Method and apparatus for providing backlighting for keypads and LCD panels

Claim 2

A keyboard assembly, comprising: a keypad formed of a translucent elastomeric material; a light-emitting diode embedded within said translucent elastomeric material of the keypad and having a pair of electrical contacts not covered by said translucent elastomeric material; a printed circuit board having a pair of electrical contacts disposed on a secondary surface of the board in alignment with said pair of electrical contacts of the light-emitting diode when said keypad is assembled with said printed circuit board; and means for providing a bias force urging said light-emitting diode embedded in said elastomeric material in a direction toward said secondary surface of the printed circuit board when said keypad and said printed circuit board are assembled together and maintain the electrical contacts of the light-emitting diode in electrical communication with the electrical contacts disposed on the secondary surface of the printed circuit board.

Claim 3

A keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for providing a bias force includes a cover assembleable with said keypad and said printed circuit board.

Claim 4

A keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said translucent elastomeric material is silicone rubber.

Claim 5

A keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said secondary side of the printed circuit board includes only electrical contacts and said printed circuit board has a primary side on which electrical components are mounted.

Claim 6

A keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light-emitting diode is insert-molded in said translucent elastomeric material.

Claim 7

A keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said keyboard assembly is adapted for use in a cellular telephone.

Claim 8

A keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said assembly includes a liquid crystal display panel disposed adjacent said translucent elastomeric keypad, a light guide adapted to direct light to a backside of the liquid crystal display panel, and an additional light-emitting diode embedded in said translucent elastomeric keypad at a position adjacent said light guide.

Claim 9

A keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said additional light-emitting diode emits light through a side of the diode.

Claim 10

A keyboard assembly, comprising: a liquid crystal display panel having a light guide adapted to direct light to a backside of the liquid crystal display panel; an elastomeric member formed of a translucent material and extending along at least one side of said liquid crystal display panel; a light-emitting diode embedded in said elastomeric member at a position adjacent said light guide in light-transmitting communication with said light guide of the liquid crystal display panel and having a pair of electrical contacts not covered by said elastomeric member; and a printed circuit board having a pair of contacts disposed on a secondary surface in alignment with said pair of contacts of said light-emitting diode when said liquid crystal display panel is assembled with said printed circuit board, and a cover assembleable with said liquid crystal display panel, said elastomeric member and said printed circuit board and adapted to provide a bias force urging said light-emitting diode embedded in said elastomeric member in a direction toward said secondary surface of the printed circuit board when said cover, said liquid crystal display panel, said elastomeric member and said printed circuit board are assembled together, and maintain the electrical contacts of the light-emitting diode in electrical communication with the electrical contacts disposed on the secondary surface of the printed circuit board.

Claim 11

A keyboard assembly, comprising: a liquid crystal display panel having a light guide adapted to direct light to a backside of the liquid crystal display panel; an elastomeric member formed of a translucent material and extending along at least one side of said liquid crystal display panel; a light-emitting diode embedded in said elastomeric member at a position adjacent said light guide in light-transmitting communication with said light guide of the liquid crystal display panel and having a pair of electrical contacts not covered by said elastomeric member; and a printed circuit board having a pair of contacts disposed on a secondary surface in alignment with said pair of contacts of said light-emitting diode when said liquid crystal display panel is assembled with said printed circuit board, and a cover assembleable with said liquid crystal display panel, said elastomeric member and said printed circuit board and adapted to provide a bias force urging said light-emitting diode embedded in said elastomeric member in a direction toward said secondary surface of the printed circuit board when said cover, said liquid crystal display panel, said elastomeric member and said printed circuit board are assembled together, and maintain the electrical contacts of the light-emitting diode in electrical communication with the electrical contacts disposed on the secondary surface of the printed circuit board.

Claim 12

A keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said light-emitting diode emits light through a side of the diode.

Claim 13

A keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said secondary side of the printed circuit board includes only electrical contacts and said printed circuit board has a primary side on which electrical components are mounted.

Claim 14

A keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said keyboard assembly is adapted for use in a cellular telephone.

Claim 15

A keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said assembly includes a keypad formed of a translucent elastomeric material and said elastomeric member extending along at least one side of said liquid crystal display panel comprises an integrally-formed portion of the keypad.

Claim 16

A keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 13, wherein said light-emitting diode is insert-molded in said keypad.

Claim 17

A keyboard assembly, comprising: a keypad having a plurality of keys disposed on an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from said upper surface, said keypad being formed of a translucent elastomeric material; a light guide disposed adjacent said lower surface of the keypad, said light guide being formed of a light-transmitting material; a light-emitting diode embedded within said light guide and having a pair of electrical contacts not covered by said light-transmitting material of the light guide; a printed circuit board having a pair of electrical contacts disposed on a secondary surface of the board in alignment with said pair of electrical contacts of the light-emitting diode when said light guide is assembled with said printed circuit board; and a means for providing a bias force urging said light-emitting diode embedded in said light guide in a direction toward said secondary surface of the printed circuit board when said keypad, said light guide and said printed circuit board are assembled together and maintain the electrical contacts of the light-emitting diode in electrical communication with the electrical contacts disposed on the secondary surface of the printed circuit board.

Claim 18

A keyboard assembly, comprising: a keypad having a plurality of keys disposed on an upper surface and a lower surface spaced from said upper surface, said keypad being formed of a translucent elastomeric material; a light guide disposed adjacent said lower surface of the keypad, said light guide being formed of a light-transmitting material; a light-emitting diode embedded within said light guide and having a pair of electrical contacts not covered by said light-transmitting material of the light guide; a printed circuit board having a pair of electrical contacts disposed on a secondary surface of the board in alignment with said pair of electrical contacts of the light-emitting diode when said light guide is assembled with said printed circuit board; and a means for providing a bias force urging said light-emitting diode embedded in said light guide in a direction toward said secondary surface of the printed circuit board when said keypad, said light guide and said printed circuit board are assembled together and maintain the electrical contacts of the light-emitting diode in electrical communication with the electrical contacts disposed on the secondary surface of the printed circuit board.

Claim 19

A keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said means for providing a bias force includes a cover assembleable with said keypad, said light guide, and said printed circuit board.

Claim 20

A keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said light guide is formed of a substantially rigid polymer material.

Claim 21

A keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said light-emitting diode is insert-molded in said light guide.

Claim 24

A method of forming a keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 19, wherein said elastomeric material is a translucent silicone rubber compound.

Claim 25

A method of forming a keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 19, wherein said light-emitting diode emits light in a vertical direction with respect to said electrical contacts of the diode.

Claim 26

A method of forming a keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 19, wherein said light-emitting diode emits light in an orthogonal direction with respect to said electrical contacts of the diode.

Claim 27

A method of forming a keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 19, wherein said inserting a liquefied elastomeric material into said mold cavity includes injecting said liquefied elastomeric material, under pressure, into said mold cavity.

Claim 28

A method of forming a keyboard assembly, as set forth in claim 19, wherein said keyboard assembly is adapted for use in a cellular telephone.