KR20070058057A - Ultra thin keypad of mobile phone and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An ultra thin keypad of a wireless terminal and a fabrication method thereof are provided to configure the keypad by using a piezo-electric element through an adhesion, printing or deposition method for a thin film such as a piezo-electric film or an insulated or conductive film, therefore an ultra thin and slim structure can be accomplished. The first insulating layer(110) has plural keys(111) where numbers or characters are printed on their upper sides. A piezo-electric sensor unit(140) is formed on a lower side of the first insulating layer(110), and has sensor patterns(141) corresponding to the respective keys(111). Electrode units(120,150) output electric signals of the corresponding sensor patterns(141) in accordance with operations of the keys(111).

Description

Ultra-thin keypad of wireless terminal and manufacturing method thereof

1 is a side cross-sectional view of an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first insulating layer of FIG. 1 with a plurality of key patterns printed thereon. FIG.

3 is a plan view of the electrode film of FIG. 1.

4 is a plan view of the sensor pattern film of FIG. 1.

5 is an operational configuration diagram of an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal according to the present invention.

6 is a front view of an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal according to the present invention.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal according to the present invention.

Figure 8a is a perspective view showing a conventional wireless terminal.

8B is a cross-sectional view of a keypad used in a conventional wireless terminal.

8C is an exploded perspective view illustrating assembling a conventional keypad in a wireless terminal.

<Description of Symbols for Main Parts of Drawings>

100: ultra-thin keypad of the wireless terminal according to the present invention

110: first insulating layer 111: key

120: first electrode portion (-electrode portion) 121, 151: electrode

140: piezoelectric sensor unit 141: sensor pattern

150: second electrode portion (+ electrode portion) 160: second insulating layer

The present invention relates to an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal and a method of manufacturing the same. More particularly, a keypad using a piezoelectric element is laminated by laminating a thin film such as an insulating or conductive film and a piezoelectric film by a method of adhesion, printing or deposition. The present invention relates to an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal capable of ultra-thinning of an ultra-thin structure which is completely different from the conventional touch switch system, and a manufacturing method thereof.

In general, as shown in FIG. 8A, a wireless terminal such as a mobile phone has a liquid crystal display 20 for displaying various information required for operation such as a transmission and reception state, and a keypad for performing signal generation and various functions. It consists of the key panel 10 which has the hole 1 in which the several key 31 of 30 is fitted.

The keypad 30 has a key 31 having a printed surface on which numbers or letters are printed, and the key 31 has a structure that protrudes outside the key panel 10 of the mobile telephone. The user checks the number or letter displayed on the printing surface and presses the desired key 31 to use the mobile phone. A light source consisting of a light emitting element is installed outside the bottom of the key 31 so that the printing surface can be checked at night. When the light is irradiated from the light source, the user can easily recognize the numbers or letters printed on the key 31 by the backlighting effect.

8B is a cross-sectional view of a keypad used in a conventional wireless terminal, and FIG. 8C is an exploded perspective view illustrating assembling a conventional keypad in a wireless terminal.

As shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the conventional keypad 30 includes a base 35 having a projection 36 made of silicone rubber, and a key formed on the base 35 and having a key top 32 made of synthetic resin. It is composed of a button 31, the upper surface of the key top 32 has a printed surface 33 is printed numbers or letters, etc., the key top 32 is fixed to the base 35 using an adhesive 34, etc. . The keypad 30 is assembled by inserting the keys 31 in each hole 1 formed in the same manner as the arrangement of the keys 31 in the key panel 10 of the cellular phone. A dome switch seat 40 having a dome switch 41 under the pressure of the protrusion 36 formed on the base 35 is formed below the keypad 30, and a contact 51 is located below the dome switch seat 40. There is a printed circuit board (PCB) 50 having a. The key 31 and the dome switch 41 and the contacts are all formed keeping the same axis.

