Printable electromechanical input means and an electronic device including such input means
First Claim
1. An electromechanical input means for a portable electronic device, comprising:
- a first layer of conductive or resistive material, a second layer of conductive or resistive material, which second layer at least partly overlaps the first layer so that the overlapping parts of the first and second layers together are responsive to touching or pressing to produce an electric input signal to the portable electronic device, a dielectric support layer for the first layer, and a dielectric support layer for the second layer;
wherein at least a part of the dielectric support layer for the first layer continues past the first layer and is bent back to act as the dielectric support layer for the second layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Electromechanical input means for a portable electronic device comprise first and second layers of conductive or resistive material. The second layer overlaps the first layer at least partly so that the overlapping parts of the first and second layers together are responsive to touching or pressing to produce an electric input signal to the portable electronic device. There is a dielectric support layer for the first and second layers. At least a part of the dielectric support layer for the first layer continues past the first layer and is bent back to act as the dielectric support layer for the second layer.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electromechanical input means for a portable electronic device, comprising:
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a first layer of conductive or resistive material, a second layer of conductive or resistive material, which second layer at least partly overlaps the first layer so that the overlapping parts of the first and second layers together are responsive to touching or pressing to produce an electric input signal to the portable electronic device, a dielectric support layer for the first layer, and a dielectric support layer for the second layer;
wherein at least a part of the dielectric support layer for the first layer continues past the first layer and is bent back to act as the dielectric support layer for the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electromechanical functional module for a portable electronic device, comprising:
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a flexible printed circuit board for supporting electronic components and conductive tracks between electronic components, a first layer of conductive or resistive material on a surface of the flexible printed circuit board, and a second layer of conductive or resistive material on a surface of the flexible printed circuit board;
wherein a portion of the flexible printed circuit board separates the first layer from the second layer, thus allowing the flexible printed circuit board to be bent around an imaginary axis crossing said portion of the flexible printed circuit board, so that after bending the second layer comes to at least partly overlap the first layer, and the overlapping parts of the first and second layers together are then responsive to touching or pressing to produce an electric input signal to the portable electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A portable electronic device, comprising:
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a flexible printed circuit board, an engine module, which is a microprocessor, attached and electrically connected to the flexible printed circuit board, and electromechanical input means for producing electric input signals for the engine module;
wherein the electromechanical input means comprise a first layer of conductive or resistive material on a surface of the flexible printed circuit board, and a second layer of conductive or resistive material on a surface of the flexible printed circuit board, which second layer at least partly overlaps the first layer, and wherein the flexible printed circuit board acts as a dielectric support layer for the first layer and continues past the first layer and is bent back to act as the dielectric support layer for the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for manufacturing electromechanical input means for a portable electronic device, comprising the steps of:
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producing a first layer of conductive or resistive material onto a surface of a dielectric support layer, producing a second layer of conductive or resistive material onto a surface of the same dielectric support layer, into a non-overlapping location with said first layer, producing conductive connections onto said dielectric support layer to facilitate conveying electric input means produced in said first and second layers to other parts of the portable electronic device and bending the dielectric support layer into a position in which said first and second layers at least partly overlap each other. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification