KR100837257B1 - Keypad and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a keypad and a method of manufacturing the same, which can improve a product's design characteristics and merchandise value, and contribute to high-quality products. The keypad includes a film member including a light transmissive film layer and an optical conversion layer provided under the light transmissive film layer, and a reflective layer formed under the film member to define a light transmitting area of the film member and reflect light incident on the film member. do. Light incident on the film member by such a configuration is diffusely reflected and scattered through the optical conversion layer and the reflection layer, thereby producing a luxurious atmosphere.

Keypad, Translucent Film Layer, Optical Conversion Layer, Film Member, Reflective Layer, Hologram, Blocking Layer

Description

Keypad and its manufacturing method {KEYPAD AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF}

1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a personal portable terminal to which the keypad is applied according to the present invention.

2 is a perspective view showing the structure of a keypad according to the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a keypad according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a keypad according to the present invention, a plan view showing the pattern form of the uneven portion.

5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a keypad according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6 to 8 are process charts for explaining the manufacturing method of the keypad according to the present invention.

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

100: terminal body 110: main body

111: front case 112: rear case

120: folder 130: keypad

131: film member 132,132 ': light transmitting film layer

133,133 ': optical conversion layer 133a, 133a': uneven portion

134: reflective layer 134a: through hole

135: blocking layer 136: metal sheet

136a: through hole 141: uneven disc

142: pressure roller

The present invention relates to a keypad and a method for manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a keypad and a method for manufacturing the same that can improve the design characteristics and product value of the product and contribute to the high-quality product.

Recently, personal portable terminals have been widely used as conveniences that anyone can easily carry and use freely anywhere.

In recent years, in order to satisfy rapidly changing consumer demands, personal mobile terminals having various additional functions (for example, a mirror or a remote control function) have been commercialized in order to satisfy rapidly changing consumer needs.

On the other hand, in recent years, the performance of the personal portable terminal is important, but the appearance design is also important. For example, according to a recent survey of handset buyers at a handset maker, the first consideration when purchasing a mobile phone is 'design'. The performance of the handset is also important, but the external design is equally important. In recent years, various reviews have been made on designs that can satisfy rapidly changing consumer needs.

An object of the present invention is to provide a keypad and a method of manufacturing the same that can improve the design characteristics of the product and improve the commercial value.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a keypad and a method of manufacturing the same, which can contribute to the quality of the product and improve the satisfaction of consumers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a keypad having a forgery / falsification prevention function and a method of manufacturing the same.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object of the present invention, the keypad is a film member comprising a light transmissive film layer and an optical conversion layer provided below the light transmissive film layer, formed on the bottom of the film member film A reflective layer defines a light-transmitting region of the member and reflects light incident on the film member.

The keypad of the present invention may be applied to a personal portable terminal, and as a personal portable terminal, a PDA, a smart phone, a handheld PC, a mobile phone, an MP3 player, or the like may be applied.

The optical conversion layer may be integrally formed on the light transmissive film layer, and in some cases, may be manufactured separately from the light transmissive film layer. The optical conversion layer may include a concave-convex portion formed on a bottom surface in a predetermined pattern, and the shape and size of the concave-convex portion may be freely changed according to required conditions. For example, a hologram layer on which a hologram pattern is formed may be applied as the optical conversion layer.

Such an optical conversion layer may be formed by applying an ultraviolet (UV) curable material to the bottom of the light-transmitting film layer, and then forming an uneven portion on the surface where the ultraviolet curable material is applied using an uneven disc and exposing it to ultraviolet light. . In addition, the reflective layer may be formed by forming a metal thin film layer on the bottom of the light-transmitting film layer and then partially removing the light-transmitting area to be exposed. In some cases, the reflective ink is directly printed on the bottom of the film member to simplify the process. It can be formed by.

Meanwhile, a blocking layer for blocking light may be provided below the reflective layer. In addition, a lower portion of the reflective layer may be provided with a metal sheet in which a slit is formed in a predetermined pattern so as to be pressed in the thickness direction. Rubber sheets may be provided.

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. In describing the present invention, a detailed description of known functions or configurations may be omitted to clarify the gist of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the backlighting structure of the keypad according to the present invention will be described with an example applied to a personal portable terminal. Here, a personal portable device (Personal Portable Device) is a portable electrical and electronic device, such as PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), smart phone (smart phone), handheld PC, mobile phone, MP3 player, etc., code division multiplexing Access) module, Bluetooth module, infrared communication module (IrDA), can be provided with a predetermined communication module, such as wired and wireless LAN card, and is equipped with a predetermined microprocessor that performs a multimedia playback function collectively referred to a terminal having a predetermined computing power Can be used as a concept.

1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a personal portable terminal to which the keypad is applied according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of the keypad according to the present invention, Figure 3 shows the structure of the keypad according to the present invention It is a cross section.

As shown in FIG. 1, a personal terminal equipped with a keypad according to the present invention is provided with a terminal body 100, a film member 131, and a reflective layer 134, and a keypad 130 installed in the terminal body to be exposed to the outside. ).

As the terminal main body 100, a foldable personal portable terminal having a main body portion and a folder portion coupled to each other that can be deployed and folded rotation, which is commonly used in recent years, an input button for inputting a signal and a liquid crystal display device are integrated into the main body portion. Bar-type personal portable terminal provided with, a flip-type personal portable terminal having a flip hinge coupled to the main body so as to open and close the input button area of the bar-type terminal as described above, the slide portion in the main body slides open and close A slide-type personal portable terminal or the like may be applied. Hereinafter, an example in which a foldable personal portable terminal is applied as the terminal body 100 will be described.

The terminal main body 100 is folded to the main body 110 and the main body 110 and the folder portion 120 connected to the main body 110 so as to be relatively rotatable to open and close the front of the main body 110. It is configured to include.

To this end, a pair of main body hinge parts (not shown) are formed at upper ends of the main body part 110 at predetermined intervals, and the lower end of the folder part 120 is rotatably coupled between the main body hinge parts. The folder hinge portion (not shown) is formed to be able to be.

The inner surface of the folder unit 120 is provided with a display unit 121 for outputting image information, the upper end portion is provided with a sign language unit 122 for transmitting the voice from the other party.

The main body 110 includes a front case 111 and a rear case 112 which mutually cooperate to form an accommodating space therein, and a printed circuit board (not shown) for performing various controls therein. ) Is accommodated, the front case 111 is provided with a transmitter 115 for transmitting the user's voice, and the rear case 112 is detachably coupled to the battery 116.

In addition, a front panel of the front case 111 is provided with a keypad 130 for inputting various information, the keypad 130 is installed so as to be exposed to the outside through the keypad hole formed in the front case 111. have.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the keypad 130 includes a film member 131 including a light transmissive film layer 132 and an optical conversion layer 133 provided on a bottom surface of the light transmissive film layer 132. It is formed on the lower portion of the film member 131 and defines a light-transmitting region of the film member 131 and comprises a reflective layer 134 for reflecting light incident to the film member 131.

The light transmissive film layer 132 may be formed of a light transmissive material such as polyester (PET), polypropylene (OPP), vinyl chloride (PVC), or the like, and may be formed of a semi-transparent material in some cases.

The optical conversion layer 133 is formed under the light transmissive film layer 132 so that light incident on the light transmissive film layer 132 is diffusely reflected and scattered. The optical conversion layer 133 may be made of a material having the same or similar refractive index as the light transmissive film layer 132, and the concave-convex portion 133a may be formed on a bottom surface thereof in a predetermined pattern.

For example, as the optical conversion layer 133, a hologram layer having a hologram pattern formed of fine uneven parts may be applied. As described above, the hologram layer constituting the optical conversion layer 133 may have ultraviolet rays on the bottom surface of the light transmissive film layer 132. After applying the (UV) curable material, it may be formed by forming an uneven portion on the surface to which the ultraviolet curable material is applied using an uneven disc, and curing it by exposure to ultraviolet rays. In addition, in some cases, by adding a dye to the optical conversion layer 133 may be configured to produce a variety of colors.

