Electronic Device Used In A Health Care Setting

Abstract

An electronic device for use in a health care setting has a rigid enclosure assembly formed by a rigid shell and a rigid printed circuit board carrying circuitry for operating the device. A switch dome layer and an overlay are independently attached to the device but not to each other, whereby the overlay may be removed without disturbing the dome layer and a better tactile response is achieved.

1 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of making an electronic device for use in a health care setting, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a rigid shell defining an interior space and an opening communicating with the interior space;   providing a rigid printed circuit board, the printed circuit board including electronic circuitry for operation of the device; and   fixing the printed circuit board to the shell such that the printed circuit board covers the opening, wherein the shell and the printed circuit board cooperate with one another to form a rigid enclosure assembly for the electronic device.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein a peripheral edge of the printed circuit board opposes an inner surface of the shell. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the printed circuit board includes an outward surface having a switch trace thereon, and the method further comprises the steps of:
 providing a dome layer, the dome layer including a nonconductive sheet and a switch dome attached to the sheet;   fixing the dome layer to the outward surface of the printed circuit board such that the switch dome is operable to close the switch trace;   providing an overlay, the overlay including a switch graphic; and   fixing the overlay to at least one of the shell and the outward surface of the printed circuit board such that the switch graphic is at a location corresponding to the switch dome, wherein the overlay is unattached to the dome layer.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the dome layer and the overlay are fixed to the outward surface of the printed circuit board by adhesive at different portions of the outward surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the overlay is fixed to the shell by adhesive. 
     
     
         15 .- 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method of making an electronic device for use in a health care setting, the device comprising a printed circuit board fixed to a housing shell, the printed circuit board including an outward surface having a switch trace thereon, wherein the improvement comprises the steps of:
 providing a dome layer, the dome layer including a nonconductive sheet and a switch dome attached to the sheet,   fixing the dome layer to the outward surface of the printed circuit board such that the switch dome is operable to close the switch trace;   providing an overlay, the overlay including a switch graphic; and   fixing the overlay to at least one of the housing shell and the outward surface of the printed circuit board such that the switch graphic is at a location corresponding to the switch dome, wherein the overlay is unattached to the dome layer.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the dome layer and the overlay are fixed to the outward surface of the printed circuit board by adhesive at different portions of the outward surface. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the overlay is fixed to the housing shell by adhesive. 
     
     
         22 . A method of servicing an electronic device, the device comprising a printed circuit board including a switch trace, a switch dome operable to close the switch trace, and an overlay including a switch graphic at a location corresponding to the switch dome, the method comprising the steps of:
 removing the overlay from the device without removing the switch dome from the device;   performing a service operation; and   fixing a replacement overlay different from the removed overlay on the device overtop the switch dome.