KR100952221B1 - Multi-mode key input device using transparent electrode and character display method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A multi-mode key input device using a transparent electrode and a letter display method thereof are provided to make a transparent key input unit, thereby enabling a user to effectively check a letter of a lower end of the key input unit by a user. CONSTITUTION: A transparent key-top unit(110) moves toward the lower portion of a key input device corresponding to a pressing operation of a user. A dome switch unit electrically connects a fixed contact point unit(122). An input mode determining unit decides a letter input mode of the key input device. A letter display unit(200) selectively displays a letter corresponding to the key input unit.

Description

MULTI-MODE KEY INPUT DEVICE USING TRANSPARENT ELECTRODE AND CHARACTER DISPLAY METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a multi-mode key input apparatus using a transparent electrode and a character display method thereof. More specifically, the dome switch unit is formed of a transparent electrode, and a character corresponding to each key input unit is input mode on the character display unit. The present invention relates to a multi-mode key input device using a transparent electrode for displaying stars and a character display method thereof.

In general, a keyboard is an input device in which key buttons are arranged in accordance with a predetermined rule. The keyboard is mounted on a computer, a typewriter, and the like. Most are configured to enter the desired character by pressing.

However, since a conventional keyboard displays various input modes on a key button at a time, it is difficult for an older person or a person who does not usually use the keyboard to identify the characters printed on each key button. It is very inconvenient to input text.

Recently, in order to eliminate such inconvenience, a chip LED (Light Emitting Diode) is installed under the keyboard and a reflector is installed in a metal dome sheet to utilize a so-called back-light device that diffuses light to the front. Some keyboards are being applied. However, this type of keyboard is difficult to display the characters in the corresponding input mode accurately because the brightness of the LED is not revealed the same in all positions due to the characteristics of the LED, there was a problem that consumes a lot of power.

In addition, a technology for displaying characters by providing a separate display device on an upper portion of a key input unit of a keyboard is provided. However, in this case, the configuration of the keyboard is complicated, there is a risk of frequent failures, and there is a problem that causes inconvenience to the user visually and tactilely.

Furthermore, with the development of the key input method, a key input is performed by using a touch pad type input method, and a technology for displaying a character on a keypad for each input mode is also provided. However, in the case of the touch pad keypad, there is a problem in that the user cannot feel a click when the user presses the keyboard and feels inconvenience in use.

Therefore, there is an urgent need for a technique of properly displaying the corresponding characters on the keyboard for each input mode without maintaining the click feeling of the existing keyboard and not giving the user a feeling of rejection.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a multi-mode key input device using a transparent electrode that forms a dome switch in the key input unit by using a transparent electrode, and checks the characters displayed on the display device located below the key input unit, and a method of displaying the characters thereof. to provide.

In addition, an embodiment of the present invention provides a multi-mode key input apparatus using a transparent electrode capable of selectively displaying a character corresponding to each key input unit for each input mode and a character display method thereof.

As a technical means for achieving the above-described technical problem, the first aspect of the present invention is directed to a transparent key top part and a movement of the key top part moving downward of the key input device in response to a user's pressing operation. Correspondingly, a key input portion including a dome switch portion elastically deformed downwardly to the key input device to electrically connect the fixed contact portion, wherein the dome switch portion is a transparent electrode formed by coating a transparent conductive polymer layer on the surface of the substrate and transparently. It is possible to provide a multi-mode key input device using.

In addition, the second aspect of the present invention, detecting a character input mode change signal, based on the detected signal, determining the type of the changed character input mode, a display device corresponding to each key input unit Detecting a display area of the image, and selectively displaying a character corresponding to each key input unit in the determined character input mode on the detected display area on the display device, wherein the key input unit The display device is transparently formed by coating a transparent conductive polymer layer having flexibility such as polyaniline, polythiophene, and polypyrrole based on the surface of the substrate. Is a lower portion of the key input unit, the multi-mode key input device including a transparent electrode It can provide party representation.

According to the above-described problem solving means of the present invention, by forming the dome switch in the key input unit using a transparent electrode, the key input unit is formed transparent to effectively check the characters displayed at the bottom of the key input unit and at the same time durability of the dome switch To improve.

In addition, according to the problem solving means of the present invention described above, by selectively displaying the characters for each input mode corresponding to each key input unit, the user can effectively check the input mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. In the drawings, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted in order to clearly describe the present invention, and like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification, when a part is "connected" to another part, this includes not only "directly connected" but also "electrically connected" with another element in between. . In addition, when a part is said to "include" a certain component, which means that it may further include other components, except to exclude other components unless otherwise stated.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a detailed block diagram of a multi-mode key input device using a transparent electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a multi-mode key input apparatus using a transparent electrode according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a key input unit 100, a character display unit 200, an input mode determination unit 300, and an input mode DB ( 400 and the control unit 500.

