KR20110019839A - Multiple-view keypad - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A multi-view keypad is provided to improve the visibility of the keypad and display each character of each keypad in the desired color. CONSTITUTION: A plurality of optical supply parts(110) directly creates light. A plurality of optical supplying signals indirectly transfers the light. A plurality of light guide parts(120) copes with a plurality of optical supplying parts. A plurality of light guide parts is respectively laminated at interval. A transparent fluorescent pattern is formed in each of the light guide parts.

Description

Multi View Keypad {MULTIPLE-VIEW KEYPAD}

The present invention relates to a keypad. More specifically, the present invention independently displays the numbers, letters, special symbols, etc. existing on the keypad of the mobile phone, and prevents duplication of the display to increase the visibility, as well as maximize the use of space, design and function of It is about a multi-view keypad for increased utilization.

In modern times, like a touch-type mobile phone, a technology for inputting a key by touch without using a button mechanically is becoming common. As such, in order to input keys in a touch manner, a touch pad must be included in the electronic device.

Here, the touchpad is a pointing device by directly touching a flat optical sensor with a finger and other input means. Depending on the manufacturer, it is also called a slide pad or a track pad. Although it is employed in many notebook computers, it is widely used in products such as digital audio players and mobile phones. There are also products that add touch pad functionality to keyboards used in personal computers. It takes up less space than other pointing devices such as a mouse, joystick, trackball, etc., so it is popular with some users, but it can vary depending on the user's environment.

However, even in such a touch pad, numbers, letters, special symbols, and the like are printed on one pad at the same time. Moreover, since Korea and English are printed at the same time in Korea, for example, if you want to input English, printing of Korean language causes visual confusion. In addition, it is not easy to distinguish since the color of light emitted from the backlight identifying all letters or symbols is the same. As a result, it is difficult to identify a plurality of characters at the same time in a narrow space, such as a keypad, which impairs the convenience of the user and at the same time, it is inevitable to be poor in the displayed area and design.

Therefore, there is a need for a keypad for displaying only each symbol to be input separately and improving identification and aesthetics through a variety of colors of light emitted.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, an object of the present invention is to display each character and the like present in the keypad in a desired color independently to improve visibility and aesthetics.

Multi-view keypad of the present invention for solving the above problems, a plurality of light supply unit for directly generating or indirectly transmitting light; A plurality of light guide parts corresponding to each of the plurality of light supply parts and stacked at a distance from each other; And a transparent fluorescent pattern formed in each of the plurality of light guide parts, wherein any one of the plurality of light supply parts is turned on to supply light, and the supplied light is incident on a portion of the corresponding light guide part and passes through an inside waveguide. Totally reflecting the remaining portion, and causing the corresponding light guide portion's fluorescent pattern to emit light having a wavelength different from that of the light emitted by the turned-off light supply unit at turn-on, thereby independently printing each character present on the keypad. Mark it in the desired color.

The light supply unit may include a color LED, an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV LED), an infrared light emitting diode (IR LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), an optical fiber, and a cold cathode fluorescent lamp. Characterized by various combinations of the desired light source, including one or more of CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp).

In addition, the separation distance is filled with a transparent resin having a lower refractive index than the plurality of light guide portions, so that the light totally reflected inside the light guide portion does not escape to the outside from the portion other than the fluorescent pattern.

The multi-view keypad may further include a spacer for fixing the opposite ends of the plurality of light guide parts to maintain the separation distance, or a spacer for attaching between the both ends of the light guide parts and maintaining the separation distance. The gaps can be filled with air layers.

In addition, each of the fluorescent patterns has the shape of one of English, Korean, numerals, and special symbols, thereby displaying various kinds of symbols.

The transparent fluorescent pattern is patterned by using a transparent resin-based fluorescent ink, so that it is not visible when the corresponding light source is not turned on. Do not interfere with the display of other types of characters.

According to the present invention, by independently displaying the numbers, letters, special symbols, etc. existing on the keypad to prevent duplication of the display, a device requiring a plurality of input means (display buttons), such as not only a mobile phone but also a regular landline telephone and an Internet telephone In the input device, not only the visibility is improved, but also the space utilization is maximized, and the use of design and functions is enhanced.

Hereinafter, a multiview keypad according to an exemplary embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the subject matter of the present invention.

In the description of the embodiments, "on" and "under" include both directly or "indirectly" through other components. Reference to the above or below will be described with reference to the drawings, and the size of each component in the drawings may be exaggerated for the purpose of description, and does not mean the size to be applied.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a multiview keypad according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The multi-view keypad includes a plurality of light source units 110, a plurality of light guide units 120, and a touch panel 130. The plurality of light source units 110 include not only means for directly emitting light, but also various means for indirectly transmitting light from other light sources.

