KR20160020740A - Key assembly for mobile phone - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, disclosed is a key assembly for a mobile communication terminal which has a structure capable of combining a button key module and a terminal contact module to be fixed without using an additional combining member like a bracket. According to the present invention, the key assembly which controls power on/off and volume up/down by being installed on a main circuit board of the mobile communication terminal includes: a button key module including a volume key sheet where a volume up key and a volume down key are arranged, a power key combined with the volume key sheet, and a dome sheet arranged at a lower part of the volume key sheet; and a terminal contact module which is combined with a lower part of the button key module, and is electrically connected to the main circuit board of the mobile communication terminal. At least one clamping member is formed on two sides of the volume key sheet facing each other respectively, and the clamping member is extended in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the volume key sheet so that the terminal contact module is combined with the button key module.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a key assembly for a mobile communication terminal,

The present invention relates to a key assembly for a mobile communication terminal, and more particularly, to a key assembly for a mobile communication terminal having a structure in which a terminal contact module and a button key module are integrally combined.

In recent years, a mobile phone has become a necessity for everyday life for everyone to carry. The mobile communication terminal is equipped with a power key for controlling supply and cutoff of power and a volume key for adjusting the volume of the mobile communication terminal. The volume key includes a volume up key, a volume down key, The volume down key is distinguished.

Generally, a mobile communication terminal has a structure in which a power key is mounted on one side of a main body of a mobile communication terminal, and a volume key is disposed on another side of the main body. Meanwhile, another type of mobile communication terminal includes a single key assembly in which a power key and a volume key are integrated, and the key assembly is mounted on a back surface of the main body.

The general key assembly includes a power key, a volume up key and a volume down key disposed on both sides of the power key, and the key module is mounted on a main circuit board in the mobile communication terminal.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C illustrate a button key module, a bracket, and a terminal contact module, respectively, which constitute the key assembly described above.

The button key module 10 of FIG. 1A generally includes a volume key sheet 11, a power key 13 coupled to the volume key sheet 11, a dome sheet (not shown) disposed under the volume key sheet 11, And a circuit board (not shown) disposed under the dome sheet.

For example, a volume up key 12 and a volume down key 14 are disposed at both ends of the volume key sheet 11 and the volume up key 12 and the volume down key 14 are disposed at both ends of the volume key sheet 11, When the external force is removed, it returns to the original shape. In addition, a circular cut portion is formed at the center of the volume key sheet 11, for example, so that the power key 13 is supported on the cut portion.

A cutout portion 22 is formed in the bracket 20 of the button key module 10 in the longitudinal direction and the volume up key 12 of the button key module 10 is cut through the cutout portion 21. [ ), The power key 13 and the volume down key 14 are exposed to the outside.

The terminal contact module 30 (Fig. 1C) is disposed under the button key module 10 and is also electrically connected to a circuit board (not shown) of the mobile communication terminal. The terminal contact module 30 includes three metal domes 32, 33 and 34 disposed on the dome sheet 31 and the dome sheet 31 and cooperating with the keys 12, 13 and 14.

FIG. 2 is a key assembly 1 constructed by assembling the button key module 10, the bracket 20 and the terminal contact module 30 shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, The dome sheet 31 of the terminal contact module 30 is electrically connected to the main circuit board of the mobile communication terminal when mounted on the back side of the mobile communication terminal.

Here, four terminals (not shown) are soldered, for example, on one surface of the dome sheet 31 corresponding to the main circuit board, and three terminals of the four terminals are connected to three dome sheets 31 Are connected to the metal dome (32, 33, 34), respectively, and the other terminal functions as a ground terminal.

The key assembly 1 as shown in FIG. 2 is formed by combining the button key module 10 and the terminal contact module 30 having the above structure through the bracket 20 and then the key assembly 1 is moved And mounted on the communication terminal.

Therefore, when coupling the button key module 10 and the terminal contact module 30, a separate coupling member called a bracket 20 is required. Particularly, since the bracket 20 maintains both members in a laminated form, rather than fixedly connecting the button key module 10 and the terminal contact module 30, the bracket 20 is formed so that the laminated state is maintained when the mobile terminal is mounted A problem arises that requires careful attention.

