KR102023006B1 - Mobile terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

A case in which parts are mounted therein; A window glass covering a front surface of the case and including a button hole formed at one side; A button unit inserted into the button hole of the window glass; A metal dome that is positioned below the button unit and is deformed and generates an electrical signal when the button unit is pressed; A light source for supplying light toward the back of the button unit; And a circuit board on which the metal dome and the light source are mounted, and the button unit; A lower button inserted into the button hole and formed with a groove in the front center thereof; A donut-shaped lower reflection layer stacked on a rear surface of the lower button and having a center hole formed therein; An upper button inserted into the recess of the lower button; And the mobile terminal characterized in that it comprises a top reflective layer laminated on the back of the upper button provides a mobile terminal having a home button for emitting light around the button, it is possible to improve the front design.

Description

Mobile terminal {MOBILE TERMINAL}

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal having a front home button through which light is emitted.

Terminal can move It may be divided into a mobile terminal (mobile / portable terminal) and a stationary terminal depending on whether or not. The mobile terminal may be further classified into a handheld terminal and a vehicle mount terminal according to whether a user can directly carry it.

As the terminal functions are diversified, for example, such a terminal is a multimedia player having a complex function such as taking a picture or a video, playing a music or video file, playing a game, or receiving a broadcast. Is being implemented.

As mobile terminals are applied to a touch screen, keypads and various buttons are omitted. However, in order to prepare for a problem such as malfunction of the touch input, or for convenience of use, a home button may be provided to input a signal by applying physical pressure.

An object of the present invention is to provide a structure in which light can be emitted to the home button disposed on the front of the mobile terminal.

The technical problems to be achieved in the present invention are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned above will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. Could be.

A case in which parts are mounted therein; A window glass covering a front surface of the case and including a button hole formed at one side; A button unit inserted into the button hole of the window glass; A metal dome that is positioned below the button unit and is deformed and generates an electrical signal when the button unit is pressed; A light source for supplying light toward the back of the button unit; And a circuit board on which the metal dome and the light source are mounted, and the button unit; A lower button inserted into the button hole and formed with a groove in the front center thereof; A donut-shaped lower reflection layer stacked on a rear surface of the lower button and having a center hole formed therein; An upper button inserted into the recess of the lower button; And an upper reflective layer stacked on a rear surface of the upper button.

The upper reflective layer may be stacked after the light-shielding printed layer for blocking light is stacked on the rear surface of the upper button.

The light-shielding printed layer and the reflective layer may be further stacked after a bezel stacked around the rear surface of the window glass, and after the color printing layer having the same color as the bezel is stacked on the rear surface of the upper button.

The material of the upper button may include a transparent polycarbonate (PC: Poly Carbonate).

The light source may be disposed at the lower end of both ends of the button portion in the longitudinal direction and may emit light toward the front.

The hole formed in the center of the donut-shaped lower reflective layer may correspond to the size of the upper reflective layer.

The light source may be spaced apart from the button unit rather than the metal dome.

The circuit board includes a plate-shaped support frame and a flexible substrate covering both sides of the support frame, the metal dome is mounted on a flexible substrate on one surface, and the light source penetrates through the support frame to the flexible substrate on the other surface. It can be mounted toward the back of the button portion.

The button unit may include a base button coupled to a rear surface of the lower reflective layer and having an actuator protruding from the top of the metal dome.

The material of the lower button may include an acrylic resin.

The effects of the mobile terminal according to the present invention will be described below.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, by providing a mobile terminal having a home button to emit light around the button, it is possible to improve the front design.

In addition, since the optical guide film does not have to be used, the cost is reduced, and the tolerance problem caused when the optical guide film is laminated can be solved.

The effects obtainable in the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned above may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. will be.

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a cross-sectional view of the home button associated with one embodiment of the present invention.
4 is an exploded perspective view of a button unit related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a mobile terminal according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The suffixes "module" and "unit" for components used in the following description are given or used in consideration of ease of specification, and do not have distinct meanings or roles from each other.

The mobile terminal 100 described herein may include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), navigation, and the like. have.

However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the configuration according to the embodiments described herein may also be applied to fixed terminals such as digital TVs, desktop computers, etc., except when applicable only to the mobile terminal 100. .

