Patent Application
20110024276
This disclosure is directed to personal communication devices, and more specifically to a keyboard assembly of a mobile communication device.
Mobile communication devices are well known and are utilized for both business and personal use. Conventional mobile communication devices are typically two-way communication devices that offer voice and data communication, such as email and text messaging. Additional features such as Internet browsing, navigation systems and calendar applications are also available on some conventional devices.
Typical mobile communication devices include a multi-part keyboard structure including, among other things, a keyboard having a plurality of keys configured for typing phone numbers, email, text messages, and the like. Such keyboards can either be a full QWERTY keyboard, where each key is associated with a corresponding letter, or a reduced keyboard, where multiple letters are associated with a corresponding key.
Conventional keyboard structures also typically include a dome sheet located between the keyboard and a circuit board and having a number of domes. Upon actuation of the keys, the corresponding domes engage contacts on the circuit board, enabling activation of commands for various applications. Although some dome sheets provide one-stage switches, it is sometimes useful to provide a two-stage dome switch, such as when taking a picture. Specifically, upon a first actuation of the key, the auto-focus function is enabled, and upon a second actuation of the key, the picture is taken. Such two-stage switches are useful when operating functions such as the camera, but typically require more complex constructions. In addition, such assemblies are typically more costly than one-stage switch assemblies.
For a better understanding of the various embodiments described herein and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings which show at least one exemplary embodiment and in which:
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.
The embodiments described herein generally relate to a keyboard structure for a mobile wireless communication device, hereafter referred to as a mobile device, which can be configured according to an IT policy. Examples of applicable communication devices include pagers, cellular phones, cellular smart-phones, wireless organizers, personal digital assistants, computers, laptops, handheld wireless communication devices, wirelessly enabled notebook computers and the like.
More specifically, a keyboard assembly for a mobile device having a housing is provided. The keyboard assembly includes a circuit board provided within the housing and having a plurality of contact assemblies thereon, a keyboard having a plurality of keys and being provided in a front face of the housing, and a dome sheet assembly arranged between the keyboard and the circuit board, the dome sheet assembly including a dome carrier configured for carrying a plurality of domes, wherein a gap is defined between the circuit board and the dome sheet.
The mobile device is a two-way communication device with advanced data communication capabilities including the capability to communicate with other mobile devices or computer systems through a network of transceiver stations. The mobile device may also have the capability to allow voice communication. Depending on the functionality provided by the mobile device, it may be referred to as a data messaging device, a two-way pager, a cellular telephone with data messaging capabilities, a wireless Internet appliance, or a data communication device (with or without telephony capabilities). To aid the reader in understanding the structure of the mobile device and how it communicates with other devices and host systems, reference will now be made to
Referring to
Although the wireless network 200 associated with mobile device 100 is a GSM/GPRS wireless network in one exemplary implementation, other wireless networks may also be associated with the mobile device 100 in variant implementations. The different types of wireless networks that may be employed include, for example, data-centric wireless networks, voice-centric wireless networks, and dual-mode networks that can support both voice and data communications over the same physical base stations. Combined dual-mode networks include, but are not limited to, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) or CDMA2000 networks, GSM/GPRS networks (as mentioned above), and future third-generation (3G) networks like EDGE and UMTS. Some other examples of data-centric networks include WiFi 802.11, Mobitex™ and DataTAC™ network communication systems. Examples of other voice-centric data networks include Personal Communication Systems (PCS) networks like GSM and Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems.
The main processor 102 also interacts with additional subsystems such as a Random Access Memory (RAM) 106, a flash memory 108, a display 110, an auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystem 112, a data port 114, a keyboard assembly 116, a speaker 118, a microphone 120, short-range communications 122 and other device subsystems 124.
Some of the subsystems of the mobile device 100 perform communication-related functions, whereas other subsystems may provide “resident” or on-device functions. By way of example, the display 110 and the keyboard 116 may be used for both communication-related functions, such as entering a text message for transmission over the network 200, and device-resident functions such as a calculator or task list.
The mobile device 100 can send and receive communication signals over the wireless network 200 after required network registration or activation procedures have been completed. Network access is associated with a subscriber or user of the mobile device 100. To identify a subscriber, the mobile device 100 requires a SIM/RUIM card 126 (i.e. Subscriber Identity Module or a Removable User Identity Module) to be inserted into a SIM/RUIM interface 128 in order to communicate with a network. The SIM card or RUIM 126 is one type of a conventional “smart card” that can be used to identify a subscriber of the mobile device 100 and to personalize the mobile device 100, among other things. Without the SIM card 126, the mobile device 100 is not fully operational for communication with the wireless network 200. By inserting the SIM card/RUIM 126 into the SIM/RUIM interface 128, a subscriber can access all subscribed services. Services may include: web browsing and messaging such as e-mail, voice mail, Short Message Service (SMS), and Multimedia Messaging Services (MMS). More advanced services may include: point of sale, field service and sales force automation. The SIM card/RUIM 126 includes a processor and memory for storing information. Once the SIM card/RUIM 126 is inserted into the SIM/RUIM interface 128, it is coupled to the main processor 102. In order to identify the subscriber, the SIM card/RUIM 126 can include some user parameters such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). An advantage of using the SIM card/RUIM 126 is that a subscriber is not necessarily bound by any single physical mobile device. The SIM card/RUIM 126 may store additional subscriber information for a mobile device as well, including datebook (or calendar) information and recent call information. Alternatively, user identification information can also be programmed into the flash memory 108.
The mobile device 100 is a battery-powered device and includes a battery interface 132 for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries 130. In at least some embodiments, the battery 130 can be a smart battery with an embedded microprocessor. The battery interface 132 is coupled to a regulator (not shown), which assists the battery 130 in providing power V+ to the mobile device 100. Although current technology makes use of a battery, future technologies such as micro fuel cells may provide the power to the mobile device 100.
The mobile device 100 also includes an operating system 134 and software components 136 to 146 which are described in more detail below. The operating system 134 and the software components 136 to 146 that are executed by the main processor 102 are typically stored in a persistent store such as the flash memory 108, which may alternatively be a read-only memory (ROM) or similar storage element (not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that portions of the operating system 134 and the software components 136 to 146, such as specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile store such as the RAM 106. Other software components can also be included, as is well known to those skilled in the art.
The subset of software applications 136 that control basic device operations, including data and voice communication applications, will normally be installed on the mobile device 100 during its manufacture. Other software applications include a message application 138 that can be any suitable software program that allows a user of the mobile device 100 to send and receive electronic messages. Various alternatives exist for the message application 138 as is well known to those skilled in the art. Messages that have been sent or received by the user are typically stored in the flash memory 108 of the mobile device 100 or some other suitable storage element in the mobile device 100. In at least some embodiments, some of the sent and received messages may be stored remotely from the device 100 such as in a data store of an associated host system that the mobile device 100 communicates with.
The software applications can further include a device state module 140, a Personal Information Manager (PIM) 142, and other suitable modules (not shown). The device state module 140 provides persistence, i.e. the device state module 140 ensures that important device data is stored in persistent memory, such as the flash memory 108, so that the data is not lost when the mobile device 100 is turned off or loses power.
The PIM 142 includes functionality for organizing and managing data items of interest to the user, such as, but not limited to, e-mail, contacts, calendar events, voice mails, appointments, and task items. A PIM application has the ability to send and receive data items via the wireless network 200. PIM data items may be seamlessly integrated, synchronized, and updated via the wireless network 200 with the mobile device subscriber's corresponding data items stored and/or associated with a host computer system. This functionality creates a mirrored host computer on the mobile device 100 with respect to such items. This can be particularly advantageous when the host computer system is the mobile device subscriber's office computer system.
The mobile device 100 also includes a connect module 144, and an IT policy module 146. The connect module 144 implements the communication protocols that are required for the mobile device 100 to communicate with the wireless infrastructure and any host system, such as an enterprise system, that the mobile device 100 is authorized to interface with.
