We Claim:
1. A keyboard assembly for a handheld device, comprising
a housing having a first section and a second section;
a plurality of slots formed on the first section;
a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed between the first and second sections;
a key mat sandwiched between the first section and the PCB, the key mat
having a plurality of fixed keys and a plurality of interchangeable keys, each key
protruding from its corresponding slot on the first section,
wherein the plurality of interchangeable keys, each has a plurality of pins extending
from each interchangeable key towards the PCB configured to provide each
interchangeable key with a unique identity, such that when each interchangeable
key is replaced onto another slot on the first section, its unique identity remains with
the interchangeable key, and wherein the plurality of pins is configured to be
selectively coated with a conductive material .
2. The keyboard assembly of claim 1, wherein the key mat comprises a plurality
of adapters, each adapter being sized and shaped to receive a corresponding
interchangeable key.
3. The keyboard assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the interchangeable key
comprises a key cover and a key base.
4. The keyboard assembly of claim 3, wherein the key cover has a plurality of
key cover pins extending from a lower surface of the key cover.
5. The keyboard assembly of claim 4, wherein the key base has a plurality of
sleeves extending from a lower surface of the key base, each of the sleeves having
a sleeve hole therein and adapted to receive the corresponding key cover pins.
6. The keyboard assembly of claim 5, wherein the sleeves are selectively coated
with conductive print to identify each interchangeable key.
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7. The keyboard assembly of any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the key cover
has a slit at an edge of the key cover.
8. The keyboard assembly of any of the preceding claims, wherein the key mat
has a protrusion formed on a lower side of the key mat at a location of the
interchangeable key, the protrusion being configured to abut a dome shaped
element disposed on the PCB, when the interchangeable key is actuated by a user.
9. The keyboard assembly of claim 6, further comprising a plurality of contact
nodes disposed on the PCB and aligned under a base of each sleeve, the sleeves
being configured to contact the plurality of contact nodes when the interchangeable
key is pressed.
10. The keyboard assembly of claim 9, wherein the plurality of contact nodes is
disposed on the PCB and under the dome shaped element.
11. The keyboard assembly of claim 10, wherein the key cover pin is arranged
such that there is a gap between a tip of the key cover pin and a base of the sleeve.
12. A handheld device comprising the keyboard assembly of any of the preceding
claims.
13. A method of operating the handheld device of claim 12, comprising the steps
of:
(i) replacing an interchangeable key with another preferred
interchangeable key on the handheld device to form a newly
assembled interchangeable key;
(ii) pressing the newly assembled interchangeable key, such that a unique
identity of the interchangeable key is detected by the combination of a
plurality of contact nodes and pins;
(iii) assigning a code from a correlation database to the newly assembled
interchangeable key;
(iv) assigning a corresponding command code from a command code
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library to each code; and
(v) transmitting the command code to a media device.