The disclosed embodiments relate to a keypad assembly for a mobile computing device. In particular, the disclosed embodiments relate to a keypad assembly for use on an inclined surface of a mobile computing device.
Over the last several years, the growth of cell phones and messaging devices has increased the need for keypads that are small and tightly spaced. In particular, small form-factor keyboards, including QWERTY layouts, have become smaller and more tightly spaced. With decreasing overall size, there has been greater focus on efforts to make individual keys more usable to a user. For example, keyboard design considers how readily the user can select or click (“clickability”) individual key structures of keyboard. The clickability may be affected by various factors, such as the individual key structure size and shape, as well as the spacing between key structures and the tactile response of individual key structures.
With the growth of small form-factor devices, such as cell phones and wireless messaging devices, design parameters may provide for smaller functional keypads, particularly with respect to keypads that provide character entry. For example, keyboard layouts have been designed using button structures and individual key orientations that reduce the overall surface area of the keypad. Such designs have often focused on QWERTY keyboard layouts, which normally require at least 26-50 individual keys.
In addition to keypad design, the shape and design of the device housing is also of interest. Along with the display, the keypad is typically one of the limiting factors in the size of a device housing. Consideration is often needed for the geometry and size of the area of the housing that is to accommodate the keypad (or vice-versa). Various factors and influences may affect the desired housing shape. For example, the shape of the device housing can be made contoured to better fit the user's hand, or to create a distinctive and identifiable shape. Concerns such as the overall thickness or length of the device often play an important role in the overall shape of the housing design.
Embodiments described herein provide a keypad on an inclined or inwardly contoured surface of an electronic device. According to embodiments described herein, the keypad is provided on an inclined or inwardly contoured surface that occupies a portion of a front face of the computing device. The contoured portion of the front face may be adjacent to a display area, or other region or surface of the front face that provides a horizontal reference. Numerous features are described for facilitating the positioning of a keypad assembly on an inclined or contoured portion of the device housing, and such features may be considered individually or in combination with one or more other such features.
The term “keypad” includes any arrangement of keys or buttons that enable character input, including alphabetical or numerical entries. A keyboard, such as one with a QWERTY layout, is a class or type of keypad. A set of keys that provide a primary purpose of providing a numeric layout is another type of keypad. One or more embodiments contemplate use of a keypad that can provide full QWERTY functionality, including keypads that have a sufficient number of keys so that one key can be assigned to an individual letter. Other keyboard layouts are also contemplated, such as AZERTY and QWERTZ layouts.
As used herein, the term “layer”, in a vertical assembly such as described with a keypad, means an occupied thickness or region, regardless of whether or not components that constitute the layer are interconnected or discretely provided. For example, a plurality of keys may be independently formed and distributed on a device to collectively provide a key layer or actuation member layer.
The term “about”, when used in the context of something being equal to a stated quantity (e.g. “about equal to”), means an approximation that is accurate to the level of a manufacturing tolerance.
According to an embodiment, mobile computing device is provided that includes a housing having a display area, a front face and a back face. The housing is contoured so that a portion of the front face is oriented inwards towards the back face. A keypad includes a plurality of individual keys, including at least a set of multiple keys that are provided on the portion of the front face that is oriented inward.
According to one or more embodiments, a mobile computing device is provided that includes a housing, a display screen, and a keypad. The housing includes a front face having a portion that has a contour. The contour may be is inwardly directed and be defined by at least a first gradient direction. The display screen is provided with the front face, apart from the portion that has the contour. The keypad includes a plurality of keycaps that extend outward from the front face. The keypad may be provided only on an occupied region of the portion of the front face that has the contour. A maximum angle formed by the occupied region of the front face relative to a horizontal reference that is coplanar with the display screen is greater than 20 degrees.
According to another embodiment, a housing is provided that includes a display area. The housing has a front face on which an inwardly directed contour is provided on only a portion. A keypad assembly includes a plurality of key structures and a substrate that provides a plurality of electrical contacts. Individual key structures in the keypad align to actuate a corresponding one of the electrical contacts on the substrate by inward movement. The plurality of key structures each include a corresponding key cap that is formed over a matrix and wherein the height distance of individual key structures are varied at least in part by the corresponding key caps of those key structures being varied in height along at least the first gradient direction of the contour.
According to another embodiment, a keypad assembly is provided for a mobile computing device. The keypad assembly includes a key layer, a substrate and an actuation member layer. The key layer comprises a plurality of keys. The substrate includes a plurality of electrical contacts, individually aligned to underlie corresponding keys of the key layer. The actuation member layer includes a plurality of actuation members, each aligned to extend between a given key of the key layer and a corresponding electrical contact of the substrate, so that inward direction of the given key causes the actuation member to contact the corresponding electrical contact. In order to accommodate the contour of the housing of the mobile computing device, at least some of the actuation members have a length that is different than a length of a second set of actuation members.