However, in the case of the conventional wireless terminal, not only the keypad having a plurality of keys is separately injected, but also has a limitation in making the wireless terminal ultra slim due to the mechanical configuration by a separate dome switch, PCB, light emitting unit, and the like.

The present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to use a piezoelectric element film that is completely different in the configuration of the mechanical keypad by the same key, dome switch, PCB, light emitting unit, etc. The present invention provides an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal which can be made slim by changing to an ultra-thin structure by printing or vapor deposition.

Another object of the present invention is a wireless terminal that can be used in a variety of transfer of the existing PCB by using a PCB, which is used for the keypad as a conventional wireless terminal is not assigned to contact the switch, and does not use a connection switch method To provide an ultra-thin keypad.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal for achieving the above objects.

In order to achieve the above objects, an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal according to the present invention comprises: a keypad formed on a key panel of a wireless terminal, the first insulating layer having a plurality of keys printed with numerals or letters on the upper surface thereof; And a piezoelectric sensor unit formed on a bottom surface of the first insulating layer and having a sensor pattern corresponding to each key, and an electrode unit for outputting an electrical signal of the corresponding sensor pattern according to the operation of the key.

Here, the electrode part may be formed of an electrode part formed on the upper layer or the lower layer of the piezoelectric sensor part and a + electrode part formed on the upper layer or the lower layer.

In addition, a second insulating layer is formed on the + electrode part formed under the piezoelectric sensor part, and the LED insulating layer or organic light is formed on the second insulating layer so that a user can easily recognize numbers or letters printed on the keys. EL layer may be formed.

In addition, the piezoelectric sensor unit may use a polymer piezoelectric film or a ceramic piezoelectric film to form a plurality of sensor patterns according to the individual keys by etching, printing, or deposition techniques.

In addition, the electrode unit may be formed using a thin film or an insulating thin film to form a plurality of electrodes in accordance with the individual keys by etching, printing or deposition techniques, the insulating layer is formed by using an insulating film of a thin film. This is preferred.

In addition, a plurality of keys printed with numbers or letters on the upper surface is preferably coated with a coating material.

In addition, an electrode corresponding to each of the plurality of keys and sensor patterns is connected to a signal conditioning circuit and a key value digital output circuit through a circuit pattern to digitally output signal values of the corresponding sensor pattern.

In order to achieve the above objects, a method of manufacturing an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal includes: bonding an insulating film of a thin film to a wireless terminal panel to form an insulating layer, and using a plurality of thin films on the insulating layer. Forming an electrode part having an electrode, forming a piezoelectric sensor part having a plurality of sensor patterns using a piezoelectric film on the electrode part, and forming another electrode part using a thin film on the piezoelectric sensor part And forming another insulating layer by adhering an insulating film of a thin film on the other electrode part, and forming a key corresponding to the sensor pattern by printing numbers or letters on the other insulating layer. It is characterized by.

Here, the above process steps may be performed in a different order.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that those skilled in the art may easily implement the present invention.

1 is a side cross-sectional view of an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the first insulating layer of FIG. 1 with a plurality of key patterns printed thereon, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the electrode film of FIG. 4 is a plan view of the sensor pattern film of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is an operational configuration diagram of an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a front view of the ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal according to the present invention. For convenience of explanation, it will be described together.

As shown, the ultra-thin keypad 100 of the wireless terminal according to the present invention, in the keypad 100 formed on the key panel 210 of the wireless terminal 200, a plurality of numbers or letters are printed on the upper surface A first insulating layer 110 having a key 111, a piezoelectric sensor unit 140 formed on a lower surface of the first insulating layer 110 and having a sensor pattern 141 corresponding to each key 111; The first and second electrode parts 120 and 150 output the electrical signal (voltage) of the corresponding sensor pattern 141 according to the operation of the key 110. Here, the second insulating layer 160 is formed on the lower surface of the second electrode part 150 to prevent the second electrode part 150 from being in direct contact with the outside (see FIG. 1). Here, the second insulating layer may be formed with a LED light emitting layer provided with a light source consisting of a light emitting element, when the light is irradiated from the light source of the LED light emitting layer, numbers or letters printed on the key 111 by the backlighting effect This can be easily recognized by the user. Instead of the LED light emitting layer, an organic EL layer that emits light by a voltage source may be formed and further slimmed down.

