KR100622283B1 - Keypad for electronic appliance and thereof manufacturing method - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, the primer 52d is printed or applied in advance on the base member 52a or the base color layer 52b on which the protrusions 52c are printed, thereby further guaranteeing the molding of the protrusions 52c through printing, thereby making the product slimmer. The present invention relates to a keypad for an electronic device and a method of manufacturing the same, which can realize compactness and compactness.

Description

Keypad for Electronic Device and Manufacturing Method Thereof {KEYPAD FOR ELECTRONIC APPLIANCE AND THEREOF MANUFACTURING METHOD}             

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a keypad for an electronic device according to the prior art.

Figure 2 is a flow chart showing a method of manufacturing a keypad for a conventional improved electronic device.

3A to 3D are sectional views of the main parts sequentially showing a method of manufacturing a keypad for a conventional improved electronic device.

Figures 4a to 4d is a cross-sectional view showing the main portion sequentially showing a method for manufacturing a keypad for an electronic device according to the present invention.

5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a keypad for an electronic device according to the present invention is assembled between a front housing of a cellular phone and a printed circuit board.

       Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

Explanation of the code | symbol about the principal part of the drawing which concerns on FIG.

10: keypad 11: key top

12: projection 13: base member

14: dome switch 15: printed circuit board

15a: Contact 16: Connection

17: printing surface F: front housing

F1: Hall

Explanation of Reference Symbols for Main Parts of the Drawings Associated with FIGS. 2 to 3D

20: keypad 21: key

22: outer sheet 23: printing surface

24: inner sheet 25: protrusion

26: lower mold 26a: groove

27: upper mold 28: printed circuit board

28a: contact 29: dome switch

30: protruding lower mold 30a: protruding groove

31: protruding mold

Explanation of the code | symbol about the principal part of the drawing with respect to FIGS. 4A-5.

50: keypad 51: key

52: Pad 52a: Base Member

52b: ground layer 52c: projection

52d: primer 60: dome switch

70: printed circuit board 80: spacer

81: hole 90: jig

F: front housing F1: hole

The present invention relates to a keypad for an electronic device and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, by printing or applying a primer on a base member or a base color layer in advance, and giving a projection by a printing method to ensure a slim and compact product. The present invention provides a keypad for an electronic device and a method of manufacturing the same.
By printing the projection for pressing the dome switch by printing method, it can be extremely free from the heat effect of the mold applied to the base member made of resin film or silicone, and can prevent thermal deformation, shrinkage or distortion of the base member in advance. The present invention relates to a keypad for an electronic device and a method of manufacturing the same.

In general, an electronic keypad is applied to all electronic devices including a home telephone, a PDA, an electronic calculator, a computer keyboard or a cellular phone, and is widely used as a switching member for generating a signal in conjunction with a printed circuit board.

The keypad for an electronic device, which will be introduced below, will be described as an example for convenience as a keypad for a cellular phone and is not limited thereto.

In general, the key operation of a cellular phone is designed in such a way that a dome switch is used to have a feeling of operation, and a protrusion formed on the bottom of the key presses the dome switch to touch a contact point on the printed circuit board to generate a signal. .

However, in the related art, a key and a protrusion for pressing the dome switch are integrally molded, and the design and structure of a mold for manufacturing a keypad is very complicated as shown in FIG. 1.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a keypad 10 for an electronic device according to the prior art, and a key top 11 exposed to the outside through a hole F1 of the front housing F, and a base member seated into the front housing F. 13).

As shown in FIG. 1, the keypad 10 according to the related art may touch the contact point 15a of the printed circuit board 15 while being interlocked with the elasticity of the dome switch 14 at the center of the bottom of the key top 11. It is provided with a protrusion 12 protruded to be.

At this time, the base member 13 and the key top 11 is formed integrally by the connecting portion 16, the connecting portion 16 is provided in a thin thickness to ensure the shandong of the key top 11, the key top ( The upper surface of 11) includes a printing surface 17 on which letters or numbers are printed.

When the key top 11 of the keypad 10 configured as described above is pressed, the protrusions 12 formed on the bottom thereof overcome the elastic force of the dome switch 14 and come into contact with the contacts 15a of the printed circuit board 15 to signal. Will occur.

