KR20080104930A - Waterproof structure of keypad and communication device employing the same - Google Patents

Waterproof structure of keypad and communication device employing the same Download PDF

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Publication number
KR20080104930A
KR20080104930A KR1020070070452A KR20070070452A KR20080104930A KR 20080104930 A KR20080104930 A KR 20080104930A KR 1020070070452 A KR1020070070452 A KR 1020070070452A KR 20070070452 A KR20070070452 A KR 20070070452A KR 20080104930 A KR20080104930 A KR 20080104930A
Authority
KR
South Korea
Prior art keywords
keypad
connector
layer
front case
hole
Prior art date
Application number
KR1020070070452A
Other languages
Korean (ko)
Inventor
장규연
Original Assignee
하이디스 아이앤씨
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by 하이디스 아이앤씨 filed Critical 하이디스 아이앤씨
Publication of KR20080104930A publication Critical patent/KR20080104930A/en

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/04—Cases; Covers
    • H01H13/06—Dustproof, splashproof, drip-proof, waterproof or flameproof casings
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/23—Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof

Abstract

According to the present invention, a keypad layer (1) having an upper pressing portion (1a), a lower projecting portion (1b) and a side wall (1c) protruding in a direction opposite the upper pressing portion (1a), A metal dome sheet 4 provided with a writing means 2 for identification and a lower portion of the writing means 2 and having a plurality of domes 4a protruding from a surface thereof facing the lower protrusion 1b. And an FPCB (5) which is a flexible circuit board, a back plate (6) surrounding the members (2, 4, 5) together with the keypad layer (1), and the FPCB (5) and an external main circuit part. A keypad structure having a connector (7) withdrawn from the FPCB (5) for connection with the plate. A through hole (6a) through which the connector (7) line passes is formed on the rear plate (6). Both ends 6b of 6) are bonded to the side wall 1c of the keypad layer 1, and the line of the connector 7 passes through the through hole 6a. The keypad structure having a waterproof structure is characterized in that the members (2, 4, 5) are sealed by the keypad layer (1) and the back plate (6) as sealed with a resin such as epoxy, silicone or urethane. to provide. In addition, a communication apparatus employing a keypad structure having a waterproof structure is provided. The present invention also provides a method of assembling a keypad structure having a waterproof structure in the communication device.

Description

Keypad structure having a waterproof structure and communication device employing the keypad structure {WATERPROOF STRUCTURE OF KEYPAD AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE EMPLOYING THE SAME}

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the keypad is mounted on the front case of the mobile phone,

2 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a keypad structure having a waterproof structure according to the present invention;

3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which a keypad structure having a waterproof structure according to the present invention is mounted on a front case of a mobile phone.

<Description of the Reference Code>

1-keypad layer, 6-back plate,

7-connector, 20-front case,

40-layer of glue.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keypad used in a communication device such as a mobile phone, and more particularly, to a keypad structure having a waterproof structure in which moisture is not introduced from the outside and a communication device employing the keypad structure.

In general, the keypad is provided in a front panel (front case) of a communication device, for example, a mobile phone, and is used for man-machine interface by a user.

Meanwhile, with the recent development of functions, various functions including lighting functions and the like have been added to the keypad, and accordingly, waterproofing of the circuit part for maintaining the functions has become an important problem.

Therefore, in order to prevent the mobile phone having a keypad from immersing in water, there is an example of using in a swimming pool using a flexible transparent sealing case of a flexible material, but this is a hassle to purchase and use another transparent sealing case There is this.

On the other hand, in addition to the complete immersion of the mobile phone as described above, normal moisture is also input to the circuit part and the keypad part of the mobile phone, resulting in a decrease in the function of the mobile phone.