A plurality of keys 111 printed with numbers or letters are formed on the first insulating layer 110 by a conventional printing method. On the plurality of keys 111, a plurality of keys 111 are coated with a general coating material to prevent foreign substances, etc. To protect against (see FIG. 2).

The first insulating layer 110 is preferably a thin insulating film, but may be formed of an insulating tape or an insulating resin layer. In addition, the material is formed of an insulating material of an oxide film, a nitride film, a polyimide, a benzocyclobutene (BCB) or an equivalent thereof, and its role is that the first electrode 120 is directly exposed to the outside. It performs the function of preventing.

A plurality of electrodes 121 and 151 are formed in the first and second electrode parts 120 and 150, so that an electrical signal (voltage) of the corresponding sensor pattern 141 according to the operation of the key 110 may be formed. It outputs through 121,151. The first and second electrode parts 120 and 150 are paired in the form of a + electrode and a − electrode on the top and bottom of the piezoelectric sensor unit 140.

The first and second electrode parts 120 and 150 may use both a conductive thin film and an insulating thin film. In the case of using the conductive thin film, only the portions of the lower piezoelectric sensor 140 that are in contact with the corresponding sensor patterns 141 are left as electrodes 121 and 151, and the other regions are etched to be insulated. Done. In addition, when the insulating thin film is used, the electrodes 121 and 151 are formed by printing or masking an electrode pattern on a portion where the electrodes 121 and 151 are to be formed on the insulating thin film. To form. Since such a method such as etching or deposition is a known technique, further description thereof will be omitted. Of course, the electrodes 121 and 151 are electrically connected to the signal conditioning circuit 170 and the key value digital output circuit 180 by the circuit patterns 122 and 152, respectively (FIG. 3). Reference).

The piezoelectric sensor unit 140 uses a thin film piezoelectric film that generates a voltage when a pressure is applied, and may use a polymer piezoelectric film, a ceramic piezoelectric film, or an equivalent thereof. Most preferred for design. When a polymer piezoelectric element film is used, a plurality of sensor pattern 141 layers are formed in accordance with a plurality of keys 111 on which numbers or letters are printed, and an area excluding the plurality of sensor patterns 141. Is etched to complete the piezoelectric sensor unit 140. Instead of the polymer piezoelectric element film, the sensor pattern 141 corresponding to the plurality of keys 111 on which numbers or letters are printed is directly adhered to the electrode 151 of the second electrode unit 150 or piezoelectric. The material may be formed by print deposition (see FIG. 4).

Each electrode 121, 151 of the first and second electrode portions 120, 150 is connected to a signal conditioning circuit 170 and a key value digital output circuit 180, thereby providing a wireless terminal. When the user of the keypad presses a key 111 to be pressed, the corresponding sensor pattern 141 of the piezoelectric sensor unit 140 generates a voltage proportional to the pressure pressed by the user, and the generated voltage is measured by the first and the second. It is transmitted to the signal conditioning circuit unit 170 and the key value digital output circuit 180 through the electrodes 121 and 151 of the second electrode unit 120 and 150, which are input to the signal processing circuit unit 170. The signal value is filtered and amplified and converted into a digital value in the key value digital output circuit unit 180 to notify the wireless terminal main body 200 that there is a key input and displayed on the display unit 220 (FIG. 5). Reference).

In addition, although not shown, a thin rubber pad is inserted between the key panel 210 and the keypad 100 of the wireless terminal 200 so that the user may feel a touch by the rubber pad when the user presses the key 111. You can do that.

