KR101835454B1 - Button key with metal layer between foamed layers and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a button key with a metal layer between foamed layers and to a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly, to a button key with a metal layer between foamed layers, in which a foam layer is formed on and under the metal layer on which characters or graphics are formed and the metal layer is installed on an emitting device such as an LED between foam layers to allow light to be emitted in the form of a letter or a figure, and to a manufacturing method thereof. According to the present invention, characters and graphics formed on the metal layer emit light to improve aesthetic sensibility, a user can use the button key to accurately represent various characters or graphics, and an effect of increasing the productivity of products and lowering the manufacturing cost can be obtained.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a button key having a metal layer formed between foamed layers,

The present invention relates to a button key having a metal layer formed between foam layers and a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a button key for forming a foam layer on and under a metal layer on which characters or graphics are formed, The present invention relates to a button key in which a metal layer is formed between foam layers to be diverged in the shape of a character or a figure, and a manufacturing method thereof.

The button key is generally used in an electronic device installed in a portable terminal or other electronic product or a vehicle. Such a button key can be classified into a film insert type and a mold type according to a manufacturing method.

A film insert type button key is formed by printing characters and a backlighting unit on a thin film of plastic, forming the film into a button shape, inserting the film into an injection mold, and integrally forming the film together with a transparent plastic.

The mold-type button key is formed by injection molding a transparent plastic button, painting the button, and laser-marking the character display portion to make it transparent, and the surface of the button is coated with UV.

However, a film insert type button key has a problem that a film portion is peeled off during prolonged use, a film and a plastic injection portion are separated at the time of a thermal shock test, and in particular, the button key is not luxuriously textured.

In addition, since the mold type button key has a low wear resistance reliability and can not express the texture of the metal, there is a limit to the expression of the texture and there is a problem that the post-processing technique applicable to the metal can not be applied.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a process of fabricating a metal light button key according to the related art. Referring to FIG.

The button manufacturing process of the prior art comprises an adhesive applying step, a light emitting groove forming step, a rib pressing step, a shaping step, a first transmitting part forming step, a rib removing step and a second transmitting part forming step.

First, a thermosetting adhesive is applied to one surface of a metal plate, followed by heating and drying to form an adhesive layer. Then, a light-transmitting groove is formed on the metal plate along a letter or sign, and the inner side and the outer side of the metal plate separated from each other by the light- Thereby forming ribs.

Then, the ribs are pressed backward to protrude rearward of the metal plate on which the adhesive layer is formed.

Then, the metal plate is pressed to form a forwardly convex button body, and a first transmissive portion of a light-transmitting material is formed on the back surface of the button body by an insert injection method. At this time, the adhesive force of the first transmitting portion to the button body is increased by the adhesive layer. The first transmissive portion is filled in the light-transmitting groove and formed in the light-transmitting groove.

However, the shape formed on the metal plate is a letter, a figure, or the like. However, since the position of the shape is deformed or damaged in the insert injection molding process, there is a problem that it is difficult to express accurately due to environmental factors in the manufacturing process.

KR 10-2015-0105176 A KR 10-2004-0063545 A KR 10-2012-0003737 A

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising: forming a foam layer on upper and lower surfaces of a metal layer on which characters or graphics are formed to improve light transmittance, And to provide a button key in which a metal layer is formed between foam layers to be improved, and a method of manufacturing the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a button key in which a metal layer is formed between foam layers for enhancing visibility of a button key and enhancing a sense of beauty by allowing light to be diffused well by a transparent foam layer and a method of manufacturing the button key.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention is directed to a button key installed on a light emitting device to emit light, comprising: a metal layer 104 having a cutout 104a formed in a shape like a letter or a figure; A first foam layer 108 formed of polyurethane on one side of the metal layer 104; And a second foam layer 110 formed of polyurethane on the other side of the metal layer 104.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a manufacturing method of manufacturing a button key, wherein a metal layer 104 to which a first PET layer 102 is attached on one side is partially cut by a milling machine 200 to form a letter or a figure , A second step of attaching a second PET layer (106) to the other side of the metal layer (104); A second step of shaping the metal layer 104 to which the first PET layer 102 and the second PET layer 106 are attached in a three-dimensional shape while pressing the pressure in the press molding machine 300; A third step of forming a first foam layer 108 made of polyurethane on one side of the metal layer 104 by injecting the first PET layer 102 into a foam molding machine 400 in a state where the first PET layer 102 is removed; A fourth step of forming a second foamed layer 110 made of polyurethane on the other side of the metal layer 104 by putting the second PET layer 106 in the foam molding machine 400 in a state where the second PET layer 106 is removed; And a fifth step of attaching a third PET layer 112 and a fourth PET layer 114 to the first foamed layer 108 and the second foamed layer 110, respectively.

