Stack assembly for implementing keypads on mobile computing devices
First Claim
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1. A modular stack assembly for use as at least a part of a keypad for a mobile computing device, the stack assembly comprising:
- an electrical contact layer on which a plurality of contact elements are provided;
an actuation member layer on which a plurality of actuation members are provided, wherein each actuation member in the plurality of actuation members extends inward from a corresponding key structure of a key structure layer and is aligned so that an axial movement of that actuation member causes a corresponding one of the plurality of contact elements to actuate; and
an illumination layer configured to emit light to the keypad, the illumination layer comprising a plurality of discrete light sources that are positioned underneath the actuation member layer and the key structure layer;
wherein the electrical contact layer, the actuation member layer and the illumination layer are integrally combined to form at least a portion of the modular stack assembly;
wherein the modular stack assembly is structured to be capable of being combined, as a single unit, with a housing of the mobile computing device during an assembly process for manufacturing the mobile computing device.
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Abstract
A stack assembly for use with a mobile computing device. In one embodiment, the stack assembly includes an electrical contact layer, and actuation member layer, and an illumination layer. The electrical contact layer includes a plurality of contact elements. The actuation member layer includes a plurality of actuation members are, wherein each actuation member is aligned so that an axial movement of that member causes a corresponding one of the plurality of contact elements to actuate. The illumination layer is configured to emit light to the keypad.
276 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A modular stack assembly for use as at least a part of a keypad for a mobile computing device, the stack assembly comprising:
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an electrical contact layer on which a plurality of contact elements are provided; an actuation member layer on which a plurality of actuation members are provided, wherein each actuation member in the plurality of actuation members extends inward from a corresponding key structure of a key structure layer and is aligned so that an axial movement of that actuation member causes a corresponding one of the plurality of contact elements to actuate; and an illumination layer configured to emit light to the keypad, the illumination layer comprising a plurality of discrete light sources that are positioned underneath the actuation member layer and the key structure layer; wherein the electrical contact layer, the actuation member layer and the illumination layer are integrally combined to form at least a portion of the modular stack assembly; wherein the modular stack assembly is structured to be capable of being combined, as a single unit, with a housing of the mobile computing device during an assembly process for manufacturing the mobile computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A modular stack assembly for use as at least a part of a keypad of a mobile computing device, the stack assembly comprising:
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an electrical contact layer on which a plurality of contact elements are provided; a key structure layer that provides a plurality of key structures; an actuation member layer on which a plurality of actuation members are provided, wherein each actuation member in the plurality of actuation members extends inward from a corresponding key structure of a key structure layer and is aligned so that an axial movement of that actuation member causes a corresponding one of the plurality of contact elements to actuate; and an illumination layer configured to emit light to the keypad, the illumination layer comprising a plurality of discrete light sources that are positioned underneath the actuation member layer and the key structure layer; wherein the electrical contact layer, the actuation member layer, the key structure layer and the illumination layer are integrally combined so as to form at least a portion of the modular stack assembly; wherein the modular stack assembly is structured to be capable of being combined, as a single unit, with a housing of the mobile computing device during an assembly process for manufacturing the mobile computing device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 23)
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21. The stack assembly of 18, wherein the illumination layer comprises one of (i) electroluminescent material, (ii) a plurality of light emitting diodes, or (iii) a combination thereof.
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22. The stack assembly of 17, wherein the key structure layer defines a keyboard.
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24. A modular stack assembly for use as at least a part of a keypad for a mobile computing device, the stack assembly comprising:
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an electrical contact layer on which a plurality of contact elements are provided, the plurality of contact elements including a plurality of snap domes; an actuation member layer on which a plurality of actuation members are provided, wherein each actuation member in the plurality of actuation members is aligned so that an axial movement of that actuation member causes a corresponding one of the plurality of contact elements to actuate; and an illumination layer configured to emit light to the keypad; wherein the electrical contact layer, the actuation member layer and the illumination layer are integrally combined so as to form at least a portion of the modular stack assembly; wherein the modular stack assembly is structured so as to be capable of being inserted as a single unit into a housing of the mobile computing device during a separate assembly process for the mobile computing device; and wherein each of the plurality of snap domes comprise an outer contact surface and an interior surface, and each snap dome is aligned to actuate with axial movement of a corresponding actuation member in the plurality of actuation members by having the outer contact surface collapse into the interior surface, and wherein the electrical contact layer further comprises a sheath that overlays a portion of at least some of the contact domes, wherein each of the at least some of the contact domes includes an opening in the sheath to receive the corresponding actuation member.
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Specification