JP2005071728A - Key unit for mobile equipment and its manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain, firstly, a marking method in which letters or symbols or the like marked have sufficient wear and tear resistance when marking is made on the transparent hard resin keytop of a lighting type key unit, and to obtain, secondly, a manufacturing method of the lighting type key unit in which the key unit is completed in an extremely short time when a delivery destination is determined. <P>SOLUTION: In the marking method, required letters, figures, and symbols or the like are formed on the top face of the keytop by printing, and a protection layer having wear and tear resistance covering these letters, figures, and symbols or the like is also formed, or the required letters, figures, or symbols are formed on the top face of each keytop as three-dimensional recesses. In the manufacturing method of the lighting type key unit, all processes including assembling which can be executed without deciding the destination in the manufacturing process of the key unit are completed, and in that state, the manufacturing is stopped, and then, as soon as the letters and symbol portions related to the destination are finalized, final markings are formed on the top face of the keytop by laser beam irradiation or printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a key unit for mobile devices such as a mobile phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a method for manufacturing the same.

  A key unit is a type of component that constitutes a mobile device, and includes a large number of switch operation keys (push buttons) assembled and arranged on a single sheet surface. Each key includes a key top attached to the surface of a flexible elastomer keypad and a switch pressing protrusion (so-called “presser”) formed on the back surface of the keypad. The keys are connected by a keypad. Since each key is illuminated by a light source provided close to the keypad (referred to as “illuminated key”), a light-transmitting material is used for the key top and the keypad. If a circuit board with a light source having a switch element is brought into close contact with the lower surface of the key unit configured as described above at a position corresponding to the switch pressing protrusion of each key, an illuminated key switch is formed.

  To produce an illuminated key unit, create a key top and key pad separately and assemble them together with an adhesive, etc., or create a key top first and insert it into an injection mold. Then, the keypad may be inserted and molded. It is necessary to draw characters / symbols representing the function of each key on the key top, and this process is called “marking”. Marking is performed on the upper surface (also referred to as “top surface”) or lower surface (bottom surface) of the key top, or inside the key top. Of these, in the case of the top surface, wear resistance of the marked characters / symbols must be ensured, but on the other hand, the marking on the top surface can be performed even after the key top and the keypad are joined. For marking on the bottom side, the key top must be transparent and must be finished before the key top is joined to the keypad. For this purpose, marking should be done before joining The contents of characters, symbols, etc. need to be confirmed.

  Mobile devices such as mobile phones are shipped to various parts of the world using different languages, but the number of days from the determination of the destination to the shipment is usually extremely limited. Of the many parts that make up the mobile device, parts other than the key unit are irrelevant to the language used, so they can be assembled in advance without leaving their destination. However, with regard to the key unit, even though some numbers that are not related to the language used can be marked in advance, the language used is not determined, so some of the contents of characters and symbols to be marked are not yet. In the state where there is a fixed part, the final marking is not performed and the manufacture of the key unit cannot be completed. If the production of the key unit is started after the destination is decided, it will not be in time for delivery, and if the key unit is produced in advance in various languages, the stock will be excessive.

The above problem is a kind of problem generally found in a build-to-order system, and there are several prior arts aimed at solving similar problems. For example, Patent Document 1 below relates to lead time reduction, Patent Document 2 provides delivery date information by the number of days shorter than a monthly unit, and Patent Document 3 relates to utilization of a product configuration table for each model.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-202805 JP 2002-244711 A JP 2003-015722 A

  Problems to be solved by the present invention are as follows. First, when marking the top surface of a transparent hard resin key top of an illuminated key unit, the marked characters / symbols have sufficient wear resistance. Find a marking method that provides. Second, once the destination is determined, it is necessary to find a method for manufacturing an illuminated key unit that can complete the key unit in as short a time as possible.

  The first problem is that, as described in claim 1, a required character or symbol is formed on the top surface of the key top by printing, and a wear-resistant protective layer that covers the character, symbol, etc. is formed. This is achieved by forming a desired character or symbol font as a three-dimensionally recessed recess on the top surface of each key top as described in claims 2 and 3.

