HANDSET KEYPAD

• US 20080037765A1
• Filed: 07/24/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Finney, Mark D., Emmert, Steve C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,834,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/368
• 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 keypad (1200) includes a plurality of keys (1202) and a plurality of key dividers (1204-1210) wherein each of the key dividers includes a plurality of raised guide portions (1212-1214) and at least one tactile cue portion (1214) that is interposed between the plurality of raised guide portions (1212-1214). In one example, the keypad (1200) is a bell keypad and is made up of an elastomeric substrate (44) that includes the key dividers (1212-1214), a keypad dome array (48) that supports the silicone substrate (44) and a keypad sheet (36), such as a top sheet of a front assembly, having keypad indicia thereon and slots operatively sized to receive the plurality of key dividers.

Claims

1. A keypad comprising:

a plurality of keys; and

a plurality of key dividers, operatively positioned with respect to the plurality of keys, wherein each of the plurality of key dividers includes a plurality of raised guide portions and at least one tactile cue portion interposed between the plurality of raised guide portions.

2. The keypad of claim 1 wherein a horizontal row of keys is positioned between parallel key dividers.

3. The keypad of claim 1 wherein the tactile cue portion is recessed with respect to the plurality of raised guide portions.

4. The keypad of claim 1 wherein the tactile cue portion is raised with respect to the plurality of raised guide portions.

5. The keypad of claim 1 further comprising a segmented key divider positioned above a plurality of keys.

6. A keypad comprising:

a plurality of keys arranged in a bell keypad layout; and

a plurality of arced key dividers, operatively positioned above and below keys in a respective row of keys, wherein each of the plurality of arced key dividers includes a plurality of raised guide portions and a plurality of tactile cue portions interposed between the plurality of raised guide portions that provide lateral tactile cues.

7. The keypad of claim 6 comprising an elastomeric sheet comprising the plurality of arced key dividers, a keypad dome array that supports the elastomeric sheet and a keypad sheet having key pad indicia thereon and slots operatively sized to receive the plurality of arced dividers.

8. The keypad of claim 6 wherein each of the plurality of tactile cue portions are offset from centers of a plurality of keys.

9. A handheld device comprising:

a plurality of keys; and

a plurality of arced key dividers, operatively positioned with respect to the plurality of keys, wherein each of the plurality of arced key dividers includes a plurality of raised guide portions and at least one tactile cue portion interposed between the plurality of raised guide portions.

10. The handheld device of claim 9 wherein the keys are positioned between parallel arced key dividers.

11. The handheld device of claim 9 wherein the tactile cue portion is recessed with respect to the plurality of raised guide portions.

12. The handheld device of claim 9 wherein the tactile cue portion is raised with respect to the plurality of raised guide portions.

13. The handheld device of claim 9 further comprising a segmented arced key divider position above a plurality of keys.

14. A handheld device comprising:

a keypad comprising;

a plurality of keys arranged in a bell keypad layout; and

a plurality of arced key dividers, operatively positioned above and below keys in a respective row of keys, wherein each of the plurality of arced key dividers includes a plurality of raised guide portions and a plurality of tactile cue portions interposed between the plurality of raised guide portions that provide lateral tactile cues.

15. The handheld device of claim 14 comprising an elastomeric sheet comprising the plurality of arced key dividers.

16. The handheld device of claim 15 wherein each of the plurality of tactile cue portions are offset from centers of a plurality of keys.