FI116330B - Illuminating key and method of making it - Google Patents

Description

116330

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an illuminating key used in various portable communication devices, such as mobile and car telephones, and in various terminals, such as electronic memos, etc., so that the keys of such a device are visible at night and in low light. In particular, the invention relates to an illuminating key according to the preamble of claim 1. The present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing such an illuminating key.

Description of the Related Art

In the prior art, this type of illuminating key is made by forming a printed pattern layer, such as a letter or the like, on the underside of the upper part of the translucent resin key, and then attaching the silicon key actuator behind the printed pattern layer with adhesive and adhesive.

Further, in the case where a printed pattern layer, such as a letter or the like, is formed on the surface of the upper part of the key, the letter engraving is made with 20 laser beams, which makes expensive manufacturing of such prior art keys.

· In addition, since the printed pattern layer (letter) is formed on the underside of the upper part of a key made of light-transmitting resin, the printed pattern (letter) on the illuminating key described above is difficult to see if the upper surface of the key is curved.

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In addition, since the printed pattern (letter) is engraved with a laser beam, the high manufacturing costs of such illuminating keys cannot be avoided.

In addition, in the case of a printed pattern (buoys) 30 formed on one side of a membrane placed on the tops of a plurality of light-transmitting resin keys, a single key press may cause malfunctions, since the membrane joins the key tops together and pressing a single key .

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Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the problems of the prior art described above and to provide an illuminating key having a printed pattern (letter) that can be reliably identified, even if the top surface of the key is sloping or curved, and having a rubbery snap sensitivity and , the upper part of the key is made of a rigid resin and a reliably strong bond is formed between the key member and the key top.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a 10 illuminating key and a method of making such an illuminating key which enables easy printing of a printed pattern without laser engraving and which provides reliable ON / OFF control of each illuminating key without affecting (adjacent) the adjacent keys rubber-like click sensitivity and rubber-like flexibility, the key top is made of a rigid resin, and a reliably strong bond is formed between the key drive member and the key top.

To achieve these objects, the illuminating key of the present invention is characterized by what is said in the characterizing part of claim 1.

In such a structure, the film has a thickness of 100 to 200 µm, and the printed pattern is placed either on the top surface or on the underside of the film.

Although the top of the key is covered with a film, the top of the keys is not interconnected by a film. Thus, erroneous operations can not occur *: "! For example, that the use of one key also uses the adjacent key 25. In addition, the method according to the invention for producing the illuminating key •> · * ·, comprises the steps of claim 3.

List of figures

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-section of the present invention. . from one embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-section of the '·; · From another embodiment.

Figures 3 (a) to (g) are exemplary schematic diagrams showing the steps of the illuminating key manufacturing method of the present invention.

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Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail.

As shown in the figures, the illuminating key 1 has a driving member 1a and a supporting member 1b connected to the driving member 1a, which are formed in one piece of silicon. 1, the drive portion 1a is formed by a thin skirt portion 1c that rises obliquely from the lower portion of the sidewall of the support portion 1b, and the upper button portion support portion 1d is supported by the upper portion of the skirt portion 1c; the supporting member 1d extends horizontally from the thick side surface of the supporting member 1b. In this context, it should be noted that the present invention is not limited to these structures, and any other structure may be used as long as the upper part 2 of the key can be supported. If the skirt portion 1c is used, this skirt portion 1c will cause a click.

The drive member 1a is further positioned above the substrate (not shown in the figures) at a position corresponding to a fixed junction point on the substrate, and a rubber snap structure is provided by forming an electrically conductive contact member below the drive member 1a or metal clamp structure 20 is provided by a metal dome switch.

Key top part 2 made of a thermoplastic resin such as: ABS plastic, polycarbonate, acrylic resin or the like, is fixed ** over the key top support member 1d with adhesive 3. In this connection, the top surface of the key top 2 may have any shape such as curved 25 and in the direction sloping. Further, the lower part of the key top part 2 may be formed to include an edge part 2a as shown in Figure 3, or the lower part of the key top part 2 may be formed without such an edge part.