  The second object is achieved by the manufacturing method of the present invention. In other words, during the manufacturing process of the key unit, it is possible to perform assembly with the destination not yet determined, such as marking the numbers, symbols, etc. unrelated to the language used at the destination, and attaching the key top to the keypad and assembling. In the state where all the processes including are completed, the production is temporarily interrupted. The only process left in this state is the marking on the top surface of the key top. Then, as soon as the destination is determined and the character / symbol portion related to the destination is determined, final marking on the top surface of the key top is performed by laser light irradiation or printing to complete the key unit.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the characters, symbols, etc. formed on the top surface of the key top are three-dimensionally formed on the bottom surface of the colored key top together with the effect of being protected by the wear-resistant protective layer. A decorative effect is achieved in which characters, symbols, and the like, which have a color different from the applied color or a metal color, emerge through the transparent key top.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the required characters, symbols, and the like are formed in a shape engraved on the top surface of the key top, and the engraved characters and the like are free from peeling or disappearance, so that excellent wear resistance is realized. In addition, since letters, symbols, and the like are formed by hollowing out the light-shielding colored layer or metal film, a color applied to the bottom surface of the key top through these letters, symbols, etc. is desired. An effect is produced.

  The invention of claim 3 is the same as the invention of claim 2 in that the required letters, symbols, etc. are formed in a shape engraved on the top surface of the key top, and excellent wear resistance is realized. In addition, there is a decorative effect in which the embossed pattern on the bottom surface of the recess such as engraved letters formed on the top surface of the key top appears to shine white by irregularly reflecting light.

  According to the invention of claim 4, all the processes that can be executed without determining the destination are finished, and as soon as the character / symbol part related to the destination is determined, the top surface of the hard resin key is irradiated with the laser beam. Alternatively, printing is performed to mark the destination-related characters / symbols and the like, and all the processes are completed. Therefore, after the destination is determined, the key unit can be completed in the shortest time.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention of each claim of the present application will be described below and described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 are views showing Embodiment 1 relating to an illuminated key unit according to the invention of claim 1, FIG. 1 is a plan view of the key unit, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing one of the keys. FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a key unit, 2 is a hard resin key top, 3 is a translucent keypad, 4 is a letter or symbol by printing, and 5 is a three-dimensionally engraved letter or symbol (hereinafter “three-dimensional”). 6 is a transparent wear-resistant protective film, 7 is a translucent colored layer (hereinafter referred to as “first colored layer”), and 8 is a translucent layer further laminated on the colored layer 7. Or another light-transmitting colored layer (hereinafter referred to as “second colored layer”).

  In FIG. 1, three-dimensional engraving characters 5 formed on the printed characters 4, 4,... And the bottom surfaces 2 b, 2 b,. 5 ... can be seen together. The printed characters 4, 4,... Represent characters or the like that depend on the language used in the destination area of the mobile device (in this case, Arabic characters) in black characters, and three-dimensional engraved characters 5, 5, ... represents basic characters such as numbers irrelevant to the language used in white letters.

  In FIG. 2, a state in which the printed characters 4 are embedded in the wear-resistant protective film 6 on the top surface 2 a of the key top 2 is represented by a black line segment, and on the bottom surface 2 b of the key top 2, The three-dimensional engraved characters 5 are shown penetrating the first colored layer 7. In addition, you may comprise the 1st colored layer 7 with the metal film which has translucency.

  The formation of the three-dimensional engraved characters 5 which are concave portions in which numbers or the like unrelated to the language used are three-dimensionally recessed on the bottom surface 2b of each key top 2 is performed as follows. That is, a transfer shape is formed on the transfer surface corresponding to the bottom surface of the key top 2 of the mold for forming the key top 2 by, for example, laser processing using a laser irradiation device, and the shape is transferred at the time of molding. By performing the so-called laser marking using a laser irradiation device directly on the bottom surface of the key top 2 after molding, a three-dimensionally recessed recess is formed.