Other features are also described with embodiments described below in order to facilitate use and incorporation of a keypad on a contoured surface of a mobile computing device. In particular, such features, either in combination or individually, enable use of the keypad on a relatively steep (e.g. more than 20 degrees) contour. Among other benefits, a keypad that accommodate a QWERTY layout can be provided on a front face that is contoured, to reduce thickness or volume of the device. Furthermore, the contouring of the front face can provide a distinctive feature to the overall design of the device.
Overview
In
The keyboard 130 is electronically coupled to an internal processing resource of the device. The keyboard 130 may be alphanumeric, to allow text and numeric entry for the various ancillary functions. In one embodiment, the keyboard 130 includes a QWERTY layout. In order to provide such a layout, the keyboard 130 may include a set of approximately 30-50 keys, so that there is a separate key for each letter of the alphabet. For example, one implementation contemplates 46 keys with inclusion of function keys, space bar and other QWERTY keys. Numerous other variations and layouts are also contemplated.
According to an embodiment, the front face 112 has a sloped or contoured region 135 or portion. As will be described with other embodiments, the sloped or contoured region 135 is inwardly directed, so that a thickness of the housing (i.e. a distance between a point on the front face 112 and a most proximate point on the back face (not shown)) decreases with progression towards the bottom end 104 of the device. The presence of the contour on the front face 112 is shown by a directional arrow S, which represents the direction of the gradient extending to the bottom 104 of the housing 110. In one embodiment, the display area 114 is assumed to define a horizontal reference plane (i.e. a plane that is coplanar to the display assembly 125). An embodiment of
In providing the keypad 130 on the contoured region 135 of the front face 112, individual keys 132 of the keypad may also be slightly inclined with respect to the display assembly or other horizontal reference. The particular angle of the incline of the individual keys 132 may vary. In one implementation, the tilt is less than 10 degrees, and more specifically between 0 and 6 degrees. Still further, one implementation provides for a maximum tilt of 3 degrees, defining the key on a contour with the largest tilt relative to the horizontal reference plane.
Likewise, the contour of the front face may accelerate from the display screen 125 or other horizontal reference with progression along the contoured region towards the bottom end 104. In one implementation, the maximum angle of the contour with respect to the horizontal reference is less than 35 degrees (which may be achieved towards the bottom end 104), and more particularly less between 15 and 25 degrees.
In an embodiment, additional push mechanisms 122, 123 and 124 may be provided on the front face 112. The additional push mechanisms 122, 123 and 124 may be in the form of different kinds of application buttons, having different shapes and construction. The push mechanisms 125 may correspond to a 5-way navigation button enabling directional input (4-way) and selection input. In an embodiment, the entire region of the front face 112 below the display area 114 has a contour or slope. As such, the additional push mechanisms may also be provided on a contour or sloped area.
In one embodiment, the keypad 130 is an integrated vertical assembly. As such, the keypad 130 has numerous vertical components (i.e. the stack), portions of which may collectively be described as layers. Under one embodiment, individual keys 132 are provided on a single matrix, so as to share the stack. The vertical elements or constituents of an individual key may alternatively be referred to as a key structure. As described with, for example, an embodiment of
In an embodiment shown by
Keypad Construction
Numerous design features may be implemented in the construction or assembly of a keypad in order to accommodate the tilt or contoured surface on which the keypad is provided.
The actuation member layer 220 may be provided either as a separate layer, or as an integrated portion of the key layer 210. For example, the actuation member layer 220 may comprise individual actuation members 222 that are integral to the key caps 212 of the key layer 210, and extend inward from a bottom of the individual key caps. Alternatively, the actuation members 222 may be provided on a separately formed matrix that can be positioned in alignment under the key layer 210. In either case, each of the actuation members 222 align with one of the key caps 212, so that pressing, pushing or inward direction of one of the key caps causes inward movement of one of the actuation members 222.
In one implementation, each electrical contact 232 is aligned and used by a corresponding, aligned key caps 212 and a corresponding actuation member 222. Pressing or other inward movement of one of the key caps 212 causes a corresponding one of the actuation members 222 to move into and actuate the aligned electrical contact 232. In this way, the pressing of the key caps 212 can cause the generation of an electrical signal. A processor of the computing device can identify the signal and determine a value assigned to the signal based at least in part on the particular electrical contact 232 that was triggered.
To accommodate the contour of the computing device 100 (
As an addition or alternative to tilting substrate 230, the matrix 214 may be provided at an acute angle as well. For example, the matrix 214 may be provided at an angle that is between 1 and 5 degrees, and with one implementation having an angle of about 3 degrees.
As described with, for example, an embodiment of
An embodiment such as shown in
Another feature that may be incorporated into the key assembly 400 to accommodate the lessening thickness of the housing and contour of the front face 452 is an asymmetric actuation member 420. In particular, each electrical contact 432 includes a strike zone 433. To ensure longevity and reliability of the electrical contact 432, the actuation member 420 should provide a distributed force on the surface of the electrical contact 432 that corresponds to the strike zone 433. A conventionally shaped actuation member would run the risk of the actuation member angularly contacting the strike zone 433 of the electrical contact 432. An embodiment such as shown by
According to an embodiment, the actuation member 420 is asymmetric because it individually contains more volume or size on the side or portion of a mid-center 435 that is on the downside of the incline. In one embodiment, the added volume is at least partially the result of the actuation member containing an added length on its tip region 439, where it contacts the electrical contact 432. Specifically, under one embodiment, the actuation member 420 includes a peak contact point 442 and a trough contact point 444. A difference in height between the two contact points 442, 444 further accommodate the lessening thickness of housing and the slope of the substrate 430. Specifically, the asymmetric length creates a sloped tip region 439 that better strikes a span of the strike area 433 of the electrical contact 432.
As an alternative to actuation members that are asymmetrical in length, such as shown by embodiment of
Each row 502, 504, 506 may include its own set of key structures comprising a key cap 512 and an actuation member 514. In one implementation, the key caps 512 may be formed over an interconnecting matrix 513, so that at least a portion of the keypad is unitarily formed. Each actuation member 514 is aligned over a corresponding electrical contact 532 of an underlying substrate 530. The key caps 512, when considered as a whole, provide a key layer of the overall keypad assembly 500. Likewise, the actuation members 514 may in combination be considered to provide an actuation member layer. The key caps 512 of the key layer may be provided on one or more matrix so as to be interconnected. In one implementation, the matrix may be mounted just underneath the front face 508 of the housing 506, and protrude slightly or be flush with the front face through openings 511 formed in the housing.
According to an embodiment, the keypad assembly 500 includes multiple features to facilitate the keypad assembly to accommodate the contour or slope of the front face 508. As described with, for example, an embodiment of
In an embodiment, the keypad assembly 500 is also structured to include actuation members 514 that are of variable length. In one embodiment, the actuation members has a maximum length (Lmax) upstream on the gradient 535 of the slope of the housing face 508, and a minimum length (Lmin) downstream on the gradient. Such an arrangement assumes the contour of the front face 508 brings the key cap 512 of the third row 506 closer to the substrate 530 than the middle row 504. Likewise, the contour of the front face 508 may bring the key cap 512 of the middle row 504 closer to the substrate 530 than the key cap 512 of the first row 502.
The variation in dimensioning between adjacent key structures may be expressed as a variation in the height distance HD from a key cap peak 552 to the aligned electrical contact 532. The height distance for individual key structures corresponds to a sum of the height h of the keycap 512, a length of the corresponding actuation member 514, and possibly any gap distance to the aligned electrical contact 532. According to one embodiment, along the directional gradient 535 of the contour, the height distance HD of key structures may vary. The variations of the height distances HD of the may be attributable to variations in one or more of (i) height h of the keycaps 512, (ii) the length of the corresponding actuation member 514, and/or (iii) variations in the gap distance to the aligned electrical contact 532.
In an implementation in which the directional gradient is orthogonal to a row-wise arrangement of keycaps, a given key structure may have a different height distance HD than an adjacent or most proximate key structure of each of the other rows. Likewise, as shown with, for example, embodiments of
While an embodiment such as shown by
Manufacturing Process
With reference to
In
According to an embodiment,
In
The amount of added length 732 used may range depending on the position of the actuation member within the keypad. For example, a key that is to be provided on a contour that has a large slope or curvature may require use of an actuation member that has greater additional length 732. Likewise, some of the actuation members 730 on a given keypad may have no additional length, if there is a lack of curvature in the slope or housing, or even if the angle of the substrate (not shown) carrying the electrical contact points is sufficiently angled.
While embodiments described with
Variable Key Cap Size
Another feature that may be incorporated into a keypad to better accommodate a contoured surface are key caps of varying length. Such a feature may be implemented independent of other embodiments, or in combination with one or more embodiments described above.
In one embodiment, the key caps of a keypad assembly protrude from the contoured surface 810 of the device 800, with an exterior boundary of the key caps forming a contour 820 that is also contoured. For simplicity, only the contour 820 of the key caps, and not the key caps themselves are shown in
Under many conventional key cap construction, the key caps of a keypad assembly are joined or integrated onto a common matrix 830 (e.g. see
Under one implementation, the matrix 830 is horizontal, or alternatively slightly acute (e.g. at an angle of less than 5 degrees) with respect to a horizontal. With this positioning of the matrix 830, the relationship of the lengths of the key caps of the different rows is h1<h2<h3. An alternative orientation of the matrix 830 may produce a different relationship. For example, h2>h3 in the case where the matrix 830 has a more pronounced angle with respect to the horizontal.
In an embodiment, a contoured front surface 910 such as shown by
In order to accommodate a keypad assembly that includes key caps provided on a common matrix,
As mentioned, result of embodiments such as shown by
Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments. As such, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, it is contemplated that a particular feature described either individually or as part of an embodiment can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features and embodiments make no mentioned of the particular feature. This, the absence of describing combinations should not preclude the inventor from claiming rights to such combinations.
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U.S. Appl. No. 12/129,674, filed May 29, 2008 48 pages. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20080064451 A1 | Mar 2008 | US |