KR100779065B1 - Keypad and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A keypad and a method for manufacturing the same are provided to simplify a structure and a manufacturing process of the keypad and to improve productivity by excluding a complicated process of an etching and a reinforced printing. A keypad includes a transmissive sheet(131), a positive pattern layer, and an optical adjusting layer. The positive pattern layer is formed on the transmissive sheet to display a numeral or a character, and defines a button region. The optical adjusting layer is provided to the transmissive sheet. The optical adjusting layer is formed by a material having a reflective characteristic. The positive pattern layer is formed on an upper plane or a bottom plane of the transmissive sheet. The optical adjusting layer is formed on the same plane with or a different plane from the positive pattern layer. The positive pattern layer is formed on a bottom plane of the transmissive sheet and the optical adjusting layer is formed on the bottom plane of the transmissive sheet on which the positive pattern layer is formed.

Description

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

1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a conventional personal portable terminal.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. 1. FIG.

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

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 3.

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

6 is a perspective view showing the structure of a keypad according to another embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a perspective view showing the structure of a keypad according to another embodiment of the present invention.

8 to 10 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: transparent sheet 132: positive pattern layer

133: light control layer 134: rubber sheet

134a: pressing protrusion 135: scattering layer

135a: uneven portion 136: protective layer

The present invention relates to a keypad and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to improve the design characteristics and product value of the product, as well as to simplify the structure and manufacturing process to reduce the cost and improve the productivity and its It relates to a manufacturing method.

1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a conventional personal portable terminal, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I of FIG.

1 and 2, the conventional personal portable terminal is rotated relative to the body portion 10 so as to be folded into the body portion 10, the body portion 10 and to open and close the inner surface of the body portion 10. It is composed of a folder unit 20 that is possibly connected.

A display unit 21 for outputting image information is provided on an inner surface of the folder unit 20, and an upper end portion of the folder unit 20 is provided with a sign language unit 22 for transmitting audio from the other party.

The main body 10 includes a front case 11 and a rear case 12 which mutually cooperate to form an accommodating space therein, and a printed circuit board 13 for performing various controls therein. The front case 11 includes a keypad 14 for inputting various information and a talker 15 for transmitting a user voice, and a battery 16 is detachably coupled to the rear case. It is.

The upper surface of the printed circuit board 13 is provided with a plurality of switches 17, so-called metal dome, and a light emitting element 18 for illumination, which are elastically deformable along the thickness direction so as to be on / off when pressed. It is.

The keypad 14 is formed of a rubber or urethane material so as to be inserted into each of the pad body 14b disposed on the printed circuit board 13 and each key hole 11a of the main body 10 so as to be pressed. A plurality of keys 14a are provided to protrude along the thickness direction at a position corresponding to each switch 17, and a force for pressing each key 14a is applied to the bottom surface of the pad body 14b. A plurality of push projections 14c protruding downward in the thickness direction are formed so as to be effectively transmitted to 17.

However, in the conventional personal portable terminal, the front case 11 and the keys 14a of the keypad 14 of the main body 10 are formed of a material of low hardness (plastic, rubber, synthetic resin, etc.). In order to maintain a constant shape strength, it is necessary to maintain a certain thickness or more, so there is a limit in reducing the thickness, making it difficult to slim down.

Accordingly, in the related art, a thin film-type keypad using a button sheet formed through plastic injection molding has been presented.

However, in the case of the keypad using the button sheet, in order to display letters or numbers on the button area of the button sheet, a metal thin film made of metal such as nickel (Ni) or aluminum (Al) is deposited on the button sheet, After the negative printing except the transmissive area, the metal thin film area corresponding to the transmissive area should be partially removed by etching, and then the bottom surface of the button sheet corresponds to the area except the transmissive area. There is a problem that a number of cumbersome and complicated processes, such as the need for back printing several times in the negative printing method. In addition, there is a problem in that the cost is increased and the productivity is lowered due to the increase in the manufacturing labor.

In addition, when reinforcement printing is repeatedly performed on the bottom of the button sheet, the reinforcement printed portions frequently overlap each other without being accurately overlapped and invade the transmissive area. It is becoming.

In addition, in recent years, the performance of the personal mobile terminal is also 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. However, in the case of the conventional keypad, only a portion corresponding to a letter or a number is defined as a light emitting area, and the light emitting is made only through the light emitting area, thereby limiting the design. Couldn't satisfy the desire.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a keypad and a method of manufacturing the same, which are designed to solve the above problems, which can reduce cost and improve productivity by simplifying a structure and a manufacturing process.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a light emitting mechanism for recognizing a portion displaying a number or letter by forming an opaque portion for displaying a number or letter and allowing light transmission to occur through its periphery.