For example, the light supply unit that directly generates and supplies light includes color LEDs, ultraviolet light emitting diodes (UV LEDs), and infrared light emitting diodes (IR LEDs), and indirectly transmits light from other light sources. The part includes, for example, optical fibers, but is not limited to all light supply means capable of emitting light in physical and chemical reactions (e.g. OLED, White LED, and Cold Cathode Fluorescent) Lamp or a combination thereof). In addition, although various light sources are shown as being attached to the side of the light guide part in the drawing, they may be attached to other parts where total reflection may occur, in which case the emitted light is totally reflected to the remaining part.

In addition, the plurality of light guide parts advance the light emitted from the light source 110 to the remaining part of the light guide part 120 through the waveguide inside the light guide part 120.

Here, the total reflection principle refers to 100% reflection of light on a specific surface. For example, if the incident angle of light hitting the glass is greater than the critical angle, the light will not penetrate the glass and will be reflected 100%. That is, when light enters a medium (small refractive index material) from an optically dense medium (large refractive index material), if the angle of incidence is greater than a certain angle, all the light is reflected at the interface and no refractive ray exists. This is total reflection, and the minimum value of the incident angle at which total reflection can occur is called a critical angle. Therefore, when the totally reflected light reacts with the fluorescent pattern printed on the light guide part, the light exits the critical angle, and at the same time, the fluorescent symbol emits light to visually display a letter symbol printed on the fluorescent pattern from the outside.

In addition, the medium formed between the light guide portion and the light guide portion to enable total reflection will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3.

Here, each of the plurality of light guide parts 120 corresponds to each of the plurality of light supply parts 110. Thus, when the corresponding light supply part is turned on to emit light, the emitted light is totally reflected only to the corresponding light guide part.

In addition, the touch panel shown in the drawing refers to a conventional touch pad type panel. For example, the touch panel uses a matrix method or a capacitive shunt method, a resistive film method, an electrostatic method, an infrared method, an ultrasonic method, and a pressure sensor method.

2 is an operating state of a multi-view keypad according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the plurality of light supply units 110 are configured with respective light sources 202, 204, 206, and 208. Wherein light source 202 emits light having a wavelength of blue, light source 204 emits light having a wavelength of red, light source 206 emits light having a wavelength of green, and light source 208 Silver emits light with a wavelength of yellow. In addition, the plurality of light guide portions 120 are composed of respective light guide portions 212, 214, 216, and 218 corresponding to the respective light sources 202, 204, 206, and 208. Thus, the light guide portion 212 totally reflects light having a wavelength of blue emitted from the light source 202, the light guide portion 214 totally reflects light having a wavelength of red emitted from the light source 204, and the light guide portion 216 totally reflects light having a wavelength of green emitted from light source 206, and light guide 218 totally reflects light having a wavelength of yellow emitted from light source 208.

Each light guide portion 212, 214, 216, and 218 is provided with a transparent fluorescent pattern. The transparent fluorescent pattern is preferably patterned using a transparent resin-based fluorescent ink or a light guide plate diffusion ink. For example, an alphabetic fluorescent pattern is formed in the light guide portion 212, a Korean fluorescent pattern is formed in the light guide portion 214, and a fluorescent pattern of a numeric shape is formed in the light guide portion 216. The light guide portion 208 is provided with a fluorescent pattern with a special symbol. In addition, the fluorescent pattern may be patterned by a printing method using an inkjet, a scribing method using a mask made according to a shape, a roll method, or the like.

Therefore, when inputting Hangul, the light source 204 is turned on, and light is totally reflected to the light guide 214 corresponding thereto. Therefore, the totally reflected light is emitted to the outside in response to the fluorescent pattern.

As such, when converting Korean, English, special, numbers, etc., only the light source for the light is emitted and only the fluorescent pattern of the light guide part corresponding thereto is displayed.

3 illustrates a driving principle of a multi-view keypad according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A illustrates a first driving principle of a multiview keypad according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3A, a transparent resin 410 having a lower refractive index than the light guide portion is filled between each light guide portion. This is to prevent the light totally reflected from the specific light guide portion from escaping to the outside, as described above.

It is also assumed here that the light source 204 is turned on. When the light source 204 is turned on, the light emitted from the light source 204 has a wavelength of red. Light is totally reflected along the inner waveguide of the light guide portion 214 corresponding to the light source 204. In addition, the total reflection light emits a fluorescent pattern. The fluorescent pattern reacts with the totally reflected red wavelength light to emit red wavelength light. The emitted red light is passed through the transparent resin 410 and the light guide portion 212 stacked on the light guide portion 214 and recognized by the eye.

In particular, an important point here is that the fluorescent pattern formed in the light guide portion 212 does not respond to light having a red wavelength passing through the light guide portion 212. This is because the fluorescent pattern formed on the light guide portion 212 is a material that reacts only to light having a blue wavelength. Similarly, the fluorescent pattern formed in the light guide portion 216 below the light guide portion 214 reacts only with light of the green wavelength and does not respond to light of red wavelength emitted from the fluorescent pattern formed at 214.

As a result, the fluorescent pattern must respond to the wavelength of light emitted from the light source corresponding to the light guide portion on which the fluorescent pattern is formed, and not to the wavelength of light emitted from the fluorescent pattern of another layer. If not, each fluorescent pattern will not be identified independently.

