Communication panel
View Patent ↗Embodiments of a communication panel are disclosed that include structures that facilitate maintaining and assembling the communication panel, protect the keypad buttons, and/or protect the integrated circuits of the communication panel. Embodiments include structures such as perpendicular circuit board configurations, multi-sided removable cover surfaces, and multi-layered front panels with keypad holes. Elastomeric keypads may be included and buttons of the keypad protrude through holes in the multi-layered front panels.
1. A communication panel, comprising:
a first surface with a plurality of holes;
a second surface substantially perpendicular to the first surface;
a first printed circuit board having a first connector;
a second printed circuit board substantially perpendicular to the first printed circuit board, the second printed circuit board having a second connector mated to the first connector of the first printed circuit board; and
a cover surface having a rear portion and a top portion perpendicular to the rear portion, the cover surface being mounted to the first and second surfaces such that the rear portion is parallel to and opposite the first surface and the top portion is parallel to and opposite the second surface, and wherein the first and second printed circuit boards are disposed within an interior region defined by the first surface, second surface, and cover surface.
2. The communication panel of claim 1 , further comprising:
an elastomeric keypad disposed between the first printed circuit board and a first side of the first surface, wherein the keypad has a plurality of buttons that protrude through the plurality of holes.
3. The communication panel of claim 2 , further comprising a front surface having at least one opening, the front surface abutting a second side of the first surface, wherein one or more of the plurality of buttons of the keypad protrude through the at least one opening.
4. The communication panel of claim 3 , wherein the front surface includes an extension opening and the cover surface includes an extension disposed within the extension opening of the front surface.
5. The communication panel of claim 2 , wherein the first printed circuit board contains a plurality of light emitting diodes aligned with the plurality of buttons of the keypad.
6. The communication panel of claim 1 , wherein the second printed circuit board contains a plurality of integrated circuits.
7. The communication panel of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of inserts fastened to the first surface and to the first printed circuit board.
8. The communication panel of claim 1 , further comprising:
third and fourth surfaces disposed at opposing ends of the first surface that are perpendicular to the first surface; and
a first bracket mounted to the third surface and a second bracket mounted to the fourth surface.
9. A communication panel, comprising:
a first surface with a plurality of holes;
a first printed circuit board parallel to the first surface, the first printed circuit board having a first connector;
a first elastomeric keypad positioned between a first side of the first surface and the first printed circuit board, the first elastomeric keypad having a plurality of buttons that protrude through the plurality of holes of the first surface; and
a second printed circuit board substantially perpendicular to the first printed circuit board, the second printed circuit board having a second connector mated to the first connector of the first printed circuit board.
10. The communication panel of claim 9 , further comprising:
a second surface perpendicular to the first surface; and
a cover surface having a rear portion and a top portion perpendicular to the rear portion, the cover surface being mounted to the first and second surfaces such that the rear portion is parallel to and opposite the first surface and the top portion is parallel to and opposite the second surface, and wherein the first and second printed circuit boards are disposed within an interior region defined by the first surface, second surface, and cover surface.
11. The communication panel of claim 10 , further comprising a front surface having at least one opening, the front surface abutting a second side of the first surface, wherein one or more of the plurality of buttons of the keypad protrude through the at least one opening.
12. The communication panel of claim 11 , wherein the front surface includes an extension opening and the cover surface includes an extension disposed within the extension opening of the front surface.
13. The communication panel of claim 9 , wherein the first printed circuit board contains a plurality of light emitting diodes aligned with the plurality of buttons of the keypad.
14. The communication panel of claim 9 , wherein the second printed circuit board contains a plurality of integrated circuits.
15. The communication panel of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of inserts fastened to the first surface and to the first printed circuit board.
16. The communication panel of claim 10 , further comprising:
third and fourth surfaces disposed at opposing ends of the first surface that are perpendicular to the first surface; and
a first bracket mounted to the third surface and a second bracket mounted to the fourth surface.
17. A communication panel, comprising:
a first printed circuit board having a first connector and having a plurality of electrical contacts;
a first elastomeric keypad abutting the first printed circuit board, the elastomeric keypad having a plurality of conductive contact pads aligned with the plurality of electrical contacts of the first printed circuit board; and
a second printed circuit board substantially perpendicular to the first printed circuit board, the second printed circuit board having a second connector mated to the first connector of the first printed circuit board, the second printed circuit board being in electrical communication with the plurality of contacts of the first printed circuit board through the mated first and second connectors.
18. The communication panel of claim 17 , further comprising:
a first surface with a plurality of holes;
a second surface perpendicular to the first surface; and
a cover surface having a rear portion and a top portion perpendicular to the rear portion, the cover surface being mounted to the first and second surfaces such that the rear portion is parallel to and opposite the first surface and the top portion is parallel to and opposite the second surface, and wherein the first and second printed circuit boards are disposed within an interior region defined by the first surface, second surface, and cover surface.
19. The communication panel of claim 18 , further comprising a front surface having at least one opening, the front surface abutting the first surface, wherein one or more of the plurality of buttons of the keypad protrude through the at least one opening.
20. The communication panel of claim 19 , wherein the front surface includes an extension opening and the cover surface includes an extension disposed within the extension opening of the front surface.
21. The communication panel of claim 17 , wherein the first printed circuit board contains a plurality of light emitting diodes aligned with the plurality of buttons of the keypad.
22. The communication panel of claim 17 , wherein the second printed circuit board contains a plurality of integrated circuits.
23. The communication panel of claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of inserts fastened to the first surface and to the first printed circuit board.
24. The communication panel of claim 18 , further comprising:
third and fourth surfaces disposed at opposing ends of the first surface that are perpendicular to the first surface; and
a first bracket mounted to the third surface and a second bracket mounted to the fourth surface.
25. A communication panel, comprising:
a first surface having a plurality of holes;
a first printed circuit board parallel to the first surface and having a first connector;
a second printed circuit board substantially perpendicular to the first printed circuit board, the second printed circuit board having a second connector mated to the first connector of the first printed circuit board;
a first silicone rubber keypad positioned between a first side of the first surface and the first printed circuit board, a first silicone rubber keypad having a plurality of buttons that protrude through the plurality of holes of the first surface; and
a front surface having at least one opening, the front surface abutting a second side of the first surface, wherein one or more of the plurality of buttons of the keypad protrude through the at least one opening a second surface perpendicular to the first surface;
a cover surface having a rear portion and a top portion perpendicular to the rear portion, the cover surface being mounted to the first and second surfaces such that the rear portion is parallel to and opposite the first surface and the top portion is parallel to and opposite the second surface, and wherein the first and second printed circuit boards are disposed within an interior region defined by the first surface, second surface, and cover surface;
wherein the front surface includes an extension opening and the cover surface includes an extension disposed within the extension opening of the front surface.
26. The communication panel of claim 25 , wherein the first printed circuit board contains a plurality of light emitting diodes aligned with the plurality of buttons of the keypad.
27. The communication panel of claim 25 , wherein the second printed circuit board contains a plurality of integrated circuits.
28. The communication panel of claim 25 , further comprising a plurality of inserts fastened to the first surface and to the first printed circuit board.
29. The communication panel of claim 25 , further comprising:
third and fourth surfaces disposed at opposing ends of the first surface that are perpendicular to the first surface; and
a first bracket mounted to the third surface and a second bracket mounted to the fourth surface.