Patent ID: 6873863

Claim:
Method for manufacturing a touch sensitive navigational surface for a communication device of the type having a cover for carrying the appropriate circuitry to carry out the intended functions of the communication device wherein the cover includes an outer wall surface portion for carrying a user interface, the method comprising the steps of: providing an electromechanical dielectric (EMD) film for activating a corresponding desired user interface operational function to be carried out by the communication device; providing injection molding apparatus having one or more component molds to carry out an injection molding process for molding the cover; molding the cover using a suitable injection molding process; locating and placing the EMD film in an orientation and position in the mold on the outer surface portion of the molded cover such that the EMD film outer surface and the outer wall surface of the molded cover form a substantially continuous surface across the molded cover outer wall surface, and molding the outer wall surface portion of the molded cover and the EMD film outer surface with a thin flexible protective polymer layer thereby forming and defining an integral unit.