Patent ID: 8403576

Claim:
A keyboard assembly for a hand held computing device including keys, comprising: a base layer of a printed circuit board; a carrier layer having a plurality of snap domes set out in an array aligned with the keys of the keyboard assembly; an electroluminescent layer, disposed immediately adjacent to and conforming to a shape of each of the plurality of snap domes of the carrier layer, that generates light in areas aligned with the keys of the keyboard assembly to backlight the keys of the keyboard assembly; an actuator layer having projections aligned with the keys of the keyboard assembly; a key pad layer stacked on top of the actuator layer and having individual key portions corresponding to the keys of the keyboard assembly and aligned with the projections of the actuator layer and snap domes, wherein the individual key portions have cut-out portions extending about a periphery of each key with an exception that a part of the key pad layer at a corner of the key portion between the keys is intact; and a cover plate having openings through which the key portions of the key pad layer extend; wherein the carrier layer and the electroluminescent layer have a combined thickness of less than about 0.20 mm when disposed within the keyboard assembly.