Then, when the signal is generated and the hand is released from the key top 11, the key top 11 is returned to its original position by the elasticity of the dome switch 14 and the connecting portion 16.

However, in the keypad 10 according to the related art, the key top 11 and the protrusions 12 formed on the bottom thereof are integrally formed so that the connecting portion 16 loses its elasticity when the pressing operation is repeatedly performed. There has been a phenomenon that a poor contact between 15a) is caused or the printing surface 17 is easily erased.

As a result, the overall thickness of the keypad 10 has to be made larger in order to prevent deformation of the connecting portion 16 and to impart a constant strength, which requires more internal space of the electronic device, and thus counters compactness or slimming. It has become a disadvantage.

In order to overcome these problems, it is possible to prevent the erasing of characters, minimize the thickness, and improve the keypad for electronic devices and the manufacturing method thereof, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 3D. It was suggested in turn.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a keypad for a conventional improved electronic device, and FIGS. 3A to 3D are sectional views of main parts sequentially illustrating a method of manufacturing a keypad for a conventional improved electronic device.

The conventional improved keypad 20 for electronic devices, as shown in FIG. 2, first prints letters or numbers on one side of a transparent outer sheet 22 of a thin film so as to have a printing surface 23 (S1). Has

3A to 3D show that the printed surface 23 is printed on the rear surface of the outer sheet 22 so that the printing surface 23 is positioned downward when the keypad 20 is to be assembled, and the printing surface 23 is opposite to the printing surface 23. Of course, it can also be formed.

When the printing surface 23 is formed on the rear surface of the outer sheet 22, it is possible to prevent the printing surface 23 from being erased, thereby maintaining durability of printing.

When the printing step is completed, the transparent liquid silicone rubber is introduced into the lower mold 26 having the grooves 26a, the printing surface 23 of the outer sheet 22 is aligned with the center portion of the grooves 26a, and then the upper mold is formed. Squeezed to (27) to complete the key forming step (S2).

Since the liquid silicone rubber possesses adhesive force, the liquid silicone rubber can be firmly adhered to the outer sheet 22. When the liquid silicone rubber is cured after a predetermined time in the groove 26a of the lower mold 26, the production of the key 21 is performed. I can complete it.

Thereafter, under the pressure of the key 21, the protrusion forming step S3 for contacting the contact 28a of the printed circuit board 28 with the dome switch 29 is performed.

Protrusion forming step (S3) is a transparent liquid silicone rubber of the same material as the key 21 is inserted into the lower die 30 for the projection formed in the projection groove (30a) of the projection 25 shape, the transparent inner sheet 24 After placing it thereon, it is pressed to the upper mold 31 for the projection so as to provide the projection 25 integrally formed with the inner sheet 24.

If the protrusions 25 and the key 21 are separately manufactured, the thickness of the protrusions 25 and the key 21 can be reduced more easily than the one-piece production, and the design and manufacturing of the key 21 and the protrusion 25 can be easily performed. Component cost can be greatly reduced.

Thereafter, the keypad 20 is completed through the step S4 of pressing the outer sheet 22 to which the key 21 is attached and the inner sheet 24 provided with the printing surface 23 to each other.

In this case, the outer sheet 22 and the inner sheet 24 to which the keys 21 and the protrusions 25 are bonded may be transparent films having a predetermined elastic force and having transparency, and the transparent films may have a thickness thereof. It can be made thinner within the range where the distortion phenomenon (distortion phenomenon due to thermal deformation) does not occur, thereby reducing the overall thickness of the electronic device.

However, the conventional method for manufacturing an improved keypad for an electronic device also has a limitation in that the outer sheet 22 and the inner sheet 24 may still be distorted or deformed by heat of the mold, thereby limiting the thickness of the film.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, the purpose of which is to print or apply the primer on the base member or the base color layer in advance, and then give the projection by printing method to ensure the slimmer and compact product. The present invention provides a keypad for an electronic device and a method of manufacturing the same, which do not have to consider heat deformation, shrinkage, or distortion of the base member at all, by being able to ensure it, and being able to be extremely free from the heat influence of the mold applied to the base member.

