Keypad assembly for a communication device

An assembly for a keypad, comprising:

• a flex keypad circuit with side-firing Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) populated thereon and an array of conductive keypad traces integrated thereon, wherein the side-firing LEDs form side-by-side obtuse angled pairs of LEDs;
• a non-conductive substrate having an array of contacts coupled thereto, the array of contacts aligning and providing actuation to the array of conductive keypad traces, the non-conductive substrate having cut-out portions through which the side-firing LEDs protude;
• a light-guide film adhesively coupled to the non-conductive substrate, the light-guide film having cut-outs through which the side-firing LEDs partially protrude;
• a cover sealing the side-firing LEDs to the light-guide film;
• and
• a keypad coupled to the lighguide film, the keypad being illuminated via the side-firing LEDs dispersing light through the light-guide film.

A keypad assembly for a communication device, comprising:

• a first housing portion of the communication device;
• a keypad coupled to the first housing portion;
• a second housing portion located behind the keypad;
• and
• a keypad assembly stack-up located between the keypad of the first housing portion and the second housing portion, the keypad assembly stack-up comprising:
• a flex keypad circuit having a plurality of side-firing Light emitting Diodes (LEDs) and a keypad trace populated thereon;
• a popple dome disposed on a non conductive substrate, the popple dome being aligned with the keypad trace of the flex keypad circuit;
• a light-guide film having light dispersion areas embedded therein and a cut-out feature, the light dispersion areas being aligned with the popple dome, and the cut-out feature being aligned with the side-firing LEDs;
• a cover sealing the side-firing LEDs to the light-guide film without blocking light dispersion from the side-firing LEDs through the light-guide film;
• and
• the keypad being illuminated by the side-firing LEDs dispersing light through the light dispersion areas of the light-guide film.

A handheld radio, comprising:

• a front radio housing having a keypad;
• a radio chassis;
• a back radio housing having radio electronics enclosed therein;
• a keypad assembly coupled outside of the radio chassis to the front radio housing, the keypad assembly comprising:
• a flex keypad circuit with keypad traces and a plurality of side-firing LEDs disposed thereon, wherein the plurality of side-firing LEDs form side-by-side obtuse angled pairs of LEDs;
• a non-conductive substrate having an array of keypad actuators for making contact with the keypad traces in response to being pressed, the non-conductive substrate having cut-outs through which the plurality of side-firing LEDs protrude;
• a light-guide film disposed on the non-conductive substrate, the light-guide film having corresponding cut-outs through which the plurality of side-firing LEDS partially protrude, the light-guide film having plurality of light dispersion areas formed thereon;
• and
• a cover sealing the plurality of side-firing LEDs to the light-guide film, the plurality of side-firing LEDs dispersing light through the plurality of light dispersion areas to the keypad, and light-guide providing a seal to the keypad assembly.