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US 9,087,663 B2Granted
Keypad apparatus for use with electronic devices and related methods
AssigneeBlackBerry Limited
InventorOleg Los
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A keypad apparatus and related methods are disclosed herein. An example keypad apparatus includes an electrical switch and a carrier composed of a plastic resin. The carrier has conductive traces printed thereon to couple the electrical switch to a circuit board via interference.
Claims12
A keypad apparatus comprising:
- a dome-switch assembly having:
- a housing;
- a dome;
- and
- a dome sheet carrier to couple the dome to the housing;
- a plastic carrier having at least a first surface, a second surface adjacent the first surface, a third surface adjacent the second surface, and a plurality of flexible arms, the dome-switch assembly being coupled to the first surface;
- a conductive pattern printed on at least the first and second surfaces of the plastic carrier, the dome to engage a first portion of the conductive pattern formed on the first surface of the plastic carrier when the dome-switch is coupled to the plastic carrier, a second portion of the conductive pattern being printed on the plurality of flexible arms;
- and
- a circuit board having a main surface to be positioned substantially parallel relative to a display of an electronic device and a side surface of the circuit board substantially perpendicular relative to the main surface of the circuit board, the circuit board including one or more plated slots being exposed via the side surface, the second portion of the conductive pattern of the flexible arms to engage the plated slots to electrically couple the circuit board to the first portion of the conductive pattern.
6 more elements
A method of forming a keypad apparatus, comprising forming a carrier composed of plastic via injection molding, the carrier having a first flexible arm;
- printing a first conductive trace on the carrier to define at least a portion of a first electrical switch;
- printing a second conductive trace on the first flexible arm and electrically coupling the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace;
- and
- engaging a portion of the first flexible arm having the second conductive trace with a first slot formed in a side surface of a circuit board and plated with a conductive material to electrically couple the first conductive trace and the circuit board.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.