The present invention relates to a key assembly for a mobile communication terminal having a structure in which a button key module and a terminal contact module can be fixedly coupled without using a bracket, The purpose is to provide.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a key assembly mounted on a main circuit board of a mobile communication terminal for controlling power on / off and volume up / down, A button key module including a sheet, a power key coupled to the volume key sheet, and a dome sheet disposed under the volume key sheet; And a terminal contact module coupled to a lower portion of the button key module and electrically connected to a main circuit board of the mobile communication terminal, wherein at least one clamping member is formed on two opposite sides of the volume key sheet, Extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the volume key sheet to couple the terminal contact module to the button key module.

Here, the clamping member of the button key module is formed integrally with the volume key sheet, and is preferably made of a material having elasticity.

Further, it is preferable that the clamping member of the button key module is located at the long side of the volume key sheet, and is spaced apart from the adjacent clamping member at each side of the long side by a predetermined distance.

In particular, the clamping member may have a bend extending inwardly from the inner surface of the lower end, and the button key module may be formed in the area between the two clamping members and extend in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal side of the volume key sheet, The terminal contact module may further include a support member whose longitudinal surface contacts the surface of the terminal contact module.

In the key assembly for a mobile communication terminal according to the present invention having the above structure, the button key module and the terminal contact module can be coupled in a simple manner without a separate coupling member, so that the member can be reduced and a simple coupling process can be achieved.

In particular, the engagement state of the button key module and the terminal contact module can be released through a simple operation of the clamping member.

1A, 1B and 1C are diagrams showing a button key module, a bracket, and a terminal contact module, respectively, constituting a general key assembly mounted on a mobile communication terminal.
Fig. 2 is a view showing a key assembly in a state in which the respective components shown in Figs. 1A, 1B and 1C are assembled. Fig.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of a button key module and a terminal contact module constituting a key assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
FIGS. 4A and 4B are an upper perspective view and a lower perspective view of the button key module shown in FIG. 3A and the terminal contact module shown in FIG. 3B, respectively.

Hereinafter, a key module for a mobile communication terminal according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3A and 3B are perspective views of a button key module and a terminal contact module constituting a key assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

The button key module 100 constituting the key assembly of the present invention includes a volume key sheet 110, a power key 130 coupled to the volume key sheet 110, a dome sheet 110 disposed below the volume key sheet 110 Not shown) and a circuit board (not shown) disposed at the bottom of the dome sheet.

For example, a volume up key 120 and a volume down key 140 are disposed at both ends of the volume key sheet 110. The volume up key 120 and the volume down key 140 are used when an external force is applied When the external force is removed, it returns to the original shape. In addition, a circular cut portion is formed at the center of the volume key sheet 110, for example, so that the power key 130 is supported on the cut portion.

On the other hand, the volume key sheet 110 has two opposite side edges connecting two opposite side edges and two opposite side edges, respectively. In the embodiment of the present invention, at least one, and preferably two, clamping members 141 and 142 are formed on each of the two long sides of the volume key sheet 110. The clamping members 141 and 142, Extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the volume key sheet (110).

The clamping members 141 and 142 are integrally formed with the volume key sheet 110, and are preferably made of a material having elasticity (for example, synthetic resin). Therefore, when an external force (that is, a direction parallel to the plane of the volume key sheet 110) acts on the clamping members 141 and 142, it is deformed with respect to the volume key sheet 110. After the external force is removed, And returns to the shape.

On the other hand, although not clearly shown in FIG. 3A, bending portions bent inside and extending on the inner surface of the lower end of the clamping members 141 and 142 ("141-1" and "142-1" Respectively.

3A, the two clamping members 141 and 142 formed on the respective side edges of the volume key sheet 110 are spaced apart from each other, and one of the clamping members, preferably two clamping members 141 And 142, a support member 143 extending in the longitudinal direction of the long side of the volume key sheet 110 is formed. Preferably, the support member 143 is positioned inside the clamping members 141 and 142.