  As described above, the first colored layer 7 is formed on the bottom surface 2b of the key top 2 formed with the concave portions to be the three-dimensional engraved characters 5 by screen printing, hot stamping, etc., except for the bottom and side portions of the concave portions. Furthermore, the entire bottom surface of the key top 2 including the inside of the concave portion is formed on the first colored layer 7 by coating, printing, plating, vapor deposition, or the like by spraying or the like, thereby forming a first coating film or metal film. Two colored layers 8 are formed. Each key top 2 is bonded to the keypad 3 using a light-transmitting adhesive (not shown) through the first colored layer 7 and the second colored layer 8 therebetween.

  Moreover, the formation of the characters or symbols 4 and the formation of the transparent wear-resistant protective layer 6 by printing on the top surface 2a of each key top 2 are performed as follows. That is, for the key unit 1 in a state where the key tops 2, 2,... And the key pad 3 are joined, the mobile device using the key unit 1 on the top surface 2a of each key top 2 by, for example, pad printing. Characters or symbols (language-dependent characters) 4 according to the language of the destination are formed, and a transparent wear-resistant protective layer 6 such as UV (ultraviolet) curable resin is further formed thereon by pad printing or the like. The language-dependent character 4 formed by printing is protected by a transparent wear-resistant protective layer and is given wear resistance.

  3 and 4 are a plan view showing a second embodiment of the illumination type key unit according to the invention of claim 2 and a side sectional view showing one key. In the figure, reference numeral 11 is a key unit, 12 is a hard resin key top, 13 is a translucent keypad, 14 and 15 are three-dimensional engraved characters representing basic characters and language-dependent characters, and 16 is a transparent resistant material. Abrasion protection layers 17 and 18 are translucent colored layers formed on the back surface 12b of the key top 12 corresponding to the positions of the three-dimensional engraved characters 14 and 15, and 19 is a light-shielding colored layer or metal film. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the illuminated key unit 11, the light-shielding colored layer (or metal film) 19 and the wear-resistant protective layer 16 provided on the top surface 12 a of each key top 12 pass through and are required. The three-dimensional engraved characters 14 and 15 which are concave portions formed by three-dimensionally indenting the character or symbol font are formed, whereby both language-dependent characters and basic characters are expressed. In FIG. 3, these two types of characters and the like are represented as white characters. This white character actually appears to be colored by light passing through the light-transmitting colored layers 17 and 18 of appropriate colors provided as colored regions on the bottom surface of the key top 12.

  In the key unit 11 in a state where the key tops 12, 12,... And the keypad 13 are joined, the three-dimensional engraving characters 14 and 15 use, for example, a laser irradiation device on the top surface 12a of each key top 12. By performing laser marking by irradiating laser light, the abrasion-resistant protective layer 16 and the light-shielding colored layer or metal film 19 are removed by evaporation, and the hard resin of the key top 12 is also evaporated to remove the surface. By engraving, it is formed as a concave portion in which a basic character or a language-dependent character font is recessed three-dimensionally.

  Further, as described above, the translucent colored layers 17 and 18 correspond to the positions of the three-dimensional engraved characters 14 and 15 before the key tops 12, 12,... 12 is formed on the back surface 12b using appropriate printing or painting means such as spray painting, screen printing, hot stamping, or the like. Similarly, the light-shielding colored film 19 and the transparent wear-resistant protective layer 16 covering the same are also provided on the top surface 12a of the key tops 12, 12,... Before the key tops 12, 12,. , 12a,... Are laminated using appropriate coating or printing means such as spray coating and pad printing. In addition, when the light-shielding colored layer or the metal film 19 is a metal film having wear resistance due to plating or the like, the transparent wear-resistant protective layer 16 is unnecessary. Then, the key tops 12, 12,... And the keypad 13 are joined using a transparent adhesive or the like (not shown).

