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A dome-shaped element disposable in a keyboard of an electronic device is provided. The dome-shaped element includes a concave surface originating at a center and terminating at a periphery. The concave surface includes an annular array of elastic elements extending from the center to the periphery.

A dome-shaped element disposable in a keyboard of an electronic device is provided. The dome-shaped element includes a concave surface originating at a center and terminating at a periphery. The concave surface includes an annular array of elastic elements extending from the center to the periphery. At least one of the elastic elements includes a first portion with a first slope proximate to the center and a second portion with a second slope proximate to the periphery. The concave surface is deflectable between an un-deflected position and a deflected position and is configured to affect an operation of the electronic device in the deflected position.

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1. A dome-shaped element disposable in a keyboard of an electronic device and comprising: a concave surface originating at a center and terminating at a periphery;the concave surface comprising an annular array of elastic elements extending from the center to the periphery, each of the elastic eleme

1. A dome-shaped element disposable in a keyboard of an electronic device and comprising: a concave surface originating at a center and terminating at a periphery;the concave surface comprising an annular array of elastic elements extending from the center to the periphery, each of the elastic elements comprising a first substantially linear portion with a first slope proximate to the center and a second substantially linear portion with a second slope proximate to the periphery, wherein at least one of the first portions of the elastic elements is tapered toward the center; andthe concave surface being deflectable between an un-deflected position and a deflected position and configured to affect an operation of the electronic device in the deflected position,wherein the first slope is the slope of a line parallel to the first portion, and wherein the second slope is the slope of a line parallel to the second portion, and wherein the angle of the first slope relative to a surface of a substrate on which the dome-shaped element is disposed is less than the angle of the second slope relative to the surface of the substrate. 2. The dome-shaped element according to claim 1, wherein the concave surface comprises a conductive material that completes a circuit in the deflected position and forms an open circuit in the un-deflected position. 3. The dome-shaped element according to claim 1, wherein the center includes a portion that is substantially planar. 4. The dome-shaped element according to claim 1, wherein each of the first portions of the elastic elements is tapered toward the center, and wherein the second portions of the elastic elements have a substantially uniform width. 5. The dome-shaped element according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first portions has substantially similar dimensions as another of the first portions and at least one of the second portions has substantially similar dimensions as another of the second portions, the substantially similar dimensions of the first portions being different than the substantially similar dimensions of the second portions. 6. The dome-shaped element according to claim 1, wherein the periphery has a diameter of about 4-5 mm and a travel distance between the un-deflected and deflected positions is about 0.22-0.30 mm. 7. The dome-shaped element according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises: a housing;a processor disposed in the housing;an input apparatus, including the keyboard, supportively disposed on the housing; andan output apparatus supportively disposed on the housing. 8. The dome-shaped element according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a handheld device. 9. The dome-shaped element according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard comprises: the substrate on which the dome-shaped element is operably disposed;spacers disposed on the substrate to at least partially surround the dome-shaped element; anda laminate supported on at least the spacers such that the laminate is disposed at a distance from the substrate, the distance being substantially similar to a height of the spacers;the dome-shaped element being interposed between the substrate and the laminate. 10. The dome-shaped element according to claim 1, wherein the dome-shaped element is configured to provide a non-linear tactile response to a deflection force. 11. The dome-shaped element according to claim 10, wherein the non-linear tactile response comprises: a first part associated with a linear deformation of the center; anda second part associated with a collapse of the first portion of the at least one of the elastic elements. 12. The dome-shaped element according to claim 11, wherein the first part terminates at a deflection of the concave surface of about 0.14-0.28 mm. 13. A dome assembly for use in an electronic device keyboard, the dome assembly comprising: a substrate comprising first and second contact pads;a laminate disposed at a distance from the substrate; anda dome-shaped element interposed between the laminate and the substrate and comprising:a concave surface originating at a center and terminating at a periphery disposed in contact with the first contact pad;the concave surface comprising an annular array of elastic elements extending from the center to the periphery, each of the elastic elements comprising a first substantially linear portion with a first slope proximate to the center and a second substantially linear portion with a second slope proximate to the periphery, wherein at least one of the first portions is tapered toward the center; andthe concave surface being deflectable between an un-deflected position and a deflected position and configured such that the center contacts the second contact pad to thereby affect an operation of the electronic device in the deflected position,wherein the first slope is the slope of a line parallel to the first portion, and wherein the second slope is the slope of a line parallel to the second portion, and wherein the angle of the first slope relative to a surface of a substrate on which the dome-shaped element is disposed is less than the angle of the second slope relative to the surface of the substrate. 14. The dome assembly according to claim 13, wherein a deflection of the concave surface to the deflected position comprises an application of ramped-up force over an extended travel distance at least until the concave surface buckles, wherein the tapering of the at least one of the first portions provides space in between the elastic elements that permits the center to deform linearly during the application of ramped-up force. 15. The dome assembly according to claim 13, wherein the periphery has a diameter of about 4-5 mm and a travel distance between the un-deflected and deflected positions is about 0.22-0.30 mm. 16. The dome assembly according to claim 15, wherein the dome-shaped element is configured to provide a non-linear tactile response over the travel distance. 17. A keyboard assembly for an electronic device, the keyboard assembly comprising: a substrate;a laminate disposed at a distance from the substrate; anda multiple-sloped dome interposed between the laminate and the substrate;the multiple-sloped dome comprising a peripheral portion contacting the substrate and a central portion contacting the laminate and being formed such that the central portion is biased to remain separated from the substrate and to provide a non-linear tactile response to a pressing force applied to the laminate to thereby urge the central portion into contact with the substrate,the multiple-sloped dome further comprising a plurality of elastic elements, each elastic element including a first substantially linear portion disposed at a periphery of the central portion and having a first slope and a second substantially linear portion disposed at a periphery of the first portion and having a second slope, wherein at least one of the first portions is tapered toward the center portion,wherein the first slope is the slope of a line parallel to the first portion, wherein the second slope is the slope of a line parallel to the second portion, and wherein the angle of the first slope relative to a surface of a substrate on which the multiple-sloped dome is disposed is less than the angle of the second slope relative to the surface of the substrate. 18. The keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein the electronic device comprises a handheld device. 19. The keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein the multiple-sloped dome comprises one of metal and metallic alloy. 20. The keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of elastic elements comprises multiple-sloped elastic elements, which are sloped relative to the central portion. 21. The keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein the multiple-sloped dome has about a 4-5 mm diameter and provides for about 0.22-0.30 mm of travel distance. 22. The keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein the multiple-sloped dome has a wagon-wheel shape in a plane defined between the substrate and the laminate, with the central portion of the multiple-sloped dome acting as a hub, the plurality of elastic elements acting as spokes, and the periphery acting as a tire. 23. The keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein the multiple-sloped dome is provided as a plurality of multiple-sloped domes interposed between the laminate and the substrate. 24. The keyboard assembly according to claim 23, wherein the substrate comprises first and second contact pads, which are respectively coupled to a circuit of the electronic device, for each of the plurality of the multiple-sloped domes such that: the peripheral portion of at least one of the multiple-slope domes contacts a corresponding one of the first contact pads; andthe central portion of the at least one of the multiple-sloped domes contacts a corresponding one of the second contact pads following the application of the pressing force. 25. The keyboard assembly according to claim 17, wherein the central portion is adhered to the laminate. 26. The keyboard assembly according to claim 25, wherein the central portion lies flush against the laminate.