On the other hand, Figure 1 is a view showing a mobile phone according to the prior art, the keypad 10 is shown being mounted on the front case 20 of the mobile phone. In the drawing, the keypad portion 10 includes a keypad layer 1 having an upper pressing portion 1a that the user can press and a lower protrusion portion 1b protruding in a direction opposite the upper pressing portion 1a. , A light guide film (2) for identification of letters and symbols, and a plurality of light guide films (2) provided below the light guide film (2) and having a switch function on the surface of the lower guide portion (1b). A metal dome sheet 4 provided with a dome 4a, an FPCB 5 which is a flexible circuit board, and a connector withdrawn from the FPCB 5 for connection between the FPCB 5 and the main circuit part of the mobile phone. 7).

Looking at the operation of the keypad portion 10, when the user presses the upper pressing portion (1a) of the keypad layer 1, the lower projection (1b) located below the keypad layer 1 is the metal dome The dome 4a of the seat 4 is pressed, and thus the switch of the FPCB 5 under the seat 4 layer is operated to transmit a signal to the mobile phone main circuit through the connector 7.

On the other hand, the keypad layer (1) is usually composed of a translucent body, the light traveling along the light guide film (2) as the LED (3) is driven to emit light to the outside of the keypad layer (1), accordingly the keypad The characters on the layer 1 can be clearly distinguished by the user.

However, in such a structure, the lower part or the rear part of the keypad part 10 is not completely sealed from the outside. That is, moisture from the outside is introduced through the gap A between the seating part side wall 22 of the front case 20 and the side wall 1c of the keypad layer 1, so that the rear part of the keypad part 10 is exposed. Through this, the members 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 are introduced into the keypad, where the circuits such as FPCB are damaged.

In addition, the moisture is introduced into the mobile phone body through the opening portion of the front case 20 or through the connector 7 through hole 21 through the gap (A) to damage the internal circuit. Meanwhile, the front case 20 refers to a member of a communication device such as a mobile phone in which the keypad unit 10 is installed. In some cases, the front case 20 is opened without the through hole 21, and the keypad unit 10 has a latch. It is held in the front case by means or insertion means.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a keypad structure having a waterproof structure such that moisture from the outside, particularly from the rear of the keypad portion, does not flow into the keypad portion.

In addition, the present invention provides a communication device in which moisture does not flow into the keypad structure 10 by adopting a keypad structure having a waterproof structure, while moisture does not flow into the body portion through the front case 20. It aims to do it.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for assembling a keypad structure having a waterproof structure in the communication device.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a keypad layer having a horizontal portion and a side wall provided with a key input unit, writing means for identifying characters and symbols displayed on the keypad layer, and a plurality of domes protrude. A metal dome sheet, a circuit board, the writing means together with the keypad layer, a rear plate surrounding the metal dome sheet and the circuit board, and a connection between the circuit board and an external main circuit part. Provided is a keypad structure having a connector withdrawn from a circuit board.

Further, in the present invention, a through hole through which the connector wire passes is formed on the rear plate, both ends of the rear plate are bonded to the side wall of the keypad layer, and after the connector wire passes through the through hole, a through hole is provided. As the periphery is sealed, the keypad layer and the back plate provide a keypad structure for sealing the receiving member.

The present invention also provides a communication device comprising the keypad structure, a front case on which the keypad structure is seated, and an adhesive layer provided between the keypad structure and the front case.

(Example)

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a keypad structure having a waterproof structure according to the present invention, the upper pressing portion (1a: a key input portion or a button portion protruding upwards that the user can press, it does not protrude And a horizontal portion having a lower protrusion 1b protruding downwardly opposite the upper pressing portion 1a and the lower protrusion 1b, and extending downward in parallel at an end of the horizontal portion. A keypad layer 1 having integrally formed sidewalls 1c, writing means 2 for identifying letters and symbols displayed on the keypad layer, and a lower portion of the writing means 2, A metal dome sheet 4 in which a plurality of domes 4a for switches protrude to face the lower protrusion 1b, an FPCB (a circuit board) 5 that is a flexible circuit board, and the keypad layer 1 Together with the metal material, for example stain A rear plate 6 made of a SUS steel and a connector 7 drawn out from the FPCB 5 for connection between the FPCB 5 and the main circuit part of the mobile phone are provided. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the writing means 2 may be implemented with a light guide film (LGF), an EL sheet, an LED, or the like for identification of letters and symbols.

