ELASTOMERIC KEYPAD AND METHOD OF FABRICATING SAME

摘要

An elastomeric keypad has a plurality of hard top keys with a substantially opaque portion (28) and a translucent or transparent graphic portion (26). The key cap also has a skirt (30) with an integral flange (32), the skirt extending down over the sides of the elastomeric key and the flange being secured under the face of a bezel (40). Light from a light source passes through the elastomeric keys and through the transparent graphic portion, but is blocked by the opaque portion and by the skirt. A sheet (50) containing a key cap (24) with graphics (26) is placed onto a first plate (52) of a molding tool (54). A second plate (58) is attached to the first plate, covering the graphic film. The first and second plates interact such that the key cap containing the graphic is excised from the film and retained in the molding tool assembly. The waste material (60) surrounding the key cap is displaced away from its original position. A third plate (64) is then attached to the assembled first and second plates. The assembled molding tool creates a cavity (66) that is representative of the keypad assembly, and an elastomeric material is molded into that cavity.