The connect module 144 includes a set of APIs that can be integrated with the mobile device 100 to allow the mobile device 100 to use any number of services associated with the enterprise system. The connect module 144 allows the mobile device 100 to establish an end-to-end secure, authenticated communication pipe with the host system. A subset of applications for which access is provided by the connect module 144 can be used to pass IT policy commands from the host system to the mobile device 100. This can be done in a wireless or wired manner. These instructions can then be passed to the IT policy module 146 to modify the configuration of the device 100. Alternatively, in some cases, the IT policy update can also be done over a wired connection.
Other types of software applications can also be installed on the mobile device 100. These software applications can be third party applications, which are added after the manufacture of the mobile device 100. Examples of third party applications include games, calculators, utilities, etc.
The additional applications can be loaded onto the mobile device 100 through at least one of the wireless network 200, the auxiliary I/O subsystem 112, the data port 114, the short-range communications subsystem 122, or any other suitable device subsystem 124. This flexibility in application installation increases the functionality of the mobile device 100 and may provide enhanced on-device functions, communication-related functions, or both. For example, secure communication applications may enable electronic commerce functions and other such financial transactions to be performed using the mobile device 100.
The data port 114 enables a subscriber to set preferences through an external device or software application and extends the capabilities of the mobile device 100 by providing for information or software downloads to the mobile device 100 other than through a wireless communication network. The alternate download path may, for example, be used to load an encryption key onto the mobile device 100 through a direct and thus reliable and trusted connection to provide secure device communication.
The data port 114 can be any suitable port that enables data communication between the mobile device 100 and another computing device. The data port 114 can be a serial or a parallel port. In some instances, the data port 114 can be a USB port that includes data lines for data transfer and a supply line that can provide a charging current to charge the battery 130 of the mobile device 100.
The short-range communications subsystem 122 provides for communication between the mobile device 100 and different systems or devices, without the use of the wireless network 200. For example, the subsystem 122 may include an infrared device and associated circuits and components for short-range communication. Examples of short-range communication standards include standards developed by the Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Bluetooth, and the 802.11 family of standards developed by IEEE.
In use, a received signal such as a text message, an e-mail message, or web page download will be processed by the communication subsystem 104 and input to the main processor 102. The main processor 102 will then process the received signal for output to the display 110 or alternatively to the auxiliary I/O subsystem 112. A subscriber may also compose data items, such as e-mail messages, for example, using the keyboard 116 in conjunction with the display 110 and possibly the auxiliary I/O subsystem 112. The auxiliary subsystem 112 may include devices such as: a touch screen, mouse, track ball, infrared fingerprint detector, or a roller wheel with dynamic button pressing capability. The keyboard 116 is preferably an alphanumeric keyboard and/or telephone-type keypad. However, other types of keyboards may also be used. A composed item may be transmitted over the wireless network 200 through the communication subsystem 104.
For voice communications, the overall operation of the mobile device 100 is substantially similar, except that the received signals are output to the speaker 118, and signals for transmission are generated by the microphone 120. Alternative voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, can also be implemented on the mobile device 100. Although voice or audio signal output is accomplished primarily through the speaker 118, the display 110 can also be used to provide additional information such as the identity of a calling party, duration of a voice call, or other voice call related information.
Referring now to
The housing 150 preferably has rounded or curved edges 152 to enable the user to comfortably grasp the device 100, although it is recognized that other similar shapes may be suitable. It is contemplated that rounded edges 152 provide a more comfortable fit in the user's palm than straight or right-angle edges, which may cause discomfort if the device 100 is held in the user's hand for long periods of time.