As described above, the first and second electrode parts 120 and 150, the piezoelectric sensor part 140, and the like are adhered, printed or deposited on the key panel 210 of the wireless terminal using a conductive or insulating film and a piezoelectric film. By forming by such a method, it becomes possible to manufacture the ultra-thin keypad 100 of 0.3mm or less.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal according to the present invention, and for convenience of description, will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

As shown, in the method of manufacturing an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal according to the present invention, the step of forming a second insulating layer and the light emitting layer 160 on the wireless terminal key panel 110 (S10), the second electrode unit 150 ) Forming step (S20), piezoelectric sensor unit 140 forming step (S30), the first electrode unit 120 forming step (S40), the first insulating layer 110 forming step (S50), cutting and circuit connection step (S60). Here, the above-described process steps are merely shown and divided by stages for convenience of description, and the process steps may be arbitrarily different from each other.

In the step (S10) of forming the second insulating layer and the light emitting layer 160 on the wireless terminal key panel 110, an ordinary thin film of insulating film is attached to the wireless terminal panel 110 through a predetermined bonding means. By bonding, the second insulating layer 160 is formed. In addition, the user may easily recognize the numbers or letters printed on the key 111 by forming an LED light emitting layer provided with a light source made of a light emitting element or an organic EL layer that emits light by a voltage source. To help. Of course, the second insulating layer 160 serves to prevent the second electrode unit 150 formed thereon from being in direct contact with the outside.

In the forming of the second electrode unit 150 (S20), the second electrode unit 150 is formed on the second insulating layer 160 by using a conventional conductive thin film or an insulating thin film. do. In addition, as described above, the conductive or insulating thin film is formed by forming a plurality of electrodes 151 by etching, printing or deposition by etching. The second electrode unit 150 is usually formed in a + electrode pattern, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

In the piezoelectric sensor unit 140 forming step (S30), the piezoelectric sensor unit 140 is formed on the second electrode unit 150 by using a polymer piezoelectric film (such as a ceramic piezoelectric film). In addition, as described above, the piezoelectric element film is formed with a plurality of sensor pattern 141 layers in accordance with the key 111 by conventional etching techniques or printing and deposition techniques.

In the forming of the first electrode part 120 (S40), the first electrode part 150 is formed on the piezoelectric sensor part 140 by using a conventional conductive thin film or an insulating thin film. Form. In addition, as described above, the conductive or insulating thin film includes a plurality of electrodes corresponding to the electrode 151 and the sensor pattern 141 of the second electrode part 150 in the lower layer by etching, printing, and deposition by etching. 121). The first electrode unit 120 is preferably paired with the second electrode unit 150 which is a + electrode pattern to form a normal − electrode pattern.

 In the forming of the first insulating layer 110 (S50), the insulating film of a normal thin film is adhered on the first electrode part 120 by a predetermined bonding means to form a first insulating layer ( 160). The first insulating layer 110 serves to prevent the plurality of electrodes 121 of the first electrode unit 120 formed at the bottom thereof from directly contacting the outside. Here, before or after the forming of the first insulating layer 110 (S50), the piezoelectric sensor described above is printed by printing a number or letter on the first insulating layer (insulating film) 110 through a conventional printing method. A key 111 corresponding to the corresponding sensor pattern 141 of the unit 140 is formed.

Finally, in the cutting and circuit connection step (S60), when the lamination of the ultra-thin keypad of 0.3 mm or less is completed as described above, the outer line is cut to form an outer shape of the keypad of the wireless terminal, and the individual electrodes ( 121 and 151 are electrically connected to the signal conditioning circuit 170 and the key value digital output circuit 180 through the circuit patterns 122 and 152.

Although described above with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art can be variously modified and changed within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims below You will understand.

As described above, according to the ultra-thin keypad of the wireless terminal according to the present invention and a method for manufacturing the same, a keypad using a piezoelectric element is formed by a method of bonding, printing, or depositing a thin film such as an insulating or conductive film and a piezoelectric film. By doing so, there is an effect that ultraslimation of an ultra-thin structure of 0.3 mm or less, which is completely different from the conventional contact switch method, is possible.