The plurality of key input units 100 input key values assigned in response to a user's key pressing operation. The key input unit 100 may be transparently formed, including a dome switch formed of a transparent electrode, and the characters displayed on the character display unit 200 to be described later located under the key input unit 100 may be displayed in the key input unit 100. It can be seen at the top.

The input mode determiner 300 determines the character input mode of the key input device. When the text input mode is changed, the input mode determiner 300 may detect a text input mode change signal and determine a text input mode to be changed based on the detected signal.

The input mode DB 400 stores information about a character corresponding to each key input unit 100 in each character input mode. The character input mode may include, for example, a Korean mode, an English mode, a game mode, a special character mode, and the like, and the English mode may include an uppercase mode and a lowercase mode. In addition, the user may set and store a character corresponding to each key input unit 100 according to his or her preference.

The character display unit 200 selectively displays a character corresponding to each key input unit in the set character input mode. For example, an English letter (eg, 'A') is displayed in the English uppercase mode in a region corresponding to the preset key input unit 100 of the character display unit 200, and a Korean character (eg, in the Korean mode). 'ㅁ') may be displayed.

In addition, when the power supply is not easy, the character display unit 200 may be formed by using a display device that does not use a backlight. When the power supply is easy, a display device using a backlight may be used. For example, when the power supply is not easy, the letter display unit 200 is an electronic paper that uses a small ball or capsule of 0.1 mm or less to effect the ink so that the letter pattern can be identified even after the power is turned off. It can be formed using E-PAPER, and if the power supply is easy, universal display devices such as liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED) and organic light emitting diode (OLED) can be used. have. In particular, when using an electronic paper system capable of identifying a character pattern even after the power is turned off, the character display unit 200 is changed according to the character input mode so that no more power is required for each of the displayed pixels, thereby reducing the power of the key input device. The cost savings can be effectively achieved, and further, the key input device can be formed thinner.

The control unit 500 controls the operation of the entire key input device, and based on the character information for each character input mode stored in the input mode DB 400, the controller 500 selects a character corresponding to each key input unit 100 in the corresponding character input mode. The key input unit 100, the character input mode determiner 300, and the character input mode DB are controlled to be selectively displayed on the character display unit 200.

Further, when there is a change in the text input mode, the controller 500 may detect a text input mode change signal generated from the key input unit 100 and change the text input mode based on the detected text input mode change signal. .

Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the key input unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

2 is a detailed configuration diagram of the key input unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the key input unit 100 includes a key top part 110, a housing part 120, and a dome switch part 130.

The key top unit 110 moves to the lower portion of the key input device in response to the user's pressing operation to press the dome switch unit 130. When the user's pressing operation ends, the dome switch 130 is restored to its original shape by the elastic force and the key top 110 is returned to its original position.

The housing unit 120 forms an outer shape of the key input unit. The housing part 120 may include a transparent partition wall and a lower portion thereof may include a plurality of fixed contact parts 122. The plurality of fixed contact portions 122 are not electrically connected in the off state (the key is not pressed), and are electrically connected by the dome switch unit 130 to be described later in the on state (the key is pressed). Will be connected.

The dome switch unit 130 electrically turns on / off the fixed contact portion 122 by elastic deformation. The dome switch unit 130 may elastically deform to the lower side of the key input device in response to the movement of the key top unit 110, and electrically connect the plurality of fixed contact portions 122 by the elastic deformation.

In addition, the dome switch unit 130 may be formed by coating a transparent electrode on the surface of the substrate. As a non-limiting example of such a substrate, a transparent polymer film may be used. Specifically, the substrate may include a film including any one or more of polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polycarbonate (PC). May be, but is not limited thereto. Further, as the transparent electrode, a polymer material known in the art may be used as the conductive polymer material. For example, a polyaniline-based, polythiophene-based, polypyrrole-based, or the like may be used. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Particularly, when a conductive polymer such as conductive polyaniline is used as the transparent electrode, the flexibility of the dome switch is improved since the flexibility of an inorganic material transparent electrode such as indium tin oxide (ITO) or indium zinc oxide (IZO) is improved. It is possible to improve the durability of the dome switch while maintaining the transmittance and conductivity.