In the first step, the metal layer 104 is formed with a cutting portion 104a through which light is cut by the milling machine 200 and a blocking portion 104b through which the light is blocked.

According to the present invention, it is possible to use a button key that improves the esthetics and expresses various characters or graphics accurately by emitting letters or figures formed on the metal layer, and it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost while enhancing productivity of the product.

1 is a flowchart showing a process of manufacturing a metal light-emitting button key according to a related art.
2 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a button key according to an embodiment of the present invention;
3 is a cross-sectional view showing a first PET layer and a metal layer.
4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a metal layer is subjected to NC machining by a milling machine.
5 is a sectional view showing a state in which a second PET layer is bonded onto a metal layer.
6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which molding is performed by pressing with a press molding machine.
7 is a sectional view showing a state in which a first foamed layer is formed;
8 is a sectional view showing a state in which a second foamed layer is formed;
9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a third PET layer and a fourth PET layer are bonded.
10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which light generated in the light emitting device flows out.

Hereinafter, a button key having a metal layer formed between foam layers and a method for manufacturing the same will be described with reference to the drawings.

2 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a button key according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Button key "(hereinafter, referred to as " button key ") in which a metal layer is formed between foam layers of the present invention is used for starting a car or for controlling on / off of an electronic product. And a character or a graphic form of the surface is displayed by a light emitting action in a press or standby state. The light emitting means for emitting light is provided at the lower end of the button key 100. Since the feature of the present invention resides in the structure of the upper foamed molded article and the manufacturing method thereof, the light emitting means at the lower end is not described in detail.

The button key 100 can be made of a metal or similar material to give a solid yet luxurious feel.

Hereinafter, the structure of the cross section will be described for each step.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a first PET layer and a metal layer, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a metal layer is subjected to NC machining by a milling machine, FIG. 5 is a cross- Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which molding is performed by pressing with a press molding machine. Fig.

3, the metal layer 104 is bonded to the upper surface of the first PET layer 102 to manufacture the button key 100 of the present invention. To this end, it is preferable that an adhesive is applied to the upper surface of the first PET layer 102. The first metal layer 104 and the metal layer 104 are preferably formed to have a thickness of 0.1-0.3 mm. The metal layer 104 is made of aluminum, gold, silver, or the like in the form of a thin film.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the metal layer 104 is partially cut with a milling machine 200 for NC machining to form a character or a figure. The NC machining is a process for forming a cutout 104a having the same thickness as the metal layer 104. [ The uncut portion of the milling machine 200 becomes a blocking portion 104b, and the light is exposed to the outside only through the cutout portion 104a.

In some cases, a method of printing or attaching the metal layer 104 to only a part of the metal layer 104 may be used instead of cutting the entire metal layer 104. To this end, the surface of the first PET layer 102 is subjected to a release treatment, and then the metal is silk printed or gravure printed thereon. At this time, the printed area is formed to have the same shape as the blocking part 104b. Therefore, the portion where the metal is not printed becomes the cutout portion 104a, and light is emitted to the outside through this portion.

Before the printing of the metal layer 104, the surface of the first PET layer 102 is subjected to a releasing treatment so that the metal layer 104 is easily separated from the first PET layer 102 in the subsequent processing.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the second PET layer 106 is attached to the upper surface of the metal layer 104 formed by cutting or printing. The second PET layer 106 protects characters or graphics formed on the metal layer 104 from being damaged during subsequent processing or inspection.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the material having the first PET layer 102 and the second PET layer 106 attached to the lower surface and the upper surface thereof is put into a press molding machine 300 to form a 3D stereoscopic shape. The press molding machine 300 is constituted by a lower press 302 and an upper press 304 and changes the shape of the material under pressure in the press molding machine 300 in which a specific three-dimensional shape is formed.

When the pressing process is finished, the molding process is examined and the protruded part (BUR) on the edge or the surface is removed by a separate trimming process.

The intermediate product having the same shape as the final shape of the button key 100 is manufactured with the PET layer adhered to the upper surface and the lower surface of the metal layer 104 on which the predetermined characters or graphics are engraved. And the intermediate product is put into a process for foaming molding.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the first foam layer is formed, and Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a second foam layer is formed.

