Sealed light-emitting keypad module for mobile computing devices

1. A keypad module for a mobile computing device, the keypad module comprising:

a base member including:

a base plate having (i) a lower surface configured to engage with a keypad mount of the mobile computing device, (ii) an opposing upper surface, and (iii) a light receiving region at the lower surface;

a light pipe riser extending from the base plate to an input surface of the keypad module and having a light emission region at the input surface;

wherein the base plate and the light pipe riser define a light path from the light receiving region to the light emission region, configured to receive light from the mobile computing device and emit the light at the light emission region, and the base plate includes an opening configured to receive a keypad interface of the mobile computing device; and

a keypad assembly supported on the upper surface of the base plate, the keypad assembly including a plurality of keys exposed at the input surface of the keypad module.

2. The keypad module of claim 1 , wherein the light pipe riser extends from a forward side of the base plate.

3. The keypad module of claim 1 , wherein the base plate and the light pipe riser are transparent.

4. The keypad module of claim 1 , wherein the base member further comprises an opaque cap at an upper end of the light pipe riser and surrounding the light emission region.

5. The keypad module of claim 1 , wherein the lower surface of the base plate, an angled surface of the light pipe riser, and a forward surface of the light pipe riser include internally reflective coatings along the light path.

6. The keypad module of claim 1 , wherein

the keypad assembly includes a connector configured to engage with the keypad interface via the opening.

7. The keypad module of claim 6 , wherein the light receiving region is adjacent to the opening.

8. The keypad module of claim 7 , wherein the light receiving region includes a cavity in the lower surface, configured to receive a light emitter connected to the keypad interface of the mobile computing device.

9. The keypad module of claim 1 , wherein the keypad assembly includes:

a detection subassembly configured to detect key presses and transmit key presses to the mobile computing device;

a frame joined to the base plate at an inner perimeter to encase the detection subassembly; and

a bezel supporting the plurality of keys and joined to the base plate at an outer perimeter.

10. The keypad module of claim 9 , wherein the frame is joined to the base plate via a first laser weld, and the bezel is joined to the base plate via a second laser weld.

11. The keypad module of claim 1 , wherein the light pipe riser includes an angled surface extending from the lower surface of the base plate, and wherein the angled surface is configured to receive light from the light receiving region and reflect the received light towards the light emission region.

12. The keypad module of claim 11 , wherein the light pipe riser further includes a forward surface extending from the angled surface towards the light emission region.

13. The keypad module of claim 12 , wherein the forward surface has, relative to the base plate lower surface, at least a first angle adjacent to the angled surface, and a second angle adjacent to the light emission region.

14. The keypad module of claim 13 , wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle.

15. A keypad module for a mobile computing device, comprising:

a base member including a base plate having (i) a lower surface configured to engage with a keypad mount of the mobile computing device, (ii) an opposing upper surface, (iii) an opening configured to receive a keypad interface of the mobile computing device, and (iv) a light pipe riser extending from the base plate and having a light emission region at an input surface of the keypad module;

a keypad assembly supported on the upper surface of the base plate, the keypad assembly including:

a detection subassembly configured to engage with the keypad interface via the opening in the base plate for communicating detected key presses to the keypad interface;

a frame joined to an inner perimeter of the base plate surrounding the detection subassembly to encase the detection subassembly;

a plurality of buttons sealed to an upper surface of the frame for exposure to an input surface of the keypad module; and

a bezel joined to outer perimeter of the base plate surrounding the frame, and including a set of openings for the plurality of buttons.

16. The keypad module of claim 15 , wherein the frame is joined to the inner perimeter via a first laser weld, and wherein the bezel is joined to the outer perimeter via a second laser weld.

17. The keypad module of claim 16 , wherein the keypad assembly further includes a flexible key cover defining the plurality of keys, supported by the bezel.

18. The keypad module of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of buttons are co-molded onto the frame.

19. The keypad module of claim 16 , wherein the base plate includes a light receiving region at the lower surface;

and

wherein the base plate and the light pipe riser define a light path from the light receiving region to the light emission region, configured to receive light from the mobile computing device and emit the light at the light emission region.