1 is a block diagram of a mobile terminal 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The mobile terminal 100 includes a wireless communication unit 110, an A / V input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit 140, an output unit 150, a memory 160, and an interface. The unit 170, the controller 180, and the power supply unit 190 may be included. The components shown in FIG. 1 are not essential, so that a mobile terminal having more or fewer components may be implemented.

Hereinafter, the components will be described in order.

The wireless communication unit 110 may include one or more modules that enable wireless communication between the mobile terminal 100 and the wireless communication system or between the mobile terminal 100 and a network in which the mobile terminal 100 is located. For example, the wireless communication unit 110 may include a broadcast receiving module 111, a mobile communication module 112, a wireless internet module 113, a short range communication module 114, a location information module 115, and the like. .

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives a broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information from an external broadcast management server through a broadcast channel. The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel and a terrestrial channel. Two or more broadcast receiving modules may be provided to the mobile terminal 100 for simultaneous broadcast reception or switching of broadcast channels for at least two broadcast channels.

The broadcast management server may mean a server that generates and transmits a broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information or a server that receives a previously generated broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information and transmits the same to a terminal. The broadcast signal may include not only a TV broadcast signal, a radio broadcast signal, and a data broadcast signal, but also a broadcast signal having a data broadcast signal combined with a TV broadcast signal or a radio broadcast signal.

The broadcast associated information refers to information related to a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, or a broadcast service provider. The broadcast related information may also be provided through a mobile communication network. In this case, it may be received by the mobile communication module 112.

The broadcast related information may exist in various forms. For example, it may exist in the form of Electronic Program Guide (EPG) of Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) or Electronic Service Guide (ESG) of Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H).

The broadcast receiving module 111 may include, for example, Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DMB-T), Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Satellite (DMB-S), Media Forward Link Only (MediaFLO), and Digital Video Broadcast (DVB-H). -Handheld), DVB-CBMS (Convergence of Broadcasting and Mobile Service), OMA-BCAST (Open Mobile Alliance-BroadCAST), CMMB (China Multimedia Mobile Broadcasting), MBBMS (Mobile Broadcasting Business Management System), ISDB-T (Integrated Services) Digital broadcast signals may be received using a digital broadcast system such as Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial. Of course, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be configured to be suitable for not only the above-described digital broadcasting system but also other broadcasting systems.

The broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information received through the broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in the memory 160.

The mobile communication module 112 may include at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network such as but not limited to Gobal System for Mobile communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), and Wideband CDMA (WCDMA). Send and receive wireless signals with one. The wireless signal may include various types of data according to transmission and reception of a voice call signal, a video call call signal, or a text / multimedia message.

The wireless internet module 113 refers to a module for wireless internet access and may be embedded or external to the mobile terminal 100. Wireless Internet technologies include Wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), Wireless Broadband (Wibro), World Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wimax), High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, Long Term Evolution), but is not limited to such.

In view of the fact that the wireless Internet access by Wibro, HSDPA, GSM, CDMA, WCDMA, LTE, etc. is made through a mobile communication network, the wireless Internet module 113 for performing a wireless Internet access through the mobile communication network is the mobile communication module. It can be understood as a kind of (112).

The short range communication module 114 refers to a module for short range communication. As a short range communication technology, Bluetooth, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, and the like may be used.

The location information module 115 is a module for obtaining a location of a mobile terminal, and a representative example thereof is a GPS (Global Position System) module. According to the current technology, the GPS module 115 calculates distance information and accurate time information away from three or more satellites, and then applies trigonometric methods to the calculated information, thereby providing three-dimensional chords according to latitude, longitude, and altitude. The location information can be calculated accurately. Currently, a method of calculating position and time information using three satellites and correcting the error of the calculated position and time information using another satellite is widely used. In addition, the GPS module 115 may calculate speed information by continuously calculating the current position in real time.

Referring to FIG. 1, the A / V input unit 120 is for inputting an audio signal or a video signal, and may include a camera 121 and a microphone 122. The camera 121 processes image frames such as still images or moving images obtained by the image sensor in the video call mode or the photographing mode. The processed image frame may be displayed on the display unit 151.

The image frame processed by the camera 121 may be stored in the memory 160 or transmitted to the outside through the wireless communication unit 110. Two or more cameras 121 may be provided according to the use environment.

