KR20070094390A - Personal porable device having luminous key-pad part and illumination controll method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A personal mobile terminal having a keypad part that blinks light and its illumination control method are provided to provide aesthetic sensation to a user by emitting light in various colors and forms when buttons are pressed. A keypad part(300) is mounted on a main body part(100) and includes multiple buttons. An illumination part is positioned to be adjacent to the key pad part(300). An illumination blinking controller blinks the illumination part in each different illumination mode before and after the buttons are operated. The illumination part includes a light emitting element which independently operates with respect to the buttons, and the illumination blinking controller controls a controller such that the buttons or neighbor buttons blink according to an operation of the buttons.

Description

PERSONAL PORABLE DEVICE HAVING LUMINOUS KEY-PAD PART AND ILLUMINATION CONTROLL METHOD THEREOF}

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a personal portable terminal including a touch key pad unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cutaway perspective view for explaining the key pad portion and the lighting portion.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 2.

4 is a perspective view illustrating a lighting unit and a touch sensor unit.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating an enlarged portion V of FIG. 4.

6 is a partial front view for explaining the terminal portion formed in the main body portion.

7 is a view for explaining the lighting blinking method of the present invention.

8 is a front view illustrating a keypad portion in which a button pressed by a user blinks.

FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating a keypad portion in which peripheral buttons adjacent to a button pressed by a user blink.

FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a sequence in which buttons blink when a user presses a button.

11 is a side cross-sectional view of a keypad portion for explaining a button that changes color.

12, 13 and 14 are partial perspective views showing still another modification of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings>

10 ： Personal portable terminal 300 ： Key pad part

312: Touch-type button 320: Touch sensor part

400: lighting part 410: light emitting element

The present invention relates to a personal handheld terminal, and more particularly, to a personal handheld terminal equipped with a keypad having an improved design.

Conventional key pads mainly use a dome switch method, and when a user presses a button, a dome switch formed under the button is pressed. At this time, the dome switch is pressed and vibration is generated with a ticking sound. The user can hear this sound or detect vibration to verify that the button was pressed correctly. In addition, as the user presses the button, various kinds of sound effects are generated through the speaker, so that the operation state of the button can be known. However, when the user is in a noisy place, the sound generated when the button is pressed may not be heard due to the ambient noise.

In particular, in the case of using the touch button method, the button may not sound or vibrate like a dome switch method even when the button is pressed, so it is not possible to confirm whether the button is properly pressed. For example, when the button is pressed, the numbers can be displayed on the screen, but if the numbers are not displayed on the screen, the user may not know whether there is a problem with the keypad or another device of the terminal, which may cause anxiety to the user.

In addition, the conventional keypad is designed to allow the user to press a button even in a dark place by using a method in which the lamp is turned on or turned off after a certain period of time depending on the ambient brightness conditions. However, such a uniform lighting control method can be monotonous to the user and restrict the design of various keypads.

One object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide a personal portable terminal that visually confirms the button pressed by the user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a personal portable terminal giving a stylish feeling through the keypad portion emitting a variety of colors.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object of the present invention, the personal portable terminal is mounted on the main body portion, the main body portion having a plurality of buttons, a lighting unit for emitting light to the key pad portion And a lighting blink control unit for controlling the operation of the lighting unit.

The main body may be operated or opened or closed by a bar, flip, folder, slide, swing, or the like. Generally, a display, a terminal circuit part, and a camera required for terminal operation are required. , An antenna, a wireless transceiver, and the like.

The main body part may be equipped with various types of keypad parts, and may be configured in various styles such as a mechanical method having a dome switch and an electronic method using a touch sensor part. In addition, an illumination unit may be provided around the key pad unit, and the illumination unit may be flickered by the light blinking control unit. The present invention is characterized in that the light flashes in various modes from the bottom of the button when the button formed on the keypad portion is pressed.

The lighting unit may use a light emitting device formed of a light emitting diode (LED) or an electroluminescent (EL) light. The light emitting device is formed under the button so that each time the user presses the button, the light emitting device may emit light of various flashing modes or various colors, and to control the light emitting device providing the various flashing modes or various colors of light. The circuit unit is equipped with a lighting controller.

The light may be flickered from the lower part of the button pressed by the light blinking control part, or the light may be flickered from other buttons adjacent to the button pressed by the user. In addition, the light may be flickered in the entire edge portion of the button and the keypad portion. The flashing pattern can be flashed once or several times, and can also be designed to flash several buttons gradually. In addition, by forming two or more combinations of flashing light can give the user aesthetics.

