposed toward a backside of the plurality of key caps, the luminescent layer carrying a plurality of switch domes each aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of key caps of the key cap layer. In some embodiments, a backing material is applied to a backside of the user interface key caps.
Claims15
A method of making a keypad, the method comprising:
- forming a plurality of user interface key caps flexibly coupled to a carrier from a sheet of material, the plurality of user interface key caps and the carrier forming a planar unitary member,
- the plurality of user interface key caps defined by slots through the sheet of material, the slots devoid of the material from which the plurality of user interface key caps and the carrier are formed, no portion of the carrier extending in the slots between adjacent user interface key caps;
- bridging the slots between the plurality of user interface key caps with a resilient material.
A method of making a keypad, the method comprising:
- forming a plurality of user interface key caps flexibly coupled to a carrier as a unitary member,
- the plurality of user interface key caps defined by and located between nested slots formed through the unitary member,
- the nested slots devoid of a material from which the plurality of user interface key caps and the carrier are formed, each nested slot having a substantially serpentine configuration;
- bridging the slots between the plurality of user interface key caps with a resilient material,
- the resilient material having a different flexibility characteristic than the material from which the plurality of user interface key caps and the carrier are formed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.