KR20070101082A - One body type keypad - Google Patents

Abstract

A one body type keypad is provided to improve durability of products and be manufactured to be integrated with an outer case of electronic products by using a flat key of a plastic material. A one body type keypad includes a flat type key(11), a space unit(12), a lighting unit(13), and a film switch(14). The flat type key(11) is arranged on a top part. The space unit(12) is arranged under the flat type key(11), and prevents a malfunction between adjective key parts. The lighting unit(13) illuminates a numeral or a character which is printed on a rear plane of the flat type key(11). The film switch(14) has an upper film, a lower film and an intermediate member under the lighting unit(13). A switch contact point and a key matrix circuit are printed on a rear part of the upper film with a conductive ink. The switch contact point and the key matrix circuit are printed on a top portion of the lower film with the conductive ink. The intermediate member for the film switch(14) has a hole of the contact point between the upper film and the lower film.

Description

Integrated Keypad {One Body Type Keypad}

1 is a block diagram of a conventional film insertion keypad.

2 is a block diagram of a keypad according to the present invention to which EL is applied.

3 is a cross-sectional view of a keypad according to the present invention to which EL is applied.

4 is a block diagram of a keypad according to the present invention to which the LED is applied.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the keypad according to the present invention to which the LED is applied.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a shape when there is no space portion disposed between the flat key of the keypad of the present invention and the components below.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the function when a space portion disposed between the flat key of the keypad of the present invention and the components below it is applied.

8 is a block diagram of an integrated keypad constituting the lower film of the film switch of the present invention to the FPC.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

11, 101: flat key 12, 105: space part

13: EL sheet 14: film switch

21: chip LED 103: switch contact conductive printing pattern

The present invention relates to an integrated keypad. More specifically, the present invention relates to an integrated slim keypad keypad to which flat keys of plastics such as plastics such as acrylic, poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate, PET, and PVC are applied.

In the case of a conventional keypad, there is a key made of a plastic injection molding on the top, and a silicone rubber plate for aligning and fixing the keys, and an adhesive that serves to align the metal dome with the metal dome and fix the metal dome below it. There is a film sheet, and below that is a PCB consisting of copper foil consisting of key matrix circuits and contacts.

This type of keypad is a basic configuration used for keypads of mobile phones and various electronic products.

1 is a block diagram of a conventional general keypad.

In the keypad of FIG. 1, each key 1 of plastic material disposed on the uppermost layer, a silicone rubber plate 2 for aligning and fixing each key, and a metal dome 3 are disposed below the key. The sheet 4 to which the said metal dome 3 is attached a lot, and the PCB 6 in which the switch contact 5 and the key matrix consisted of copper foil are arrange | positioned at the lowest layer.

In the case of such a conventional keypad, when each component is laminated and assembled, the thickness is high (high in height), and the structure is complicated, resulting in a high production price.

According to the prior art related to the Korean Utility Model Publication No. 20-0168397 "Film Insert Keypad" according to the present invention, a film for aligning and fixing each key is inserted so as to support the key and prevent the flow of the key The keypad is open to the public.

However, such a conventional keypad has a disadvantage that the thickness of the keypad is thick and the structure is complicated. In addition, it is necessary to separately manufacture and assemble the injection molding of the key and the case around the key, there is a limit in manufacturing a thin keypad because a thick material such as silicone rubber is used.

One of the keypads commercialized recently is a touch keypad that uses a circuit that detects a change in the amount of charge charged when a finger touches it. However, a gloved hand cannot operate a key, There is a problem in that the malfunction of the hands or other parts of the body just rub, and there is a problem that the manufacturing cost is expensive.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art, the object of the present invention is to simplify the total thickness of the keypad by the configuration of a simple component, the key of the keypad is not separated by each key, it is designed in one-piece integrated In addition, the present invention provides an integrated keypad capable of key switching even with a light pressing operation.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an integrated keypad that can also be applied to a rigid plastic material, such as an acrylic-based rigid material, which can be integrally formed with a key of a keypad and an external case of an electronic product such as a mobile phone. Is in.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an ultra-thin integrated keypad using a plastic-based film, which is thin in thickness, operated by a light touch, and which does not use a metal dome and does not use a silicon rubber plate.