On the other hand, Figure 4 is a keypad according to the present invention, a plan view showing the pattern form of the uneven portion (133a). The uneven portion 133a formed in the above-described optical conversion layer 133 may have a lattice pattern as shown in FIG. 4A, a circular pattern as shown in FIG. 4B, and a wave pattern as shown in FIG. 4C. It may be freely formed to have a variety of patterns according to the required conditions and arrangement environment, it is not limited or limited to the present invention according to the shape and arrangement of the uneven portion 133a.

The reflective layer 134 is formed under the optical conversion layer 133 to allow the light incident on the transparent film layer 132 to be reflected. The reflective layer 134 may be formed by forming a metal thin film layer through metal deposition, for example, aluminum deposition, having a light reflection effect.

In addition, the reflective layer 134 reflects light and at the same time serves to define a light transmitting area of the film member 131. For this, the reflective layer 134 has a shape corresponding to numbers, letters, and symbols. The through hole 134a is formed, and the light transmitting area of the film member 131 may be defined through the through hole 134a. In other words, light generated from light emitting diodes (LEDs) and the like (not shown) disposed below the reflective layer 134 is transmitted through the light-transmitting region defined by the through hole 134a formed in the reflective layer 134 to the outside. May be exposed.

In addition, a blocking layer 135 may be formed on the bottom of the reflective layer 134 to block light. The blocking layer 135 is formed on the bottom surface of the reflective layer 134 to correspond to the reflective layer 134 and serves to block a portion of light through the reflective layer 134. Make it effective. In addition, such a blocking layer 135 serves to block the light and at the same time allows the reflective layer 134 to be protected from the outside.

A lower portion of the reflective layer 134 may be provided with a metal sheet 136 in which a slit is formed in a predetermined pattern to be pressed along the thickness direction. Of course, the film member 131 may be configured to maintain the shape strength of the film member 131 alone, but the metal sheet 136 is disposed under the reflective layer 134 so that the shape strength of the film member 131 can be stably maintained. ) May be provided. The metal sheet 136 may be made of a metal material such as copper, copper alloy, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, platinum, nickel, and the like, and the metal sheet 136 is harder than plastic so that the metal sheet 136 may have a hard form. It is easy to maintain and can maintain a rigid form without being easily bent. In addition, a through hole 136a is formed in the metal sheet 136 to correspond to the light transmitting area of the film member 131 described above.

In addition, a rubber sheet 137 having a pressing protrusion 137a on a bottom surface of the reflective layer 134 may be provided to correspond to the light transmitting area of the film member 131. Hereinafter, the rubber sheet 137 will be described with an example provided with the metal sheet 136 under the metal sheet 136.

The upper surface of the above-described printed circuit board is provided with a plurality of switches (not shown) to be turned on / off according to the pressing operation of the keypad 130, the pressing projection 137a of the rubber sheet 137 is The force pushing the keypad 130 can be effectively transmitted to each switch.

On the other hand, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a keypad according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the above-described embodiment, the optical conversion layer 133 constituting the film member 131 is described with an example of being manufactured separately from the light-transmissive film layer 132. However, in some cases, the same material as shown in FIG. The optical conversion layer 133 ′ may be integrally formed in the lower region of the light transmissive film layer 132 ′.

In addition, the same or equivalent reference numerals are given to the same or equivalent components as those described above, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the keypad according to another embodiment of the present invention includes the optical conversion layer 133 ′ integrally formed on the bottom surface of the transparent film layer 132 ′ and the transparent film layer 132 ′. It comprises a film member 131, including a reflective layer 134 formed on the lower portion of the film member 131 to define the light-transmitting region of the film member 131 and reflects the light incident on the film member 131 It is.

The light transmissive film layer 132 ′ may be formed of a light transmissive material such as polyester (PET), polypropylene (OPP), vinyl chloride (PVC), or the like, and may be formed of a semi-transparent material.