Here, a through hole 6a through which the line of the connector 7 penetrates is formed on the rear plate 6, and both ends 6b of the rear plate 6 are formed on the sidewall 1c of the keypad layer 1. As attached to the keypad portion 10 having a sealing structure by the integral keypad layer 1 and the back plate 6, or a keypad structure having a waterproof structure according to the present invention is formed.

On the other hand, an adhesive or an adhesive means is used to attach the both ends 6b of the back plate 6 and the side wall 1c of the keypad layer 1, and the penetration of the connector 7 penetrates with this adhesion. The gap between the through-hole 6a and the connector is sealed with an adhesive in the state where the connector 6 is also penetrated through the hole 6a. The adhesion and sealing is formed by hot-melting an epoxy, silicone or urethane-based material.

On the other hand, in order to seal the gap of the through hole 6a, a member such as an O-ring may be used.

According to this structure, as the rear portion of the keypad portion 10 is sealed, it is possible to prevent the moisture from the outside, in particular the moisture flowing through the gap (A).

Looking at the operation of the keypad portion 10, when the user presses the upper pressing portion (1a) of the keypad layer 1, the lower projection (1b) located below the keypad layer 1 is the metal dome When the dome 4a of the seat 4 is pressed, the switch of the FPCB 5 under the seat 4 layer is operated to transmit a signal to the mobile phone main circuit through the connector 7. There is no ingress of moisture through the gap.

3 is a view illustrating a state in which a keypad structure having a waterproof structure according to the present invention is mounted on a front case of a mobile phone, wherein the connector 7 protruding from the keypad structure 10 has a through hole in the front case 20. It extends to the inside of the mobile phone body portion (the lower part of the front case 20 in Figure 3) through the 21, between the keypad structure 10 and the front case 20 hot epoxy or silicon or urethane-based material Melting may also form an adhesive layer 40 having a thickness of 20 to 100 microns.

According to the assembling method according to an example, the connector 7 of the keypad structure 10 extends through the through hole 21 of the front case 20 to the inside of the mobile phone body portion, and the rear seat of the keypad structure 10. The adhesive layer 40 may be formed by inserting the adhesive between the surface and the front case 20 surface.

In another assembly method, the adhesive is applied to the rear seating surface of the keypad structure 10 or the front case 20 surface, and the connector 7 of the keypad structure 10 is penetrated by the front case 20. After extending into the body of the mobile phone through the 21, the adhesive can be cured to form the adhesive layer 40.

On the other hand, the keypad layer 1 having the upper pressing portion 1a, the lower protrusion portion 1b and the side wall 1c protruding in a direction opposite to the upper pressing portion 1a may not be integrally formed. That is, the keypad layer 1 may be partially connected to each section including the upper pressing portion 1a and the lower protrusion 1b to form an opening.

In such a configuration, a keypad layer having a partially separated opening having an upper pressing portion 1a, a lower protrusion portion 1b and a side wall 1c projecting in a direction opposite to the upper pressing portion 1a ( 1), a writing means 2 for identifying letters and symbols, and a lower portion of the writing means 2, and a plurality of domes 4a protrude from the lower surface facing the lower protrusion 1b. A metal dome sheet 4, an FPCB 5 which is a flexible circuit board, a back plate 6 surrounding the members 2, 4, 5 together with the keypad layer 1, and the FPCB A keypad structure is provided having a connector 7 withdrawn from the FPCB 5 for connection of 5 with an external main circuit portion.

In addition, a through hole 6a through which the connector 7 line passes is formed on the rear plate 6, and both ends 6b of the rear plate 6 are formed on the side wall 1c of the keypad layer 1. ), The connector (7) wire passes through the through hole (6a), and then the member (2) by the keypad layer (1) and the back plate (6) as the periphery of the through hole (6a) is sealed. The keypad structure 10 is formed in which 4, 5 are sealed.

In addition, a communication device is formed in which the keypad structure 10 is seated on the front case 20 via the adhesive layer 40 formed by the adhesive or adhesive means.

