Key touchpad module

• US 20070070044A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Elan Microelectronics Corporation
• Inventors: Yeh, I-Hau, Yang, Tso-Chieh
• Application Number:
  US11/358,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20070070044A1
• 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 13/704 characterised by the layers, e.g. by their material or structure H01H13/703 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/002 superimposed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/03 Different type of switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/064 Simulating the appearance of touch panel
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides a touchpad module which obtains a touching sensibility and a uniform transmission of light to avoid non-linear problem by using a soft touch pad.

Claims

1. A key touch pad module, comprising:

(a) an insulating material area comprising at least one key area on a surface of said insulating material area;

(b) a soft touchpad being covered by said insulating material area; and

(c) a key set comprising at least one conductive rubber cap and a PCB switch, said key set being covered by said soft touchpad, said conductive rubber cap corresponding to said key area of said insulating material area.

2. The key touchpad module according to claim 1, wherein said key area comprises at least a print selected from a group consisting of a digit, a signal, a character and a figure.

3. The key touch pad module according to claim 1, wherein said soft touchpad is made of a material selected from a group consisting of an FPC (flexible printed circuit) and a membrane.

4. The key touchpad module according to claim 1, wherein said soft touchpad comprises a conductive area and a non-conductive area.

5. The key touch pad module according to claim 4, wherein said conductive area comprises a transmittance between 0% and 80%

6. The key touchpad module according to claim 4, wherein said non-conductive area comprises a transmittance between 75% and 100%.

7. The key touchpad module according to claim 1, wherein said soft touchpad further comprises a key-simulation function.

8. The key touchpad module according to claim 1, wherein said key set outputs a corresponding key value.

9. The key touchpad module according to claim 8, wherein said key value is obtained from a coordinate value of said soft touch pad.

10. The key touch pad module according to claim 1, wherein said key set is a feel element.

12. The key touchpad module according to claim 10 wherein said soft touchpad is made of a material selected from a group consisting of an FPC (flexible printed circuit) and a membrane.

13. The key touch pad module according to claim 10, wherein said soft touch pad comprises a conductive area and a non-conductive area.

14. The key touch pad module according to claim 13, wherein said conductive are a comprises a transmittance between 75% and 100%.

15. The key touchpad module according to claim 13, wherein said non-conductive area comprises a transmittance between 75% and 100%.

16. The key touchpad module according to claim 10 wherein said soft touchpad further comprises a key-simulation function.

17. The key touchpad module according to claim 10, wherein said key area comprises at least a print selected from a group consisting of a digit, a signal, a character and a figure.

18. The key touch pad module according to claim 10, wherein said kept set outputs a corresponding key value.

19. The key touch pad module according to claim 18, wherein said key value is obtained from a coordinate value of said soft touch pad.

20. The key touch pad module according to claim 10, wherein said key set is a feel element.

11. A key touch pad module, comprising:

(a) a soft touchpad;

b) an insulating material area being covered by said soft touch pad, said insulating material area comprising at least one key area on a surface of said insulating material area; and

(c) a key set comprising at least one conductive rubber cap and a PCB switch, said key set being covered by said insulating material area, said conductive rubber cap corresponding to said key area of said insulating material area.