Such polyaniline may be used as doped or undoped.

An improved characteristic of the dome switch unit 130 formed using polyaniline will be described later.

In addition, the transparent electrode may include direct gravure, reverse gravure, micro gravure, comma, slot die coating, slit coating, curtain coating, The substrate surface may be coated by a method selected from the group consisting of capillary coating, spray coating, dip coating, silk screen, and spin coating.

Hereinafter, an example of the key input unit 100 and the character display unit 200 disposed according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a key input unit 100 and a character display unit 200 arranged according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the character display unit 200 may be positioned below the plurality of key input units 100. In this case, the character display unit 200 may correspond to the character corresponding to the key input unit 100 located above. Can be displayed according to the character input mode.

In addition, the input mode DB 400 may store position information on the character display unit 200 corresponding to each key input unit 100, character information corresponding to each position, and information on character configuration for each character input mode. Can be.

In addition, the character display unit 200 is a display device that forms a pattern using small balls or capsules of 0.1 mm or less and produces an ink effect. The character display unit 200 may display characters by using an E-paper. Therefore, power is needed only when forming a letter pattern, thereby minimizing power consumption.

In FIG. 3, the plurality of key input units 100 correspond to specific areas of the single character display unit 200, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the plurality of character display units 200 may include a plurality of key input units ( It may be formed to correspond to 100). In addition, some or all of the partition walls of the housing part 120 may be opaque or semitransparent.

Hereinafter, the improved physical properties of the dome switch formed using polyaniline according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6.

4A is a graph measuring flexibility of a dome switch formed using polyaniline according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a graph measuring flexibility of a dome switch formed using ITO as a comparative example.

As shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, as the number of deformations (push times) of the dome switch increases, the electrical characteristics of the dome switch formed using polyaniline hardly change, while formed using ITO. As the dome switch increases the number of deformation, it can be seen that the electrical properties are significantly reduced.

In the case of the dome switch formed using polyaniline, the flexibility is much better, and even if the dome switch is repeatedly inverted by the repeated pressing operation, it can be seen that the electrical characteristics can be effectively maintained and the durability is improved.

5A and 5B are graphs measuring transmittance and resistance of a surface according to a thickness of a dome switch formed using polyaniline according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5A and 5B, the dome switch formed by using polyaniline according to an embodiment of the present invention maintains transmittance of 80% or more at a thickness of 220 to 380 nm, and has a sheet resistance of 500 Ω / □ or less. It can be seen that it has.

Therefore, when the dome switch is formed using polyaniline, the dome switch may be formed thin, but the transmittance and conductivity may be effectively maintained.

Hereinafter, a character display method using a multi-mode key input device using a transparent electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

6 is a detailed flowchart of a character display method using a multi-mode key input apparatus using a transparent electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Step S600 is a step of changing the character input mode. In operation S600, the character input mode change signal generated by the key input unit 100 may be detected, and the character input mode may be changed based on the detected character input mode change signal.

In step S602, it is determined whether the changed character input mode is an English mode.

As a result of the determination (step S602), if the changed character input mode is the English mode, it is determined whether the changed character input mode is the uppercase or lowercase mode (step S604), and if the changed character input mode is not the English mode, step S606. Do this.

In operation S606, the character corresponding to each key input unit 100 is confirmed in the changed character input mode. In the input mode DB 400, not only the Korean mode, the English mode, the game mode, and the special character mode, but also various character input modes set by the user may exist. In operation S606, each key input unit 100 may be used in the corresponding character input mode. Character can be detected.

In operation S608, the display area on the character display unit 200 corresponding to each key input unit 100 is checked in the changed character input mode. In the input mode DB 400, a display area on the character display unit 200 corresponding to each key input unit 100 is set and stored. In step S608, the character display area for each key input unit 100 is input mode DB. 400 can be confirmed.

In operation S610, a character corresponding to the changed character input mode is displayed on a display area corresponding to each key input unit 100. In operation S610, a character corresponding to each character input mode may be selectively displayed.

In operation S610, characters may be displayed using a display device that does not use a backlight, and for example, an electronic paper (E-) to which an effect of ink is applied using small balls or capsules of 0.1 mm or less is applied. PAPER) can be used to display characters. Accordingly, no more power is required for each pixel of the display device that is changed and displayed in accordance with the character input mode in step S610, so that the power of the key input device can be reduced more effectively, and the key input device can be formed thinner. It becomes possible.

