157results about "Venting" patented technology

Sensor fusion algorithm techniques are described. In one or more embodiments, behaviors of a host device and accessory devices are controlled based upon an orientation of the host device and accessory devices, relative to one another. A combined spatial position and / or orientation for the host device may be obtained based on raw measurements that are obtained from at least two different types of sensors. In addition, a spatial position and / or orientation for an accessory device is ascertained using one or more sensors of the accessory device. An orientation (or position) of the accessory device relative to the host computing device may then be computed based on the combined spatial position / orientation for the host computing device and the ascertained spatial position / orientation for the accessory device. The relative orientation that is computed may then be used in various ways to control behaviors of the host computing device and / or accessory device.

Provided is a waterproof / drainage structure for a lower casing (11) having a plurality of pushbuttons (16) on a surface thereof. The waterproof / drainage structure has a cover member (14) forming the surface and provided with a plurality of button holes (14a) the plurality of pushbuttons (16), and a sheet portion (17) retaining the plurality of pushbuttons (16) at predetermined positions. The waterproof / drainage structure includes a button unit (15), in which the sheet portion (17) is arranged along a back surface (14b) of the cover member (14) and in which an outer peripheral portion of the sheet portion (17) is held in close contact with the cover member (14), with the pushbuttons (16) being inserted in button holes (14c) of the cover member (14). The sheet portion (17) is provided with a groove-like drainage channel (22) having a channel portion that is opposed to each of the pushbuttons (16) and is larger than a surface area within a maximum outer periphery of the pushbuttons (16).

A key activation system for use in a handheld communication device is provided. The system comprises an activation mechanism associated with a key in the system, a first feedback system and a second feedback system. The activation mechanism is associated with the key activation system and provides a first feedback sense when the activation mechanism has triggered the first activation condition. The second feedback system provides a second feedback sense indicating when the key triggers the second activation condition. In the system, the second feedback system operates independently from the activation mechanism and the first activation condition is triggered before the second activation condition when the activation mechanism is initially engaged. An activation mechanism may be centrally located for a set of keys.

Provided is a waterproof / drainage structure for a lower casing 11 having a plurality of pushbuttons 16 on a surface thereof. The waterproof / drainage structure has a cover member 14 forming the surface and provided with a plurality of button holes 14a, the plurality of pushbuttons 16, and a sheet portion 17 retaining the plurality of pushbuttons 16 at predetermined positions. The waterproof / drainage structure includes a button unit 15, in which the sheet portion 17 is arranged along a back surface 14b of the cover member 14 and in which an outer peripheral portion of the sheet portion 17 is held in close contact with the cover member 14, with the pushbuttons 16 being inserted in button holes 14c of the cover member 14. The sheet portion 17 is provided with a groove-like drainage channel 22 having a channel portion that is opposed to each of the pushbuttons 16 and is larger than a surface area within a maximum outer periphery of the pushbuttons 16.

An input device for an electronic system includes a force sensor having conductive interdigitated traces on a bottom substrate and a flexible substrate spaced apart from the bottom substrate. The flexible substrate has a resistive layer deposited on a bottom side facing the interdigitated traces. A snap dome is positioned over a portion of the force sensor flexible substrate. A flexible keymat membrane is positioned over the force sensor and the snap dome. The keymat membrane bottom surface faces the force sensor flexible substrate. The keymat membrane bottom surface has a protruding region surrounding the snap dome and spaced above the force sensor flexible substrate. A center keycap on the keymat membrane top surface is positioned over the snap dome. A surrounding keycap on the keymat membrane encloses the center keycap and is positioned over the keymat membrane protruding region.

A dome sheet, a key pad and a method of manufacturing a dome sheet are disclosed. The key pad comprises a dome sheet with a top sheet, a bottom sheet and a dome. The dome sheet forms a switch arrangement when mounted to a contact layer.

A sealed dome switch assembly is provided to allow air to flow between the interior and the exterior of the dome switch during the collapse and recovery of the resilient dome shell. The sealed dome switch assembly comprises at least one vent leading between the interior space and the exterior space of the sealed dome switch, wherein the vent is covered by a membrane that is permeable to air and resilient to liquid (e.g. water) and small particles (e.g. dirt). A vent may also be used to network the interiors of a plurality of sealed dome switches to at least one exterior entranceway that is covered by the membrane.

A compact, thinned and water-tightened combined switch, is structured by a single switch comprising a front sheet having a domed projection which can be reversed to the back side and is provided at the back side with an electrode, an electric circuit body having an electric contact to contact with the electrode and a domed convex portion provided in the vicinity of the center of the domed projection. In operation process, firstly the projection is reversed and an electrode provided near the periphery of the convex portion contacts with the electric contact on the electric circuit body and secondly an electrode provided in the vicinity of the center of the domed convex portion contacts with the electric contact on the electric circuit body.

The sheet with movable contacts comprises a first sheet formed by an insulating film, the first sheet having an adhesive surface formed by applying an adhesive to a lower surface of the first sheet, a plurality of domed, metallic, movable contacts whose upper surfaces are covered with and affixed to the adhesive surface of the first sheet, and a second sheet formed by an insulating film, the second sheet being affixed to the lower surface of the first sheet and having a plurality of receptacle holes for receiving the movable contacts therein, with an adhesive being applied to a lower surface of the second sheet, wherein the second sheet has connecting slots formed therein for connecting adjacent such receptacle holes with each other.

