WO2015062106A1

WO2015062106A1 - Keypad assembly and mobile device using the same

Info

Publication number: WO2015062106A1
Application number: PCT/CN2013/086506
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ye Wang; Jinchao Yang; Yuan Yang; Jian Wang
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy; Nokia (China) Investment Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2013-11-04
Filing date: 2013-11-04
Publication date: 2015-05-07

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a keypad assembly and a mobile device using the same. A keypad assembly for use in a mobile device having a plurality of front switches and at least one side switch. The keypad assembly comprises: a keypad cover having a plane body and two opposite side walls; a plurality of front keys disposed on the plane body; and at lease one side keys disposed on at least one of the two opposite side walls, wherein the plurality of front keys corresponds one-to-one with the plurality of front switches such that one of the plurality of front switches is activated in response to pressure or touch in a first direction on a corresponding one of the plurality of front keys, and wherein the at least one side key corresponds one-to-one with the at least one side switch such that one of the at least one side switch is activated in response to pressure or touch in a second direction on a corresponding one of the at least one side key.

Description

KEYPAD ASSEMBLY AND MOBILE DEVICE USING THE SAME

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to a mobile device and specifically to a keypad assembly for use in a mobile device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A traditional 12-key (alpha-) numeric keypad, commonly known as an ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication Standard Sector) keypad, has been popularly used in mobile phones. The ITU-T keypad typically comprises 10 keys for numbers 0-9 some of which are shared by English letters, and 2 keys for a few simple characters, such as * and #. Mobile phones using the ITU-T keypads are usually very light, small, succinct and easy to use and thus become very popular. Most people are particularly familiar with the layout of this kind of traditional ITU-T keypads because old mobile phones and landline telephones have the same layout. One handed fast typing is also possible with this kind of keypads, as positions of the few keys can be easily memorized and the gap between two keys and the size of each key fit a finger.

[0003] However, as electronics and communications technology develops, mobile devices provide an increasing amount of functionality by including such applications as, for example, a phone call, digital camera, video camera, navigation system, gaming capability, internet browser and the like, and thus become more popular and more sophisticated. With the increasing of functions and complexity, the traditional ITU-T keypad may become a limiting factor which restricts the design of mobile phones, since the limited number of keys are already used for dialing a number, or inputting letters or simple characters, if a user wants to launch a program/application (App), he/she has to find the program/ App from the desktop or a menu by taking a complex procedure.

[0004] To solve this problem, a keypad with more keys, such as a compact QWERTY or a full QWERTY keypad can be adopted. However, the use of such kind of keypads may cause an increase of the size of a mobile phone or a reduction of the size of each key. That may result in the loss of advantages as mentioned above regarding the traditional ITU-T keypad, such as being small, succinct, and easy to use etc..

[0005] In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a new type of keypad that can enable direct initiation of a program/ App while maintaining the advantages of traditional ITU-T keypads so as to further expand the application market of mobiles phones using the ITU-T keypads.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] Various embodiments of the invention aim at addressing at least part of the above problems and disadvantages. Other features and advantages of embodiments of the invention will also be understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of embodiments of the invention.

[0007] Various aspects of embodiments of the invention are set forth in the appended claims and summarized in this section. It shall be noted that the protection scope of the invention is only limited by the appended claims.

[0008] According to a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a keypad assembly for use in a mobile device having a plurality of front switches and at least one side switch. The keypad assembly comprises: a keypad cover having a plane body and two opposite side walls; a plurality of front keys disposed on the plane body; and at least one side key disposed on at least one of the two opposite side walls. The plurality of front keys corresponds one-to-one with the plurality of front switches such that one of the plurality of front switches is activated in response to pressure or touch in a first direction on a corresponding one of the plurality of front keys. The at least one side key corresponds one-to-one with the at least one side switch such that one of the at least one side switch is activated in response to pressure or touch in a second direction on a corresponding one of the at least one side key.

[0009] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of side keys may be combined with a corresponding front key arranged in a same row as and adjacent to the side key into a single key by sharing a same keycap so that a smooth rounded edge is formed connecting the plane body and the side wall. [0010] According to a second aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a mobile device. The mobile device comprises: a display unit; a printed wiring board having a plurality of front switches disposed on a surface thereof and a plurality of side switches set along two opposite edges thereof; a keypad assembly that comprises a keypad cover having a plane body and two opposite side walls, a plurality of front keys disposed on the plane body and a plurality of side keys disposed on at least one of the two opposite side walls; a battery unit for providing electrical power to the display unit, the printed wiring board and the keypad assembly; and a housing assembled with the keypad assembly to form a space for accommodating at least the display unit, the battery unit, and the printed wiring board. The plurality of front keys of the keypad assembly corresponds one-to-one with the plurality of front switches such that one of the plurality of front switches is activated in response to pressure or touch in a first direction on a corresponding one of the plurality of front keys. The plurality of side keys corresponds one-to-one with the plurality of side switches such that one of the plurality of side switches is activated in response to pressure or touch in a second direction on a corresponding one of the plurality of side keys.

[0011] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of side keys of the keypad assembly may be combined with a corresponding front key arranged in a same row as and adjacent to the side key into a single key by sharing a same keycap so that a smooth rounded edge is formed connecting the plane body and the side wall of the keypad assembly.

[0012] These and other optional embodiments of the present invention can be implemented to realize one or more of the following advantages. In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, by adding some shortcut keys dedicated for some functions or applications of a mobile phone on the side of a keypad assembly, the functions or applications can be directly started by pressing the shortcut keys, which improves user experience while maintaining advantages of the traditional ITU-T keypad. Moreover, in accordance with some other embodiments of the present invention, a single key can be associated with multiple functions or applications, which can be differently started by applying pressure to the single key in different directions. By reusing a single key to initiate more applications, it not only enables a succinct structure and a smooth shape of the mobile phone but also improves user experience and usability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The above and other aspects, features, and benefits of various embodiments of the invention will become more fully apparent, by way of example, from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements:

[0014] FIG. 1 conceptually illustrates a keypad assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an operation of a combined multi-function key according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates use of the keypad assembly as shown in Fig. 1 in connection with a printed wiring board included in a mobile device;

[0017] Fig. 4 shows an example of a side-operational switch and its mounting on a printed wiring board;

[0018] Fig. 5 illustrates an explosive diagram of an example mobile device using a keypad assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0019] Fig. 6 illustrates a mobile phone of a bar type using a keypad assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Some preferred embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated. However, the present disclosure can be implemented in various manners, and thus should not be construed to be limited to the embodiments disclosed herein. On the contrary, those embodiments are provided for thorough and complete understanding of the present disclosure, and completely conveying the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0021] In the following description, numerous specific details of embodiments of the present invention are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description. Those of ordinary skills in the art, with the included descriptions, will be able to implement appropriate functionality without undue experimentation.

[0022] References in the specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "an example embodiment," etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. It shall be understood that the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the context explicitly indicates otherwise.

[0023] In the following description, a bar type of mobile phones is adopted as an example for illustrating embodiments of the present invention. It shall be understood that other types of mobile phones, such as a folder type and a slide type, can also adopt a keypad assembly according to embodiments of the present invention as detailed below. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the type of mobile phones.

[0024] Hereafter, a keypad assembly according to embodiments of the present invention and a mobile device using the same will be described in details with reference to Figs. 1-6.