In addition, 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.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a keypad and a method of manufacturing the same that can contribute to the miniaturization and thinning of the keypad and the terminal on which it is mounted.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object of the present invention, the keypad is formed on the light-transmissive sheet for displaying the light-transmitting sheet, numerals or letters and is provided in the positive pattern layer, the light-transmitting sheet defining the button area. It includes a light control layer.

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 positive pattern layer is formed by positive printing of a positive pattern for displaying numbers, letters, symbols, and the like directly on the light-transmitting sheet. The positive pattern layer may be formed on the top or bottom surface of the light transmissive sheet, and is preferably formed to have a higher brightness than the light control layer.

The light control layer allows the light transmittance, reflection direction, color tone, polarization, etc. of the light passing through the transparent sheet to be adjusted. Examples of the light control layer include a light control layer using a difference in brightness of light, for example, a film or a coating layer (aluminum or silver coating layer) having ordinary semi-reflective characteristics used in so-called sun glasses or sunglasses. It may be used, such a light control layer may be formed through a method such as deposition, adhesion, printing. In some cases, a light regulating layer using light refraction or an electrical property of a polymer material may be applied.

In addition, a scattering layer may be provided under the light transmitting sheet so that light incident on the light transmitting sheet is diffusely reflected and scattered. The scattering layer may be formed integrally with the light transmitting sheet, and in some cases, may be manufactured separately from the light transmitting sheet. The scattering layer may include an uneven portion formed on a bottom surface in a predetermined pattern, and the shape and size of the uneven portion may be freely changed according to required conditions. For example, a hologram layer in which a hologram pattern is formed may be applied as a scattering layer, and the scattering layer may be coated with an ultraviolet (UV) curable material on the bottom of the transparent sheet, and then irregularities may be applied to the surface on which the ultraviolet curable material is applied using an uneven disc. It can be formed by forming a part and curing it by exposure to ultraviolet light.

For reference, in the present invention, the light emitting mechanism is formed in a film form through plastic injection molding so as to make the portion displaying the number or letter opaque and to allow light transmission through the periphery thereof to recognize the portion displaying the number or letter. Although described with reference to an example applied to the keypad structure consisting of, in some cases, the light emitting mechanism according to the present invention can be applied to a conventional keypad structure consisting of a plurality of plastic (or rubber) keys attached or formed on the pad. .

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.

3 is a perspective view showing the structure of a personal portable terminal to which the keypad is applied according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 3.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the personal mobile terminal to which the keypad is applied according to the present invention is provided with a terminal body 100, a transparent sheet, a positive pattern layer 132, and a light control layer 133 and exposed to the outside. The keypad 130 is installed to the terminal body 100 so as to.

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 a 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 the 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.

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

As shown in FIG. 5, the keypad 130 displays a light transmissive sheet, numbers, letters, symbols, etc. on the light transmissive sheet, and a positive pattern layer 132 formed by printing a positive pattern for defining a button area for key input. ), And includes a light control layer 133 provided on the light-transmissive sheet 131.

The light transmissive sheet 131 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 positive pattern layer 132 displays numbers, letters, symbols, and the like, and is formed by positive printing directly on the transparent sheet 131 to define a button area. The positive pattern layer 132 may be formed on an upper surface or a bottom surface of the light transmissive sheet 131. Hereinafter, the positive pattern layer 132 may have a higher brightness than that of the light control layer 133. An example formed on the bottom will be described.

The light control layer 133 is to adjust the transmittance, reflection direction, color tone, polarization, etc. of the light passing through the light-transmissive sheet 131, it may be formed on the bottom or top surface of the light-transmissive sheet 131, For example, the light control layer 133 is formed on the bottom surface of the transparent sheet 131.

As the light control layer 133, a light control layer 133 using a difference in brightness of light, for example, a film or a coating layer having ordinary semi-reflective properties used in so-called sun glasses or sunglasses (aluminum) Or a silver coating layer) and the like can be used. In some cases, a light regulating layer using a refractive phenomenon of light or an electrical property of a polymer material may be applied, and the present invention is not limited or limited by the type and method of the light regulating layer 133. In addition, the light control layer 133 as described above may be formed by a method such as deposition, in some cases, may be printed or manufactured in the form of a film and bonded.

