TOUCH KEY ASSEMBLY FOR A MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20070046637A1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ko, Dong-Seuck, Choo, Zhi-Min, Lee, Hyung-Woon
• Granted Patent: US 7,825,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• 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 2219/06 Reflector
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/07 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A touch key assembly is structured to operate with a cover having at least one touch key, which is defined by an optically transmissive region of the cover. A touch pad is coupled to the cover and is shaped to define at least one aperture which forms a light guide that is associated with the touch key. A light source is positioned relative to the bottom side of the touch pad, and is further positioned relative to the light guide to provide light to the touch key. The assembly may also include an optical waveguide positioned relative to the bottom side of the touch pad, the optical waveguide being structured to transmit light. A reflection element operatively associated with the bottom side of the optical waveguide may be used to enhance refection of the light. The touch key assembly may be implemented in a portable electronic device, such as a mobile terminal or a personal digital assistant (PDA).

Claims

1. A touch key assembly, comprising:

a touch pad structured to operatively couple to a cover comprising at least one touch key which is defined by an optically transmissive region, said touch pad comprising a light guide associated with said at least one touch key; and

at least one light source positioned relative to a bottom side of said touch pad, said at least one light source positioned relative to said light guide to provide light to said at least one touch key.

2. The touch key assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

an optical waveguide positioned relative to said bottom side of said touch pad, said optical waveguide structured to transmit said light.

3. The touch key assembly according to claim 2, further comprising:

a reflection element operatively associated with a bottom side of said optical waveguide and structured to reflect said light.

4. The touch key assembly according to claim 2, further comprising:

a separate recess associated with each of said at least one light source, said recess formed in a top surface of said optical waveguide and sized to receive at least a portion of an associated one of said at least one light source.

5. The touch key assembly according to claim 2, further comprising:

a light disturbing element associated with said light guide and formed in said optical waveguide.

6. The touch key assembly according to claim 1, wherein said touch pad is further structured to operatively couple to said cover comprising a plurality of touch keys which are each defined by an optically transmissive region, and wherein:

said light guide is associated with said plurality of touch keys, and wherein

said at least one light source is positioned relative to said light guide to provide light to said plurality of touch keys.

7. The touch key assembly according to claim 1, wherein said touch pad is further structured to operatively couple to said cover comprising a plurality of touch keys which are each defined by an optically transmissive region, said touch key assembly further comprising:

a plurality of light guides individually associated with one of said plurality of touch keys.

8. The touch key assembly according to claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of light sources positioned relative to said bottom side of said touch pad to provide light to said plurality of touch keys.

9. The touch key assembly according to claim 8, wherein the number of said plurality of light sources is fewer than the number of said plurality of touch keys.

10. The touch key assembly according to claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of light guides comprise optically transmissive material.

11. The touch key assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

an optical waveguide coupled to said bottom side of said touch pad;

a reflection element operatively associated with a bottom side of said optical waveguide; and

a printed circuit board (PCB) being structured to control said touch pad.

12. The touch key assembly according to claim 1, wherein said touch pad is one of a capacitance touch pad or a pressure-sensitive touch pad.

13. The touch key assembly according to claim 1, wherein said touch pad is shaped to define an aperture which forms said light guide.

14. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a housing containing a display;

a touch key assembly associated with said housing, said touch key assembly comprising;

at least one touch key which is defined by an optically transmissive region;

a touch pad coupled to said at least one touch key, said touch pad comprising a light guide associated with said at least one touch key; and

at least one light source positioned relative to a bottom side of said touch pad, said at least one light source positioned relative to said light guide to provide light to said at least one touch key.

15. The mobile terminal according to claim 14, wherein said housing comprises a first body and a second body, wherein said first body is structured to slideably engage said second body, and wherein said display and said touch key assembly are coupled to said first body, said mobile terminal further comprising:

a key pad coupled to said second body.

16. The mobile terminal according to claim 14, wherein said housing comprises a first body and a second body, wherein said first body is structured to slideably engage said second body, and wherein said display is coupled to said first body and said touch key assembly is coupled to said second body, said mobile terminal further comprising:

a key pad coupled to said first element.

17. The mobile terminal according to claim 14, further comprising:

an optical waveguide positioned relative to said bottom side of said touch pad, said optical waveguide structured to transmit said light.

18. The mobile terminal according to claim 17, further comprising:

a reflection element operatively associated with a bottom side of said optical waveguide and structured to reflect said light.

19. The mobile terminal according to claim 17, further comprising:

a light disturbing element associated with said light guide and formed in said optical waveguide.

20. The mobile terminal according to claim 14, wherein said touch pad assembly further comprises a plurality of touch keys which are each defined by an optically transmissive region, said touch key assembly further comprising:

a plurality of light guides each of which is individually associated with one of said plurality of touch keys.

21. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a housing containing a display; and

a touch key assembly associated with said housing, said touch key assembly comprising;

a cover comprising at least one touch key which is defined by an optically transmissive region;

a touch pad coupled to said cover, wherein said touch pad is shaped to define at least one aperture which forms a light guide that is associated with said at least one touch key;

at least one light source positioned relative to a bottom side of said touch pad, said at least one light source being positioned relative to said light guide to provide light to said at least one touch key;

an optical waveguide positioned relative to said bottom side of said touch pad, said optical waveguide structured to transmit said light; and

a reflection element operatively associated with a bottom side of said optical waveguide and structured to reflect said light.