The overall configuration of the terminal contact module 300 constituting the key assembly according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is substantially the same as the overall configuration of the general terminal contact module 30 shown in Fig. 1C.

That is, the terminal contact module 300 has a size and a planar shape that is substantially the same as the size and the planar shape of the button key module 100, and is positioned below the button key module 100. Also, the terminal contact module 300 is electrically connected to a circuit board (not shown) of the mobile communication terminal.

The terminal contact module 300 is disposed on the first surface of the dome sheet 310 and the dome sheet 310 and has three metal domes 310 interlocked with the keys 120, (320, 330, 340).

FIGS. 4A and 4B are an upper perspective view and a lower perspective view of the button key module 100 shown in FIG. 3A and the terminal contact module 300 shown in FIG. 3B, 1000).

The terminal contact module 300 is pressed under the button key module 100 when the terminal contact module 300 is coupled to the button key module 100 having the structure described above. The edge side edge of the dome sheet 310 of the terminal contact module 300 corresponds to the clamping members 141 and 142 formed on the lower side of the long side of the volume key sheet 110 of the button key module 100 do.

When the terminal side edge of the dome sheet 310 is in contact with the bent portions 141-1 and 142-1 formed at the lower end portions of the clamping members 141 and 142 and the terminal contact module 300 is continuously pressed, The clamping members 141 and 142 of the key module 100 are deformed outward (that is, rotated outward around the connection point with the volume key sheet 110).

Thereafter, the long side edge of the dome sheet 310 is released from contact with the bent portions 141-1 and 142-1 of the clamping members 141 and 142, and the clamping members 141 and 142, The bending portions 141-1 and 142-1 formed at the lower ends of the clamping members 141 and 142 are in contact with and contact with the lower surface of the edge portion of the dome sheet 310 of the terminal contact module 300 .

As a result, the terminal contact module 300 is coupled to the button key module 100 by the clamping members 141 and 142 of the button key module 100, and in particular, the bent portions 141 and 142 of the end portions of the clamping members 141 and 142 The button key module 100 and the terminal contact module 300 are not separated from each other.

When the terminal contact module 300 is coupled to the button key module 100, the lower edge surface of the dome sheet 310 of the terminal contact module 300 is disposed on each side of the volume key sheet 110 And comes into contact with the lower end surface of the support member 143. The support member 143 does not contact the volume key sheet 110 of the button key module 100 and the dome sheet 310 of the terminal contact module 300.

In addition, in a state in which the button key module 100 and the terminal contact module 300 are engaged, a simple operation of the clamping members 141 and 142 (that is, a force is exerted to the clamping members 141 and 142 outward) Thereby releasing the combined state of the button key module 100 and the terminal contact module 300.

4B, reference numerals 320-1, 330-1, and 340-1 are formed on the second surface of the dome sheet 310 to form three metal domes 320, 330, and 340 And "G" is a ground terminal (of course, these terminals are electrically connected to the terminal of the main circuit board of the mobile communication terminal).

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. A key assembly mounted on a main circuit board of a mobile communication terminal for controlling power on / off and volume up / down,
A button key module including a volume key sheet having a volume up key and a volume down key disposed thereon, a power key coupled to the volume key sheet, and a dome sheet disposed below the volume key sheet; And
And a terminal contact module coupled to a lower portion of the button key module and electrically connected to the main circuit board of the mobile communication terminal,
Characterized in that at least two clamping members are formed on opposite sides of the volume key sheet, each clamping member extending in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the volume key sheet to couple the terminal contact module to the button key module A key module for a mobile communication terminal. The key module for a mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the clamping member is formed integrally with the volume key sheet and is made of a material having elasticity. The key module for a mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the clamping member is located at the side of the long side of the volume key sheet, and is spaced apart from the adjacent clamping member at a predetermined interval. The key module for a mobile communication terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the clamping member has a bent portion bent inwardly from the inner side of the lower end portion. 4. The button key module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the button key module is formed in an area between the two clamping members and extends in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal side of the volume key sheet so that the longitudinal side thereof contacts the surface of the terminal contact module And a support member for supporting the key module.

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