An input device for an electronic system includes a force sensor having conductive interdigitated traces on a bottom substrate and a flexible substrate spaced apart from the bottom substrate. The flexible substrate has a resistive layer deposited on a bottom side facing the interdigitated traces. A snap dome is positioned over a portion of the force sensor flexible substrate. A flexible keymat membrane is positioned over the force sensor and the snap dome. The keymat membrane bottom surface faces the force sensor flexible substrate. The keymat membrane bottom surface has a protruding region surrounding the snap dome and spaced above the force sensor flexible substrate. A center keycap on the keymat membrane top surface is positioned over the snap dome. A surrounding keycap on the keymat membrane encloses the center keycap and is positioned over the keymat membrane protruding region.

The keysheet module has a flexible printed circuit board formed with dome-shaped depression switches on the upper surface thereof. Each of the depression switches comprises a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact surrounding the first fixed contact, a movable contact arranged over these fixed contacts to electrically connect and disconnect the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact, and a switch holding sheet arranged on the flexible printed circuit board to cover and hold the movable contact. An insulating film of an insulating paste is formed on the flexible printed circuit board in such a way that it has air holes formed therein to release air trapped in the movable contact. The switch holding sheet is arranged over the insulating film.

A compact key structure comprises a base plate, a conductive membrane, an elastic member, a frame and a cap wherein said key structure is characterized in that the conductive membrane is single-film structure and has a contact corresponding to each key and with meshed-hook shape <CUSTOM-CHARACTER FILE="US06191776-20010220-P00001.TIF" ID="CUSTOM-CHARACTER-00001">. An aperture is provided at the center of the contact for venting air. The elastic member and the cap are attached by a non-reactive type paste such that the elastic member and the cap can be attached and separated repeatedly. The surface of said elastic member attached to said cap is of staircase shape and has venting holes formed on the lateral side to facilitating the restoring of the elastic member after being pressed. Moreover, a conductive bump is provided within the elastic member and corresponding to the conductive membrane. A conductive layer is formed on the conductive layer and corresponding to the contact of the conductive membrane. The conductive bump of the elastic member is connected to the contact of the conductive membrane and a closed loop is formed within the key when the cap is pressed down, whereby the signal generated by key stroking action is transmitted to the computer. The conductive membrane is designed to be single-film structure, whereby the keyboard is more compact with reduced height.

Described is a keypad and its method of manufacture. In one embodiment, a keypad is provided that includes a substrate having a plurality of donut-shaped recesses located at each site of a button for inputting user information, a plurality of cushions each filled with an incompressible fluid (e.g., water), a flex circuit layer, a plurality of metal membranes and an over-molded thermoplastic elastomer layer. During the over-molding of the thermoplastic elastomer layer, the plurality of cushions filled with an incompressible fluid prevents collapse of the space between the flex circuit layer and the plurality of metal membranes. After the layers of the keypad are assembled, the incompressible fluid is removed which leaves a space between the flex circuit layer and the plurality of metal membranes.

There is provided a switch having a flexible upper member, that is substantially electrically non-conductive, having an inner surface with an upper contact area that is electrically conductive and connected to a circuit, and a lower member that is substantially electrically non-conductive, having an inner surface with a lower contact area that is electrically conductive and connected to the circuit, wherein the upper member and the lower member are sealingly connected to form a chamber therebetween, the upper contact area and the lower contact area are separated by at least a portion of the chamber and a force applied to the upper member causes the upper contact area and the lower contact area to make contact and close the switch of the circuit.

A key activation system for use in a handheld communication device is provided. The system comprises an activation mechanism associated with a key in the system, a first feedback system and a second feedback system. The activation mechanism is associated with the key activation system and provides a first feedback sense when the activation mechanism has triggered the first activation condition. The second feedback system provides a second feedback sense indicating when the key triggers the second activation condition. In the system, the second feedback system operates independently from the activation mechanism and the first activation condition is triggered before the second activation condition when the activation mechanism is initially engaged. An activation mechanism may be centrally located for a set of keys.

A key structure is provided. The present key structure includes a key cap, a scissor-type frame, an elastic contact body, a membrane circuit board, and a bottom board. A plurality of flanges is provided on the bottom of the elastic contact body, with the surface of the flange being formed as an embossed surface having a cross-striped structure. A print layer is provided on the area of the membrane circuit board corresponding to the flanges of the bottom of the elastic contact body, such that there is a height difference between the print layer and the membrane circuit board. The print layer is formed of a plurality of discontinuous printing portions between which a plurality of holes is formed. After the elastic contact body is bonded to the membrane circuit board by an adhesive, the press force of the elastic contact body caused by pressing the key can be released via the holes. The bonding area of the bottom of the elastic contact body is increased by the cross-striped structure of the embossed surface so as to enhance bonding between the elastic contact body and the membrane circuit board and prevent the adhesive from being extruded out from therebetween.

A packaging structure for depression switches includes an electronic substrate containing at least one switch electrode, a push-on switch located on the electronic substrate to connect the switch electrode to generate a command signal and a sealing member. The push-on switch and the electronic substrate form a first air chamber between them. The sealing member has a fastening portion to seal the push-on switch on the electronic substrate and a second air chamber formed with the electronic substrate to communicate with the first air chamber. By depressing the push-on switch to connect the switch electrode, air held in the first air chamber is squeezed and flows to the second air chamber without escaping.

This application relates to various button related embodiments for use with a portable electronic device. In some embodiments, a snap clip can be integrated with a button bracket to save space where two separate brackets would take up too much space in the portable electronic device. In other embodiments, a tactile switch can be waterproofed by welding a polymeric layer atop a tactile switch assembly. In this way water can be prevented from contacting moisture sensitive components of the tactile switch assembly. The weld joining the polymeric layer to the tactile switch can include at least one gap to trapped gas surrounding the tactile switch assembly to enter and exit during heat excursions caused by various operating and / or assembly operations.