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In order to allow light to pass through the key top part 2, the key top part 2 is generally made of a transparent or translucent material having a thickness of about 1 mm (i.e., 0.8 mm to 1.5 mm), and in this context: - 1 uses white material that emits light of a certain intensity. If the upper part 2 of the key is made of such white Γ ": material, the light reflecting film 4a described below will not be required.

The adhesive 3 attaches to a key piece 2 made of a thermoplastic resin 35 such as ABS plastic, polycarbonate, acrylic resin or the like, a silicon key 1 which is formed of a drive member 1a and a support member 4 116330 1b. In this context, the adhesive 3 may be any adhesive capable of adhering two different materials to each other; for example, silicon type adhesives or the like can be used.

Figures 3 (a) to (g) show a method of forming a printed pattern layer 4 (mark) on the surface of the upper part 2 of a resin key, except its lower surface. In this method, a transparent synthetic resin, such as polycarbonate or the like, is made from a film of 100 to 200 μπτ.η thickness 6 with a pre-printed pattern (mark) on one side and placed in a metallic resin mold 7, 10 after which resin is injected into the mold 2, whereby the printed pattern layer 4 melts on the surface of the key top part 2 under the influence of heat.

It should be noted in this connection that the printed pattern layer may be formed on either the upper or lower surface of the film 6. If the printed pattern surface 15 is formed on the upper surface of the film 6, a protective layer 5 made of, for example, a clear urethane coating is applied over the printed surface, in addition, the film 6 must have a thickness of 100 to 200 µm.

Next, the diaphragm 6 is cut off the former 20 outer edges of the key top 2 by a cutter 8. Since the diaphragm 6 is thus cut by the cutter 8 at the lower outer edges of the key top 2, one key • ·! pressing upper part 2 does not affect adjacent key tops, which: · i allows reliable ON / OFF control of a specific •: · ·: upper part of the keyboard 2.

Next, the lower surface of the key top part 2 is secured with adhesive 3; ·. on the underside of a translucent silicon key operating member 1a.

!: ·. The illuminating key of the present invention having the above

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illustrates the structure, allows for reliable identification of a mark (pattern) on the key top 2, even if the top surface of the key top 2 is curved 30 or bevelled. In addition, since the key actuator provides a rubbery click and rubbery elasticity even though the resin of the key top is hard, and since a reliable firm bond between the key actuator and the key top can be obtained, the illuminating key of the present invention has it is possible to perform reliable key functions and * ;: · 35 prevents incorrect operation and other problems such as peeling, etc.

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In addition, the illuminating key manufacturing method of the present invention does not require the use of a laser and the printed pattern layer (sign) is easily formed by printing technique. In addition, since the film on the top of one key is separate from the film on the top of the other keys, pressing the top of one key does not affect the top of the adjacent keys, which allows reliable ON / OFF control of any key top.

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Claims (3)

116330 An illuminating key, comprising: a top part (2) of a translucent resin key; and 5 an upper surface of a key actuator portion (1a) of a transparent rubber or thermoplastic elastomer attached to the lower surface of the key top part (2) by a transparent adhesive (3), the key being known from a foil (6) having a pattern formed thereon; 6) is fixed to the top and side surfaces of the transparent resin key top (2) and wherein portions of the membrane (6) extending over the bottom of the key top are cut off. Illuminating key according to claim 1, characterized in that the film (6) has a thickness of 100 µm to 200 µm. A method of making an illuminating key, characterized by the steps of: inserting a film (6) in a mold (7) having a pattern formed on one side thereof; injecting into the mold (7) a light-transmitting resin to form the top of the key (2); 20 affixing a pattern-containing film (6) to the top and side surfaces of the resin of the transparent key; : cutting off portions of the diaphragm (6) extending over the lower edge of the key top (2) using a die (8); and •: * · i is attached to the lower surface of the key top part (2) made of a transparent rubber or thermoplastic elastomer 25 • * ·,. with transparent adhesive (3). • 1 t • · »· * · ·» · i * ► 116330