According to the communication device formed as described above, it is possible to prevent moisture flowing into the front case 20 through the keypad structure 10.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a keypad structure having a waterproof structure in which moisture from the outside is not introduced into the keypad portion, and by adopting such a keypad structure, a communication device in which moisture is not introduced into the keypad structure is provided. It is effective to provide a method for assembling a keypad structure having a waterproof structure in a communication device.

Claims (9)

A keypad layer 1 having an upper pressing portion 1a, a lower protrusion portion 1b and a side wall 1c projecting in a direction opposite to the upper pressing portion 1a, and writing means for identifying letters and symbols. (2), a metal dome sheet (4) provided with a plurality of domes (4a) protruding from the lower protrusion (1b) on the surface, an FPCB (5) as a flexible circuit board, and the keypad layer ( 1) together with the back plate 6 surrounding the members 2, 4, 5, and the connector 7 withdrawn from the FPCB 5 for connection of the FPCB 5 with an external main circuit section. As a keypad structure provided, On the rear plate 6 is formed a through hole 6a through which the connector 7 line passes, Both ends 6b of the back plate 6 are bonded to the side wall 1c of the keypad layer 1, and the line of the connector 7 passes through the through hole 6a, and then the through hole 6a. Keypad structure, characterized in that the member (2, 4, 5) is sealed by the keypad layer (1) and the back plate (6) as the perimeter is sealed. The method of claim 1, The sealing, the keypad structure, characterized in that carried out by hot-melting an epoxy, silicone or urethane-based material. The method of claim 1, The lighting means (2) is a keypad structure, characterized in that the light guide film (LGF), EL sheet or LED. The keypad structure 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A front case 20 on which the keypad structure 10 is mounted; And an adhesive layer (40) provided between them. The method of claim 4, wherein The adhesive layer 40, hot-melting epoxy, silicon or urethane-based material is a communication device, characterized in that formed to a thickness of 20 to 100 microns. The method of claim 4, wherein And a through hole (21) for through the connector (7) line through the front case (20). Extending the connector 7 of the keypad structure 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 3 through the through hole 21 of the front case 20 into the mobile phone body, And inserting an adhesive between a rear seating surface of the keypad structure (10) and a surface of the front case (20) to form an adhesive layer (40). The adhesive is applied to the rear seating surface or the front case 20 surface of the keypad structure 10 according to any one of claims 1 to 3, After extending the connector 7 of the keypad structure 10 through the through hole 21 of the front case 20 to the inside of the mobile phone body portion, the adhesive is cured to form an adhesive layer 40. Assembling a keypad structure having a waterproof structure to the communication device. The method according to claim 7 or 8, The adhesive layer (40) is a method of assembling a keypad structure having a waterproof structure in a communication device, characterized in that formed of a TPU, PC or PET film or adhesive, or formed by hot melting or bonding.
KR1020070070452A 2007-05-29 2007-07-13 Waterproof structure of keypad and communication device employing the same KR20080104930A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR20070052306 2007-05-29
KR1020070052306 2007-05-29

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KR20080104930A true KR20080104930A (en) 2008-12-03

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR101018822B1 (en) * 2009-10-01 2011-03-04 알앤디컴퍼니 주식회사 Waterproofing hinge module for slide type portable terminal and portable terminal with the same
WO2011008024A3 (en) * 2009-07-14 2011-04-07 주식회사 블루버드소프트 Mobile terminal
US10133910B2 (en) 2016-01-21 2018-11-20 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Electronic device with key module and method of manufacturing the same

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2011008024A3 (en) * 2009-07-14 2011-04-07 주식회사 블루버드소프트 Mobile terminal
US8798690B2 (en) 2009-07-14 2014-08-05 Bluebird Soft Co., Ltd. Mobile terminal
KR101018822B1 (en) * 2009-10-01 2011-03-04 알앤디컴퍼니 주식회사 Waterproofing hinge module for slide type portable terminal and portable terminal with the same
US10133910B2 (en) 2016-01-21 2018-11-20 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Electronic device with key module and method of manufacturing the same

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