For example, the light control layer 133 may be formed by depositing a metal thin film, or may be formed by an oxide coating or a nitride coating, and in some cases, may be formed by a multi-coating layer using a metal thin film and an oxide coating together. have.

The metal thin film may be formed of a common metal material such as nickel (Ni), aluminum (Al), gold (Au), and silver (Ag), and the oxide coating may be silica (SiO ₂ ) or titanium oxide (TiO _2). ), Tungsten oxide (WO ₃ ), and the like, and the nitride coating may be formed of a material such as silicon nitride (Si ₃ N ₄ ). In addition, the metal thin film and the coating layer forming the light control layer as described above is preferably formed to have a thickness of approximately 50 ~ 1000Å (Om Strong) to have an optimal light transmission characteristics.

In addition, the light control layer 133 may be formed through partial transmissive printing, and in some cases, may be formed by adhering a tinting film used for so-called suntling glass.

In addition, the positive pattern layer 132 serves to display numbers, letters, symbols, etc., and at the same time, defines a light transmitting area of the light transmitting sheet 131. That is, the region in which the positive pattern layer 132 is formed among the regions of the transparent sheet 131 becomes a non-transmissive region, and the region except for the positive pattern layer 132 becomes a transmissive region. Light generated from a light emitting diode (LED) and the like (not shown) disposed below the light may be exposed to the outside. In addition, the above-described lighting means may be employed in a direct manner (side down) as well as in a side-emitting (side-emitting) manner.

In addition, a rubber sheet 134 having a push protrusion 134a on a bottom surface of the light control layer 133 may be provided to correspond to the printing area of the positive pattern layer 132. The upper surface of the above-described printed circuit board is provided with a plurality of switches to be turned on / off according to the pressing operation of the keypad 130, the pressing projection (134a) of the rubber seat 134 is the keypad 130 The pressing force can be effectively transmitted to each switch.

On the other hand, Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the structure of a keypad according to another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 6, a scattering layer 135 may be provided below the light-transmitting sheet 131 to diffuse and scatter light incident on the light-transmitting sheet 131.

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 Figure 6, the keypad according to another embodiment of the present invention is a positive sheet formed by printing a positive pattern for displaying numbers, letters, symbols, etc. on the transparent sheet 131, the transparent sheet 131 The pattern layer 132, the light control layer 133 provided on the light-transmitting sheet 131, and the scattering layer 135 provided on the lower portion of the light-transmitting sheet 131 are configured.

The transparent sheet 131, the positive pattern layer 132, and the light control layer 133 may be formed of the same shape and material as in the above-described embodiment.

The scattering layer 135 is formed under the transparent sheet 131 so as to be interposed between the transparent sheet 131 and the light control layer 133 so that the light incident on the transparent sheet 131 is diffusely reflected and scattered. do. The scattering layer 135 may be made of a material having the same or similar refractive index as that of the transparent sheet 131, and may be formed by forming the uneven portion 135a in a predetermined pattern on the bottom thereof.

The scattering layer 135 may be integrally formed on the light transmissive sheet 131, and may be manufactured separately from the light transmissive sheet 131 in some cases. As an example, as the scattering layer 135, a hologram layer having a hologram pattern formed of fine uneven portions may be applied. Hereinafter, an example in which the scattering layer 135 is manufactured separately from the light transmitting sheet 131 will be described.

That is, the scattering layer 135 is formed by applying an ultraviolet (UV) curable material to the bottom of the light-transmitting sheet 131, and then forming an uneven portion 135a on the surface on which the ultraviolet curable material is coated using an uneven disc. It can be formed by curing it by exposure to ultraviolet light. In addition, in some cases, by adding a dye to the scattering layer 135 may be configured to produce a variety of colors.

In addition, the uneven parts 135a formed in the scattering layer 135 may be freely formed to have various patterns according to required conditions and arrangement environments such as a grid pattern, a circular pattern, and a wave pattern, and the uneven parts 135a It is not limited or limited to the present invention depending on the shape and arrangement of the. In addition, the light control layer 133 disposed below the scattering layer 135 allows the light incident on the light-transmitting sheet 131 to be reflected.

On the other hand, the upper surface of the keypad 130, that is, when the transparent sheet 131 is disposed on the uppermost side, for example, the protective layer 136 for preventing scratches and damage from the outside on the upper surface of the transparent sheet 131 The protective layer 136 may be formed of a material having the same or similar refractive index as that of the transparent sheet 131.

