Small form-factor keypad for mobile computing devices
First Claim
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1. A mobile computing device comprising:
- a plurality of electrical contacts;
a plurality of key structures that are each moveable inward, from an original position into an engaged position, in order to cause an actuation member extending from each of the plurality of key structures to contact a corresponding electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts,wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts comprises an interior contact, an outer contact surface curved outward over the interior contact, and a sheath layer affixed over the outer contact surface, the sheath layer being semi-rigid, and the outer contact surface combined with the sheath layer are collapsible together when pressed by the actuation member that is aligned with that electrical contact.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide an effective keypad assembly and keypad layout for mobile computing devices. In particular, embodiments of the invention provide keyboard layouts and designs. Additionally, embodiments described herein provide for stack components to make keyboards operable on small-form factor devices.
268 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A mobile computing device comprising:
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a plurality of electrical contacts; a plurality of key structures that are each moveable inward, from an original position into an engaged position, in order to cause an actuation member extending from each of the plurality of key structures to contact a corresponding electrical contact of the plurality of electrical contacts, wherein each of the plurality of electrical contacts comprises an interior contact, an outer contact surface curved outward over the interior contact, and a sheath layer affixed over the outer contact surface, the sheath layer being semi-rigid, and the outer contact surface combined with the sheath layer are collapsible together when pressed by the actuation member that is aligned with that electrical contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A keyboard for a mobile computing device comprising:
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a plurality of key structures, each key structure being moveable inward from an original position into an engaged position in order to cause an input to be registered by one or more processors of the mobile computing device; and an electrical contact layer comprising a plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the one or more electrical contacts each include a sheath layer affixed over an outer contact surface, the sheath layer being semi-rigid, and the sheath layer combined with the outer contact surface are collapsible together when pressed by an actuation member that is positioned to extend inward when a corresponding key structure is pressed. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification