Direct keypad backlighting

• US 5,847,336 A
• Filed: 05/02/1997
• Issued: 12/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Thornton, Curtis Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Friedhofer, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US08/850,071
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5 A, 200/512, 200/513, 200/517, 200/310, 200/313, 200/314, 400/472, 400/490
• US Class Current: 200/5.00A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2203/054 for redundancy, e.g. several contact pairs in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2205/002 fixed to operating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/01 Off centre actuation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/014 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/016 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/034 Coloured areas
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/04 Attachments; Connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/046 above switch site
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/002 integral with membrane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/028 Adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/034 Positioning of layers

Abstract

Light-emitting diodes are positioned directly under each key of a multi-key flexible pad of a keypad assembly. Each of the light-emitting diodes is disposed within a cavity formed in the lower surface of a respective key whereby all of the light emitted by the diode is transmitted directly into the key. In one embodiment, the light-emitting diodes are mounted on a flexible film disposed between the flexible pad containing the keys and a flexible sheet having a plurality of raised domes. In a second embodiment, the light emitting diodes are mounted on the upper surface of a printed circuit board. The keypad assembly addresses the problem of low light transmission efficiency through light guides, or the use of individual optic fibers to illuminate each of the keys. Furthermore, the keypad assembly, by the elimination of light transmitting structures within the keypad assembly, enables the design of thin-section telecommunication instruments. Each of the contacts on the flexible film is arranged for connection with a predetermined electrical contact disposed on the printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A keypad assembly, comprising:

a flexible pad having an upper surface with at least one key defined thereon, and a lower surface spaced from said upper surface;

a flexible film having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface of the flexible film being disposed in adjacent relationship with the lower surface of said flexible pad and having at least one light-emitting diode mounted thereon in respective aligned relationship with said at least one key of the flexible pad;

at least one push-type switch disposed in adjacent relationship with the lower surface of said film and in respective aligned relationship with said at least one key of the flexible pad.

2. A keypad assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said keypad assembly includes a flexible sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface of the flexible sheet being disposed in adjacent relationship with the lower surface of said flexible film, and said at least one push-type switch comprises at least one collapsible raised dome integrally formed with said flexible sheet in respective aligned relationship with said at least one key of the flexible pad and having an electrically conductive element disposed on a concave surface of said dome.

3. A keypad assembly, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said assembly includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical contacts disposed on a first surface of the printed circuit board, said first surface being adjacently disposed with respect to the lower surface of said flexible sheet, said electrical contacts being arranged in a predefined pattern on the first surface of said printed circuit board whereby at least one pair of said electrical contacts is respectively aligned with said at least one key of the flexible pad when said flexible pad, said flexible film and said flexible sheet are assembled with said printed circuit board, and said electrically conductive element disposed on a concave surface of the dome is disposed in normally spaced, aligned relationship with a respective pair of said at least one pair of electrical contacts disposed on the first surface of said printed circuit board.

4. A keypad assembly, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said flexible film includes at least one electrical connector disposed on said flexible film and a plurality of electrically conductive leads each of which extend between one of said at least one light-emitting diode and said at least one electrical connector disposed on the flexible film, and said printed circuit board has at least one electrical connector disposed thereon that is arranged for electrical connection with said at least one electrical connector disposed on the flexible film.

5. A keypad assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one light-emitting diode is mounted on a separately designated area of the upper surface of said flexible film and partially defined by a slot extending between the upper and lower surfaces of said flexible film whereby said designated area is capable of being deflected in response to depressing a key of the flexible pad that is aligned with the light-emitting diode mounted on the respective separately designated area of the flexible film.

6. A keypad assembly, as set forth in claim 5 wherein said at least one light-emitting diode is disposed in intimate contact with a lower surface of said at least one key of the flexible pad, said separately designated area of the flexible film having a lower surface disposed in aligned relationship with said at least one push-type switch whereby said at least one light-emitting diode is deflected in response to depressing said at least one key of said flexible pad aligned with said at least one light-emitting diode, and said at least one light-emitting diode accordingly deflects said separately designated area of the flexible film, and said deflected separately designated area of the flexible film urges said at least one push-type switch aligned with said at least one key of the flexible pad to a closed position.

7. A keypad assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said at least one key of the flexible pad has a cavity extending inwardly from the lower surface of the respective key and each of said at least one light-emitting diode is disposed within a respective cavity.

8. A keypad assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said flexible pad is at least partially formed of an electrically nonconductive, translucent, elastomeric material.