In addition, the character displayed in step S610 may be effectively displayed to the user through the key input unit 100 including the transparent dome switch, the transparent dome switch using a transparent electrode, in particular, a film coated with polyaniline By being formed, durability, conductivity and transmittance of the key input device are greatly improved.

One embodiment of the present invention can also be implemented in the form of a recording medium containing instructions executable by a computer, such as a program module executed by the computer. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. In addition, computer readable media may include both computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Communication media typically includes computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave, or other transmission mechanism, and includes any information delivery media.

The foregoing description of the present invention is intended for illustration, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be easily modified in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. will be. It is therefore to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. For example, each component described as a single type may be implemented in a distributed manner, and similarly, components described as distributed may be implemented in a combined form.

The scope of the present invention is shown by the following claims rather than the above description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention. do.

1 is a detailed block diagram of a multi-mode key input device using a transparent electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a detailed configuration diagram of a key input unit 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a view showing an example of a key input unit 100 and a character display unit 200 arranged according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4a is a graph measuring the flexibility of the dome switch formed using a polyaniline (Polyaniline) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4a is a graph measuring the flexibility of the dome switch formed using ITO according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5A and 5B are graphs illustrating transmittance and plane resistance values according to thicknesses of a dome switch formed using polyaniline according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a detailed flowchart of a character display method using a multi-mode key input apparatus using a transparent electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: key input section 110: key top section

120: housing portion 122: fixed contact portion

130: dome switch unit 200: character display unit

300: input mode determination unit 400: input mode DB

500: control unit

Claims (13)

In the multi-mode key input device using a transparent electrode, A transparent key-top portion moving downward of the key input device in response to a user's pressing operation; And a dome switch part configured to elastically deform downward of the key input device to electrically connect the fixed contact part in response to the movement of the key top part. An input mode determination unit to determine a text input mode of the key input device; And A character display unit positioned below the key input unit and selectively displaying a character corresponding to each key input unit in the determined character input mode: Including; The dome switch unit is formed by coating a transparent conductive polymer layer on the surface of the substrate to be transparent, Multi-mode key input device using transparent electrode. The method of claim 1, The transparent conductive polymer layer is a layer coated with one or more conductive polymer materials selected from the group consisting of polyaniline-based polymers, polythiophene-based polymers, and polypyrrole-based polymers. Multi-mode keystroke device. delete The method of claim 1, Wherein the substrate is a transparent organic material film containing at least one selected from the group consisting of polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate (PC), multi-mode key input device using a transparent electrode . The method of claim 1, The letter display unit is an electronic paper (E-PAPER) that can produce the effect of the ink by forming a pattern using a small ball or capsule of less than 0.1mm, and even after the power is cut off (E-PAPER), using a transparent electrode Multi-mode keystroke device. The method of claim 1, The character display unit is a display device using at least one of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) and organic light emitting diodes (OLED), multi-mode key input device using a transparent electrode. The method of claim 1, The character input mode may be a Korean mode; English mode; And at least one of a game mode and a special character mode, wherein the English mode includes an uppercase mode and a lowercase mode. In the character display method of a multi-mode key (KEY) input device comprising a transparent electrode, Detecting a character input mode change signal, Determining a type of the changed character input mode based on the detected signal; Detecting a display area on the display device corresponding to each key input unit, and Selectively displaying a character corresponding to each of the key input units in the determined character input mode on the detected display area on the display device; Including, The key input part is elastically deformed downwardly in response to the movement of the key top part and the transparent key-top part moving downward of the key input device in response to the user's pressing operation, and the fixed contact part is electrically And a dome switch unit formed by coating a transparent conductive polymer layer on the surface of the substrate and making it transparent, The character displayed on the display device is displayed under the key input unit, and is displayed so that the character can be identified from the outside of the key input unit through the key top unit and the dome switch unit. The method of claim 8, The transparent conductive polymer layer is a polyaniline-based polymer, polythiophene (Polythiophene) -based polymer and polypyrrole (Polypyrrole) is a layer coated with one or more conductive polymer material selected from the group consisting of a polymer, the character display method. The method of claim 8, Wherein the substrate is a transparent organic material film comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate (PC). The method of claim 8, The displaying of the character may include forming a pattern of the character on the display device using small balls or capsules of 0.1 mm or less, so that the pattern may be identified even after the power is cut off. The method of claim 8, And displaying the text by using one or more of a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED), and organic light emitting diodes (OLED). The method of claim 8, The character input mode may be a Korean mode; English mode; At least one of a game mode and a special character mode, wherein the English mode includes an uppercase mode and a lowercase mode.

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