The microphone 122 receives an external sound signal by a microphone in a call mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, etc., and processes the external sound signal into electrical voice data. The processed voice data may be converted into a form transmittable to the mobile communication base station through the mobile communication module 112 and output in the call mode. The microphone 122 may implement various noise removing algorithms for removing noise generated in the process of receiving an external sound signal.

The user input unit 130 generates input data for the user to control the operation of the terminal. The user input unit 130 may include a button 136 and a touch sensor (static pressure / capacitance) 137 positioned on the front, rear, or side surfaces of the mobile terminal 100, and although not shown, a keypad (key pad) ), A dome switch, a jog wheel, and a jog switch may be further included.

The sensing unit 140 detects a current state of the mobile terminal 100 such as an open / closed state of the mobile terminal 100, a location of the mobile terminal 100, presence or absence of a user contact, orientation of the mobile terminal, acceleration / deceleration of the mobile terminal, and the like. To generate a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 is in the form of a slide phone, it may sense whether the slide phone is opened or closed. In addition, whether the power supply unit 190 is supplied with power, whether the interface unit 170 is coupled to the external device may be sensed. The sensing unit 140 may include a proximity sensor 141. (The proximity sensor will be described later.)

The output unit 150 is used to generate an output related to sight, hearing, or tactile sense, and includes a display unit 151, an audio output module 152, an alarm unit 153, and a haptic module 154. Can be.

The display unit 151 displays (outputs) information processed by the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal is in a call mode, the mobile terminal displays a user interface (UI) or a graphic user interface (GUI) related to the call. When the mobile terminal 100 is in a video call mode or a photographing mode, the mobile terminal 100 displays a photographed and / or received image, a UI, and a GUI.

The display unit 151 includes a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), and a flexible display (flexible). and at least one of a 3D display.

Some of these displays can be configured to be transparent or light transmissive so that they can be seen from the outside. This may be referred to as a transparent display. A representative example of the transparent display is TOLED (Transparant OLED). The rear structure of the display unit 151 may also be configured as a light transmissive structure. With this structure, the user can see the object located behind the terminal body through the area occupied by the display unit 151 of the terminal body.

There may be two or more display units 151 according to the implementation form of the mobile terminal 100. For example, a plurality of display units may be spaced apart or integrally disposed on one surface of the mobile terminal 100, or may be disposed on different surfaces, respectively.

When the display unit 151 and the touch sensor 137 form a mutual layer structure or are integrally formed (hereinafter referred to as a touch screen), the display unit 151 may also be used as an input device in addition to an output device. Can be. For example, when the touch sensor 137 has a form of a touch film, a touch sheet, or a touch pad, the touch sensor 137 may be stacked on the display unit 151 to form a layer structure. It can be made integrally by including.

The touch sensor 137 may be configured to convert a change in pressure applied to a specific portion of the display unit 151 or capacitance generated at a specific portion of the display unit 151 into an electrical input signal. The touch sensor 137 may be configured to detect not only the position and area of the touch but also the pressure at the touch.

When there is a touch input to the touch sensor 137, the corresponding signal (s) is sent to a touch controller (not shown). The touch controller processes the signal (s) and then transmits the corresponding data to the controller 180. As a result, the controller 180 can know which area of the display unit 151 is touched.

The proximity sensor 141 may be disposed in an inner region of the mobile terminal surrounded by the touch screen or near the touch screen. The proximity sensor refers to a sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object approaching a predetermined detection surface or an object present in the vicinity without using a mechanical contact by using an electromagnetic force or infrared rays. Proximity sensors have a longer life and higher utilization than touch sensors.

Examples of the proximity sensor include a transmission photoelectric sensor, a direct reflection photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflection photoelectric sensor, a high frequency oscillation proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, and an infrared proximity sensor. When the touch screen is capacitive, the touch screen is configured to detect the proximity of the pointer by the change of the electric field according to the proximity of the pointer. In this case, the touch screen (touch sensor) may be classified as a proximity sensor.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, an act of allowing the pointer to be recognized without being in contact with the touch screen so that the pointer is located on the touch screen is referred to as a "proximity touch". The act of actually touching the pointer on the touch screen may be referred to as "contact touch". The position where the proximity touch is performed by the pointer on the touch screen may mean a position where the pointer is perpendicular to the touch screen when the pointer is in proximity touch.