  5 and 6 are a plan view showing a third embodiment of the illumination type key unit according to the invention of claim 3 and a side sectional view showing one key. Reference numeral 21 in the figure is a key unit, 22 is a hard resin key top, 23 is a translucent keypad, 24 is a three-dimensional engraved character (language-dependent characters), 25 is a printed character or symbol (basic character), 26 is a colored layer or metal film constituting the basic character 25, 27 is another colored layer laminated on the colored layer or metal film 26, and 28 is a textured surface.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the illuminated key unit 21 according to the third embodiment, a language-dependent character or the like having a concave portion in which a required character or character font is three-dimensionally recessed on the top surface 22 a of the key top 22. Is formed as a three-dimensional engraved character 24, and a textured surface 28 is provided on the bottom surface of these recesses. Further, a light-shielding or translucent colored layer or metal film 26 is provided on the bottom surface of the key top 22, and another colored layer 27 is laminated on the colored layer or metal film 26. Formed as. A part of the colored layer or metal film 26 is used as the background of the three-dimensional engraving character 24. Further, the basic character 25 constituted by the colored layer or metal film 26 and the other colored layer 27 is not limited to the blank character as described above, but a so-called positive character directly expressing the character by the colored layer or metal film 26. It is good as a character.

  A colored layer or metal film 26 and another colored layer 27 constituting the basic character 25 are screen-printed, hot stamped, or printed on the back surface 22b of each key top 22 before the key tops 22, 22,. It is formed using appropriate means such as painting, plating, vapor deposition. Then, the key tops 22, 22,... And the keypad 23 are joined using a transparent adhesive or the like (not shown).

  In the key unit 21 in which the key tops 22, 22,... And the keypad 23 are joined, the three-dimensional engraved characters 24 that are language-dependent characters are applied to the top surface 12 a of each key top 22, for example, a laser irradiation device. Is used to evaporate and remove the light-shielding colored layer or the metal film 26 and engrave the surface of the hard resin of the key top 22 so that the language-dependent character font is three-dimensionally recessed. It is formed as a recessed portion. At the same time, a fine concavo-convex pattern (texture) is formed on the bottom surface of the concave portion to form a textured surface 28.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the language-dependent characters and the like by the three-dimensional engraved characters 24 with the textured surface 28 appear to shine white while the entire surface of the key tops 22, 22,. In addition to this, the basic characters or the like by the extracted characters provided on a part of the colored layer or the metal film 26 (the portion that does not overlap with the three-dimensional engraved characters 24) appear to be raised by the illumination through the keypad 23. .

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing manufacturing steps of the illumination type key unit 1, 11 or 21 according to the first to third embodiments. In FIG. 7, reference numeral S1 is a step of creating the keypad 3, 13 or 23, S2 is a step of creating the key top 2, 12 or 22, and S3 is a bottom surface 2b, 12b or 22b of the key top 2, 12 or 22. A step of forming basic characters or the like irrelevant to the language used, S4 is a step of assembling the keypad 3, 13 or 23 and the key top 2, 12 or 22; S5 Is a step of forming characters depending on the language used at the destination of the mobile device. FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a marking process by laser beam irradiation on the top surface 2a, 12a or 22a of the key top 2, 12, or 22. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 30 indicates a laser beam irradiation device. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the key tops 2, 12 or 22 are formed from, for example, polycarbonate (PC) resin by injection molding (S1), and the keypads 3, 13 or 23 are formed by injection molding of silicone rubber (S2). Then, if necessary, the colored top or the metal film provided on the bottom surface 2b, 12b or 22b of the key top 2, 12 or 22 is penetrated to form a three-dimensional engraved character 5 (in the case of claim 1) or a blank character ( After the basic characters are formed (S3) according to the third aspect), the key tops 2, 12 or 22 are assembled on the keypads 3, 13 or 23 with an adhesive or the like (S4). If necessary, a light shielding film may be formed on the upper surface of the keypad 3, 13 or 23 (for example, in the case of the invention of claim 2 or 3). With the assembly process (S4) completed, the manufacturing process of the key unit 1, 11 or 21 is temporarily interrupted.

  When the destination is determined and the characters / symbols related to the language used are determined, the manufacturing process of the key unit 1, 11 or 21 is resumed, and the characters / symbols etc. depending on the language used at the destination (language dependent) Character) only (in the case of claim 1 or 3) or a combination of basic characters and language-dependent characters (in case of claim 2), the top surface 2a, 12a of the key top 2, 12 or 22 or 22a is marked by laser light irradiation or printing (in the case of claim 1) (S6). When the final marking on the top surface 2a, 12a or 22a of the key top 2, 12 or 22 is completed, the entire manufacturing process is completed. The completed key unit 1, 11, or 21 is incorporated into a predetermined mobile device and shipped to the destination.