The optical conversion layer 133 ′ is integrally formed on the bottom of the light transmissive film layer 132 ′ so that light incident on the light transmissive film layer 132 ′ is diffusely reflected and scattered. To this end, the uneven portion 133a 'may be formed in a predetermined pattern on the bottom of the optical conversion layer 133', and the uneven portion 133a 'may be formed by a conventional processing method such as machining.

The reflective layer 134 is formed under the optical conversion layer 133 ′ to allow the light incident on the transparent film layer 132 ′ to be reflected. The reflective layer 134 may be formed by forming a metal thin film layer through metal deposition, for example, aluminum deposition, having a light reflection effect.

In addition, a blocking layer 135 for blocking light may be formed below the reflective layer 134, and the metal sheet 136 and the rubber sheet 137 described above may also be provided.

As such, the present invention enables light incident on the film member 131 to be diffusely reflected and scattered through the optical conversion layers 133 and 133 'and the reflective layer 134, thereby creating a luxurious atmosphere and improving the merchandise value. To make it possible.

Furthermore, as the optical conversion layers 133 and 133 ', a hologram layer in which a hologram pattern having a unique pattern is formed may be applied. Such a structure makes it easy for a consumer to distinguish whether a keypad and a terminal equipped with it are genuine. To prevent unauthorized theft and illegal distribution.

Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing a keypad according to the present invention will be described.

6 to 8 are process charts for explaining the manufacturing method of the keypad according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 6, the keypad according to the present invention provides a film member 131 including a light transmissive film layer 132 and an optical conversion layer 133 provided under the light transmissive film layer 132. In addition, the light emitting region of the film member 131 may be defined under the film member 131 and may be manufactured by forming a reflective layer 134 for reflecting light incident on the film member 131.

In the providing of the film member 131, a film member 131 having a light transmissive film layer 132 and an optical conversion layer 133 is provided, and the optical conversion layer 133 is separate from the light transmissive film layer 132. It may be formed, or may be formed integrally with the transparent film layer 132 using one same material.

Uneven portions 133a may be formed in the optical conversion layer 133 in a predetermined pattern. As the optical conversion layer 133, a hologram layer having a hologram pattern formed of fine uneven portions may be applied.

As an example in which the light transmissive film layer 132 and the optical conversion layer 133 are separately formed, as shown in FIG. 7, the film member 131 is formed on the bottom surface of the light transmissive film layer 132. Applying a pressure to a surface on which the ultraviolet curable material 138 is applied using an uneven disc (or shim) 141 to form a uneven part 133a of a predetermined pattern; It may be provided by the step of forming the optical conversion layer 133 by curing (133a) by exposure to ultraviolet light.

The light transmissive film layer 132 may be formed of a light transmissive material such as polyester (PET), polypropylene (OPP), vinyl chloride (PVC), or the like, and may be formed of a semi-transparent material in some cases.

In addition, in the step of forming the uneven portion 133a, a pressure roller (or pressure disc) for applying pressure to the opposite side of the uneven disc 141 with the light-transmitting film layer 132 coated with the ultraviolet curable material 138 therebetween ( 142 may be disposed.

Thereafter, a reflective layer 134 is formed on the bottom surface of the film member 131 to reflect the light incident on the light transmissive film layer 132. The reflective layer 134 includes a light transmissive area of the film member 131. A through hole 134a having a shape corresponding to a number, a letter, a symbol, etc. may be formed to define the light transmission area, and a light transmitting area through which the light passes may be defined through the through hole 134a.

The reflective layer 134 may be formed by forming a metal thin film layer 139 on the bottom surface of the film member 131 and partially removing the metal thin film layer 139 so that the light transmitting area is exposed as shown in FIG. 8. Can be. The metal thin film layer 139 may be formed by a metal material having a light reflection effect, for example, aluminum deposition. Partial removal of the metal thin film layer 139 may be performed by a conventional processing method such as etching or machining. Can be done.

In the present embodiment, the reflective layer 134 is formed by partially removing the metal thin film layer 139 and then removing the reflective layer 134. In some cases, the reflective layer 134 is formed by printing the reflective ink directly on the bottom surface of the film member 131. Can be.