The proximity sensor detects a proximity touch and a proximity touch pattern (for example, a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch direction, a proximity touch speed, a proximity touch time, a proximity touch position, and a proximity touch movement state). Information corresponding to the sensed proximity touch operation and proximity touch pattern may be output on the touch screen.

The sound output module 152 may output audio data received from the wireless communication unit 110 or stored in the memory 160 in a call signal reception, a call mode or a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, and the like. The sound output module 152 may also output a sound signal related to a function (eg, a call signal reception sound, a message reception sound, etc.) performed in the mobile terminal 100. The sound output module 152 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The alarm unit 153 outputs a signal for notifying occurrence of an event of the mobile terminal 100. Examples of events occurring in the mobile terminal include call signal reception, message reception, key signal input, and touch input. The alarm unit 153 may output a signal for notifying occurrence of an event in a form other than a video signal or an audio signal, for example, vibration. The video signal or the audio signal may also be output through the display unit 151 or the audio output module 152. In this case, the display unit 151 and the audio output module 152 may be a kind of alarm unit 153. May be classified.

The haptic module 154 generates various haptic effects that a user can feel. Vibration is a representative example of the haptic effect generated by the haptic module 154. The intensity and pattern of vibration generated by the haptic module 154 can be controlled. For example, different vibrations may be synthesized and output or may be sequentially output.

In addition to vibration, the haptic module 154 may be configured to provide a pin array that vertically moves with respect to the contact skin surface, a jetting force or suction force of air through the jetting or suction port, grazing to the skin surface, contact of the electrode, electrostatic force, and the like. Various tactile effects can be generated, such as effects by the endothermic and the reproduction of a sense of cold using the elements capable of endotherm or heat generation.

The haptic module 154 may not only deliver the haptic effect through direct contact, but also may implement the user to feel the haptic effect through a muscle sense such as a finger or an arm. Two or more haptic modules 154 may be provided according to configuration aspects of the mobile terminal 100.

The memory unit 160 may store a program for processing and controlling the controller 180, and temporarily stores input / output data (for example, a phone book, a message, an audio, a still image, a video, etc.). It can also perform a function for. The memory unit 160 may store a frequency of use of each of the data (eg, a phone number, a message, and a frequency of use of each multimedia).

In addition, the memory unit 160 may store data regarding vibration and sound of various patterns output when a touch input on the touch screen is performed.

The memory 160 may be a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (for example, SD or XD memory), RAM (Random Access Memory, RAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), Magnetic Memory, Magnetic It may include a storage medium of at least one type of disk, optical disk. The mobile terminal 100 may operate in connection with a web storage that performs a storage function of the memory 160 on the Internet.

The interface unit 170 serves as a path with all external devices connected to the mobile terminal 100. The interface unit 170 receives data from an external device, receives power, transfers the power to each component inside the mobile terminal 100, or transmits data inside the mobile terminal 100 to an external device. For example, wired / wireless headset ports, external charger ports, wired / wireless data ports, memory card ports, ports for connecting devices with identification modules, audio input / output (I / O) ports, The video input / output (I / O) port, the earphone port, and the like may be included in the interface unit 170.

The identification module is a chip that stores various types of information for authenticating the usage rights of the mobile terminal 100, and includes a user identification module (UIM), a subscriber identify module (SIM), and a universal user authentication module ( Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM), and the like. A device equipped with an identification module (hereinafter referred to as an 'identification device') may be manufactured in the form of a smart card. Therefore, the identification device may be connected to the terminal 100 through a port.

The interface unit may be a passage through which power from the cradle is supplied to the mobile terminal 100 when the mobile terminal 100 is connected to an external cradle, or various command signals input from the cradle by a user may be transferred. It may be a passage that is delivered to the terminal. Various command signals or power input from the cradle may be operated as signals for recognizing that the mobile terminal is correctly mounted on the cradle.

The controller 180 typically controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal. For example, perform related control and processing for voice calls, data communications, video calls, and the like. The controller 180 may include a multimedia module 181 for playing multimedia. The multimedia module 181 may be implemented in the controller 180 or may be implemented separately from the controller 180.

The controller 180 may perform a pattern recognition process for recognizing a writing input or a drawing input performed on the touch screen as text and an image, respectively.

The power supply unit 190 receives an external power source and an internal power source under the control of the controller 180 to supply power for operation of each component. The power supply unit 190 may include, for example, a battery, a connection port, a power supply control unit, and a charging monitoring unit.