    Since all of the inventions of claims 1 to 4 relate to a key unit that is a component for a mobile device and a manufacturing method thereof, the invention has applicability in industries such as the manufacturing industry.

It is a top view which shows embodiment of the illumination type key unit which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is a sectional side view which shows embodiment of the illumination type key unit which concerns on Example 1. FIG. It is a top view which shows embodiment of the illumination type key unit which concerns on Example 2. FIG. It is a sectional side view which shows embodiment of the illumination type key unit which concerns on Example 2. FIG. It is a top view which shows embodiment of the illumination type key unit which concerns on Example 3. FIG. It is a sectional side view which shows embodiment of the illumination type key unit which concerns on Example 3. FIG. It is a block diagram showing the flow of the manufacturing process of the illumination type key unit which concerns on this invention. It is a conceptual diagram explaining the marking process by the laser beam irradiation to the hard resin keytop top surface.

Explanation of symbols

1, 11, 21, key unit 2, 12, 22, key top 3, 13, 23, keypad 4, characters or symbols in the language of the destination of the mobile device (language-dependent characters)
5 ... Recessed part (basic character) where the symbol character or symbol font is three-dimensionally recessed
6 ... Transparent wear-resistant protective layer 7 ... Translucent colored film 8 ... Colored layer or metal film 14 ... Concave in which letters or symbols are three-dimensionally recessed (basic characters)
15: Recessed part with three-dimensionally recessed characters or symbols (language dependent characters)
17, 18 ... Colored area 19 ... Light-shielding colored layer or metal film 24 ... Recessed portion in which a character or symbol font is three-dimensionally recessed 25 ... (by printing) character or symbol 26 ... Translucent colored layer or metal Film 28 ... Wrinkled surface 30 ... Laser light irradiation device
S1 ... Steps to create a keypad
S2: Steps for creating a key top
S3: Steps for forming basic characters
S4: Steps to assemble keypad and keytop
S5: Steps for creating language-dependent characters

Claims (4)

A key unit for mobile devices in which a plurality of transparent hard resin key tops are arranged on an elastomer keypad,
The bottom of the key top is formed as a concave portion in which a required character or symbol font is three-dimensionally recessed. , Coated with a colored layer or a metal film having a color different from the colored layer,
Characters or symbols in a language of a destination of the mobile device are printed on the top surface of the key top, and a wear-resistant protective layer covering the characters or symbols is further formed thereon. unit. A key unit for mobile devices in which a plurality of transparent hard resin key tops are arranged on an elastomer keypad,
Cover the top and side surfaces of the key top with a light-shielding colored layer or metal film, and penetrate the colored layer or metal film on the top surface of the key top to form a three-dimensional character or symbol font. Formed as a recessed part
One or a plurality of colored regions corresponding to the group of characters or symbols on the bottom surface of each key top so that the color of the bottom surface of the key top can be seen through the characters or symbols formed on the top surface of the key top. The key unit is formed. A key unit for mobile devices in which a plurality of transparent hard resin key tops are arranged on an elastomer keypad,
Print the required letters or symbols on the bottom of each key top,
The top surface of each key top is a concave portion in which the character or symbol font in the language used at the destination of the mobile device is three-dimensionally recessed, and the bottom surface of the concave portion is accompanied by a fine uneven pattern (texture). The key unit is characterized by being formed. A method for manufacturing the key unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The key unit is manufactured once all the steps that can be performed with the destination undecided are completed, including the formation of characters or symbols on the bottom surfaces of the key tops and the bonding of the key tops to the keypad. Interrupt
By irradiating the top surface of each key top with a laser beam or performing printing as soon as the character or symbol portion related to the destination is determined, marking is performed including the character or symbol related to the destination, The manufacturing method, wherein a key unit is completed.

Images