Patent Publication Number: US-6706983-B2

Title: Multi-function erroneous contact protection structure for electronic device keyboards

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1) Field of the Invention 
     The invention herein relates to a multi-function erroneous contact protection structure for electronic device keyboards. 
     2) Description of the Prior Art 
     Current consumer demand for miniaturized, multi-functional, and easy-to-use electronic devices has given rise to the palm-top electronic devices that are characteristically lightweight, ultra-thin, and versatile. Attracting the most attention among these numerous high technology electronic products and palm-top electronic devices are personal digital assistants (PDA) having network connection capability. 
     To achieve compactness that facilitates the objective of portability, a conventional PDA typically has a keyboard of reduced surface area. However, in such reduced surface area keyboards, since the key switches of the said keyboards are of diminished size and, furthermore, the distance between each key switch is decreased, when the user strikes the said keys, it is easy to mistakenly touch a critical key (such as the power or delete key), the consequence of which is serious loss of data. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The objective of the invention herein is to provide a multi-function erroneous contact protection structure for electronic device keyboards in which a minimum of one transparent cover is positioned at the lateral edge of at least one key switch on the case of an electronic device with one end of the said cover protruding from the said case at a height equal to or greater than that of the said key switches, the protruding cover structure of the case enabling the simultaneous touching of the said cover when the user strikes a said key switch, reminding the user that the said key switch is a critical key switch and thereby preventing erroneous contact with the said key switch. 
     Another objective of the invention herein is to provide a multi-function erroneous contact protection structure for electronic device keyboards in which a light-emitting diode is situated inside the said cover; the terminals of the said light-emitting diode are connected to the control circuit of the said electronic device such that the said light-emitting diode is triggered by the operation of the control circuit, with its beam projected through the said cover to indicate the operating status of the said electronic device. 
    
    
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric drawing of a portable electronic device of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an magnified, partial isometric drawing of the invention herein. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial, cross-sectional drawing of the invention herein. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention herein is a multi-function erroneous contact protection structure for electronic device keyboards; referring to FIG. 1, the said electronic device  1  can be a portable personal digital assistance (PDA), the said electronic device  1  is contained in a case  10 , the said case  10  having a display opening in one end and plurality of key switch holes arrayed in even rows at the opposite end, wherein an installation hole is disposed at the lateral edge of at least one key switch hole; a control circuit  16  (as shown in FIG. 3) is installed inside the said case  10 , the said control circuit  16  utilized to govern the operations of the electronic device  1 ; a display screen  11  is mounted in the said display opening, the said display screen  11  has wiring and the said wiring and the said control circuit  16  are connected together to couple the said display screen  11  to the control circuit  16  such that data processed by the said control circuit  16  is viewable on the said display screen  11 ; and a key switch  15  is positioned in each of the said key switch holes, with one end of the said key switches  15  projecting from the surface of the said case  10 , enabling the locating of the said key switches  15  and the generation of different alphanumeric characters and commands to the said control circuit  16  following their depression. 
     Referring to FIG.  1  and FIG. 2, a transparent cover  2  (in the embodiment herein, the said transparent cover  2  is a long strip, but is not limited to such a form during the actual utilization of the present invention) is positioned in the said installation hole with one end of the said cover  2  protruding from the said case  10  at a height equal to or greater than that of the said key switches  15 , the protruding cover  2  structure of the case  10  enabling the simultaneous touching of the said cover  2  when the user strokes a said key switch  15 , reminding the user that the said key switch  15  is an important key switch (such as a delete key or power key) and thereby preventing erroneous contact with the said key switch  15 . 
     Referring to FIG.  2  and FIG. 3, a recess is formed in the bottom surface of the said cover  2 ; a light-emitting diode  21  is situated inside the said recess and the terminals of the said light-emitting diode  21  are connected to the said electronic device  1  control circuit  16  such that the said light-emitting diode  21  is triggered by the operation of the electronic device  1  control circuit  16 , with its beam projected through the said cover  2  to indicate the operating status of the said electronic device  1 . 
     In the invention herein, the said light-emitting diode  21  can be components of differing color specifications (such as red, green, or yellow, etc.). 
     In the invention herein, the said electronic device  1  is equipped with a rechargeable battery and, furthermore, has a recharging circuit in its control circuit  16 ; the said recharging circuit is connected to the said rechargeable battery such that when the said electronic device  1  is in the process of recharging, the said control circuit  16  activates the said light-emitting diode  21  which flashes red to indicate that the said electronic device  1  is in the process of recharging the battery; and when the said rechargeable battery is fully recharged, the said control circuit  16  causes the said light-emitting diode  21  to continuously glow red to inform the user that the said electronic device  1  has completed recharging. 
     In the invention herein, when the user connects the said electronic device  1  to a network and data is being transferred, its control circuit  16  causes the said light-emitting diode  21  to glow yellow as an indication to the user. 
     In the invention herein, when the user switches on the said electronic device  1  into the operational state, its control circuit  16  causes the said light-emitting diode  21  to glow green as an indication to the user. 
     In the invention herein, the said cover  2  has an outwardly extending exterior periphery along its bottom section and the said cover  2  is fitted upward into the said case  10  installation hole from the lower extent of the said case  10  such that the said cover  2  is retained at the bottom surface of the said case  10  because of its exterior periphery and cannot be dislodged from the said case  10 . 
     Given the assembly of the said structural components, the protruding cover  2  structure of the case  10  is such that when the user strokes the said key switch  15 , the said cover  2  is simultaneously touched, reminding the user that the said key switch  15  is a critical one and thus averts erroneous contact with the said key switch  15 , while the said light-emitting diode  21  within the said cover  2  provides a luminous signal of the various operations of the said control circuit  16  which is beamed through the transparent said cover  2  to indicate the operating status of the said electronic device  1 . 
     While the invention has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.