A front face 154 of the device includes the display 110, the speaker 118 and the keyboard assembly 116. The display 110 is preferably arranged in the upper portion of the front face 154, and defines an opening for receiving the speaker 118. As seen in
The keyboard assembly, generally designated 116, is typically provided in the lower portion of the front face 154, and includes, among other things, a keyboard 156 having a plurality of raised, depressible keys 158 that are configured for providing tactile feedback to the user during typing. The keyboard 156 is preferably a full QWERTY keyboard, as known in the art, although other types of keyboards may be appropriate, such as, among others, a reduced keyboard. The keyboard assembly 116 further includes a circuit board 160 provided within the housing 150, and a dome sheet assembly 180 provided between the circuit board and the keyboard 156 (
A navigation pane 164 is preferably provided between the display 110 and the keyboard 116, and includes a plurality of function keys 166 and a navigational input means 168. The function keys 166 preferably include a send key 170, an end key 172, a menu key 174 and a “back” or return key 176, as known in the art. Although other arrangements may be appropriate, the send and end keys 170, 172 are preferably located on the opposite far edges of the navigation pane 164, as seen in
Referring now to
The assembly 116 also includes the circuit board 160 provided within the housing 150 and having a plurality of contact assemblies 178 thereon. A dome sheet assembly 180 is also provided and is arranged between the keyboard 156 and the circuit board 160, the dome sheet assembly including a dome carrier 182 configured for carrying a plurality of domes 184. As known in the art, each of the keys 158 also includes a projection or actuator 186 extending therefrom, the projection being in alignment with and configured for engaging a corresponding portion of the dome carrier 182 during operation, which is described in further detail below.
A gap is defined between the circuit board 160 and the dome sheet assembly 180, preferably by a spacer 188. It is contemplated that the spacer 188 is manufactured from a die cut plastic film, although it is appreciated that other materials with similar properties may be suitable, depending on the application. The spacer 188 is configured for providing a clearance between the dome 184 and the corresponding contact assembly 178. It is also contemplated that a physical spacer may not be provided in the keyboard assembly 116. Specifically, in such a construction, each of the domes 184 is secured to a corresponding one of the key actuators 186, defining a gap between the circuit board 160 and the dome sheet assembly 180 (configuration not shown).
The dome carrier 182 includes a plurality of raised portions 190, each of which corresponds to one of the plurality of keys 158 of the keyboard 156. As seen in
To secure the dome 184 to the dome carrier 182, an adhesive 192 is provided between the dome carrier and the dome. As known in the art, the dome 184 is adhered to the raised portion 188, and is configured for engaging a corresponding one of the contact assemblies 178 upon actuation of the key 158 and subsequent collapsing of the dome 184.
Referring now to
During operation, upon a first actuation of one of the keys 158, a first signal is connected between the dome 184 and the first and second contacts 198a, 198b, as seen in
As known in the art, the second actuation occurs after the first actuation, and requires a greater force than that required to activate the first actuation. Specifically, when the user applies the first actuation of the key 158, a first force is exerted on the dome sheet assembly 180 (i.e., a force less than that of a predetermined value) and the first signal is connected. When the user applies the second actuation of the key 158, a second force is exerted on the dome sheet assembly 180 (i.e., a force greater than that of the predetermined value), and the second signal is connected.
During operation of the keyboard assembly 116, it is possible for the user to bypass the first actuation (and thereby the first command/function assigned to the particular key) by exerting an initial amount of force that exceeds the predetermined value. In other words, by exerting the second force upon an initial actuation of the key 158, the second signal is connected and the “e” key will appear on the display, for example.
An alternate embodiment of the circuit board 160 is shown in
Similar to that described above with respect to
It is contemplated that the present assembly is more cost efficient than conventional keyboard assemblies having two-stage switches. Specifically, it is contemplated that the spacer (either physical or otherwise) enables a more cost efficient keyboard assembly to be constructed, because in the present assembly, tactile feeling is not present during the first stage of key actuation, but is only present in the second stage of key actuation. This is in contrast to most conventional keyboard assemblies having two-stage switches, which typically try to maintain tactile feeling in the first stage. Accordingly, these assemblies are generally more complex in their construction, adding cost to the product.
While a particular embodiment of the present keyboard assembly has been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the disclosure in its broadest aspects and as set forth below.