As described above, the present invention enables the positive pattern layer 132 for displaying letters or numbers to be positively printed on the light-transmitting sheet 131, and thus, as the conventional printing layer is formed by negative printing. This eliminates cumbersome and complicated processes such as etching and simplifies the structure and manufacturing process of the keypad to reduce costs and improve productivity.

In addition, the present invention forms the positive pattern layer 132 directly on the transparent sheet 131, and the entire area of the keypad 130, except for the region where the positive pattern layer 132 is formed of the region of the transparent sheet 131 The illumination can be made and the inside thereof can be shielded by the light control layer 133, thereby making it possible to form a clean and beautiful appearance. Moreover, such a structure allows the keypad to be formed in a thin plate shape and the terminal to which it is mounted can also be formed in a thin thickness.

In addition, the light incident on the light-transmitting sheet 131 through the scattering layer 135 provided under the light-transmitting sheet 131 can be diffusely reflected and scattered, thereby creating a luxurious atmosphere and improving product value. To make it possible.

In addition, as the scattering layer 135, a hologram layer having a hologram pattern having a unique pattern may be applied. Such a structure enables a consumer to easily distinguish between a keypad and a terminal equipped with the same. It helps prevent unauthorized theft and illegal distribution.

On the other hand, Figure 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of a keypad according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the light-transmitting sheet 131 described above includes a slit 131a in a predetermined pattern so as to pass through the region corresponding to the button region defined by the positive pattern layer 132 along the thickness direction. Can be formed.

The slit 131a is formed through the circumference of the button area defined by the positive pattern layer 132 in a substantially 'c' shape so that the button area where the positive pattern layer 132 is formed is transparent in a cantilever shape. To the seat 131. Accordingly, the button region in which the positive pattern layer 132 is formed may be easily elastically flowed along the thickness direction with respect to the light transmissive sheet 131.

Such a structure makes it possible to prevent movement and transfer of movement to a button area in which another positive pattern layer is adjacent when a button area in which one positive pattern layer is formed is pressed, thereby preventing malfunction. To be able. Furthermore, such a structure makes it possible to improve the click feeling of the region where the positive pattern layer is formed.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the slit 131a is formed to have an approximately 'c' shape so that the button area on which the positive pattern layer 132 is formed is connected in a cantilever shape, but the slit 131a is a required condition. And the shape of the positive pattern layer 132 may be freely changed, and the present invention is not limited or limited by the shape of the slit 131a.

In addition, the light-transmitting sheet 131 having the slit 131a may be formed in the same shape and material as the above-mentioned light-transmitting sheet, and is incident to the light-transmitting sheet 131 below the light-transmitting sheet 131 in which the slit 131a is formed. A scattering layer (see 135 in FIG. 6) may be provided to cause diffused light to diffuse and scatter.

In addition, since the other components except for the slit 131a are the same as the above-described embodiment, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same parts, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In addition, in the present exemplary embodiment, the keypad including the translucent sheet 131 having the slit 131a is described as an example configured to be formed separately from the front case constituting the main body, but in some cases, the slit 131a is formed. The keypad including the translucent sheet 131 may be formed by plastic injection molding integrally with the front case so that the keypad forms a part of the front case.

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

8 to 10 are process charts for explaining the manufacturing method of the keypad according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, the keypad according to the present invention provides a positive pattern by displaying a number or letter on the transparent sheet 131 and printing a positive pattern for defining a button area on the transparent sheet 131. Forming the layer 132 may be prepared by forming a light control layer 133 on the light-transmitting sheet 131.

In the step of providing the light-transmitting sheet 131, a light-transmitting sheet 131 having a predetermined thickness through which light is transmitted is provided, and the light-transmitting sheet 131 is made of polyester, polypropylene (OPP), and vinyl chloride (PVC). It may be formed of a light transmissive material, such as), and in some cases may be formed of a semi-transparent material.

In the forming of the positive pattern layer 132, numbers, letters, symbols, and the like are displayed, and a positive pattern for defining a button area is positively printed directly on the transparent sheet 131. In addition, the positive pattern layer 132 may be formed on the top or bottom of the transparent sheet 131 and is preferably formed to have a higher brightness than the light control layer 133. As a method for printing the positive pattern layer 132, a conventional printing method may be used, and the present invention is not limited or limited by the printing method of the positive pattern layer 132.

In addition, the light-transmitting sheet 131 may include a slit (see 131a of FIG. 7) penetrating along a thickness direction in a region corresponding to a button region on which the positive pattern layer 132 is formed.