Method of manufacturing a keypad for an electronic device according to the present invention for achieving the above object,

A step of manufacturing a key, printing a base color on a base member to have a base color layer, and forming a protrusion toward the center of the dome switch on the base color layer by a printing method to complete a pad; In the manufacturing method of the keypad for an electronic device comprising the step of completing the keypad by adhering to the key,

It is a basic feature of the technical method to print or apply a primer in advance on the background color layer on which the projections are printed.

In addition, the keypad for an electronic device according to the present invention for achieving the above object,

A pad having a base member and a protrusion formed on the base member by a printing method facing the center of the dome switch; A keypad for an electronic device comprising a key bonded to the pad;
Further comprising a primer printed or applied between the projection and the base member is a basic feature of the technical configuration.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, and through these embodiments, the objects, features, and advantages of the present invention can be better understood.

Recently, most users using electronic devices have a tendency to find lighter or slimmer electronic devices, and thus, the keypad 50 must be made thinner and lighter.

In order to make the keypad 50 thin, the base member 52a made of resin film or silicon must be thinned. However, if the thin film is thinned, the resistance to heat of the mold is inevitably lowered, and thus distortion or deformation are inevitably followed. As is well known.

Alternatively, the present invention allows a thinner base member 52a to be manufactured through a printing method without using a mold when molding the protrusion 52c for pressurizing the dome switch 60, thereby providing a thinner base member 52a. It is to be able to produce freely as shown in 4a to 4d.

4A to 4D are cross-sectional views of main parts sequentially illustrating a method of manufacturing a keypad for an electronic device according to the present invention.

In the method for manufacturing a keypad for an electronic device according to the present invention, a key 51 is manufactured by a separate process, and a protrusion 52c is provided on the base member 52a to face the center of the dome switch 60. To prepare, by bonding the key 51 and the pad 52 to complete the keypad 50 for the electronic device.

At this time, letters or numbers, such as dial keys or function keys, may be printed on the upper or lower surface of the key 51 or the base member 52a, and the keys 51 may be printed on the other side. It can be made of an independent member divided into a single structure or an integral arrangement leading to a connecting portion (not shown) (in the present invention, the inscription of letters or numbers in the manufacturing process of the key 51 or the base member 52a, etc.). It is understood that the process is already included, the key 51 is also defined to include an integral member or the like leading to an independent member or connection).

Here, in the present invention, the projection 52c provided on the base member 52a can be produced by a printing method.

In one preferred embodiment, the pad 52 may be completed by directly printing the protrusion 52c on the base member 52a, or printing the base color 52b on the base member 52a. The pad 52 may be completed by printing the projections 52c on the background color layer 52b to face the dome switch 60 in the cellular phone.

Conventionally, there has been a limitation in minimizing the thickness of the base member 52a due to heat deformation or distortion by manufacturing the protrusion 52c through a mold, but in the present invention, the protrusions are formed on the base member 52a or the base color layer 52b. By manufacturing the 52c by the printing method, it is not necessary to consider the heat by the mold at all, and the slimmer and compact base member 52a can be mass-produced.

Thereafter, the pads 52 are adhered to the keys 51 provided in the jig 90 to complete the keypad 50.

At this time, the base member 52a may be selected from silicon or a resin film, and the primer 52d may be previously printed or applied onto the base member 52a or the base color layer 52b on which the protrusions 52c are printed, and the protrusions may be printed. It is possible to ensure the molding of (52c) more reliably.
In other words, when printing or applying the projection 52c directly on the base member 52a or the base color layer 52b, the primer 52d can be printed or applied to compensate for the weak adhesive force. It will be possible to ensure the mass production of more sure.

The primer 52d is provided to improve the adhesion between the base member 52a or the base color layer 52b and the protrusion 52c, and any dust or other residue remaining on the surface of the base member 52a or the base color layer 52b. It can be applied with a brush, roller or air gun when the contaminants are completely removed and sufficiently dried. It can also be applied by other printing methods.

It should be noted that follow-up work should be done within 24 hours after the application of the primer 52d. If rain or dew touches the application surface of the primer 52d, the base member 52a or the base color layer 52b and the projection 52c may be mutually separated. Special attention should be paid to the adhesive force of.