[0025] Reference is first made to Fig.1, which conceptually illustrates a keypad assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated keypad assembly 10 comprises a keypad cover 11 that is different from the traditional ITU-T keypad by having a plane body 111 and two opposite side walls 112 and 113; and a plurality of front keys 114 which are disposed on the plane body 111 and a plurality of side keys 115 which are disposed on at least one of the two opposite side walls 112 and 113. Each of the side keys may be associated with at least one application or function as described later. In Fig. 1, the keys 114 and 115 are simplified as square blocks on the keypad cover 11. In practice, the front and side keys can be formed separately from the keypad cover and assembled to the keypad cover 11 hereafter. Alternatively and preferably, the front and side keys and the keypad cover can be integrally molded into a single piece. The keypad cover and the front and side keys can be made with a same elastic material, such as silicon rubber or plastic.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows six rows of the front keys 114, and accordingly, the maximum number of side keys 115 on each side wall is also six. It should be understood that the number of the front or side keys and arrangement or layout of the front keys are not limited to those as shown in Fig. 1.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment, also as shown in Fig. 1, each of the side keys 115 may be combined with a front key 114 that is arranged in a same row as the side key 115 and adjacent to the side key 115 to form a single multi-function key by sharing a same keycap, which can react to pressure or touch in two different directions. For example, Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an operation of the combined multi-function key according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated left hand may press the top surface of the combined key to input a number, for example, and otherwise the illustrated right hand may press the side surface of the combined key to start a dedicated application associated with this key.

[0028] The combination of a front key 114 and a side key 115 may enable to form the keycap cover 11 with a smooth rounded edge at the intersection of the plane body 111 and the side wall 112 or 113. The smooth rounded edge may offer better user experience when a user's finger is switching between press on a front key 114 and press on a side key 115, for example, switching between the input of a number and selection of a dedicated application.

[0029] Still in this preferable embodiment, a top of each side key may be formed in a same surface as the side wall where the side key is located, which reduces the possibility of erroneous operation of the side key compared to the side key bulging from the outline of a mobile phone.

[0030] In one embodiment, the keypad assembly may further comprise a light guide panel 12 as shown in a block with a dash dot line of Fig. 1. The light guide panel 12 is configured for guiding light to illuminate the plurality of front keys and the plurality of side keys. The light guide panel is commonly used in a mobile phone and thus its structure and function will not be detailed herein for the sake of brevity and simplicity of disclosure.

[0031] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates use of the keypad assembly 10 as shown in Fig. 1 in connection with a printed wiring board (PWB) 20 included in a mobile device. The PWB as shown in Fig. 3 may have a plurality of front switches 211 disposed on a surface thereof, e.g. a front surface, and a plurality of side switches 221 set along two opposite edges thereof.

[0032] In one embodiment, each of the plurality of front switches 211 may be a dome switch, while each of the plurality of side switches 221 may be a side-operational switch. In Fig. 3, a dome switch sheet 21 comprising the plurality of front switches 211 is illustrated separately from the PWB 20, but it can also be considered as a part of the PWB 20. A dome switch is one of the most commonly used switches for the keypad of a mobile phone. When a key corresponding to a dome switch is pressed, it collapses the dome, which then connects two circuit traces on the PWB and completes the connection to enter a number or letter etc.. Fig. 4 shows an example of the side-operational switch 221 and how it is mounted on the PWB 20. Alternatively, each of the plurality of front switches 211 and/or each of the plurality of side switches 221 may be a touch switch, which can be activated by touch on it. The dome switches, the side-operational switches and the touch switches are all well known in the art and thus will not be detailed herein for the sake of brevity and simplicity of disclosure.

[0033] In this embodiment, the plurality of front keys 114 may be arranged to correspond one-to-one with the plurality of front switches 211 such that one of the plurality of front switches 211 may be activated (i.e. pressed down or switched) in response to pressure or touch in a first direction, i.e. a direction perpendicular to the plane body of the keypad cover, on a corresponding one of the plurality of front keys. Likewise, the plurality of side keys 115 may be arranged to correspond one-to-one with the plurality of side switches 221 such that one of the plurality of side switches may be activated (i.e. pressed down or switched) in response to pressure or touch in a second direction, i.e. a direction perpendicular to the side wall, on a corresponding one of the plurality of side keys, and accordingly a dedicated function or application associated with the side key may be started.