In FIG. 3A, the wavelength of light emitted from each fluorescent pattern is the same as the wavelength of light of a corresponding light source. However, the wavelength of the light emitted by the fluorescent pattern must respond to the wavelength of the light of the corresponding light source, but it is not necessarily the same.

3B and 3C show the case of a multiview keypad emitting these different wavelengths.

3B illustrates a second driving principle of a multiview keypad according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Here, the light guides 212, 214, 216, and 218 are attached to and spaced apart from each other via the spacer 420. This separation is filled with the air layer, and total reflection is maintained because the refractive index of the air layer is smaller than the light guides 212, 214, 216, and 218.

Referring to FIG. 3B, each light source 302, 304, 306, and 308 all emit light of the same wavelength when turned on. In this case, when the light source 304 is turned on, the light source 304 emits light having a wavelength of blue, and the fluorescent pattern formed at the light guide portion 214 corresponding to the light has a red color in response to light having a blue wavelength. It emits light having a wavelength. In addition, the light having the emitted red wavelength is emitted up and down, but since the fluorescent patterns of the other layer react only with light having the blue wavelength, only the fluorescent pattern formed at 214 appears red. Therefore, the English, Korean, numerals, and special symbols formed on each light guide portion are identified by the same color, but never overlapped.

3C illustrates a third driving principle of a multiview keypad according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Here, the light guides 212, 214, 216, and 218 are spaced apart from each other through fastening parts 430 provided to fix both side ends. This separation is filled with the air layer, and total reflection is maintained because the refractive index of the air layer is smaller than the light guides 212, 214, 216, and 218.

Referring to FIG. 3C, light sources 402, 404 and light sources 406, 408 emit light of the same wavelength when turned on. In this case, when the light source 406 is turned on, the light source 406 emits light having a wavelength of blue, and the fluorescent pattern formed in the light guide portion 216 corresponding thereto is painted in response to light having a wavelength of blue. Emits light with a wavelength of. In addition, the light having the wavelength of the emitted green is emitted up and down, but since the fluorescent patterns of the other layer react only with light having the wavelength of red or blue, only the fluorescent pattern formed in the light guide portion 216 appears as green. . Therefore, the English, Korean, numerals, and special symbols formed on each light guide portion are identified by the same color, but never overlapped.

As such, the fluorescent pattern must respond to the wavelength of light of the corresponding light source, but does not necessarily emit light of the same wavelength. However, the light source of the other layer that is turned off should emit light of a wavelength different from the wavelength of the light emitted at turn-on.

And in implementing the principles of the present invention, the order of the foregoing light sources is merely exemplary.

The multi-view keypad of the present invention can be effectively applied to the input windows of all display devices according to the increase in demand of the transparent display and the input device in the future.

In the foregoing detailed description of the present invention, specific examples have been described. However, various modifications are possible within the scope of the present invention. The technical spirit of the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments of the present invention, but should be determined by the claims and equivalents thereof.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a multiview keypad according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an operating state of a multi-view keypad according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3A illustrates a first driving principle of a multiview keypad according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3B illustrates a second driving principle of a multiview keypad according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3C illustrates a third driving principle of a multiview keypad according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the Related Art [0002]

110: a plurality of light supply parts 120: a plurality of light guide parts

130: touch panel

202, 204. 206. 208, 302, 304, 306, 308, 402, 404, 406, 408: light source

212, 214, 216, 218: light guide part

Claims (7)

A plurality of light supply units for directly generating or indirectly transmitting light; A plurality of light guide parts corresponding to each of the plurality of light supply parts and stacked at a distance from each other; Including a transparent fluorescent pattern formed on each of the plurality of light guide portion, Any one of the plurality of light supply units is turned on to supply light, and the supplied light is incident on a portion of the corresponding light guide portion and totally reflects through the internal waveguide to the remaining portion, thereby causing the corresponding light guide portion to have a fluorescent pattern. And a turned-off light supply unit to emit light having a wavelength different from that of the light emitted during turn-on. The method of claim 1, The plurality of light supply unit, One of color LED, UV LED (Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diode), IR LED (Infrared Light Emitting Diode), Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED), optical fiber, and Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) Multi-view keypad comprising the above. The method of claim 1, The separation distance is a multi-view keypad, characterized in that filled with a transparent resin having a lower refractive index than the plurality of light guide portion. The method of claim 1, The multi-view keypad, The multi-view keypad, characterized in that further comprising a fastening part for maintaining the separation distance by fixing both ends of the light guide portion. The method of claim 1, The multi-view keypad, And a spacer attaching the opposite ends of the plurality of light guide parts to maintain the separation distance. The method of claim 1, Each of the fluorescent pattern is a multi-view keypad, characterized in that the shape of one of English, Korean, numbers, and special symbols. The method of claim 1, Each of the fluorescent patterns, Multi-view keypad, characterized in that patterned using a transparent resin-based fluorescent ink.

Images