 The ultra-thin integrated keypad is a switch ON / OFF only by a light touch, can be manufactured in a thin and simple structure, a thin metal flat material can be applied to the top plate of the keypad.

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, the present invention comprises a flat key of plastic and metal material disposed on the top; A space portion disposed below the flat key and having a function of preventing a malfunction in which another adjacent key is pressed together when the user presses the corresponding key; Illuminating means for illuminating a number or a pattern printed on the back of the flat key; Underneath the luminaire, an upper layer film on which a switch contact and a key matrix circuit are printed with a conductive ink on the back surface, a lower layer film on which a switch contact and a key matrix circuit are printed with a conductive ink on an upper surface thereof, and the upper layer film and a lower layer film. It is characterized in that it comprises a film switch composed of an intermediate member having a function of touching and dropping the contact according to the fine key press therebetween and preventing the upper film and the lower film from sliding and preventing foreign substances and moisture from penetrating.

The flat key is a hard plastic material, for example, it is characterized in that the plastic, such as acrylic, Poly Mathyl Acrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate, PET, PVC. Preferably, a metal flat key can be applied.

The luminaire is usually either an EL sheet or an LED, and in the case of an EL sheet, the EL sheet is disposed directly below the space portion, and in the case of a chip LED, only the upper film of the film switch is made of a thick transparent film or several sheets. It is characterized by comprising a thin film.

The present invention utilizes a phenomenon in which a user flexes and bends finely when a user presses a corresponding key portion of a flat key, and when the user releases it again, the flat key is elastically restored to the original flat shape. When the user presses with a finger, the contact point of the lower film switch is pressed and the switching operation is performed by the contact between the contacts, and when the hands are released, the key is restored to the flat plate and the contact point of the film switch is also separated from each other.

At this time, due to the characteristic that the flat-type key made of a hard and inflexible material is too gentle to bend, the other key adjacent to the key portion pressed by the user is inevitably generated. The edge of the key or between the key and the key narrow or narrow strip shape or other complex various shapes of shape, the application of a thin, strong adhesive double-sided adhesive tape or available adhesive, the thickness of the inside of the film switch It is characterized in that the space portion having a thickness equal to the thickness of the intermediate member.

The present invention is an invention mainly used as a keypad or a key switch of various electronic products including a mobile phone.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

2 is a configuration diagram of a keypad according to the present invention to which EL is applied, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the keypad according to the present invention to which EL is applied, FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a keypad according to the present invention to which LEDs are applied, and FIG. A cross-sectional view of a keypad according to the present invention to which LEDs are applied.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the shape when there is no space portion disposed between the flat key of the keypad of the present invention and the components below it, and FIG. 7 is a view of the flat key of the keypad of the present invention and the components below it. It is sectional drawing explaining the function when the space part arrange | positioned in between is applied, FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the integral keypad which comprises the lower film of the film switch of this invention by FPC.

As shown in Fig. 2, the keypad 10 of the present invention to which EL (Electro Luminescence) is applied is disposed with a plastic flat key 11 at the top. The flat key 11 is a single piece of flat plate type in which each key is not separated.

Available top plate materials are rigid materials such as hard plastics of acrylic (eg PMMA) materials. In addition, polycarbonate (PCs), and other hard plastic materials such as ABS, PVC, PET can be used. The flat key 11 has an opaque or translucent printing on the back of a number or pattern required as a keypad key. If necessary, it can be designed integrally with an external case of an electronic product such as a mobile phone.

A space portion 12 is disposed below the flat key 11. In the present invention, when the user presses the corresponding key portion, it means intermittent (間 材) that has a function of preventing the malfunction occurs by pressing the other adjacent keys at the same time.

The space part prevents the other key adjacent to the key portion pressed by the user due to the top plate characteristic of the plate-type key in which the plate-type key made of a hard and flexible material is very fine and smoothly bent. To the edges of each key, or to narrow and narrow strips or other complex shapes between the keys and keys, with a thin and strong adhesive force, the thickness of the intermediate member being disposed between the upper film and the lower film of the film switch. It is preferable to make it equal to thickness.

The space portion 12 uses a thin double-sided adhesive tape having a constant thickness, or an adhesive capable of maintaining a predetermined planar shape and a predetermined thickness.

Below the space portion 12, a thin EL sheet 13 for lighting is disposed, and below it a film switch 14 serving as a switch is disposed.