[0034] In one embodiment, the switches 211, 221 for the front keys 114 and side keys 115 respectively may be mounted on a flexible printed circuit board or support element that follows the shape of the keypad assembly 10. For example, the support element may be an inner surface of the keypad cover. The switches may be part of a dome switch sheet similar to that shown in Figure 3 and be mounted on the support element or adhered to the rear surface of the keypad assembly 10.

[0035] In one embodiment, the plurality of front keys may comprise 10 keys shared by 0-9 numbers and 26 English letters, 2 keys for some simple characters, such as * and #, and may further comprise some other frequently used keys, such as a backward key, forward key, dialing key, picking up key etc. The number of the plurality of side keys may be limited by the number of rows of the plurality of front keys.

[0036] Fig. 5 illustrates an explosive diagram of an example of a mobile device using a keypad assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mobile device may comprise: the keypad assembly 10 as described in reference to Fig. 1 or 3; a printed wiring board 20 with a dome switch sheet 21 as described in reference to Fig. 3; a display unit 41, such as a liquid crystal display; a battery unit 43 for providing electrical power at least to the keypad assembly 10, the display unit 41, and components on the PWB 20; and a housing that may be divided into three parts 421-423 as shown in Fig. 5. The keypad assembly 10 may be assembled with the housing to form a space for accommodating the display unit 41, the battery unit 43, and the PWB 20.

[0037] In the mobile device using the keypad assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of side keys or side parts of the multi-function keys may be associated with at least one application or function of the mobile phone. The association between the side key or side part and the application or function may be pre-set at a factory before shipping or may be configured or re-configured by a user according to practical requirements. In the former case, a character or icon representing the associated application or function may be printed on the associated side key or side part. Considering a possibility that a front key and a side key may be pressed at the same time or a single multi-function key may be pressed in both directions at the same time, priorities may be pre-configured for the front key and the side key or for different parts of the single multi-function key.

[0038] In one embodiment, in order to avoid an erroneous operation of the side key or side part of the single multi-function key, a lock mechanism may be set in the mobile device. For example, during a normal operation of the keypad assembly, all side keys or side parts of the single multi-function keys are locked. While a certain function or application needs to be started, press on a pre-set dedicated side key or the side part of a dedicated multi-function key may unlock the other side keys or other multi-function keys, or long press on a certain side key or the side part of a certain multi-function key may unlock the side key or the multi-function key itself.

[0039] In one embodiment, the mobile device may further comprise an orientation sensor for detecting orientations of the mobile device, so that the side keys may be locked dependent upon the orientation of the mobile device. For example, in a first orientation, which may be a portrait orientation, the side keys are locked; when the mobile device is placed in a second orientation, which may be a landscape orientation, the side keys are unlocked. In the second orientation, it is less likely that a user would accidentally press the side keys as the device may be held by an end user at locations on the mobile device that do not correspond to the side key positions.

[0040] The mobile device using the keypad assembly according to embodiments of the present invention may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a gaming device, a handheld controller and the like.

[0041] Fig. 6 illustrates a mobile phone of a bar type using the keypad assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 6, the keypad cover and all keys are integrated into a single piece. The keys on the left and right sides are combined multi-function keys, which can be operated in two directions as shown. With this structure, the mobile device may have a succinct and smooth outline. It should be understood that the mobile phone as illustrated in Fig. 6 is just an example for implementing the keypad assembly according to embodiments of the present invention and other implementations are also possible.

[0042] While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any implementation or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments of particular implementations. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.

[0043] It should also be noted that the above described embodiments are given for describing rather than limiting the invention, and it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as those skilled in the art readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of the invention and the appended claims. The protection scope of the invention is defined by the accompanying claims. In addition, any of the reference numerals in the claims should not be interpreted as a limitation to the claims. Use of the verbs "comprise", "include", "have" and their conjugations do not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A keypad assembly for use in a mobile device having a plurality of front switches and at least one side switch, the keypad assembly comprising:

a keypad cover having a plane body and two opposite side walls;

a plurality of front keys disposed on the plane body; and

at least one side key disposed on at least one of the two opposite side walls, wherein the plurality of front keys corresponds one-to-one with the plurality of front switches such that one of the plurality of front switches is activated in response to pressure or touch in a first direction on a corresponding one of the plurality of front keys, and

wherein the at least one side key corresponds one-to-one with the at least one side switch such that one of the at least one side switch is activated in response to pressure or touch in a second direction on a corresponding side key.

