Keypad assembly having reflection pattern

• US 20060260921A1
• Filed: 12/28/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Joo-Hoon, Jung, Sun-Tae, Kim, Kyoung-Youm
• Granted Patent: US 7,635,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/014 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/056 Diffuser; Uneven surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor

Abstract

A keypad assembly includes a light guide plate adapted to transmit light and comprising a supporting portion and an elastic portion made of different material than material of the supporting portion, at least one key button disposed on the side of the light guide plate where a first surface of the light guide plate is located, and at least one reflection pattern locally formed on the light guide plate and adapted to reflect light transmitted into the light guide plate toward the key button. The elastic portion is disposed below the key button.

Claims

1. A keypad assembly comprising:

a light guide plate adapted to transmit light and comprising a supporting portion and an elastic portion made of different material than material of the supporting portion;

at least one key button disposed on the side of the light guide plate where a first surface of the light guide plate is located; and

at least one reflection pattern locally formed on the light guide plate and adapted to reflect light transmitted into the light guide plate toward the key button, wherein the elastic portion is disposed below the key button.

2. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic portion further includes a protrusion facing the key button.

3. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflection pattern is formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the light guide plate.

4. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one protrusion formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the light guide plate.

5. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the reflection pattern is formed on the protrusion and at a periphery of the protrusion.

6. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a substrate having at least one switch disposed on a surface of the substrate facing the light guide plate.

7. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an elastic layer disposed between the key button and the light guide plate, the key button being arranged on the elastic layer.

8. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the elastic layer further includes a protrusion respectively formed on a lower surface of the elastic layer, the lower surface facing the light guide plate.

9. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one light source disposed adjacent to one of sides of the light guide plate.

10. The keypad assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein the reflection pattern is sparsely formed at a first position, while being densely formed at a second position further away from the light source than the first position.

11. A portable wireless communication terminal comprising:

a light guide plate adapted to transmit light and comprising a supporting portion and an elastic portion made of different material than material of the supporting portion;

at least one key button disposed on the side of the light guide plate where a first surface of the light guide plate is located; and

at least one reflection pattern locally formed on the light guide plate and adapted to reflect light transmitted into the light guide plate toward the key button, wherein the elastic portion is disposed below the key button.

12. The portable wireless communication terminal as claimed in claim 11, wherein the elastic portion further includes a protrusion facing the key button.

13. The portable wireless communication terminal as claimed in claim 11, wherein the reflection pattern is formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the light guide plate.

14. The portable wireless communication terminal as claimed in claim 11, further comprising at least one protrusion formed on a second surface opposite to the first surface of the light guide plate.

15. The portable wireless communication terminal as claimed in claim 14, wherein the reflection pattern is formed on the protrusion and at a periphery of the protrusion.

16. The portable wireless communication terminal as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a substrate having at least one switch disposed on a surface of the substrate facing the light guide plate.

17. The portable wireless communication terminal as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an elastic layer disposed between the key button and the light guide plate, the key button being arranged on the elastic layer.

18. The portable wireless communication terminal as claimed in claim 17, wherein the elastic layer further includes a protrusion respectively formed on a lower surface of the elastic layer, the lower surface facing the light guide plate.

19. The portable wireless communication terminal as claimed in claim 11, further comprising at least one light source disposed adjacent to one of sides of the light guide plate.

20. The portable wireless communication terminal as claimed in claim 19, wherein the reflection pattern is sparsely formed at a first position, while being densely formed at a second position farther away from the light source than the first position.