The lighting unit may include a light emitting device that can be operated independently to provide such various flashing light. A plurality of light emitting devices may be formed in correspondence with each button, or may be formed in one form corresponding to all areas of the keypad. In addition, at least two light emitting devices may be provided under one button to change the color when the button is pressed, and the lighting flicker control unit may control the light emitting devices by turning off one of the light emitting devices and turning on the other. .

In the present invention, a personal portable device (Personal Portable Device) is a portable electrical and electronic device such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), smart phone (Smart phone), handheld PC, mobile phone, MP3 player, etc., CDMA (Code A predetermined communication module such as a Division Multiplexing Access module, a Bluetooth module, an infrared communication module (IrDA), a wired / wireless LAN card, etc., and a terminal having a predetermined computing power by mounting a predetermined microprocessor for performing a multimedia playback function Can be used as a generic concept.

In this way, each time the button is pressed, the light flashes in various colors on the button or the border, so that the user can know that the button is properly pressed, which makes the user feel comfortable and comfortable to use.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the present invention is not limited or limited by the embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a personal portable terminal including a touch key pad unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the personal mobile terminal 50 according to the present invention includes a main body 100, a display 200, and a keypad 300, and an illumination unit (not shown) below the keypad. ) Is formed.

The main body 100 has an exterior formed with a housing 110, and may include a camera device 120, an antenna, a microphone, a receiver, and the like, and a battery is mounted on a rear surface of the main body 100.

A display 210 for implementing various images is attached to a front surface of the display unit 200, and a navigation key 220 and a navigation key configured to selectively press a radial form on a lower end of the display 210. A function key 230 disposed around the key 220 may be configured.

The connection part 312 is formed to protrude on one side of the keypad part 300, and the terminal part 130 is formed on one side of the surface on which the keypad part 300 is coupled to the housing 110 in response to the connection part 312. ) Is formed. The terminal unit 130 is connected to a circuit unit (not shown) embedded in the main body unit 100, and the keypad unit 300 and the lighting unit are in contact with the terminal unit 130 and the connection unit 312. (Not shown) is electrically connected to the circuit unit (not shown).

In this embodiment, one light emitting device is provided for each touch button of the keypad 300, and each touch button can emit light independently. Therefore, the connection unit 312 includes a number of terminals corresponding to each touch button. However, when all the touch buttons flash together, the connection part can be simply configured. For example, only two terminals can be formed.

The key pad unit 300 does not normally appear on the display unit 200 when the personal portable terminal is not used, but when the display unit 200 is opened by sliding the display unit 200 with respect to the main body unit 100. Reveals.

In addition, the personal portable terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention is a slide type terminal shape, but according to another embodiment of the present invention, the main body portion is a folder type, a bar type, a flip type, and a swing type. It can be formed in various kinds of styles such as a mold.

2 is a cutaway perspective view for explaining the key pad portion and the lighting portion.

Referring to FIG. 2, a button film 310 including a touch button 312 is formed on the keypad 300, and a lower portion of the button film 310 corresponds to the touch button 312. The touch sensor unit 320 is formed. One side of the keypad 300 is formed to protrude the connection portion 330.

The lower portion of the keypad 300 is formed with an illumination unit 400 for emitting light corresponding to the touch button 312.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a partially cut away portion III-III of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the lighting unit and the touch sensor unit.

3 and 4, a print layer 314 which hardly transmits light is formed on a lower surface of the button film 310, and a touch type is formed on the upper surface of the button film 310 by the printed layer 314. Button 312 is formed.

The touch sensor unit 320 that detects the pressing of the touch-type button 312 is formed under the button film 310, and the touch sensor 320 having a rectangular shape having a hole therein is the touch. The button film 310 is formed under the button corresponding to the formula button 312.

An illumination unit 400 is formed below the keypad 300 to transmit light to the button film 310, and the illumination unit 400 corresponds to the touch button 312. The shape of the light emitting device 410 may be circular or may be variously formed.

The illumination unit 400 of the present invention uses EL (Electro Luminescent), and a transparent electrode 412 such as ITO (Indium-Tin Oxide) and a metal (Ca, Li, Al: Li, Mg: Ag, etc.). The back electrode 416 using the () is formed. Between the transparent electrode 412 and the back electrode 416 includes an EL layer 414 layer which is a thin film layer and emits light from the EL layer 414. An insulating layer 322 through which light passes is formed between the touch sensor unit 320 and the lighting unit 400, and a protective layer 420 is formed below the back electrode 416.

