Patent ID: 8436752

Claim:
An input key subassembly configured to be installed in a handheld wireless communication device to include a field of input keys in a fully assembled configuration, said input key subassembly comprising: a dome overlay panel comprising: a dome overlay layer overlaying at least one depressible dome switch, the dome overlay layer having opposed front face and back face, the dome switch having a peak facing frontally; a lightguide panel having a front side and a backside, the lightguide panel comprising a portion of a light transmitting material and a portion of a light impeding material about an outer perimeter of the portion of light transmitting material, the lightguide panel having: at least one keystem extending from a front face of the portion of light transmitting material, wherein a front face of the keystem is located adjacent a backside of an input key and a back face of the keystem is above a respective said dome; at least a portion of the lightguide panel front side comprising the light impeding material has a first height relative to the backside of the lightguide panel; at least a portion of the lightguide panel front side comprising the light transmitting material about the keystem defines a recessed perimeter region about the keystem having a height relative to the backside of the lightguide panel less than the first height; and said dome overlay layer front face located adjacent the backside of the lightguide panel.