The foamed layer 108 is formed on the surface of the button 100 on which the first PET layer 102 is removed and the second foamed layer 108 is formed on the surface of the second PET layer 106, Is defined as a second foamed layer 110. The second foamed layer 110 is formed on the surface of the second foamed layer 110 where the second foamed layer 110 is removed.

For this, as shown in FIG. 7, the foam is firstly foamed by injecting the material into the foam molding machine 400 with the first PET layer 102 removed. A slight gap is formed between the lower mold 402 and the material, and the polyurethane liquid is injected into the gap to perform the foaming molding. It is preferable that the first foam layer 108 generated by the primary foaming has a thickness of about 0.2 to 0.7 mm.

Polyurethane is a transparent material having good transparency to light and having a shrinkage rate close to 0 and having good adhesion with other materials. The addition of a catalyst that does not cause a bubbling reaction also results in hardening over time.

In the case of injection molding, characters or graphics formed on the metal layer 104 can be separated from the original position by the injected high-pressure resin liquid. In the case of a character or figure with a separated form such as "ㅇ" or "ㅂ", the deviation phenomenon may occur more easily. However, in the case of foam molding, since the molding is performed while the polyurethane liquid is injected at a relatively low pressure, the formed characters and figures can be kept intact.

When the primary foaming is completed, as shown in FIG. 8, the material is injected into the foam molding machine 400 while the second PET layer 106 is removed, and the polyurethane liquid is injected through the upper mold 404, Firing. The polyurethane liquid is introduced into the gap formed between the upper mold 404 and the material, and foam molding is performed in the same manner as the first step.

The second foamed layer 110 preferably has a thickness of about 1.5 to 2.0 mm.

The foam molding machine 400 is provided with a separate position for primary and secondary foaming, so that the foam molding machine 400 can move the material while rotating.

When the primary and secondary foam molding are completed, the first foam layer 108 and the second foam layer 110 are formed around the center metal layer 104, respectively.

In some cases, a protective layer may be formed by injection molding instead of the second foamed layer 110.

9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the third and fourth PET layers are adhered to each other. By attaching the third PET layer 112 and the fourth PET layer 114 to the lower and upper surfaces of the two foamed materials, Key 100 is completed.

The completed button key 100 with the third PET layer 112 and the fourth PET layer 114 attached thereto is inspected and tested for appearance, characters, molding conditions and the like, and then packed and delivered as a finished product. The finished product of the button key 100 with the protective film (PET) attached on the upper surface thereof is inserted into the manufacturing process of the automobile or the electronic product, and is installed at the required position through the assembling process with the protective film removed.

10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which light generated in the light emitting device flows out. Light generated from the light emitting device 500 coupled to one side of the button key 100 is exposed to the outside through the cutout 104a of the metal layer 104. [ The user recognizes the characters or graphics exposed by the light.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, As will be understood by those skilled in the art. Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, It is intended that all changes and modifications derived from the equivalent concept be included within the scope of the present invention.

100: button key 102: first PET layer
104: metal layer 104a:
104b: blocking portion 106: second PET layer
108: first foam layer 110: second foam layer
112: third PET layer 114: fourth PET layer
200: Milling machine 300: Press molding machine
302: Lower press 304: Upper press
400 blow molding machine 402 lower mold
404: upper mold 500: light emitting element

Claims (3)

delete A manufacturing method of manufacturing a button key that is provided on a light emitting element to emit light,
A metal layer 104 with a first PET layer 102 on one side is partially cut by a milling machine 200 to form a letter or figure and a second PET layer 106 is formed on the other side of the metal layer 104 A first step of adhering;
A second step of shaping the metal layer 104 to which the first PET layer 102 and the second PET layer 106 are attached in a three-dimensional shape while pressing the pressure in the press molding machine 300;
A third step of forming a first foam layer 108 made of polyurethane on one side of the metal layer 104 by injecting the first PET layer 102 into a foam molding machine 400 in a state where the first PET layer 102 is removed;
A fourth step of forming a second foamed layer 110 made of polyurethane on the other side of the metal layer 104 by putting the second PET layer 106 in the foam molding machine 400 in a state where the second PET layer 106 is removed;
And a fifth step of attaching a third PET layer (112) and a fourth PET layer (114) to the first foam layer (108) and the second foam layer (110) A method of manufacturing a button key. 3. The method of claim 2,
In the first step, the metal layer 104 is formed with a cutting portion 104a through which light is cut by the milling machine 200 and a blocking portion 104b through which the light is blocked. Wherein a metal layer is formed between the metal layer and the metal layer.

Images