As the reflective ink, a conventional reflective ink capable of reflecting light may be used, and such a method may be performed by a single printing process without the trouble of depositing and removing a metal thin film to form the reflective layer 134. By allowing 134 to be formed, it is possible to simplify the process and thereby increase the cost and productivity.

After forming the reflective layer 134, a blocking layer 135 may be formed on the bottom surface of the reflective layer 134 to block light. The blocking layer 135 is formed on the bottom surface of the reflective layer 134 to perform a blocking role so that light does not pass through the reflective layer 134, and the reflection effect by the reflective layer 134 may be effectively performed. In addition, such a blocking layer 135 serves to block the light and at the same time allows the reflective layer 134 to be protected from the outside.

In addition, after the reflective layer 134 is formed, the metal sheet 136 having the slit formed in a predetermined pattern may be attached to the lower portion of the reflective layer 134 so as to be pressed along the thickness direction. The metal sheet 136 may be attached to the bottom surface of the blocking layer 135 after forming the blocking layer 135 described above. In some cases, the bottom surface of the reflective layer 134 may be excluded without the blocking layer 135. Can be attached directly to

The metal sheet 136 may be made of a metal material such as copper, copper alloy, stainless steel, aluminum, titanium, platinum, nickel, and the like, and the metal sheet 136 is harder than plastic so that the metal sheet 136 may have a hard form. It is easy to maintain and can maintain a rigid form without being easily bent. In addition, a through hole 136a is formed in the metal sheet 136 to correspond to the light transmitting area of the film member 131 described above.

In addition, after the reflective layer 134 is formed, a rubber sheet 137 having a pressing protrusion 137a may be formed on the bottom surface of the reflective layer 134 to correspond to the light transmitting region of the film member 131. The rubber sheet may be formed on the bottom surface of the blocking layer 135 or the bottom surface of the metal sheet 136, and may be formed directly on the bottom surface of the reflective layer 134 in some cases. This pusher of the rubber seat allows the force to press the keypad to be effectively transmitted to each switch that is turned on / off according to the pressing operation of the keypad.

As described above, according to the keypad according to the present invention and the manufacturing method thereof, light incident on the film member can be diffusely reflected and scattered through the optical conversion layer and the reflection layer, thereby creating a luxurious atmosphere and merchandise value. To improve it.

As described above, the present invention can contribute to the quality of the product and has the effect of satisfying the rapidly changing needs of consumers.

In addition, the present invention allows the keypad itself to have a unique pattern, it is easy for consumers to distinguish whether the keypad and the terminal equipped with it is genuine, and to prevent unauthorized use and illegal distribution of the product.

As described above, although described with reference to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art various modifications and variations of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described in the claims below I can understand that you can.

Claims (15)

delete delete delete delete delete A film member including a light transmissive film layer and an optical conversion layer provided under the light transmissive film layer; A reflective layer formed under the film member to reflect light incident on the film member and including a through hole for defining a light transmitting area of the film member; And And a metal sheet provided below the reflective layer and having slits formed in a predetermined pattern to be pressed along the thickness direction. delete delete delete Providing a film member comprising a light transmissive film layer and an optical conversion layer provided under the light transmissive film layer; And And forming a reflective layer under the film member reflecting light incident to the film member and including a through hole for defining a light transmitting area of the film member. Providing the film member, Applying an ultraviolet curable material to the bottom of the light transmissive film layer, Forming an uneven portion on the surface to which the ultraviolet curable material is applied using an uneven disc, And forming the optical conversion layer by exposing and curing the uneven portion to ultraviolet rays. delete delete delete Providing a film member comprising a light transmissive film layer and an optical conversion layer provided under the light transmissive film layer; Forming a reflective layer under the film member to reflect light incident on the film member and to include a through hole for defining a light transmitting area of the film member; And And attaching a metal sheet having a slit formed in a predetermined pattern to be pressed along a thickness direction under the reflective layer. delete

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