Keypad Bezel Flexible Substrate Assembly

Solution Overview

Problem

Portable device keypads, such as those in remote speaker microphones, are costly and difficult to assemble due to the use of bonded hard and soft materials, leading to high production costs and poor yield, while also requiring ergonomic design for intuitive user interaction.

Innovation Solution

A keypad design featuring a bezel with separate apertures and a flexible substrate with arms that mate in a specific pattern to form buttons, allowing for easy assembly and providing tactile feedback without the need for direct visual detection of button positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If two types of materials (hard and soft) are bonded together to form the keypad, then the keypad provides both structural support and tactile feedback, but the manufacturing cost increases and production yield decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekeypad structural integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The keypad is divided into separate rigid and flexible components that are assembled together through apertures rather than bonded. The rigid bezel provides structural support while the flexible substrate with button portions provides tactile feedback, and they are joined mechanically through the aperture assembly process described in the patent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The aperture structure acts as an intermediary element that connects the rigid bezel and flexible substrate without requiring direct bonding between these two dissimilar materials. The flexible substrate portions are inserted through apertures in the rigid bezel, creating a mechanical connection that eliminates the need for complex bonding processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If two types of materials (hard and soft) are bonded together to form the keypad, then the keypad provides both structural support and tactile feedback, but the production yield decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvekeypad structural integrityVSAvoidproduction yield

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The keypad is divided into separate rigid and flexible components that are assembled together through apertures rather than bonded. The rigid bezel provides structural support while the flexible substrate with button portions provides tactile feedback, and they are joined mechanically through the aperture assembly process described in the patent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The aperture structure acts as an intermediary element that connects the rigid bezel and flexible substrate without requiring direct bonding between these two dissimilar materials. The flexible substrate portions are inserted through apertures in the rigid bezel, creating a mechanical connection that eliminates the need for complex bonding processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of stationary object

If button positions are not visually detectable, then the device is more compact and aesthetically pleasing, but user interaction becomes less intuitive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice form factorVSAvoidbutton detection ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible substrate provides localized tactile feedback at each button position through its material properties. When a user presses a button area, the flexible material deforms and provides tactile feedback that indicates the button position and confirms activation, allowing intuitive operation without visual detection of button positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11086407B2Device with a keypad that includes a bezel assembled with a flexible substrate

Publication Date: 2021.08.10 MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A device with a keypad that includes a bezel assembled with a flexible substrate is provided. The bezel comprises: a first aperture and a second aperture separated by a retention plate. The flexible substrate comprises two or more arms joined at joining ends, and separated at distal ends, distal from the joining ends; at least one arm, of the two or more arms, comprises: a first button portion and a second button portion configured to respectively mate with the first aperture and the second aperture from a rear-side of the bezel, the first button portion and the second button portion separated by a non-button portion. The flexible substrate may be assembled with the bezel to form the keypad by inserting a distal end of the one or more arms through the first aperture from the rear-side of the bezel.