Keyboard with key supporting structure for portable electronics devices

• US 20070051603A1
• Filed: 10/23/2003
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Hakunti, Jussi, Laitinen, Mikko
• Granted Patent: US 7,345,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/310
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A keyboard assembly (20) has a light guide (23, 31, 33) and a supporting structure (23, 33) arranged to provide an illuminated and integrated keyboard assembly (20). A light guide (23, 31, 33) provides an integrated supporting, protecting and illuminating structure for keyboard assemblies (20). The keyboard assembly (20) has a layer of rigid material (31) which separates the elastic layer (21) from the printed wired board (9) located under the rigid layer (31). The layers are bonded together. The protection rib (33) is part of the combination of the elastic layer (21) and rigid layer (31) which is supported against the printed wired board (9) by the rigid layer (31). The combined structure of the light guide and supporting frame forms an integrated structure (23, 31, 33) which illuminates an array of keys (22), supports the keyboard assembly (20) and protects the keys (22) and key tops 25 from mechanical stress.

Claims

1. A light guide for a keyboard assembly comprising at least an elastic member forming a basis for a key and conveying a movement of the key to connecting means of the printed wired board, wherein the light guide comprises:

a rigid member arranged to separate the elastic member from the printed wired board and arranged to separate adjacent keys from each other, and

wherein a combination of said elastic member and said rigid member is arranged to hold together by the rigid member.

2. A light guide according to claim 1, wherein an outer perimeter of said rigid member is arranged to extend further than an outer perimeter of said elastic member.

3. A light guide according to claim 1, wherein a first surface of said elastic member is arranged to be a key top surface, and a second surface of said elastic member is arranged to bond with a first surface of said rigid member excluding the area of said surfaces defined by said openings of said rigid member.

4. A light guide according to claim 3, wherein a second surface of said rigid member is arranged to support said combination of said elastic member and said rigid member against the printed wired board.

5. A light guide according to claim 4, wherein said rigid member is arranged to support said combination of said elastic member and said rigid member, and said outer perimeter region of said first surface of said rigid member is arranged to support said combination to be stationary in relation to said printed wired board, when said perimeter region is compressed towards said printed wired board by fastening means.

6. A light guide according to claim 1, wherein the rigid member is arranged to separate adjacent key tops from each other, where said key tops are adhered to on top of the first surface of the elastic member at the location of the keys.

7. A light guide according to claim 1, wherein at least part of said rigid member is arranged to protrude along at least one row of key tops to form protecting means for said key tops of said row of keys.

8. A light guide according to claim 1, wherein said rigid member is arranged to protrude between at least two adjacent row of key tops to form protecting means for said key tops of said row of keys.

9. A light guide according to claim 8, wherein an outer edge of said protecting means is arranged to protrude at least to the same level as the outer top surfaces of the key tops of said row of keys.

10. A light guide according to claim 9, wherein said elastic member is arranged to have an aperture at the location of said protecting means, and said second surface of said elastic member and said first surface of said rigid member are arranged to face in a position where said protecting means fit to said aperture before bonding said surfaces together.

11. A light guide according to claim 1, wherein said rigid member is made of light-conducting material and a light source is arranged to transmit light into said rigid member to illuminate the array of keys or key tops.

12. A light guide according to claim 1, wherein a light source arranged to transmit light into said rigid member is located adjacent to an edge of said rigid member.

13. A light guide according to claim 1, wherein a light source arranged to transmit light into said rigid member is located adjacent to an end of said protecting means.

14. A light guide according to claim 13, wherein one light emitting diode arranged to transmit light into said rigid member is located adjacent to one end of said protecting means.

15. A light guide according to claim 1, wherein said light guide comprises fastening means to be attached to a cover part of a portable electronic device.

16. A light guide according to claim 1, wherein said rigid member and said elastic member are arranged to be in a sheet like form.

17. A keyboard assembly, comprising at least a printed wired board and an array of keys, the keyboard assembly having:

an elastic member arranged to form a basis for a key, and to convey a movement of the key to connecting means of the printed wired board,

a rigid member having an opening at the location of the key, arranged to separate the elastic member from the printed wired board and arranged to separate adjacent keys from each other, and

wherein a combination of said elastic member and said rigid member is arranged to hold together by means of the rigid member.

18. A keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein an outer perimeter of said rigid member is arranged to extend further than an outer perimeter of said elastic member.

19. A keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein a first surface of said elastic member is arranged to be a key top surface, and a second surface of said elastic member is arranged bond with a first surface of said rigid member excluding the area of said surfaces defined by said openings of said rigid member.

20. A keyboard assembly according to claim 19, wherein a second surface of said rigid member is arranged to support said combination of said elastic member and said rigid member against the printed wired board.

21. A keyboard assembly according to claim 20, wherein said rigid member is arranged to support said combination of said elastic member and said rigid member, and said outer perimeter region of said first surface of said rigid member is arranged to support said combination to be stationary in relation to said printed wired board, when said perimeter region is compressed towards said printed wired board (9) by fastening means.

22. A keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein a key top, preferably a hard plastic key top is arranged to adhere on top of said first surface of said elastic member at the location of the key.

23. A keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein at least part of said rigid member is arranged to protrude along at least one row of keys to form protecting means for said keys of said row of keys.

24. A keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein said rigid member is arranged to protrude between at least two adjacent rows of keys to form protecting means for said keys of said rows of keys.

25. A keyboard assembly according to claim 24, wherein an outer edge of said protecting means is arranged to protrude at least to the same level as the outer top surface of the key or the key top of said row of keys.

26. A keyboard assembly according to claim 25, wherein said elastic member is arranged to have an aperture at the location of said protecting means, and said second surface of said elastic member and said first surface of said rigid member are arranged to face in a position where said protecting means fit to said aperture before bonding said surfaces together.

27. A keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein said rigid member is made of light-conducting material and a light source is arranged to transmit light into said rigid member to illuminate the array of keys or the array of key tops.

28. A keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein a light source arranged to transmit light into said rigid member is located adjacent to an edge of said rigid member.

29. A keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein a light source arranged to transmit light into said rigid member is located adjacent to an end of said protecting means.

30. A keyboard assembly according to claim 29, wherein one light emitting diode arranged to transmit light into said rigid member is located adjacent to one end of said protecting means.

31. A keyboard assembly according to claim 21, wherein said fastening means comprise a cover part of the portable electronic device.

32. A keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein said rigid member and said elastic member are arranged to be in a sheet like form.