Patent Publication Number: US-2007102267-A1

Title: Keypad with audio components

Description:
FIELD  
      This invention relates generally to keypads, and more particularly to keypads having audio components.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Keypads and audio generating components such as speakers and microphones are common items found in cellular phones and other electronic devices. Since keypads and the keys therein are generally small and audio generating components or other audio components have not traditionally been within the size of such keys, embedding such components within keys has not been contemplated.  
     SUMMARY  
      Embodiments in accordance with the present invention can provide a keypad or keys having integrated or embedded audio components therein.  
      In a first embodiment of the present invention, a keypad assembly with embedded audio components can include a keypad and an audio component within at least one key of the keypad. At least one key can include an audio port. The keypad assembly can further include an insulating layer or flexible circuit between the audio component and a printed circuit board as well as a switch such as a popple switch or other switch activation means on the printed circuit board for activating a function when the at least one key is depressed. The audio component can be a microphone or a speaker or an ultrasonic transducer for example. The keypad assembly can include a plurality of keys where each key in the plurality of keys can have a microphone or speaker therein and forming a microphone array or speaker array respectively. For example, the audio component can be formed using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology.  
      In a second embodiment of the present invention, an electronic product having a keypad assembly with embedded audio components can include a keypad, an audio component within at least one key of the keypad, and a processor coupled to the audio generating component. The at least one key can include an audio port. The keypad assembly can further include an insulating layer or flexible circuit (or flex circuit) between the audio component and a printed circuit board and a switch on the printed circuit board for activating a function when the at least one key is depressed. The audio component can be a microphone or a speaker or an ultrasonic transducer. The keypad assembly can include a plurality of keys where each key in the plurality of keys has a microphone therein and forms a microphone array. Likewise, the keypad assembly can include a plurality of keys where each key in the plurality of keys has a speaker therein and forms a speaker array. As noted above, the audio generating component can be formed using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. The electronic product can be any number of products including, but not limited to a cellular phone, a smart phone, a messaging device, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a dictation device, a remote control, or an MP3 player.  
      In a third embodiment of the present invention, a keypad assembly can include a keypad having a plurality of keys and an audio component embedded within at least one key among the plurality of keys of the keypad. The at least one key having the audio component embedded therein can further include an audio port. The audio generating component can be a microphone or a speaker and at least two keys among the plurality of keys can each having the microphone or the speaker therein to form either a microphone array or a speaker array respectively.  
      The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a side view illustration of a keypad assembly having an embedded audio generating component in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a side view illustration of a similar keypad assembly to the keypad assembly of  FIG. 1  using a flexible circuit instead of an insulating layer and wires in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is an illustration of an electronic device having a keypad assembly having an embedded audio generating component in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of embodiments of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , a keypad assembly  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can include at least one key  12  having an audio component  14  embedded within the keypad assembly  10  and more specifically within the at least one key  12 . The audio component  14  can be a speaker or a microphone for example. The key  12  can include one or more audio ports  13  to enable sound to travel out from the cavity  19  of the key or into the cavity  19 . The keypad assembly  10  can further include wiring  16  to and from the audio component  14 . The keypad assembly  10  can also include a printed circuit board (PCB)  17  having a switch  11  that is activated when the key  12  and a corresponding optional popple  15  is depressed. An insulative layer  18  can be used to insulate the wiring  16  from the switch  11 , popple  15  or other circuitry that may be on the PCB  17 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , a similar keypad assembly  20  to the keypad assembly  10  of  FIG. 1  is shown. The keypad assembly  20  includes all the elements found in keypad  10 , but substitutes a flexible circuit  21  for the insulating layer  18  and the wiring  16  to provide a more robust embodiment that avoids the use of wires. Note, the insulating layer or flexible circuits are optional and embodiments are contemplated herein that can be implemented without such elements. For example, connections can be made from the audio component  14  through the key  12  or keypad assembly  10  or  20  to the printed circuit board  17  (not shown).  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , an electronic product  30  such as a cellular phone, a smart phone, a messaging device, a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant, a dictation device, a remote control, or an MP3 player (or any number of other electronic devices) is illustrated. The electronic product  30  can include the keypad assembly  10  (or  20 ) as described above including one or more keys  12  having an integrated or embedded audio component and at least one audio port  13  in the key or keys. The electronic product  30  can further include other components such as a processor  24  or a display  22  as is found in many electronic products.  
      Currently, there are multiple vendors that are capable of providing miniature microphones small enough to use for the keypad assembly  10 . Such microphones are available in both traditional and MEMS construction. For instance, a MEMS based microphone can be made in a square chip form factor that is sufficiently small enough to fit within a key or keypad. A company named Sonion recently announced the launch of their DigiSiMic™ microphone having a footprint of only 2.6×1.6 mm 2 .  
      Speakers are currently not as small as microphones, but there are speakers the size of navigation keys. For instance, Sonion makes speakers 10×15 mm or 16 mm in diameter. Akustica on the other hand, is working on research to bring MEMS based technology to speakers that should dramatically shrink the size of speakers in the future. In addition to traditional speakers, embodiments herein can use ultrasonic transducers in order to generate audio similar to the ultrasonic transducer developed by Dr. Joseph Pompei from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Given the short wavelengths ultrasonic transducers produce, it should be possible to make these devices even smaller than traditional speakers.  
      In one implementation, the keypad assembly  10  can involve creating the key  12  with a hollow cavity  19  in the center of the key. An audio device  14  such as a microphone, speaker, or transducer can be inserted into the cavity  19  with wires  16  attaching to the bottom of the audio device  14  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The wires  16  can be replaced or be part of a flex circuit  21  as illustrated in  FIG. 2  that can provide connections for one or more microphones. In between the audio component  14  and a standard keypad popple  15  can be the insulating layer  18  to ensure the popple and wiring remained electrically isolated. The key pad popple  15  can be the same or similar to key pad poppies currently used. Key presses can be detected by the user pressing a key, which causes the audio component  14  to press down on the popple  15  and the popple  15  would short a row/column signal or switch  11  that can be used by the processor  24  (in  FIG. 3 ).  
      The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.  
      In light of the foregoing description, it should also be recognized that embodiments in accordance with the present invention can be realized in numerous configurations contemplated to be within the scope of the claims. Additionally, the description above is intended by way of example only and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way, except as set forth in the following claims.