The slit 131a may be formed in a roughly 'c' shape so that the button area on which the positive pattern layer 132 is formed is connected to the cantilever shape on the light-transmitting sheet 131, as well as the required condition and the positive pattern layer 132. Can be changed freely depending on the shape of the).

Such a slit 131a may be formed by removing a portion of the transparent sheet 131 through a blanking process, and in some cases, the transparent sheet 131 is formed through plastic injection molding, and the transparent sheet ( When the injection molding of the 131, the slit 131a may be configured to be formed together.

In the step of forming the light control layer 133, a light control layer 133 for controlling the transmittance, reflection direction, color tone, polarization, etc. of the light passing through the light-transmitting sheet 131 is formed, such a light control layer 133 ) May be formed on the bottom or the top surface of the transparent sheet 131.

As the light control layer 133, a light control layer 133 using a difference in brightness of light, for example, a film or a coating layer having ordinary semi-reflective properties used in so-called sun glasses or sunglasses (aluminum) Or a silver coating layer) and the like can be used. In some cases, a light regulating layer using a refractive phenomenon of light or an electrical property of a polymer material may be applied, and the present invention is not limited or limited by the type and method of the light regulating layer 133. In addition, the light control layer 133 as described above may be formed by a method such as deposition, in some cases, may be printed or manufactured in the form of a film and bonded.

That is, the light control layer 133 may be formed by depositing a metal thin film or may be formed by an oxide coating or a nitride coating. In some cases, the light control layer 133 may be formed by a multi-coating layer using both a metal thin film and an oxide coating.

The metal thin film may be formed of a conventional metal material such as nickel (Ni), aluminum (Al), gold (Au), and silver (Ag), and the oxide coating may be silica (SiO ₂ ) or titanium oxide (TiO ₂ ). , Tungsten oxide (WO ₃ ), and the like, and the nitride coating may be formed of a material such as silicon nitride (Si ₃ N ₄ ). In addition, the metal thin film and the coating layer forming the light control layer as described above is preferably formed to have a thickness of approximately 50 ~ 1000Å (Om Strong) to have an optimal light transmission characteristics.

In addition, the light control layer 133 may be formed through partial transmissive printing, and in some cases, may be formed by adhering a tinting film used for so-called suntling glass.

In addition, before the light control layer 133 is formed, the step of forming the scattering layer 135 in the lower portion of the light-transmitting sheet 131 may be further added, in this step, the light-transmitting sheet in the lower portion of the light-transmitting sheet 131 A scattering layer 135 may be provided to diffuse and scatter light incident to 131.

The scattering layer 135 may be integrally formed on the light transmissive sheet 131, and may be manufactured separately from the light transmissive sheet 131 in some cases. The scattering layer 135 may include a concave-convex portion 135a formed on a bottom surface in a predetermined pattern, and the shape and size of the concave-convex portion 135a may be freely changed according to required conditions. For example, a hologram layer in which a hologram pattern is formed may be applied as the scattering layer 135.

As an example in which the transparent sheet 131 and the scattering layer 135 are separately formed, the scattering layer 135 may be formed by applying an ultraviolet (UV) curable material to the bottom of the transparent sheet 131, and having an uneven disc (or shim). It may be provided by the step of forming a concave-convex portion of a predetermined pattern by applying pressure to the surface on which the ultraviolet curable material is applied using)), and curing the concave-convex portion by exposure to ultraviolet rays.

On the other hand, when the scattering layer 135 is integrally formed on the bottom of the transparent sheet 131, the uneven portion formed in the scattering layer 135 may be formed by a conventional processing method such as machining.

In addition, in the forming of the scattering layer 135, the scattering layer 135 may be formed before or after the positive pattern layer 132 is printed.

That is, as shown in Figure 9, the forming of the scattering layer 135, after printing the positive pattern layer 132 on the bottom of the transparent sheet 131, the light-transmitting sheet 131 and the positive pattern It may be implemented by forming the uneven portion 135a in a predetermined pattern under the layer 132.

As another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, in the forming of the scattering layer 135, the uneven portion 135a is formed on the bottom surface of the transparent sheet 131 in a predetermined pattern, and the positive pattern layer 132 is formed. It may be formed on the bottom of the uneven portion (135a).

In addition, after the light control layer 133 is formed, a rubber sheet (see 134 of FIG. 6) having a pressing protrusion on a bottom surface of the positive pattern layer 132 may be formed below the light control layer 133. Can be. Such a rubber sheet may be provided together with or separately from the scattering layer 135 described above, and the pusher of the rubbersheet may effectively transmit the force for pressing the keypad to each switch that is turned on or off according to the pressing operation of the keypad. .