The battery may be a built-in battery made to be chargeable, and may be detachably coupled to the terminal body for charging. The connection port may be configured as an example of the interface 170 to which an external charger for supplying power for charging the battery is electrically connected.

Various embodiments described herein may be implemented in a recording medium readable by a computer or similar device using, for example, software, hardware or a combination thereof.

According to a hardware implementation, the embodiments described herein include application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and the like. It may be implemented using at least one of processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, and electrical units for performing other functions. The described embodiments may be implemented by the controller 180 itself.

According to the software implementation, embodiments such as the procedures and functions described herein may be implemented as separate software modules. Each of the software modules may perform one or more functions and operations described herein. Software code may be implemented in software applications written in a suitable programming language. The software code may be stored in the memory 160 and executed by the controller 180.

2 is a front perspective view of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. The disclosed mobile terminal 100 has a terminal body in the form of a bar. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be applied to various structures such as a slide type, a folder type, a swing type, a swivel type, and two or more bodies are coupled to be relatively movable.

The body of the mobile terminal 100 includes a case 101, 102, 103 forming the appearance. In this embodiment, the case may be divided into a front case 101 and a rear case 102. Various electronic components are built in the space formed between the front case 101 and the rear case 102.

Parts that need to be detached, such as an auxiliary storage medium 165 such as a USIM card and a memory card, may include an opening in the case to be inserted into the case from the outside. Slots may be formed on the side of the case such that the auxiliary storage medium 165 is inserted into and mounted on the side of the mobile terminal 100, and card slots 166 and 167 may be formed to be mounted on the surface of the rear case 102. It may be.

The cases 101, 102, and 103 may be formed by injecting synthetic resin, or may be formed to have a metal material such as stainless steel (STS) or titanium (Ti).

The terminal cases 101 and 102 may include a display unit 151, an audio output unit 152, a camera 121, a user input unit 130/131, 132, a microphone 122, an interface 170, and the like.

The display unit 151 occupies most of the main surface of the front case 101. The sound output unit 152 and the camera 121 are disposed in regions adjacent to one end of both ends of the display unit 151, and the user input unit 131 and the microphone 122 are disposed in regions adjacent to the other end. Some user input unit 132 and the interface 170 may be disposed on side surfaces of the front case 101 and the rear case 102.

The user input unit 130 is manipulated to receive a command for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100. When the user touches the touch terminal using a touch sensor, the user input unit 130 receives a command by applying a physical pressure to the key 134 input by the command. It may include a button 131, 132, 133 of the input method. The user input units 131, 132, and 133 may also be collectively referred to as manipulating portions.

The contents input by the buttons 131, 132, and 133 may be variously set. For example, the home button 131 receives a command such as start, end, scroll, and the like, and the side button 132 receives a command such as adjusting a volume of a sound output from the sound output unit 152, and a reset button. 133 may receive a command to turn off and on the power of the mobile terminal 100.

The mobile terminal of the present invention is characterized in that the light is emitted around the home button 131 of the front. Unlike the touch-type user input unit 134, the home button 131 receives a command by physical force. Unlike the side button 132 or the reset button 133, the home button 131 is formed at one end of the window glass 108. The buttonhole is inserted.

In addition, because it is most exposed to the user visually plays a very important role in the design of the mobile terminal 100. By improving the structure so that light is emitted through the home button 131, the design quality of the mobile terminal is improved, and the state of the mobile terminal 100 can be displayed without having an additional indicator.

3 is a cross-sectional view of the home button 131 related to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the button part 200 of FIG. 3. 3 and 4, the window glass 108, the button unit 200, the circuit board 250, the metal dome 255, and the light source 257 are illustrated.

The window glass 108 is coupled to the front through-window of the case 101 to insert the display unit and the user input units 131 and 134. A bezel 109 is formed around the window glass 108 that partitions the display portion and covers the periphery so that internal components are invisible.

The bezel 109 is formed on the rear surface of the window glass 108 by a printing method, and forms a layered structure composed of a color printing layer and a light shielding printing layer for blocking light to implement color. If necessary, openings are formed in the camera 121 through which the light passes, the sensor 141, and the user input unit to allow light to pass therethrough.