Moreover, the space part 12 is further arrange | positioned between the EL sheet 13 and the film switch 14 as needed.

In addition, the top plate material of the flat key 11 may be applied to a thin metal (metal) in a flat plate type, the metal top plate is cut to separate each key, and the silicone rubber is applied to the bottom of the metal key It can be applied as a flat plate, which is because it does not use a metal dome that has a very high stroke like a conventional metal keypad. This is a feature of the present invention.

The thickness of the top plate of the flat key 11 is preferably from 1 mm to 0.2 mm. In addition, it is preferable that the lower film of the said film switch 14 uses FPC. Especially,

When the luminaire is a chip LED, it is preferable to solder the chip LED 21 to the FPC, which is an alternative to the film switch lower film.

3 is a sectional view of a keypad according to the present invention to which EL is applied.

As shown in FIG. 3, the switch switch and the key matrix circuit are printed with conductive ink on the back surface (lower surface) of the upper layer film 141, and the upper surface of the lower layer film 133 is configured as shown in FIG. 3. The switch contact 145 and the key matrix circuit are printed with conductive ink, and an intermediate member 142 is disposed between the upper layer and the lower layer film. The intermediate member 142 has a switch contact facing the inner side of the upper and lower film is normally separated, and when the key portion is pressed, the contact is in contact with each other to be energized so that there is a hole 146 of a predetermined shape, the material is It is preferable to use a double-sided adhesive tape or an adhesive capable of maintaining a constant thickness to prevent contaminants from penetrating or moisture. At this time, the adhesive may be applied to all available adhesives.

In other words, the present invention is a flat plate-type keypad that is a flat plate of the key, the film switch is placed under the key, and the key and the film switch is directly bonded using a double-sided adhesive tape or an available adhesive. It can be used as a keypad for electronic products such as mobile phones.

The keypad bonding technology applied in the present invention is a special bonding technique having a function of precisely operating each key, rather than bonding the entire surface, and has a complex and various shapes and shapes with the edges of the bonding object. In order to make a fine step, use a double-sided adhesive tape of different thicknesses or apply adhesive.

The intermediate member 142 between the upper film 141 and the lower film 133 of the film switch 14 is not just a film but is a double-sided adhesive tape or adhesive coating.

The thickness is usually 0.05 mm or less. The material of the upper layer and the lower layer of the film switch 14 is not only PET, but also all available plastic film series.

4 is a configuration diagram when a chip LED is used instead of an EL sheet for illumination, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. The use of the plate-shaped key 11 at the uppermost level is the same as that of the above-mentioned EL, and directly through the upper film 141 and the space portion 12 of the plate-type key 11 and the film switch 14 without the EL sheet. Are glued.

In this case, the upper film 141 of the film switch 14 is replaced with one thick transparent film or several thin transparent films. When the luminaire is a chip LED 21, there is a PCB at the bottom of the film switch 14, and the chip LED 21 is soldered to the PCB.

The hole 23 is formed in the film switch 14 in accordance with the position of the chip LED so that the chip LED is disposed without interference with the film switch, and the light of the LED is transmitted through the hole 23 to the entire surface through the transparent thick upper film. It is designed to spread evenly. The top film of the film switch 14 is made of a transparent material and thickened to spread the light evenly.

The total thickness of the film switch 14 is equal to or slightly higher than the height of the chip LED 21. The chip LED 21 is typically soldered onto the PCB 22 below the film switch 14 and the film switch 14 thereon has a hole 23 to avoid interference with the LED. The light of the chip LED 21 is spread through the upper film 141 of the transparent and thick film switch 14 to the entire underside of the flat key and transmitted to the outside through the design pattern of the keypad.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the shape when there is no space portion disposed between the flat key of the keypad of the present invention and the components below. As shown in FIG. 6, when the user 31 presses the upper portion of the flat key 11, the flat key 11 has a fine bend 33. The bend 33 is a fine and gentle bend, the error that occurs not only the corresponding key but also the adjacent key is pressed simultaneously.

This causes the film switch to malfunction under the top plate. That is, when the user 31 presses any one of the keys 71, a phenomenon in which the angle at which the key is bent is gentle and the other contacts 42 and 43 are pressed together is generated.

