Back to results
US 7,623,118 B2Granted
Actuation mechanism for use with keyboards on mobile computing devices
AssigneePalm, Inc.
InventorsPeter Skillman, Michael Yurochko, Arthur Zarnowitz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide an effective keypad assembly and keypad layout for mobile computing devices. In particular, embodiments of the invention provide keyboard layouts and designs. Additionally, embodiments described herein provide for stack components to make keyboards operable on small-form factor devices.
Claims23
A keypad assembly for a mobile computing device, the keypad assembly comprising:
- a plurality of key structures, wherein the plurality of key structures are structured to extend from a surface of the mobile computing device;
- a substrate that includes a plurality of contact elements, wherein each contact element corresponds to one of the key structures;
- a plurality of conductive structures provided on the substrate, wherein each of the plurality of conductive structures is positioned over an aligned contact element, and wherein each of the plurality of conductive structures is deflectable to cause contact with the corresponding contact element;
- a plurality of actuation members provided on a carrier, wherein each of the plurality of actuation member is positioned between a corresponding one of the key structures and a corresponding one of the conductive structures, and wherein the carrier is formed to be flexible, and each of the plurality of actuation members is formed to be more rigid than the carrier;
- and
- wherein each of the plurality of actuation members is moveable by insertion of the corresponding key structure to cause the corresponding conductive structure to deflect and cause contact with the aligned contact element for that conductive structure.
3 more elements
An actuation component of a keypad assembly, the component comprising:
- a carrier;
- a plurality of actuation members that extend from at least one side of the carrier;
- wherein the carrier is dimensioned to fit between a plurality of key structures and a substrate having a plurality of deflectable and conductive structures that overlay corresponding contact points on the substrate;
- wherein the carrier is positionable so that that each of the plurality of actuation members is individually moveable inwards by insertion of a corresponding one of the plurality of key structures in order to cause deflection of a corresponding one of the plurality of conductive structures, wherein deflection of that conductive structure causes electrical contact with the overlayed and corresponding contact point;
- and
- wherein the carrier is formed to be flexible, and each of the plurality of actuation members is formed to be more rigid than the carrier.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.