The touch type user input unit 134 may input a signal by touching the surface of the window glass 108, but the home button 131 inputting by applying a physical force is inserted into a button hole formed in the window glass 108. do.

The home button 131 is composed of a button unit 200, a circuit board 250, a metal dome 255, and a light source 257. In addition, the button unit 200 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an upper button 220, a lower button 210, and a base button 230.

The button unit 200 is positioned at the outermost side of the home button 131 and is located in a button hole formed in the front window glass 108 of the mobile terminal 100 and penetrates the window glass 108 to the mobile terminal 100. ) Is exposed on the front.

The lower button 210 has a recess 211 formed in the center of the front surface, and a lower reflective layer 215 is stacked on the rear surface. The size of the lower button 210 corresponds to the size of the buttonhole of the window glass 108, by placing a step 213 at the bottom of the lower button 210 so as not to fall out of the buttonhole of the window glass 108 to the button It can be formed larger than the hole.

The lower button 210 transmits a force so that the metal dome 255 to be described later is pressed when the user applies pressure. Therefore, it is made of a plastic material having a predetermined rigidity, such as acrylic resin, it is possible to use a transparent acrylic resin to pass the light emitted from the light source 257.

The lower reflective layer 215 is formed by being laminated or printed on the bottom of the lower button 210, and may be formed in a donut shape with a central hole as shown in FIG. 4. Silver reflects most of the light and can reduce the transmittance to less than 20%. Light passes through the center hole and blocks light from passing through.

The hole may have a size corresponding to the size of the recess 211 of the lower button 210, that is, the size of the upper button 220 to be described later.

The upper button 220 is inserted into the recess 211 of the lower button 210, the upper reflective layer 225 is stacked on the back. Unlike the lower button 210, the upper button 220 does not directly transmit a force, and thus may be thinly formed of a soft material such as a polycarbonate (PC) sheet.

Unlike the lower reflective layer 215, the upper reflective layer 225 is laminated or printed to cover the entire rear surface of the upper button 220 without a center hole. The upper button 220 may use a transparent material for the continuous texture with the window glass 108, the light does not pass through the upper button 220, the lower button 210 is not located in the upper button 220 The light shielding printing layer 228 may be formed on the upper button 220 so that light is transmitted only through the upper circumference of the top surface, that is, around the recess.

The light shielding printing layer 228 may be formed by first forming a rear surface of the upper button 220 and then laminating the upper reflective layer 225. Most of the light incident on the upper button 220 is blocked and reflected by the upper reflective layer 225 and the light-shielding printed layer 228, and is reflected back to the lower reflective layer 215, and the upper surface of the lower button around the upper button 220. Injection through 212.

The light shielding printed layer 228 or lower reflective layer 215 is exposed through the upper button 220 and the same color as the bezel 109 for continuous design with the bezel 109 printed around the back of the window glass 108. It may further include a color printing layer 226 to implement.

That is, the color printing layer 226 and the light-shielding printing layer 228 are sequentially stacked on the rear surface of the upper button 220, and then the reflective layers are stacked, and the upper button 220 is inserted into the recess of the lower button 210. The button unit 200 may be assembled.

In addition to the upper button 220 and the lower button 210 may further include a base button 230. The base button is attached to the bottom of the lower button 210, and has an actuator 235 for pressing the upper surface of the metal dome 255 on the back. Since the actuator 235 needs to pressurize the metal dome 255 while accommodating the shape change of the metal dome 255, a material such as rubber or silicon may be changed in a predetermined range.

Although not shown in the drawings, the base button 230 may have a side surface larger than the lower button 210 to include a case and a fastening portion. Since the base button 230 is elastically changeable in shape, the base button 230 is repeatedly fixed within the predetermined range up and down when the user presses it, and the button unit 200 is fixed so as not to be separated from the button hole.

An upper surface of the base button may further include a scattering layer to scatter the light emitted from the light source 257 so that the light emitted from the light source 257 is not visible to the point light source 257, typically a white printed layer Can be formed.

The metal dome 255 is a dome-shaped member made of a metal material. When the upper surface is pressed by the actuator 235 described above, the metal dome 255 generates a signal and transmits the signal to the controller through the circuit board 250.

The light source 257 may be formed only on one side as a member for supplying light to the button unit 200, but the light source 257 may be disposed at both ends or in four directions based on the long axis of the button unit 200 for uniform light supply. ) Can be placed.

