Electronic device with tactile keypad-overlay

• US 6,259,044 B1
• Filed: 03/03/2000
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Intermec IP Corporation (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Paratore, Robert, Benson, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): FRIEDHOFER, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US09/518,129
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5.A, 200/18, 200/512-517, 200/310-317, 200/341-345, 400/472, 400/490-496
• US Class Current: 200/5.00A
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04809 Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/016 Protection layer, e.g. for legend, anti-scratch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/006 Only mechanical function
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/008 Part of substrate or membrane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/002 replaceable; adaptable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/002 integral with membrane

Abstract

A keypad-overlay for use with an electronic device. The electronic device has a plurality of keys or signal input members coupled to electronic components within a housing of the electronic device. The signal input members have key indicia that identify key strokes usable in operation of the electronic components. The keypad-overlay is removably positioned adjacent to the signal input members. The keypad-overlay has a plurality of translucent cover members each positioned over a respective key indicia within the key indicia being visible to a user through the translucent cover member. The cover members have tactile indicators that provide a tactile indication to a user that the cover member has depressed a selected distance to accomplish a key stroke. The cover members have a key-activating protrusion positioned to engage and activate the key when the cover member is depressed toward the key.

Claims

1. A hand-held electronic device, comprising:

a housing with a plurality of electronic components therein;

a display coupled to the housing;

a plurality of signal input members with key indicia identifying key strokes usable in operation of the electronic components;

a keypad-overlay removably positioned adjacent to the signal input members, the keypad-overlay having a plurality of translucent cover members each positioned over the respective key indicia with the key indicia being visible to an operator through a respective translucent cover member, the cover members having tactile indicators providing a tactile indication to the operator that a respective cover member has been depressed a selected distance to accomplish a key stroke, the cover members having a key-activating projection positioned to engage a selected signal input member when the cover member has been moved to accomplish the key stroke.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of signal input members are on the display and the keypad-overlay is positioned adjacent to the display.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the display is a touch-sensitive screen and the key indicia are on the display, the keypad-overlay is removably positioned on the touch-sensitive screen.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the cover members are transparent.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the key-activating projection is positioned substantially along a central axis of the cover member.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the key activating projection is positioned substantially around a perimeter portion of the cover member.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the cover members are resilient collapsible dome-shaped members, each of the cover members being movable from a raised position to a collapsed position when a selected force is applied to the cover member and being biased toward the raised position.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the cover members include a top-side and collapsible sidewalls connected to the top side.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the cover members are movable between raised and collapsed positions and are biased toward the raised position.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the keypad-overlay is a sheet of molded thermoplastic material.

11. An electronic device, comprising:

a plurality of signal input members with key indicia that identity key strokes usable in operation of the electronic device;

a keypad-overlay removably positioned adjacent to the signal input members, the keypad-overlay having a plurality of translucent cover members each positioned over respective key indicia with the key indicia being visible to a user through a respective translucent cover member, the cover members having tactile indicators providing a tactile indication to a user when a respective cover member has been depressed a selected distance to accomplish a key stroke, each of the cover members being a convex member with an interior area and a key-activating portion in the interior area, the key-activating portion being positioned to engage a selected key when the respective cover member has been moved to accomplish the key stroke.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein the key indicia is on a display and the keypad-overlay is positioned adjacent to the display.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, further comprising a touch-sensitive screen and the key indicia are displayed on the touch-sensitive screen, the keypad-overlay is removably positioned on the touch-sensitive screen.

14. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein the cover members are transparent.

15. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein the cover members are resilient collapsible dome-shaped members, each of the cover members being movable from a raised position to a collapsed position when a selected force is applied to the respective cover member.

16. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein the key-activating portion is positioned substantially along a central axis of a respective cover member.

17. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein the key-activating portion is positioned substantially adjacent to an outer perimeter portion of a respective cover member.

18. The electronic device of claim 11 wherein the key-activating portion is spaced substantially concentrically about a central axis of a respective cover member.

19. A keypad-overlay for use with a hand-held electronic device having a housing with a plurality of electronic components therein, a display coupled to the housing, and a plurality of key indicia identifying key strokes usable in operation of the electronic components, comprising a web portion removably positionable adjacent to the key indicia, and a plurality of translucent cover members connected to the web portion, each of the cover members being positioned over a respective key with the key being visible to an operator through the respective cover member, the cover members having tactile indicators configured to provide a tactile indication to an operator that the respective cover member has been depressed a selected distance to accomplish a key stroke during operation of the electronic components, the respective cover member having a key-activating protrusion positioned to engage the respective key when the respective cover member is moved to accomplish the key stroke.

20. The keypad-overlay of claim 19 wherein the plurality of key indicia are on the display and the keypad-overlay is positioned adjacent to the display.

21. The keypad-overlay of claim 19 wherein the cover members are resilient collapsible dome-shaped members, each of the cover members being movable from a raised position to a collapsed position when a selected force is applied to the respective cover member and each of the cover members is biased to the raised position.

22. The keypad-overlay of claim 19 wherein the key-activating protrusion is positioned substantially along the axis of the respective cover member.

23. The keypad-overlay of claim 19 wherein the web portion is integrally connected to the cover members.

24. The keypad-overlay of claim 19 wherein the keypad-overlay is a disposable molded sheet of thermoplastic material.

25. The keypad-overlay of claim 19, wherein each of the cover members includes a top side and collapsible sidewalls connected to the top-side.

26. The keypad-overlay of claim 19 wherein the respective cover member is movable between raised and collapsed positions, and the cover members includes collapsible sidewalls that provide the tactile indication to the user when the respective cover member moves toward the collapsed position.

27. The keypad-overlay of claim 19 wherein the key-activating protrusion is positioned substantially around a perimeter portion of the respective cover member.

28. The keypad-overlay of claim 19 wherein the key-activating protrusion is a compressible member.

29. The keypad-overlay of claim 19 wherein each of the cover members is movable between raised and collapsed positions, and the cover member includes a biasing member that biases the respective cover member toward the raised position.