7 is another view illustrating the role of the keypad space portion 12 of the present invention. The space part 12 is disposed between the flat key 11 and the film switch upper film 141. And when an EL sheet is arrange | positioned between a plate-shaped key and an upper layer film, this space part is arrange | positioned between a plate-type key and an EL sheet, and can also be arrange | positioned between an EL sheet and a film switch.

The material of the space portion 12 is a thin, constant-sided double-sided adhesive tape material or can be applied in the required flat shape and uses an adhesive that can maintain a constant thickness. In FIG. 7, when the user 31 presses the upper portion of the flat key 51,

Due to the phenomenon in which the space portion 12 fixes the portion between the key and the key with adhesive force, only the curved portion 52 of the key portion becomes deeper and the deflection 33 of the adjacent key portion becomes flat. That is, a step is generated due to the fixing force due to the adhesive component of the space portion 12 and the thickness of the space portion 12, thereby eliminating the phenomenon that the adjacent keys are pressed together.

As shown in FIG. 8, the lower layer film 143 of the film switch may be replaced with a flexible PCB to solder or attach a chip LED or various components, or solder the connector. Instead of the film switch lower film 107 as shown in FIG. 8, a flexible PCB or PCB with copper foil switch increasingly matrix circuitry can be disposed.

In the present invention, the " keys 11 and 101 " are not a plastic key of the injection type that must be assembled separately, or a metal key that needs to be cut to a part of the shape edge of the key, but rather of a very beautiful integrated flat plate. It is designed with a thin height.

That is, in the case of the present invention, it is preferable that the flat key is coated with a reinforcing coating that prevents scratching on the upper surface of the plastic plate.

The thickness of the keys (11, 101) is preferably 1mm ~ 0.2mm thin so as to press the finger finely pressed area should be enough to create a bend.

The depth of the bend is preferably about 0.05 mm or more.

It is preferable that the EL sheet 102 be attached to the lower portion of the keys 11 and 101 as a lighting means as necessary. According to the present invention, the entire surface of the lower surface of the uppermost flat key and the entire surface of the upper portion of the EL sheet are not bonded to each other with adhesive or double-sided tape, but must be partially bonded as described in the space portion.

The reason for this is that when the entire surfaces are bonded to each other, the result is that when the fingers are pressed together, the plate of the key and the thick plate plus the adhesive material are added to the EL sheet, and the pressing force is applied so that a soft feeling of operation is achieved. The key and EL sheet must not bond the whole surface because it will not work.

Then, the entire surface of the upper film 104 is also adhered to each other under the keys 11 and 101 (or under the key and the EL sheet bonding portion) without being bonded.

As a result, it is necessary to press a thick plate with the adhesive material added to the flat plate of the key and the upper film, so that the contact of the key does not come into contact with the key unless it is pressed. The surface of the thin and smooth key can be maintained without wrinkles or wrinkles.

In addition, a flexible and tough thin top film 104 made of a plastic material such as PET is disposed below the keys 11 and 101 (or key and EL sheet assembly), and a switch pattern that serves as a contact point with conductive ink on the bottom surface thereof. (103). The switch pattern 103 is brought into contact with the switch pattern 108 printed with conductive ink serving as a contact point on the upper surface of the flexible, tough thin lower film 107 of another PET-like material thereunder.

Instead of the lower film 107, a flexible PCB or PCB coated with a copper foil pattern may be applied. Intermediate member consisting of the application of a double-sided adhesive tape material or adhesive having a hole 106 is formed between the upper film 104 and the lower film 107 (or the flexible PCB or PCB), the switch pattern is a contact path falling and falling ( 105) is formed. The thickness of the intermediate member 105 is preferably a very thin thickness of 0.05mm or less.

The intermediate member 105 serves to seal the switch contact space as a double-sided adhesive tape or an adhesive material that can be used to block the fixing of the upper film and the lower film from the outside and the penetration of contaminants or the penetration of moisture.

In the embodiment of the present invention it is possible to manufacture by adjusting the operation feeling (key) of the key soft or hard. There are four elements of the principle as follows.

First, to thin or thicken the top flat key 11, 101, second, to thin or thicken the top film 104, third, to space member 105 inside the film switch. Fourth, to make the diameter of the hole 106 of the wider or narrower, and the fourth, the thickness of the space material 105 is thinner or thicker. By properly arranging and adjusting these principle elements, the desired feeling of operation of the key can be determined.

