Keypad apparatus with integral display indicators
First Claim
1. In a radiotelephone having radiotelephone circuitry operative to receive manually-generated input signals generated by way of a plurality of keypad pushbuttons integrally molded with a keypad, the keypad further having a surface positioned in tandem with a surface of the circuit board, a combination with the radiotelephone circuitry and the keypad of an assembly for visually indicating selected signals generated by the radiotelephone circuitry, said combination comprising:
- at least one light-generating device coupled to the radiotelephone circuitry and disposed upon the surface of the circuit board, wherein the at least one light-generating device is operative to emit light responsive to a signal generated by the radiotelephone circuitry;
a sheet of translucent material integrally molded with the keypad, extending beyond an edge surface thereof and positioned above the at least one light-generating device when the keypad is positioned upon the surface of the circuit board; and
at least one light-diffusing indicator integrally molded with the sheet of translucent material, the least one light-diffusing indicator extending beyond a top surface of the sheet of translucent material, wherein the least one light-diffusing indicator is positioned above corresponding ones of the least one light-generating device to diffuse light generated therefrom when the keypad is positioned upon the surface of the circuit board.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A keypad apparatus (100) with integral display indicator bars (102-104) provides input to a device while displaying the status of the device on the display indicator bars (102-104). The apparatus is comprised of a matrix of data input keys (101). The indicator bars (102-104) are coupled to the matrix of keys (101), the apparatus (100) being manufactured as a single unit. Both the data input keys (101) and the indicator bars (102-104) are comprised of substantially the same material; a flexible and translucent silicone material. This material enables the keypad apparatus, that is backlit by the device, to diffuse the light, thereby lighting the data keys. Each indicator bar (102-104) has an individual backlight (108) from the device, allowing a particular indicator bar to be lit individually.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. In a radiotelephone having radiotelephone circuitry operative to receive manually-generated input signals generated by way of a plurality of keypad pushbuttons integrally molded with a keypad, the keypad further having a surface positioned in tandem with a surface of the circuit board, a combination with the radiotelephone circuitry and the keypad of an assembly for visually indicating selected signals generated by the radiotelephone circuitry, said combination comprising:
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at least one light-generating device coupled to the radiotelephone circuitry and disposed upon the surface of the circuit board, wherein the at least one light-generating device is operative to emit light responsive to a signal generated by the radiotelephone circuitry; a sheet of translucent material integrally molded with the keypad, extending beyond an edge surface thereof and positioned above the at least one light-generating device when the keypad is positioned upon the surface of the circuit board; and at least one light-diffusing indicator integrally molded with the sheet of translucent material, the least one light-diffusing indicator extending beyond a top surface of the sheet of translucent material, wherein the least one light-diffusing indicator is positioned above corresponding ones of the least one light-generating device to diffuse light generated therefrom when the keypad is positioned upon the surface of the circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A user interface apparatus for a radiotelephone having radiotelephone circuitry operative to receive manually-generated input signals, and light-generating devices disposed on a surface of the circuit board for indicating a status of output signals generated by the radiotelephone circuitry, the user interface apparatus comprising:
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a keypad formed of a flexible material and having integrally molded therewith a plurality of keypad pushbuttons positioned at spaced locations to form an array of keypad pushbuttons, wherein individual ones of the plurality of keypad pushbuttons produce the manually-generated input signals upon actuation of the individual ones of the plurality of keypad pushbuttons; a sheet of translucent material integrally molded with the keypad, extending beyond an edge surface thereof and positioned above the plurality of light-generating devices when the keypad is positioned upon the surface of the circuit board; and a plurality of light-diffusing indicators integrally molded with the sheet of translucent material, each of the plurality of light-diffusing indicators extending beyond a top surface of the sheet of translucent material, wherein individual ones of the plurality of light-diffusing indicators are positioned above corresponding individual ones of the light-generating devices to diffuse light generated therefrom when the keypad is positioned upon the surface of the circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A radiotelephone comprising:
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a circuit board; radiotelephone circuitry operative to receive manually-generated input signals and to generate output signals; a keypad formed of a flexible material and having integrally molded therewith a plurality of keypad pushbuttons positioned at spaced locations to form an array of keypad pushbuttons, wherein individual ones of the plurality of keypad pushbuttons produce the manually-generated input signals upon actuation of the individual ones of the plurality of keypad pushbuttons; a plurality of light-generating devices, disposed on the surface of the circuit board, for generating light to indicate a status of the output signals; a sheet of translucent material integrally molded with the keypad, extending beyond an edge surface thereof and positioned above the plurality of light-generating devices when the keypad is positioned upon the surface of the circuit board; and a plurality of light-diffusing indicators integrally molded with the sheet of translucent material, each of the plurality of light-diffusing indicators extending beyond a top surface of the sheet of translucent material, wherein individual ones of the plurality of light-diffusing indicators are positioned above corresponding ones of the light-generating devices to diffuse light generated therefrom when the keypad is positioned upon the surface of the circuit board. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification