FLEXIBLE KEY PLATE

• US 20070298828A1
• Filed: 06/21/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: TOLBERT, William Haywood, BEGIC, Stjepan
• Granted Patent: US 7,804,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• 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

Abstract

A device includes a front cover with a cutout, a rear cover connected to the front cover, and a substrate including a key pad provided within the front cover and the rear cover. The key pad is substantially aligned with the cutout of the front cover. The device also includes a key top provided adjacent to the key pad through the cutout of the front cover, and a flexible key plate provided over at least the cutout of the front cover and including an opening for receiving the key top.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a front cover including a cutout;

a rear cover connected to the front cover;

a substrate including a key pad provided within the front cover and the rear cover, the key pad being substantially aligned with the cutout of the front cover;

a key top provided adjacent to the key pad through the cutout of the front cover; and

a flexible key plate provided over at least the cutout of the front cover and including an opening for receiving the key top.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible key plate is provided within the cutout of the front cover.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the flexible key plate is removably connected to the front cover.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible key plate is provided over at least a portion of a top surface of the front cover.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the flexible key plate is connected to the front cover.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the flexible key plate is removably connected to the front cover.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible key plate comprises at least one of a polycarbonate, a thermoplastic, an elastomer, or a metal.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the flexible key plate ranges from about 0.05 millimeters (mm) to about 1.5 mm.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the flexible key plate ranges from about 0.4 mm to about 0.6 mm.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein an actuation force of the key pad is less than 1.6 Newtons (N).

11. The device of claim 1, wherein an actuation force of the key pad is about 1.0 Newtons (N).

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the key top extends about less than or equal to 0.25 mm above a top surface of the flexible key plate.

12-1. (canceled)

13. A device comprising:

a cover including a cutout;

a substrate including a plurality of key pads provided within the cover, the plurality of key pads being substantially aligned with the cutout of the cover;

a plurality of key tops, each key top provided adjacent to a corresponding key pad through the cutout of the cover, the plurality of key tops including variable heights based on a distance from a center of the cutout; and

a flexible key plate provided over at least the cutout of the cover and including a plurality of openings, each opening of the flexible key plate receiving a corresponding one of the plurality of key tops.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the heights of the plurality of key tops increases as the distance from the center of the cutout increases.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the variable heights of the plurality of key tops enable an actuation force of each key top to be substantially equal.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the flexible key plate comprises at least one of a polycarbonate, a thermoplastic, an elastomer, or a metal.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein a thickness of the flexible key plate ranges from about 0.05 mm to about 1.5 mm.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein a thickness of the flexible key plate ranges from about 0.4 mm to about 0.6 mm.

19. A method comprising:

providing a cover with a cutout for a device that includes a plurality of key tops;

providing a flexible key plate over at least the cutout of the cover, the flexible key plate comprising at least one of a polycarbonate, a thermoplastic, an elastomer, or a metal, and further comprising a thickness ranging from about 0.05 mm to about 1.5 mm; and

forming a plurality openings in the flexible key plate for receiving the plurality of key tops.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing the flexible key plate within the cutout of the cover.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

removably connecting the flexible key plate to the cover.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing the flexible key plate over at least a portion of a top surface of the cover.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

connecting the flexible key plate to the cover.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

removably connecting the flexible key plate to the cover.

25. A system comprising:

means for providing a cover including a cutout;

means for providing a substrate including a key pad within the cover;

means for providing the key pad substantially aligned with the cutout of the cover;

means for providing a key top adjacent to the key pad through the cutout of the cover;

means for providing a flexible key plate over at least the cutout of the cover; and

means for providing an opening in the flexible key plate for receiving the key top.

26. A flexible key plate for a device including a key top, comprising:

a body portion including;

at least one of a polycarbonate, a thermoplastic, an elastomer, or a metal, a thickness ranging from about 0.05 mm to about 1.5 mm, and an opening for receiving the key top of the device.