METHOD AND APPARATUS TO IMPROVE TACTILE FEEL FOR KEYBOARDS AND BUTTON ASSEMBLIES
A keyboard for an electronic device that incorporates a flexible carrier for the keys. The flexible carrier has cutouts or slots that aid in decoupling the actions of one from its neighbors. Moreover, in addition to or instead of cutouts or slots, the flexible carrier optionally has cutouts around its outer perimeter. In some embodiments, the keys are molded as part of the flexible carrier. In other embodiments, the keys are attached to or inserted in the flexible carrier during manufacture. Various embodiments of the invention employ various key shapes to aid the user's tactile experience while typing.
1 . A keypad, comprising:
a plurality of keys; and
a flexible carrier contacting the plurality of keys, the flexible carrier having openings therein between the plurality of keys.
2 . The keypad of claim 1 , wherein the openings between the plurality of keys do not contact the plurality of keys.
3 . The keypad of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of keys are formed as a unitary part of the flexible carrier.
4 . The keypad of claim 1 , further including attachment means for attaching the plurality of keys to the flexible carrier.
5 . The keypad of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the openings are cruciform-shaped.
6 . The keypad of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the openings are round.
7 . The keypad of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the openings are oval shaped.
8 . The keypad of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the openings have different shapes.
9 . The keypad of claim 1 , wherein the openings divide the flexible carrier into multiple parts.
10 . The keypad of claim 9 , wherein the multiple parts are multiple columns.
11 . The keypad of claim 9 , wherein the multiple parts are multiple rows.
12 . The keypad of claim 9 , wherein the multiple parts have a zig-zag shaped edge.
13 . The keypad of claim 1 , wherein the openings divide the flexible carrier into at least two serpentine-shaped parts.
14 . The keypad of claim 1 , wherein the openings form at least one slot in the flexible carrier.
15 . The keypad of claim 1 , the flexible carrier having cutouts in an outer perimeter of the flexible carrier.
16 . The keypad of claim 15 , wherein the cutouts in the outer perimeter occur in accordance with locations of the plurality of keys.
17 . The keypad of claim 1 , wherein the openings in the flexible carrier occur in accordance with locations of the plurality of keys.
18 . The keypad of claim 1 , wherein the openings serve to decouple the plurality of keys from each other.
19 . The keypad of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of keys is tactilely differentiated from others of the keys.
20 . The keypad of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of keys are domed.