Electrophoretic display keypad structure

• US 20110148766A1
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ichia Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ichia Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Huang, Chin-Chun
• Granted Patent: US 8,441,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• 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 2219/002 replaceable; adaptable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/0023 Images formed with electrophoretic technology, e.g. by charged pigment particles rearranged by applied electric field, e.g. electronic paper or e-paper, active ink
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/044 Edge lighting of layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/004 U-shaped openings surrounding keys
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly
• 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

An electrophoretic display keypad structure utilizes a whole piece of electrophoretic display film to show a plurality of figures for keys. The electrophoretic display film is disposed on a printed circuit board having a patterned electrode and sealed by a sealant or a sealing material applied to entire periphery of the electrophoretic display film for preventing humidity or pollution, thereby to display excellent figures and be made relatively easily. The figures displayed may be changed by selecting a desired mode, and users may accordingly easily choose desired figures for pressing the keys.

Claims

1. An electrophoretic display keypad structure, comprising:

a first printed circuit board comprising a circuit thereon;

a plurality of metal domes disposed above the circuit, wherein, when the metal domes are pressed, the metal domes are electrically connected to the underlying circuit;

a plurality of plungers disposed above the metal domes;

a second printed circuit board disposed above the plungers;

an electrophoretic display film disposed above the second printed circuit board and sealed at a periphery thereof, wherein the electrophoretic display film and the second printed circuit board together perform a display function, the electrophoretic display film displays a plurality of figures when the display function is turned on, and the figures are located correspondingly to the metal domes;

a frontlight unit disposed above the electrophoretic display film; and

a keycap structure disposed above the frontlight unit.

2. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 1, wherein the frontlight unit comprises a light guide plate and alight source, the light guide plate is disposed between the electrophoretic display film and the keycap structure, and the light source is disposed on one side of the light guide plate.

3. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 2, wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode.

4. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 1, wherein the keycap structure comprises a plurality of button-shaped components and a substrate film, the button-shaped components are disposed on the substrate film correspondingly to the plungers.

5. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 4, wherein each of the button-shaped components is formed through applying a UV-light curable resin on the substrate film and curing the UV-light curable resin by a UV light.

6. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 4, wherein the button-shaped components and the substrate film are integrally formed into one piece.

7. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 4, wherein the keycap structure further comprises a light-tight frame disposed on the substrate film to expose the button-shaped components and to shield the substrate film between the button-shaped components.

8. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 7, wherein the light-tight frame comprises a metal frame or a plastic frame.

9. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 4, wherein the substrate film comprising a plurality of cuts each along a portion of a periphery of each of the button-shaped components, respectively.

10. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 1, further comprising a dome sheet covering and bonding the metal domes on the first printed circuit board to fix the metal domes on the first printed circuit board, wherein the plungers are fixed on the top surface of the dome sheet.

11. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 1, further comprising a dome sheet covering and bonding the plungers and the metal domes on the first printed circuit board to fix the metal domes on the first printed circuit board.

12. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 1, further comprising a housing.

13. An electrophoretic display keypad structure, comprising:

a printed circuit board;

an electrophoretic display film disposed above the printed circuit board and sealed at a periphery thereof, wherein the electrophoretic display film and the printed circuit board together perform a display function, the electrophoretic display film displays a plurality of figures representing button locations when the display function is turned on;

a frontlight unit disposed above the electrophoretic display film; and

a touch pad disposed above the frontlight unit for output of signals corresponding to the button locations under touched positions of the touch pad.

14. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 13, wherein the frontlight unit comprises a light guide plate and a light source, the light guide plate is disposed between the electrophoretic display film and the touch pad, and the light source is disposed on one side of the light guide plate.

15. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 14, wherein the light source comprises a light-emitting diode.

16. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 13, further comprising a substrate disposed under the printed circuit board.

17. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 13, further comprising a protection layer disposed above the touch pad.

18. The electrophoretic display keypad structure of claim 13, further comprising a housing.