Blackberry Corporation

Research in Motion Corporation

Chao Chen

Jana Lynn Papke

Dietmar Frank Wennemer

Todd Andrew Wood

Cortez M Corley

Douglas Fregin

Todd Wood

Chao Chan

Chao Carl Chen

A key assembly for an electronic device having a one-piece keycap and an electronic device having such a keycap are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a key assembly for use in an electronic device, comprising: a keycap having a plurality of rigid key portions separated by mechanically deforming portions; and a flexible member having opposed first and second sides, the first side having a plurality of key stems which are attached to the plurality of key portions, the second side having a plurality of actuators for actuating dome switches of the electronic device.

Key assembly for a handheld electronic device having a one-piece keycap

A handheld electronic device may include a portable housing and a shielding container within the portable housing. The shielding container may include a shielding frame and a shielding lid carried thereby. A printed circuit board may be within the shielding container. The shielding frame may include a planar base with at least one opening therein, a pair of opposing side walls integrally formed with the base and extending upwardly therefrom, and a pair of opposing end walls integrally formed with the base and extending upwardly therefrom. Also, the shielding frame may include at least one intermediate partition wall integrally formed with the base and extending upwardly therefrom to define a plurality of container compartments. The partition wall may also extend only partway between the opposing side walls to define at least one partition end gap therewith.

Handheld electronic device including multi-compartment shielding container and associated methods

A handheld electronic device configured to receive text messages has a body with a front face and top and bottom portions relative to text entry use orientation of the handheld device. A display screen is located on the front face of the body. The display screen presents information to the operator of the handheld device. A microprocessor located within the device is configured to receive operator commands from user inputs located on the device and instruct commensurate changes to the display screen. A navigation row of user inputs is located on the front face of the body below the display. The navigation row of user inputs includes a multi-directional navigation tool assembly laterally flanked by a pair of conjoined, depressibly actuable input keys. Each of the inputs keys is located substantially opposite the other across the navigation tool assembly and positioned adjacent to lateral sides of the navigation tool assembly.

Conjoined input keys adjacent a navigation tool on a handheld electronic device

A backlit key assembly having a reduced thickness for an electronic device, and an electronic device having such a backlit key assembly are provided. The key assembly utilizes a local sink (recess) in a backing plate of the key assembly to lower the light source (e.g. LED) and flexible printed circuit board relative to the backing plate. The key assembly described herein provides a suitable leading space for the light source while permitting the overall thickness of the key assembly to be reduced compared with conventional backlit key designs.

Backlit key assembly having a reduced thickness

A handheld wireless communication device cradleable by an user during text entry. A display and key field are located on a front face of the device. The key field includes alphanumeric input keys and menu control keys. Additionally, an user-removable trackball navigation tool is provided on the device. The trackball navigation tool can be releasably snap-engaged or releasably friction-engaged in the body of the device. The removable trackball navigation tool enables the user to independently remove the trackball navigation tool from the device and perform self-maintenance on the device with respect to the navigation tool.

Growing community of inventors

Waterloo, Canada

Jana Lynn Papke