In the case of using the optical guide film can be emitted by vertically bending the direction of the light can be emitted in the front direction even if the light is supplied in the lateral direction, the present invention is uniform through the reflection and scattering of light without the optical guide film It is characterized in that the light is supplied to the front bar, the light source 257 is disposed in the front direction toward the back of the button unit 200.

The light source 257 is typically used in terms of size and power consumption of the light emitting device (LED), and the light source 257 is mounted on the circuit board 250 to supply power to the light source 257 and control lighting. . The circuit board 250 may be formed integrally with the circuit board 250 on which the metal dome 255 described above is mounted, or may be provided separately.

On the other hand, the light source 257 has a high possibility of being emitted to the point light source 257 because the light is emitted in the front direction, it is preferable to be disposed away from the possible button portion 200. Referring to FIG. 3, the circuit board 250 of the present invention is installed in a double structure. The metal dome 255 is disposed above and the light source 257 may be disposed below.

More specifically, according to the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the circuit board 250 of the present invention is composed of a flexible substrate 252 and the support frame 251. The metal dome 255 is mounted on one surface of the flexible substrate 252 that covers both sides of the support frame 251, and the light source 257 passes through the support frame 251 to the rear surface of the button unit 200. Is placed.

The position of the light source 257 may be spaced apart from the button unit 200 by the thickness of the support frame 251 to emit softer light.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present invention, by providing a mobile terminal 100 having a home button that emits light around, it is possible to improve the front design.

In addition, since the optical guide film does not have to be used, the cost is reduced, and the tolerance problem caused when the optical guide film is laminated can be solved.

It is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential features of the present invention.

Accordingly, the above detailed description should not be construed as limiting in all aspects and should be considered as illustrative. The scope of the invention should be determined by reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all changes within the equivalent scope of the invention are included in the scope of the invention.

100: mobile terminal 101, 102: case
108: window glass 109: bezel
110: wireless communication unit
120: A / V input / output unit 130: user input unit
140: sensing unit 150: output unit
160: memory 170: interface unit
180: control unit 190: power supply unit
200: button portion 210: lower button
215: lower reflective layer 220: upper button
225: upper reflective layer 226: color printing layer
228: shading layer 230: base button
235 actuator 250 circuit board
255: metal dome 257: light source

Claims (10)

A case in which parts are mounted therein;
A window glass covering a front surface of the case and including a button hole formed at one side;
A button unit inserted into the button hole of the window glass;
Located in the lower portion of the button portion when the button portion is pressed, the metal dome is deformed and generates an electrical signal;
A light source for supplying light toward the back of the button unit; And
A circuit board on which the metal dome and the light source are mounted,
The button unit;
A lower button inserted into the button hole and formed with a groove in the front center thereof;
A donut-shaped lower reflecting layer stacked on a rear surface of the lower button and having an opening through which the light passes;
An upper button inserted into the recess of the lower button; And
And an upper reflective layer stacked on a rear surface of the upper button and having a size corresponding to the opening. The method of claim 1,
And a light shielding printing layer for blocking light on the rear surface of the upper button, and then the upper reflective layer is stacked. The method of claim 2,
And further comprising a bezel laminated around the rear surface of the window glass.
And a color printed layer having the same color as that of the bezel is stacked on the rear surface of the upper button, and then the light shielding printed layer and the reflective layer are stacked. The method of claim 1,
The material of the upper button
A mobile terminal comprising a transparent polycarbonate (PC: Poly Carbonate). The method of claim 1,
The light source is
A pair of mobile terminals is disposed in the lower end of both ends of the button portion in the longitudinal direction and emits light toward the front. delete The method of claim 1,
Mobile light source, characterized in that the light source is spaced apart from the button portion than the metal dome. The method of claim 7, wherein
The circuit board is
It consists of a plate-shaped support frame and a flexible substrate covering both sides of the support frame,
The metal dome is mounted on a flexible substrate on one surface,
The light source penetrates through the support frame and is mounted on the other side of the flexible substrate toward the rear of the button unit. The method of claim 1,
The button part
And a base button coupled to a rear surface of the lower reflective layer and having an actuator protruding from the rear surface of the metal dome. The method of claim 1,
The lower button material is a mobile terminal, characterized in that it comprises an acrylic resin.

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