The keypad 50 for an electronic device according to the present invention manufactured according to the above-described process may be divided into a key 51 and a pad 52, of which the pad 52 is a base color layer printed on the base member 52a ( 52b) may be selectively provided, and the protrusion 52c may be provided on the base member 52a or the background color layer 52b so as to face the center of the dome switch 60. The key 51 is attached to the pad 52 so that it can be finally mass produced as the keypad 50 for the electronic device.

5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the keypad 50 for electronic devices according to the present invention is assembled between the front housing F of the cellular phone and the printed circuit board 70.

The keypad 50 for an electronic device according to the present invention has a key 51 in each of the holes F1 formed in the front housing F of the cellular phone, for example, corresponding to the positions of the keys 51 as shown in FIG. 5. It is designed to insert them.

The dome switch 60, which contacts the protrusion 52c on the bottom surface of the key 51 and generates a signal, is contacted with the contact 71 provided on the printed circuit board 70 by the pressure of the protrusion 52c. In contact with each other, the elastic force and the restoring force of the dome switch 60 make it possible to freely use the functions of the electronic device in a one-touch manner.

Below the dome switch 60, a spacer 80 which maintains a constant distance from the printed circuit board 70 is located. The spacer 80 is assembled with the keypad 50 and then the dome switch 60 is printed circuit. The hole 81 is provided in a portion corresponding to the dome switch 60 so as to be in contact with the contact 71 located on the substrate 70.

When the key 50 for the electronic device assembled as described above is pressed with the key 51, the protrusion 52c formed on the bottom thereof makes a surface contact with the dome switch 60 and overcomes the elasticity of the dome switch 60 downward. The elastic movement causes contact with the contact 71 formed on the printed circuit board 70 to generate a signal.

When the signal is released and the hand is released from the pressed key 51, the dome switch 60 and the key 51 are returned to their original positions by their own elasticity.

The keypad for an electronic device and a method for manufacturing the same according to the present invention are manufactured by printing the projection 52c for pressing the dome switch 60 by a printing method, thereby affecting the heat effect of a mold applied to the base member 52a made of a resin film or silicon. Since it is not received at all, it is possible to prevent thermal deformation, shrinkage or distortion of the base member 52a in advance, and to produce a thinner and slimmer electronic keypad 50.
In addition, an excellent effect of preliminarily printing or applying the primer 52d on the base member 52a or the base color layer 52b on which the protrusion 52c is printed to ensure the molding of the protrusion 52c through printing. There is.
In other words, when printing or applying the projection 52c directly on the base member 52a or the base color layer 52b, the adhesive 52d may be compensated for by printing or applying the primer 52d, thereby making it slim and compact. There is a remarkable effect to ensure the mass production to more sure.

As can be seen through the object, configuration, and effect of the present invention described above, the present invention prints or applies the primer 52d on the base member 52a or the base color layer 52b, and then provides the projection 52c with a printing method. It is to be understood that the key features of the present invention may be understood as other various processes and configurations, and the present invention includes all such processes and configurations, and the interpretation of the following claims shall be equivalent thereto. .

Claims (6)

A step of manufacturing the key 51, a step of printing the base color on the base member 52a to have the base color layer 52b, and a protrusion 52c directed toward the center of the dome switch 60 on the base color layer 52b. In the manufacturing method of the keypad for an electronic device comprising the step of completing the pad 52 by producing a printing method, and the step of bonding the pad 52 with the key 51 to complete the keypad 50 , A method of manufacturing a keypad for an electronic device, characterized in that for printing or applying a primer (52d) in advance on the base color layer (52b) that the projection (52c) is printed. A pad (52) having a base member (52a) and a projection (52c) formed by a printing method on the base member (52a) to face the center of the dome switch (60); A keypad (50) for electronic equipment comprising a key (51) adhered to the pad (52); Keypad (50) for the electronic device, characterized in that it further comprises a primer (52d) printed or applied between the projection (52c) and the base member (52a). The method of claim 2, Further comprising a base color layer 52b printed on the base member 52a, The projection (52c) is a keypad 50 for an electronic device, characterized in that is provided on the primer (52d) printed or applied to the base color layer (52b). delete delete delete

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