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US 9,075,576 B2Granted
Keypads for mobile devices and method of manufacturing the same
AssigneeBlackBerry Limited
InventorsChao Chen, Roman Peter Rak, Jason Tyler Griffin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A keypad is described herein in which the keypad can have a keypad sheet and a keymat layer molded onto the back side of the keypad sheet. The keypad sheet can include a plurality of keys formed on a front side of the keypad sheet and a plurality of actuators formed on a back side of the keypad sheet and protruding from the back side of the keypad sheet. Slits are cut around at least some of the keys to provide the keys with flexibility. The slits do not pierce the keymat layer.
Claims19
A keypad, comprising:
- a keypad sheet including:
- a plurality of keys formed on a front side of the keypad sheet;
- and
- a plurality of actuators formed on a back side of the keypad sheet, the actuators protruding from the back side of the keypad sheet;
- and
- a keymat layer molded onto the back side of the keypad sheet so as to form a barrier to external contaminants, wherein the keymat layer has a larger thickness in areas corresponding to the actuators than in areas between the keys.
3 more elements
A keypad assembly, comprising:
- a plurality of domes;
- a keypad positioned above the domes, the keypad including:
- a keypad sheet having:
- a plurality of protruding keys formed on a front side of the keypad sheet and a plurality of key pockets formed on a back side of the keypad sheet, the key pockets corresponding to the keys, wherein slits are cut around at least some of the keys to provide the keys with flexibility;
- and
- a plurality of actuators formed in the key pockets on the back side of the keypad sheet, the actuators protruding from the back side of the keypad sheet;
- and
- a keymat layer molded onto the back side of the keypad sheet so as to form a barrier to external contaminants, the keymat layer being formed with protrusions in areas corresponding to the actuators on the back side of the keypad sheet, the protrusions filling a gap between the actuators and the domes, wherein the slits do not pierce the keymat layer.
5 more elements
A method of manufacturing a keypad, comprising:
- forming a keypad sheet by:
- forming a film into a shape defining protruding keys on a front side and key pockets on a back side, the key pockets corresponding to the keys;
- and
- molding actuators into the key pockets so that the actuators protrude from the back side of the keypad sheet;
- and
- molding a keymat layer onto the back side of the keypad sheet so that the keymat layer forms a barrier to external contaminants, the keymat layer being formed with protrusions in areas corresponding to the actuators on the back side of the keypad sheet.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.