2. The keypad assembly according to Claim 1, wherein

at least one side key is combined with a corresponding front key arranged in a same row as and adjacent to the side key into a single key by sharing a same keycap so that a smooth rounded edge is formed connecting the plane body and the side wall.

3. The keypad assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein

the first direction is perpendicular to the surface of the plane body; and the second direction is perpendicular to the surface of the side wall.

4. The keypad assembly according to Claim 2, wherein

for at least one side key, a top of the side key is in a same surface as the side wall where the side key is located.

5. The keypad assembly according to any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of side keys, wherein at least one further side key is combined with a further front key arranged in a same row as and adjacent to the at least one further side key into a single key by sharing a same further keycap.

6. The keypad assembly according to claim 5, wherein

the keypad cover and the plurality of front keys and the plurality of side keys are integrally molded into one piece.

7. The keypad assembly according to any of Claims 4-6, further comprising: a light guide panel disposed under the keypad cover for guiding light to illuminate the plurality of front keys and the plurality of side keys.

8. The keypad assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of front switches and at least one side switch are mounted on a flexible circuit board.

9. The keypad assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of front switches and at least one side switch are mounted on a support element.

10. The keypad assembly according to claim 9, wherein the support element is an inner surface of the keypad cover.

11. An electronic device comprising the keypad assembly of any preceding claim.

12. An electronic device according to claim 11, further comprising an orientation sensor wherein at least one of the side keys is enabled in a first orientation of the electronic device and is disabled in a second orientation of the electronic device.

13. A mobile device, comprising:

a display unit;

a printed wiring board having a plurality of front switches disposed on a surface thereof and a plurality of side switches set along at least one of two opposite edges thereof;

a keypad assembly comprising:

a keypad cover having a plane body and two opposite side walls;

a plurality of front keys disposed on the plane body; and

a plurality of side keys disposed on at least one of the two opposite side walls;

a battery unit for providing electrical power to the display unit, the printed wiring board and the keypad assembly; and

a housing assembled with the keypad assembly to form a space for accommodating at least the display unit, the battery unit, and the printed wiring board; wherein the plurality of front keys of the keypad assembly corresponds one-to-one with the plurality of front switches such that one of the plurality of front switches is activated in response to pressure or touch in a first direction on a corresponding one of the plurality of front keys, and wherein the plurality of side keys corresponds one-to-one with the plurality of side switches such that one of the plurality of side switches is activated in response to pressure or touch in a second direction on a corresponding one of the plurality of side keys.

14. The mobile device according to Claim 13, wherein

each of the plurality of side keys of the keypad assembly is combined with a corresponding front key arranged in a same row as and adjacent to the side key into a single key by sharing a same keycap so that a smooth rounded edge is formed connecting the plane body and the side wall of the keypad assembly.

15. The mobile device according to Claim 13 or 15, wherein

16. The mobile device according to Claim 13, wherein

each of the plurality of front switches is a dome switch; and

each of the plurality of side switches is a side-operational switch.

17. The mobile device according to any of Claims 13-16, wherein

the keypad assembly further comprises a light guide panel interposed between the keypad cover and the printed wiring circuit for guiding light to illuminate the plurality of front keys and the second plurality of side keys.

18. The mobile device according to any of Claims 13-17, wherein

each of the plurality of side keys is configured to be associated with at least one function of the mobile device.

19. The mobile device according to any of Claims 13-18, wherein

the keypad cover and the first and plurality of side keys of the keypad assembly are integrally molded into one piece.

20. The mobile device according to any of claims 13-19, further comprising an orientation sensor wherein at least one of the side keys is enabled in a first orientation of the mobile device and disabled in a second orientation of the mobile device.