And the use of flexible PCB or PCB instead of the bottom film of the PET material is to enable this when the direct soldering instead of the connector when connecting the integrated film switch keypad of the present invention to various circuits, including mobile phones and the main circuit board.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be carried out by various improvements, modifications, substitutions or additions within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. If you can easily understand. If the implementation by such improvement, change, substitution or addition falls within the scope of the appended claims below, the technical spirit is also regarded as belonging to the present invention.

According to the present invention, the component configuration is simple and the manufacturing price is low. When applied to mobile phones, it can be manufactured with a thin slim keypad. In addition, it is easy to use because the switching operation is performed only by a light touch.

The present invention increases the durability of the product because it uses a flat plate made of a hard plastic material, there is an advantage that can be manufactured integrally with the external case of electronic products such as mobile phones.

In addition, unlike the conventional keypad, the present invention applies a key to an integral flat plate without forming and assembling each key, and thus has a smooth appearance surface, and is manufactured in an ultra-thin integrated type without a silicon rubber plate and a metal dome. This is possible, and the key works only with a slight pressing force, so it can function as a keypad without any malfunction. In addition, the uppermost key can be manufactured in an integral flat form.

Claims (14)

In the integrated keypad, A flat key disposed at the top; A space portion disposed under the flat key and preventing malfunction between adjacent key portions; Illuminating means for illuminating a number or a pattern printed on the back of the flat key; Underneath the luminaire, an upper layer film on which a switch contact and a key matrix circuit are printed with a conductive ink on the back surface, a lower layer film on which a switch contact and a key matrix circuit are printed with a conductive ink on an upper surface thereof, and the upper layer film and a lower layer film. Integral keypad comprising a film switch composed of an intermediate member for the film switch with a hole in the contact portion therebetween. The integrated keypad of claim 1, wherein the flat key is made of metal. The integrated keypad of claim 1, wherein the flat key is made of acrylic, polycarbonate, or a hard plastic such as ABS, PVC, or PET. 4. The integrated keypad of claim 3, wherein the acrylic plastic is a poly math acrylate (PMMA). The method of claim 1, wherein the space portion has a complex and various shapes such as narrow and narrow strips between the edges or key portions of each key, the thickness is equal to or similar to the thickness of the intermediate member inside the film switch. With integrated keypad. 6. The integrated keypad of claim 5, wherein the space portion has a strong adhesive force and is coated with a thin, double-sided adhesive tape or a usable adhesive having a constant thickness. The method of claim 1, wherein the lighting means is an EL sheet or a chip LED, in the case of an EL sheet is disposed between the space portion and the film switch, in the case of a chip LED there is a PCB, the chip LED on the PCB The keypad is attached, characterized in that the structure that allows the light to pass through the hole configured in the film switch. An integrated keypad comprising: keys (11, 101) disposed at the top; An upper film (104) disposed below the keys (11, 101) and having a switch contact printed on the rear surface thereof; An intermediate member (105) having a hole (106) in the switch contact portion under the upper film (104); And a lower film (107) disposed below the intermediate member (105) and having a switch contact matrix circuit printed on the upper surface of the film by conductive ink. The integrated keypad according to claim 8, wherein a flexible PCB or PCB having a copper foil switch contact and a key matrix circuit is disposed in place of the lower film (107). 9. The integrated keypad according to claim 8, further comprising an EL sheet (102) between the keys (11, 101) and the upper film (104) as luminaire. 11. The EL sheet 102 according to claim 10, wherein the EL sheet 102 partially adheres the edge of the key 101, the portion of the periphery of the key portion, the portion of the portion of the center of the key, and the like with the upper plate-shaped key, and Adhesion between the EL sheet and the upper film 104 of the film switch below it is also integrally bonded together with the peripheral portion of the key portion and the portion of the central portion of the key. 9. The integrated keypad of claim 8, wherein the material of the upper film is made of plastics such as PET. 9. The integrated keypad according to claim 8, wherein the keys (11,101) have a thickness of 1 mm to 0.2 mm, the degree of bending of the minutely pressed portion with a finger, and the depth of the bend is 0.05 mm or less. 9. The integrated keypad of claim 8, wherein the intermediate member (105) is coated with a double-sided adhesive tape or a usable adhesive, and has a thickness of 0.05 mm or less.

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