Metal keypad panel structure with micropore array

• US 7,777,144 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ichia Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ichia Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Hsu, Chih-Ho, Wu, Che-Tung
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa; Felix O
• Application Number:
  US12/014,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20090128372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 200/310, 200/313, 200/314, 200/317
• US Class Current: 200/313
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/7006 comprising a separate movable contact element for each switch site, all other elements being integrated in layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/002 Materials
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/014 composed of different layers; Lubricant in between
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/07 metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2209/082 transparent
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/044 Edge lighting of layer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/056 Diffuser; Uneven surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/062 Light conductor
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset

Abstract

A metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array includes a metal keypad panel, a filling, a pattern layer, a backlight module and an electric signal module. The metal keypad panel has micropores filled with the filling. The pattern layer is on a side of the metal keypad panel. The backlight module is a guide light plate attached onto another side of the metal keypad panel and has patterns, each composed of light guide microstructures. When a light is entered into the guide light plate, the light guide microstructures focus and project the light onto the metal keypad panel to allow users to see the position of each press key clearly.

Claims

1. A metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array, installed on a metal panel of an electronic device, comprising:

a backlight module, having a light guide plate, and a plurality of patterns disposed on the light guide plate and composed of a light guide microstructure;

a metal keypad panel, installed on a side of the backlight module, and having a plurality of micropores disposed thereon;

a filling, filled into the micropores;

a pattern layer, disposed on a surface of the metal keypad panel;

an electric signal module, attached onto a side of the backlight module, and having a flexible printed circuit board;

a plurality of contact points, disposed on the printed circuit board, each corresponding to a metal dome;

an adhesive layer, disposed separately on sides of the printed circuit board and the metal dome, and having a dome membrane; and

an adhesive block, disposed on a side with a plurality of protruding positions of the dome membrane, and having a protrusion corresponding to a pattern on each light guide plate; and

a light source module, installed on the printed circuit board, and comprised of a plurality of light emitting diodes, and a position of the light emitting diode for producing a light source being corresponding to a side of a light guide plate.

2. The metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array of claim 1, wherein the pattern is one selected from the collection of a number, a text, a special symbol and a direction symbol.

3. The metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array of claim 1, wherein the light guide microstructure is concavely or convexly disposed on an internal side or external side of the light guide plate.

4. The metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array of claim 1, wherein the metal keypad panel further comprises a line hollow portion, and the line hollow portion being enclosed to form a press zone.

5. The metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array of claim 1, wherein the filling is one selected from the collection of an ultraviolet glue, a silicone, a vitro, an epoxy and a synthetic resin.

6. The metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array of claim 1, wherein the pattern layer is made of a material selected from the collection of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

7. A metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array, installed on a metal panel of an electronic device, comprising:

backlight module, having a light guide plate;

a metal keypad panel, installed on a side of the backlight module, and having a plurality of patterns disposed thereon, and the pattern being composed of micropores;

a filling, filled into the micropores; and

a pattern layer, disposed on a surface of the metal keypad panel;

an electric signal module, attached onto a side of the backlight module, and having a flexible printed circuit board;

a plurality of contact points, disposed on the printed circuit board, each corresponding to a metal dome;

an adhesive layer, disposed separately on sides of the printed circuit board and the metal dome, and having a dome membrane;

an adhesive block, disposed on a side with a plurality of protruding positions of the dome membrane, and having a protrusion corresponding to a pattern on each light guide plate; and

a light source module, installed on the printed circuit board, and comprised of a plurality of light emitting diodes, and a position of the light emitting diode for producing a light source being corresponding to a side of a light guide plate.

8. The metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array of claim 7, wherein the pattern is one selected from the collection of a number, a text, a special symbol and a direction symbol.

9. The metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array of claim 7, wherein the pattern the metal keypad panel further comprises a line hollow portion, and the line hollow portion being enclosed to form a press zone.

10. The metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array of claim 7, wherein the filling is one selected from the collection of an ultraviolet glue, a silicone, a vitro, an epoxy and a synthetic resin.

11. The metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array of claim 7, wherein the pattern layer is made of a material selected from the collection of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

12. A metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array, installed on a metal panel of an electronic device, comprising:

a backlight module, having a light guide plate;

a metal keypad panel, installed on a side of the backlight module, and having a plurality of micropores disposed thereon, and a plurality of patterns disposed in the micropore array;

a filling, filled into the micropores;

a pattern layer, disposed on a surface of the metal keypad panel;

an electric signal module, attached onto a side of the backlight module, and having a flexible printed circuit board;

a plurality of contact points disposed on the printed circuit board, each corresponding to a metal dome;

an adhesive layer, disposed separately on sides of the printed circuit board and the metal dome, and having a dome membrane; and

an adhesive block, disposed on a side with a plurality of protruding positions of the dome membrane, and having a protrusion corresponding to a pattern on each light guide plate.

13. The metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array of claim 12, wherein the pattern is one selected from the collection of a number, a text, a special symbol and a direction symbol.

14. The metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array of claim 12, wherein the metal keypad panel further comprises a line hollow portion, and the line hollow portion being enclosed to form a press zone.

15. The metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array of claim 12, wherein the filling is one selected from the collection of an ultraviolet glue, a silicone, a vitro, an epoxy and a synthetic resin.

16. The metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array of claim 12, wherein the pattern layer is made of a material selected from the collection of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

17. The metal keypad panel structure with a micropore array of claim 12, wherein the printed circuit board includes a light source module thereon, and the light source module is comprised of a plurality of light emitting diodes, and a light source produced by the light emitting diode corresponds to a side of the light guide plate.