Electroluminescent backlit keypad
First Claim
1. An illuminated flexible-touch keypad providing at least one key, the key being illuminated with a substantially uniform light intensity, the keypad comprising:
- (a) a circuitry layer having conductors thereon;
(b) an actuator layer overlying the circuitry layer, the actuator layer having a nonconductive base web and at least one translucent post, the post protruding up from the base web and arranged to be substantially aligned with a corresponding conductor on the circuitry layer;
(c) an electroluminescent panel overlying the actuator layer, the electroluminescent panel containing at least one aperture substantially aligned with and established to receive a corresponding post of the actuator layer, and through which the post protrudes; and
(d) a flexible surface layer overlying the electroluminescent panel, at least one portion of the surface layer comprising at least one key, the portion comprising one key being substantially aligned with a corresponding post of the actuator layer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible-touch keypad (100) is backlit by an electroluminescent layer (118) that overlies an actuator layer (108) and a circuitry layer (102). The actuator layer (108) includes posts (112A) protruding through apertures (120) in the electroluminescent layer (118) and extending upward toward a translucent flexible surface layer (124). The flexible surface layer (124) is coated with an opaque layer (206), which is etched to form indicia (130). The protruding post (112A) is translucent and functions as a light pipe, directing light upward from the electroluminescent layer (118) and through the translucent surface layer (124) with a substantially uniform light intensity, the light being visible through the etched indicia (130). When a key (128A) on the surface layer (124) is depressed, a corresponding post (112A) is urged downward toward the circuitry layer (102). A conductive pill (116A) attached to the post (112A) contacts a switch area (104) on the circuitry layer (102), thereby completing a circuit. The actuator layer (108) provides tactile feedback when a key (128A) is depressed.
164 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An illuminated flexible-touch keypad providing at least one key, the key being illuminated with a substantially uniform light intensity, the keypad comprising:
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(a) a circuitry layer having conductors thereon; (b) an actuator layer overlying the circuitry layer, the actuator layer having a nonconductive base web and at least one translucent post, the post protruding up from the base web and arranged to be substantially aligned with a corresponding conductor on the circuitry layer; (c) an electroluminescent panel overlying the actuator layer, the electroluminescent panel containing at least one aperture substantially aligned with and established to receive a corresponding post of the actuator layer, and through which the post protrudes; and (d) a flexible surface layer overlying the electroluminescent panel, at least one portion of the surface layer comprising at least one key, the portion comprising one key being substantially aligned with a corresponding post of the actuator layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An illuminated flexible-touch keypad providing at least one key, the key being illuminated with a substantially uniform light intensity, the keypad comprising:
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(a) a circuitry layer having a plurality of conductors thereon; (b) a flexible surface layer overlying the circuitry layer, at least one portion of the surface layer comprising at least one key; (c) an actuator layer positioned between the circuitry layer and the flexible surface layer; (d) an electroluminescent panel positioned between the circuitry layer and the flexible surface layer; and (e) a translucent member functioning as a light pipe to transmit light toward the surface layer, the translucent member extending from at least adjacent the electroluminescent panel to adjacent the surface layer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification