Abstract: A printed circuit board with an acoustic channel for a microphone and a portable electronic device having such a printed circuit board are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a microphone assembly, comprising: a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a board body having at least one signal trace, the printed circuit board defining an acoustic channel within the board body which extends between a microphone aperture in the board body and a plurality of inlet openings in the board body.

Abstract: The present application provides a key assembly for use in an electronic device. The key assembly comprises a plurality of dome switches and one or more single-piece keycaps. Each keycap has a plurality of key portions separated by deforming portions. The key assembly further comprises a plurality of actuators for activating the dome switches. Each actuator has a stem portion and an enlarged rigid blocking portion. The key assembly also comprises one or more rigid blocking members disposed between the blocking portion of the actuators and the keycaps and in close proximity to the blocking portion of the actuators. The blocking members form a barrier to limit a rotational movement of the actuators away from the dome switches.

Abstract: A socket is configured to receive a trackball device in a receiving space formed therein. The socket has an exterior configured to fit within an installation recess in a printed circuit board. A biased electrical interconnector extends from an interior surface of the receiving space into the receiving space, the electrical interconnector oriented within the receiving space at a position that establishes biased electrical contact with a target electrical contact of the trackball device and biased electrical contact with a corresponding electrical contact on the printed circuit board when the socket is installed in an installation recess.

Abstract: A switch assembly is provided to actuate a pair of switches using a single key cap, e.g. for a camera that utilizes a first switch to activate an image focusing function and a second switch to activate a camera shutter. The switch assembly comprises an inner switch and an outer switch, wherein the outer switch partially or completely surrounds the perimeter of the inner switch. The outer switch comprises an upper conductive surface and a lower conductive surface that, when in contact, electrically couples two terminals for closing a circuit. The inner switch comprises an actuator and a dome switch. When the key cap receives a first downward force, only the outer switch becomes activated and a first electric circuit is completed. When the key cap receives a second downward force that is greater than the first force, the dome switch collapses and a second electric circuit is completed.

Abstract: A switch assembly is provided to actuate a pair of switches using a single push key. e.g. for a camera that utilizes a first switch to activate an image focusing function and a second switch to activate a camera shutter. The switch assembly comprises a contact pad switch and a dome switch that are located laterally to one another. When the push key receives a first downward force, only the contact pad switch becomes activated and a first electric circuit is completed. When the push key receives a second downward force that is greater than the first force, the dome switch collapses and a second electric circuit is completed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a key plunger and a key assembly for a key of an electronic device. The plunger comprises: a stalk made of a first material allowing light to pass through and a body section connected to the top of the plinth. In the plunger, the body section is made of a second material and shaped to fit snugly within an interior of a cap for the key and to extend horizontally about the stalk. The second material is a translucent, light-diffusing material; the first material allows more light to pass therethrough than the second material. The key assembly comprises: a key plunger; a key cap shaped to fit over the key plunger; and a backlight to illuminate an interior of the key cap. The backlight may be located underneath the key plunger and to a side of the stalk.

Abstract: A switch assembly is provided to actuate a pair of switches using a single push key, e.g. for a camera that utilizes a first switch to activate an image focusing function and a second switch to activate a camera shutter. The switch assembly comprises a contact pad switch and a dome switch that are located laterally to one another. When the push key receives a first downward force, only the contact pad switch becomes activated and a first electric circuit is completed. When the push key receives a second downward force that is greater than the first force, the dome switch collapses and a second electric circuit is completed.

Abstract: The present application provides a key assembly for use in an electronic device. The key assembly comprises a plurality of dome switches and one or more single-piece keycaps. Each keycap has a plurality of key portions separated by deforming portions. The key assembly further comprises a plurality of actuators for activating the dome switches. Each actuator has a stem portion and an enlarged rigid blocking portion. The key assembly also comprises one or more rigid blocking members disposed between the blocking portion of the actuators and the keycaps and in close proximity to the blocking portion of the actuators. The blocking members form a barrier to limit a rotational movement of the actuators away from the dome switches.

Abstract: A switch assembly is provided to actuate a pair of switches using a single key cap, e.g. for a camera that utilizes a first switch to activate an image focusing function and a second switch to activate a camera shutter. The switch assembly comprises an inner switch and an outer switch, wherein the outer switch, partially or completely surrounds the perimeter of the inner switch. The outer switch comprises an upper conductive surface and a lower conductive surface that, when in contact, electrically couples two terminals for closing a circuit. The inner switch comprises an actuator and a dome switch. When the key cap receives a first downward force, only the outer switch becomes activated and a first electric circuit is completed. When the key cap receives a second downward force that is greater than the first force, the dome switch collapses and a second electric circuit is completed.

Abstract: A switch assembly is provided to actuate a pair of switches using a single push key, e.g. for a camera that utilizes a first switch to activate an image focusing function and a second switch to activate a camera shutter. The switch assembly comprises a contact pad switch and a dome switch that are located laterally to one another. When the push key receives a first downward force, only the contact pad switch becomes activated and a first electric circuit is completed. When the push key receives a second downward force that is greater than the first force, the dome switch collapses and a second electric circuit is completed.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a key plunger and a key assembly for a key of an electronic device. The plunger comprises: a stalk made of a first material allowing light to pass through and a body section connected to the top of the plinth. In the plunger, the body section is made of a second material and shaped to fit snugly within an interior of a cap for the key and to extend horizontally about the stalk. The second material is a translucent, light-diffusing material; the first material allows more light to pass therethrough than the second material. The key assembly comprises: a key plunger; a key cap shaped to fit over the key plunger; and a backlight to illuminate an interior of the key cap. The backlight may be located underneath the key plunger and to a side of the stalk.

Abstract: The invention relates to a key plunger for a key of an electronic device. The plunger comprises: a stalk made of a transparent material allowing light to pass through; a plinth connected to the top of the stalk; and a body section connected to the top of the plinth made of a translucent, light-diffusing material. The body section is shaped to fit snugly within an interior of a cap for the key. The plunger is made from a two-shot moulding process for forming the stalk and the section. The plunger may be part of a key assembly that also has a key cap shaped to snugly fit over the plunger and a backlight to light an interior of the cap.

Abstract: A socket is configured to receive a trackball device in a receiving space formed therein. The socket has an exterior configured to fit within an installation recess in a printed circuit board. A biased electrical interconnector extends from an interior surface of the receiving space into the receiving space, the electrical interconnector oriented within the receiving space at a position that establishes biased electrical contact with a target electrical contact of the trackball device and biased electrical contact with a corresponding electrical contact on the printed circuit board when the socket is installed in an installation recess.

Abstract: The invention relates to a key plunger for a key of an electronic device. The plunger comprises: a stalk made of a transparent material allowing light to pass through; a plinth connected to the top of the stalk; and a body section connected to the top of the plinth made of a translucent, light-diffusing material. The body section is shaped to fit snugly within an interior of a cap for the key. The plunger is made from a two-shot moulding process for forming the stalk and the section. The plunger may be part of a key assembly that also has a key cap shaped to snugly fit over the plunger and a backlight to light an interior of the cap.

Abstract: An antenna tube configured to accommodate a grounding clip and an antenna the antenna tube having a cylindrical tube having an upper end and an inner end opposite the upper end; a circumferentially extending groove in the cylindrical tube located between the upper end and the inner end; and a tapered lip at the inner end of the cylindrical tube, wherein the grounding clip fits between the circumferentially extending groove and the tapered lip, and at least a portion of the antenna slidably fits into the upper end of the cylindrical tube.

Abstract: An antenna mount comprising a front cylindrical mount, the front cylindrical mount having a threaded interior for installing an antenna; a flanged central portion; a base mount consisting of a hollow cylinder cut away along a longitudinal axis, leaving a half-circular cross section. The antenna mount can be installed by inserting it into an opening in the casing of a device and rotating the antenna mount until it abuts a stop stud.

Abstract: A smart card holder frame for an electronic device which comprises a card holder, a member, and an alignment structure. The card holder has a base, a first wall, a second wall, a connector clip, and an open region structured to receive a smart card therein, the open region being disposed between the base, the first wall, the second wall, and the connector clip. The member has a first sloped surface and a second sloped surface structured to be engaged with a smart card and to align the smart card with the open region. The alignment structure comprises a deflectable finger that is structured to bias the smart card into engagement with at least one of the first sloped and the second sloped surface, wherein the alignment structure is adjacent the card holder and wherein the member is adjacent the card holder and the alignment structure.

Abstract: A thumbwheel switch for a handheld electronic device is mechanically and electrically mounted on the substrate of a printed circuit board using SMT with the thumbwheel seated in a cutout in the substrate and with the top surface of the thumbwheel about flush with the top surface of the substrate so that the thumbwheel is ergonomically positioned on the side of the handheld electronic device at the level of the display.