Keyboard assembly for a mobile device

• US 6,891,529 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason T., Ladouceur, Norman M.
• Primary Examiner(s): WOODS, ERIC V
• Application Number:
  US10/302,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20030098853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 901 Days
• Field of Search: 345168-170, 341/20, 341/22, 341/26, 341/21, 200/5.A, 200/5.R
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7006 comprising a separate movable contact element for each switch site, all other elements being integrated in layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/807 characterised by the spatial arrangement of the contact sites, e.g. superimposed sites
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/024 Transmission element
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/01 Different switch sites under one actuator in same plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/026 Internal encoding, e.g. validity bit
• 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

Abstract

A keyboard assembly for a mobile device is provided that reduces the separation between keys by reducing the number of required dome switches. A reduction in the number of dome switches can alternatively reduce the amount of real estate taken up by dome switches on a printed circuit board (PCB). Fewer dome switches than keys are provided on a PCB to activate a desired functionality when a key is depressed. The dome switches are each actuatable by and disposed between more than one key, such keys preferably being adjacent keys. Each key has an actuator with at least one arm for actuating a dome switch in an actuated dome switch pattern when the key is depressed. Such a keyboard assembly can be used for any electronic device having a standard QWERTY or Dvorak keyboard layout, a standard telephone or numeric keypad layout, or any other layout of keys.

Claims

1. A keyboard assembly for an electronic device having a printed circuit board, comprising:

a plurality of dome switches disposed on the printed circuit board; and

a plurality of keys, greater in number than the plurality of dome switches, each key for actuating at least one of the plurality of dome switches in an actuated dome switch pattern, the actuated dome switch pattern determining an actuated key, and at least one of the plurality of keys for actuating more than one of the plurality of dome switches;

wherein the keyboard assembly further comprises a plurality of actuators, each of the plurality of actuators associated with one of the plurality of keys for actuating one of the plurality of dome switches in response to depression of the one of the plurality of keys;

and wherein at least one of the plurality of actuators has at least two arms, each arm for actuating a different one of the plurality of dome switches in the actuated dome switch pattern.

2. A keyboard assembly according to claim 1 wherein the electronic device is a mobile device.

3. A keyboard assembly according to claim 1 wherein a particular actuator includes an arm for maintaining the balance of a key when it is depressed.

4. A keyboard assembly according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of keys are arranged in rows and the plurality of dome switches are arranged in rows between the rows of keys such that each of the plurality of dome switches is positioned between two adjacent keys in a row.

5. A keyboard assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of dome switches is positioned between four diagonally keys disposed in two adjacent rows.

6. A keyboard assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of dome switches is actuatable by more than one of the plurality of keys.

7. A keyboard assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of dome switches is actuatable by four diagonally adjacent keys.

8. A keyboard assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of actuators is moulded as part of its associated key.

9. A mobile device having a memory and a printed circuit board, comprising:

a keyboard assembly including;

a plurality of dome switches disposed on the printed circuit board;

a plurality of keys, greater in number than the plurality of dome switches, arranged in a key configuration, each key for actuating at least one of the plurality of dome switches in an actuated dome switch pattern in response to depression of the key, the actuated dome switch pattern determining an actuated key, and at least one of the plurality of keys for actuating more than one of the plurality of dome switches;

an operating system stored in the memory, the operating system determining the actuated key based on the actuated dome switch pattern; and

an interface for communication between the keyboard assembly and the operating system;

wherein the key board assembly further comprises a plurality of actuators, each of the plurality of actuators associated with one of the plurality of keys for actuating one of the plurality of dome switches in response to depression of the one of the plurality of keys;

and wherein at least one of the plurality of actuators has at least two arms, each arm for actuating a different one of the plurality of dome switches in the actuated dome switch pattern.

10. A mobile device according to claim 9 wherein the key configuration comprises a QWERTY keyboard configuration.

11. A mobile device according to claim 9 wherein the key configuration comprises a Dvorak keyboard configuration.

12. A mobile device according to claim 9 wherein the key configuration comprises a standard telephone keypad configuration.

