ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20080144261A1
• Filed: 12/13/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: YING, LU XIAO, ZHONG, DONG, ORTIZ, JERRIC P.
• Application Number:
  US11/610,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20080144261A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/680
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0249 Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/026 Details of the structure or mounting of specific components
• 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 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

Disclosed is an electronic device 100 with a housing for electronic circuitry (110) and a flexible sheet (102) that completely covers both a touch screen region (114) and a keypad region (112) of the electronic device (100). The flexible sheet (102) is mounted to the housing and provides a front face of the electronic device (100).

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a housing within which is housed an electronic circuitry; and

a flexible sheet completely covering both a touch screen region and a keypad region of the electronic device, the flexible sheet being mounted to the housing and providing a front face of the electronic device.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet also covers a speaker region of the electronic device, wherein there is an aperture in an area of the flexible sheet that covers the speaker region.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet is transparent.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein in use to actuate switches in the keypad region, a force is required to be applied to a selected area of the keypad region of the flexible sheet.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein to enter a command at a touch screen assembly, a force is required to be applied to a selected area of the touch screen region of the flexible sheet.

6. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein there is a printed film beneath the flexible sheet.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet has markings printed on its rear face thereof.

8. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the printed film has markings printed on it.

9. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the markings identify a keypad in the keypad region.

10. The electronic device of claim 8, wherein the markings provide a boundary around the touch screen region.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet solely forms the front face of the electronic device.

12. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a front housing and a back housing.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the front housing comprises a frame with a recessed rim for supporting the flexible sheet.

14. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises a radio frequency communication unit and a processor.

15. The electronic device of claim 9, further comprising a membrane with an array of plungers, wherein the membrane is aligned and adjacent with the keypad.

16. The electronic device of claim 15, further comprising an array of domes, wherein the array of domes is aligned an adjacent with the membrane thereby, providing a tactile keypad assembly.

17. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touch screen region overlays a touch screen assembly beneath the touch screen region, the touch screen assembly being aligned and adjacent with the touch screen region.

18. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the speaker region comprises a speaker beneath the speaker region, the speaker being adjacent and aligned with the aperture.