Claims (18)

In the keypad formed on the key panel of the wireless terminal, A first insulating layer having a plurality of keys with numbers or letters printed thereon, A piezoelectric sensor unit formed on a bottom surface of the first insulating layer and having a sensor pattern corresponding to each key; An ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal, characterized in that the electrode portion for outputting an electrical signal of the corresponding sensor pattern in accordance with the operation of the key. The method of claim 1, And the electrode part comprises an electrode part formed on an upper layer of the piezoelectric sensor part and a + electrode part formed on a lower layer of the piezoelectric sensor part. The method of claim 2, The ultra-thin keypad of the wireless terminal, characterized in that a second insulating layer is formed on the lower portion of the + electrode formed on the lower layer of the piezoelectric sensor. The method of claim 2, The second insulating layer is an ultra-thin keypad of the wireless terminal, characterized in that the LED light emitting layer or organic EL layer is formed so that the user can easily recognize the number or letters printed on the key. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The piezoelectric sensor unit uses a polymer piezoelectric film, a ceramic piezoelectric film, or the like to form a plurality of sensor patterns according to the individual keys by etching, printing, or deposition techniques. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The electrode unit is a thin film keypad of a wireless terminal, characterized in that for forming a plurality of electrodes in accordance with the individual keys by etching, printing or deposition technology using a thin film or an insulating thin film. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The insulating layer is an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal, characterized in that formed using a thin insulating film. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The ultra-thin keypad of the wireless terminal, characterized in that a plurality of keys printed with numbers or letters on the upper surface is coated. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, An electrode corresponding to each of the plurality of keys and sensor patterns is connected to a signal conditioning circuit and a key value digital output circuit through a circuit pattern to wirelessly output a signal value of the corresponding sensor pattern. Ultra thin keypad. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, An ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal, characterized in that a thin rubber pad is inserted between the keypad and the keypad of the wireless terminal. Bonding an insulating film of a thin film to the wireless terminal key panel to form an insulating layer; Forming an electrode part having a plurality of electrodes on the insulating layer by using a thin film; Forming a piezoelectric sensor part having a plurality of sensor patterns using a piezoelectric film on the electrode part; Forming another electrode part using a thin film on the piezoelectric sensor part; Bonding another thin film to the other electrode to form another insulating layer; A method of manufacturing an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal, comprising the step of forming a key corresponding to the sensor pattern by printing numbers or letters on the other insulating layer. The method of claim 11, The process steps described above are made in a different order from each other ultra-thin keypad manufacturing method of a wireless terminal. The method of claim 12, The electrode part is a + electrode part, the other electrode part is a manufacturing method of the ultra-thin keypad of the wireless terminal, characterized in that. The method of claim 11, The method of manufacturing an ultra-thin keypad of a wireless terminal, characterized in that to form an LED light emitting layer or an organic EL layer so that the user can easily recognize the number or letters printed on the key on the insulating layer. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, In the forming of the piezoelectric sensor unit, the method may further include forming a plurality of sensor patterns according to the individual keys by etching, printing, or deposition technique using a polymer piezoelectric film or a ceramic piezoelectric film. Method of manufacturing an ultra-thin keypad. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, The forming of the electrode unit may further include forming a plurality of electrodes in accordance with the individual keys by etching, printing, or deposition technique using a conductive thin film or an insulating thin film of the ultra-thin keypad of the wireless terminal. Manufacturing method. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, After the forming of the plurality of keys further comprising the step of coating the upper surface of the key manufacturing method of the ultra-thin keypad of the wireless terminal. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, A wireless terminal comprising digitally outputting signal values of the corresponding sensor pattern to a main body of a wireless terminal by connecting an electrode corresponding to each of the plurality of keys and sensor patterns to a signal conditioning circuit and a key value digital output circuit. Method for producing an ultra-thin keypad of the.

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