A connection part 330 is formed at one side of the keypad part 300, and the touch sensor part 320 and the light emitting element 410 are electrically connected to the connection part 330 through a wiring part 340. . One end of the first wiring part 342 and the second wiring part 344 is formed on one side of the touch sensor part 320 and the light emitting element 410, respectively, and the first wiring part 342 and the second wiring part 342 are formed. The other end of the wiring part 344 extends to the connection part 330.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing an enlarged portion V of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a partial front view for explaining a terminal portion formed in the main body portion.

5 and 6, the connection part 330 includes a first pad terminal 342 and a second pad terminal 334. The touch sensor unit 320 is connected to the first pad terminal 332 by the first wiring unit 342, and the light emitting device 410 is connected to the second pad by the second wiring unit 344. It is connected to the terminal 334.

The terminal unit 130 is partially exposed to the housing 110 of the main body unit 100, and the position of the terminal unit 130 formed in the housing 110 corresponds to the keypad portion 300 of the housing 110. When coupled to the point corresponding to the connecting portion 330. In response to the first and second pad terminals 332 and 334 formed on the connection part 330, the terminal part 130 is provided with first and second connection terminals 132 and 134.

7 is a view for explaining the lighting blinking method of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, a signal generated by a user pressing a button is sensed by the touch sensor unit 320, and the signal is transmitted to the first pad terminal 332 through the first wire unit 342. The first pad terminal transmits the signal to the touch sensing controller 142 mounted on the circuit unit 140, and the touch sensing controller 142 receives the signal to recognize which number the user has pressed. Thereafter, the touch sensing control unit 142 informs the light blinking control unit 144 of the number pressed by the user, and the light blinking control unit 144 signals for operating the light emitting device 410 corresponding to the number pressed by the user. Send The signal transmitted by the lighting blink control unit 144 is transmitted to the second pad terminal 334, and is transmitted to the light emitting device 410 through the second wiring unit 344. The light emitting device 410 emits light after receiving the signal transmitted from the light blinking control unit 144.

At this time, as described above, the light flickers only in a touch button corresponding to the number pressed by the user by the light blinking control part, or the light blinks in adjacent adjacent touch buttons. Can be designed. 8, 9 and 10 are presented to illustrate this.

8 is a front view illustrating a keypad portion in which a button pressed by a user blinks.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the user presses the touch button 312 corresponding to '5', light flashes from the bottom of the touch button 312 operated by the user.

FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating a keypad portion in which peripheral buttons adjacent to a button pressed by a user blink.

Referring to FIG. 9, when a user presses a touch button 312 corresponding to '5', '2', '4', '6' and '8' around the activated touch button 312 are displayed. Light flashes from the bottom of the corresponding touch button 312. In addition, when the touch button 312 corresponding to '3' is pressed, light blinks from the lower portion of the touch button 312 corresponding to '2' and '6'.

Referring to FIG. 10, FIG. 10 illustrates that the light blinks in various forms around a button adjacent to a button pressed by a user, and when the user presses a touch button 312 corresponding to '5', Radially adjacent other touch buttons 312 are sequentially flashed around the activated touch button 312, or '4', 'about the activated touch button 312. The light can be designed to blink in the order of '1', '2', '3', '6', '9', '#', '0' and '*'.

11 is a side cross-sectional view of a keypad portion for explaining a button that changes color.

Referring to FIG. 11, the key pad part 530 is a dome switch type, and a key 532 is formed through a hole formed in the housing 510 and exposed to the outside. A PCB 540 is formed below the keypad 530, and a dome switch 542 is formed on an upper surface of the PCB 540. A lower portion of the keypad 530 is provided with a protrusion 534 for pressing the dome switch 542. A light emitting device 544 for blinking light is formed between each of the dome switches 542, and the light emitting device 544 emits light of a different color to blink two colors of light. It is formed in two. The light emitting element 544 may be formed of an LED, an EL, or another light emitting body.

As such, by blinking the light by the operation of the button, the user is sure that the button is properly pressed, and the light flashes in various colors and shapes to provide convenience, stability and stylish feeling to the user of the keypad. Can be.

12, 13, and 14 illustrate another modified example of the present invention, and are partial perspective views, respectively, of a keypad.

Referring to FIG. 12, an area in which light blinks by the lighting unit 650 corresponds to all touch buttons 612.

A print layer 614 is formed on a lower surface of the button film 610 except for the touch button 612, and the lighting unit 650 is formed in one form on the entire touch button 612. .

When the lighting unit 650 is operated, light is transmitted through only the areas where the print layer 614 is not formed, that is, all the touch buttons 612, and is emitted to the outside.

Referring to FIG. 13, an area where light is flickered by the lighting unit 730 is an edge 716 of the touch button 712.