13. A keyboard assembly for a mobile device having a printed circuit board, comprising:

a plurality of keys arranged in rows in a key configuration;

a plurality of dome switches, less in number than the plurality of keys, disposed on the printed circuit board and arranged in rows between the rows of keys such that each of the plurality of dome switches is positioned between two adjacent keys in a row; and

a plurality of actuators each associated with one of the plurality of keys, at least one of the plurality of actuators having at least two arms, each arm for actuating a different one of the plurality of dome switches in an actuated dome switch pattern in response to depression of an actuated key.

14. A keyboard assembly according to claim 13 wherein the actuated dome switch pattern corresponds uniquely to a particular key depression.

15. A keyboard assembly according to claim 13 wherein a particular actuator includes an arm for maintaining the balance of a key when it is depressed.

16. A keyboard assembly according to claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of dome switches is positioned between four diagonally adjacent keys disposed in two adjacent rows.

17. A keyboard assembly according to claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of dome switches is actuatable by four diagonally adjacent keys.

18. A keyboard assembly according to claim 13 wherein each of the plurality of actuators is moulded as part of its associated key.

19. A keyboard assembly for an electronic device having a printed circuit board, comprising:

a plurality of dome switches disposed on the printed circuit board; and

a plurality of keys, greater in number than the plurality of dome switches, each key for actuating at least one of the plurality of dome switches in an actuated dome switch pattern, the actuated dome switch pattern determining an actuated key, and at least one of the plurality of keys for actuating more than one of the plurality of dome switches;

wherein the keyboard assembly further comprises a plurality of actuators, each of the plurality of actuators associated with one of the plurality of keys for actuating one of the plurality of dome switches in response to depression of the one of the plurality of keys;

wherein a particular actuator includes an arm for maintaining the balance of a key when it is depressed; and

wherein at least one of the plurality of actuators has at least two arms, each arm for actuating a different one of the plurality of dome switches in the actuated dome switch pattern.

20. A keyboard assembly according to claim 19 wherein the plurality of keys are arranged in rows and the plurality of dome switches are arranged in rows between the rows of keys such that each of the plurality of dome switches is positioned between two adjacent keys in a row.

21. A keyboard assembly according to claim 19 wherein each of the plurality of dome switches is positioned between four diagonally adjacent keys disposed in two adjacent rows.

22. A keyboard assembly according to claim 19 wherein each of the plurality of dome switches is actuatable by more than one of the plurality of keys.

23. A keyboard assembly according to claim 19 wherein each of the plurality of dome switches is actuatable by four diagonally adjacent key .

24. A keyboard assembly according to claim 19 wherein each of the plurality of actuators is moulded as part of its associated key.

25. A keyboard assembly according to claim 19 wherein the electronic device is a mobile device.

26. A mobile device having a memory and a print circuit board, comprising:

a keyboard assembly including;

a plurality of dome switches disposed on the printed circuit board;

a plurality of keys, greater in number than the plurality of dome switches, arranged in a key configuration, each key for actuating at least one of the plurality of dome switches in an actuated dome switch pattern in response to depression of the key, the actuated dome switch pattern determining an actuated key, and at least one of the plurality of keys for actuating more than one of the plurality of dome switches;

an operating system stored in the memory, the operating system determining the actuated key based on the actuated dome switch pattern; and

an interface for communication between the keyboard assembly and the operating system;

wherein the keyboard assembly further comprises a plurality of actuators, each of the plurality of actuators associated with one of the plurality of keys for actuating one of the plurality of dome switches in response to depression of the one of the plurality of keys;

wherein a particular actuator includes an arm for maintaining the balance of a key when it is depressed; and

wherein at least one of the plurality of actuators has at least two arms, each arm for actuating a different one of the plurality of dome switches in the actuated dome switch pattern.

27. A mobile device according to claim 26 wherein the key configuration comprises a QWERTY keyboard configuration.

28. A mobile device according to claim 26 wherein the key configuration comprises a Dvorak keyboard configuration.

29. A mobile device according to claim 26 wherein the key configuration comprises a standard telephone keypad configuration.