As described above, according to the keypad according to the present invention and a method for manufacturing the same, a positive pattern layer for displaying letters or numbers can be positively printed directly on the keypad, thereby making it cumbersome and complicated such as etching and reinforcement printing. The process can be eliminated, and the keypad structure and manufacturing process can be simplified to reduce costs and improve productivity.

In addition, the present invention enables the illumination of the keypad through the entire area except the area where the positive pattern layer is formed in the area of the light-transmitting sheet, and at the same time it can be shielded by the light control layer, clean and beautiful appearance To form.

In other words, the present invention can provide a light emitting mechanism that recognizes a portion displaying a number or letter by opaquely forming a portion representing a number or letter and allowing light transmission to occur through its periphery. To overcome the limitations.

In addition, the present invention allows the keypad to be formed in the form of a thin plate and the terminal on which it is mounted can also be formed in a thin thickness.

In addition, the present invention further allows the light incident on the light-transmitting sheet to be diffusely reflected and scattered through the scattering layer provided on the bottom of the light-transmitting sheet, thereby creating a luxurious atmosphere and improving the merchandise value.

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 (22)

Light transmitting sheet; A positive pattern layer formed on the transparent sheet for displaying numbers or letters and defining a button area; And And a light control layer provided on the light-transmitting sheet. The method of claim 1, The light control layer is a keypad, characterized in that formed of a material having a reflective property. The method of claim 1, And the positive pattern layer is formed on an upper surface or a lower surface of the light transmissive sheet. The method of claim 3, The light control layer is a keypad, characterized in that formed on the same or different surface with respect to the positive pattern layer for the transparent sheet. The method of claim 1, And the positive pattern layer is formed on a bottom surface of the light transmissive sheet, and the light control layer is formed on a bottom surface of the light transmissive sheet on which the positive pattern layer is formed. The method of claim 1, The keypad further comprises a scattering layer provided on the lower portion of the transparent sheet. The method of claim 6, The scattering layer is a keypad, characterized in that formed integrally or separately from the transparent sheet. The method of claim 6, The scattering layer is a keypad, characterized in that it comprises an uneven portion formed on the bottom surface in a predetermined pattern. The method of claim 1, And a rubber sheet provided under the light control layer and having a push protrusion on a bottom thereof corresponding to the positive pattern layer. The method of claim 1, The translucent sheet further comprises a slit penetratingly formed in the thickness direction between the button region. Providing a light transmitting sheet; Displaying a number or letter on the light-transmitting sheet and forming a positive pattern layer for defining a button area; And Forming a light control layer on the transparent sheet; Method of manufacturing a keypad comprising a. The method of claim 11, The positive pattern layer is formed on the bottom of the light-transmitting sheet, the manufacturing method of the keypad, characterized in that formed to have a higher brightness than the light control layer. The method of claim 11, The light control layer is a keypad manufacturing method, characterized in that for controlling at least one of the transmittance, reflection direction, color tone, polarization of the light passing through the transparent sheet. The method of claim 11, The light control layer is a manufacturing method of the keypad, characterized in that formed by any one of deposition, adhesion, printing. The method of claim 11, The light control layer is a manufacturing method of the keypad, characterized in that provided by a material having a semi-reflective property. The method of claim 11, And forming a scattering layer under the light transmitting sheet before forming the light control layer. The method of claim 16, The forming of the scattering layer may include printing the positive pattern layer on a bottom surface of the transparent sheet, and then forming a concave-convex portion in a predetermined pattern under the transparent sheet and the positive pattern layer. . The method of claim 16, In the forming of the scattering layer, the method of manufacturing a keypad, characterized in that the uneven portion is formed in a predetermined pattern on the bottom surface of the transparent sheet, the positive pattern layer is formed on the bottom surface of the uneven portion. The method of claim 11, And forming a rubber sheet having push protrusions on a bottom surface of the light control layer in correspondence with the positive pattern layer. The method of claim 11, The translucent sheet is a keypad manufacturing method, characterized in that provided including a slit penetrating in the thickness direction between the button area. The method of claim 20, The slit is a manufacturing method of the keypad, characterized in that formed by removing a portion of the transparent sheet. The method of claim 20, The translucent sheet is formed by plastic injection molding, and the slit is a manufacturing method of the keypad, characterized in that formed during the injection molding of the translucent sheet.

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