The lower surface of the button film 710 is formed with a print layer 714 through which light does not transmit to all areas other than the number 718 printed in the edge 716 and the touch-type button 712, the lighting unit 750 is formed a light emitting element 752 that operates independently of the edge 716 and the lower portion of the number 718.

When the light emitting device 752 is operated, light is emitted to the outside through an area where the print layer 714 is not formed, that is, the edge 716 and the number 718.

Referring to FIG. 14, an area where light is emitted by the lighting unit 850 is a portion of the outer edge 816 of the button film 810.

A print layer 814 is formed on the bottom surface of the button film 810 for all regions except for the number 818 in the outer edge 816 and the touch button 812 region, and the lighting unit 850. The light emitting device 852 is formed to operate independently of the outer edge 816 and the lower portion of the number 818.

When the light emitting device 852 operates, light is emitted to the outside through an area where the printed layer 814 is not formed, that is, the outer edge 816 and the number 818.

In addition, it is possible to design a keypad portion of various forms combining the embodiments and modifications of the present invention, in addition to it can be designed a keypad portion having various light emitting modes in addition to the examples presented in the present invention.

Therefore, when the button is pressed, various colors of light are emitted, and the user can visually confirm the button pressed by the user.

In addition, the light is emitted in a variety of colors and forms with respect to the pressing of the button has an effect that can give the user aesthetics.

As described above, although described with reference to preferred embodiments and modifications of the present invention, those skilled in the art will be able to vary the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims below. It will be appreciated that modifications and variations can be made.

Claims (15)

In the method of controlling the lighting unit in a personal portable terminal comprising a main body, a key pad portion mounted to the main body portion and including a plurality of buttons and the lighting unit located adjacent to the key pad portion, Detecting actuation of at least one of the buttons; And Flashing the lighting unit in different light emitting modes according to the operation of the button by using a lighting blinking control unit; Lighting control method of the personal portable terminal comprising a. The method of claim 1, Flashing the lighting unit is a personal terminal lighting control method characterized in that for flashing the operated button. The method of claim 1, The flashing of the lighting unit is a personal portable device lighting control method, characterized in that for flashing the peripheral buttons of the operated button. The method of claim 1, Flashing the lighting unit is a personal terminal lighting control method characterized in that for flashing the entire keypad portion. The method of claim 1, The flashing of the lighting unit is a personal terminal lighting control method, characterized in that for flashing a portion corresponding to the border around the keypad unit except for the button. The method of claim 1, The lighting unit includes at least two or more light emitting devices having different colors, and the step of flashing the lighting unit is characterized in that one of the light emitting devices to turn off one of the light emitting device, the other one. The method of claim 1, And the button of the keypad unit operates in a touch sensing manner. Main body; A key pad unit mounted to the main body unit and including a plurality of buttons; An illumination unit located adjacent to the key pad unit; And An illumination blinking controller for blinking the illumination unit in a different light emitting mode in correspondence with before and after the button operation; Personal mobile terminal comprising a. The method of claim 8, The lighting unit may include a light emitting device that may operate independently for each of the buttons, and the lighting flicker control unit controls the control unit so that the button or peripheral buttons blink in response to the operation of the button. Personal handheld terminal. The method of claim 8, The lighting unit includes at least two light emitting devices having different colors, and the lighting flicker control unit controls the color of the lighting unit by differently adjusting the brightness of the light emitting device. Main body; A key pad unit mounted to the main body unit and including a plurality of touch buttons; An illumination unit positioned below the touch type button and including a light emitting element capable of independently providing light to each touch type button; And An illumination blinking control unit which blinks the touch-type button pressed in response to the pressing of the touch-type button; Personal mobile terminal comprising a. Main body; A key pad unit mounted to the main body unit and including a plurality of touch buttons; An illumination unit disposed under the touch button and including a light emitting device capable of providing light to the entire touch button; And An illumination blinking controller to blink the entire touch button in response to the pressing of the touch button; Personal mobile terminal comprising a. Main body; A key pad unit mounted to the main body unit and including a plurality of touch buttons and an edge unit accommodating the entire touch buttons; An illumination unit including a light emitting device capable of independently providing light to the touch button and the edge portion; And An illumination blinking controller to blink the edge portion independently of the touch-type button in response to the pressing of the touch-type button; Personal mobile terminal comprising a. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, The light emitting device is a personal portable device, characterized in that formed of EL (Electro Luminescent). The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, The light emitting device may emit light of a different color, and the lighting flicker control unit controls the color of the light emitting device in response to the operation of the button.

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