Display for multi-function keypad and electronic device having the same

• US 8,259,073 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2008
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Kyongdo, Lee, Woojong, Jang, Hyunah, Namgung, Hyungjun
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhou, Hong
• Application Number:
  US12/106,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-172, 345173-179, 200/5.A, 200/314, 349154-156
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/008 Part of substrate or membrane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/012 programmable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/022 Telephone handset

Abstract

A display for a multi-function keypad and an electronic device including the display. The display for a multi-function keypad includes: a display panel having a plurality of display regions arranged in a matrix pattern and a non-display region surrounding the plurality of display regions; a circuit board on the display panel and including a plurality of openings corresponding to the display regions, and a plurality of keys near peripheral edges of the openings and corresponding to the non-display region; and a pad on the circuit board and including a plurality of transparent windows corresponding to the openings, and a plurality of pressing units near peripheral edges of the transparent windows and corresponding to the plurality of keys.

Claims

1. A display for a multi-function keypad, comprising:

a display panel comprising;

a plurality of display regions each comprising at least one pixel and arranged in a matrix pattern; and

a non-display region surrounding the plurality of display regions, the non-display region having no pixels formed therein;

a circuit board on the display panel, the circuit board comprising a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of display regions, and a plurality of keys at regions of the circuit board near peripheral edges of the plurality of openings, the regions of the circuit board corresponding to the non-display region; and

a pad on the circuit board, the pad comprising a plurality of transparent windows corresponding to the plurality of openings, and a plurality of pressing units at regions of the pad near peripheral edges of the transparent windows, the regions of the pad corresponding to the plurality of keys,

wherein each of the plurality of display regions further comprises at least one first separator, and

wherein the non-display region comprises at least one second separator wider than the at least one first separator, the at least one second separator being at a region of the non-display region, the second separator being aligned with a key of the plurality of keys of the circuit board in a direction in which the key is configured to be pressed.

2. The display of claim 1, wherein the plurality of display regions each comprise a plurality of pixels.

3. The display of claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises a data driver for applying a data signal to the plurality of display regions, and a scan driver for applying a scan signal to the plurality of display regions.

4. The display of claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises a passive matrix organic light emitting display.

5. The display of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of display regions comprises:

at least one first electrode extending in a first direction;

at least one second electrode extending in a second direction crossing the at least one first electrode; and

at least one emitting layer at a crossing region between the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode, wherein the at least one emitting layer, the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode define a pixel.

6. The display of claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises an active matrix organic light emitting display.

7. The display of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of display regions comprises:

at least one first electrode extending in a first direction;

at least one second electrode extending in a second direction crossing the at least one first electrode;

at least one emitting layer; and

at least one transistor coupled to the at least one first electrode,

wherein the at least one emitting layer is at a crossing region between the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode, and the at least one emitting layer, the at least one first electrode, the at least one second electrode and the at least one transistor define a pixel.

8. The display of claim 1, wherein the display panel comprises a liquid crystal display panel having at least one pixel in each of the plurality of display regions.

9. The display of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of display regions comprises:

at least one first electrode extending in a first direction;

at least one second electrode extending in a second direction crossing the at least one first electrode and comprising at least one color filter; and

at least one liquid crystal unit coupled to the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode,

wherein the at least one liquid crystal unit, the at least one first electrode, the at least one second electrode and the at least one color filter define a pixel.

10. The display of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of display regions further comprises at least one first spacer between two adjacent liquid crystal units, and

wherein the non-display region comprises at least one second spacer that is wider than the at least one first spacer, the at least one second spacer being in region of the non-display region corresponding to the plurality of keys of the circuit board.

11. The display of claim 10, further comprising a transparent substrate on the at least one first spacer and the at least one second spacer,

wherein the plurality of keys of the circuit board are located on regions of the transparent substrate corresponding to the at least one second spacer.

12. The display of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of keys of the circuit board comprises a dome switch.

13. The display of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of keys comprises:

a conduction pattern in a region of the circuit board corresponding to the non-display region; and

an elastic member on the conduction pattern,

wherein the elastic member is configured to deform under pressure, thereby making contact with the conduction pattern.

14. The display of claim 1, wherein the pad comprises an insulation layer, a metal layer on the insulation layer, and at least one pressing unit on at least one region of the metal layer corresponding to the plurality of keys.

15. The display of claim 14, wherein the at least one pressing unit projects toward a direction away from the metal layer.

16. The display of claim 1, further comprising a main circuit board on one side of the display panel opposite to another side of the display panel where the circuit board is located,

wherein the main circuit board is electrically coupled to the display panel and the circuit board.

17. The display of claim 1, further comprising a cover on the pad for securing the pad.

18. The display of claim 1, wherein the display regions and the non-display region are on a same substrate.

19. A display for a multi-function keypad, comprising:

a display panel comprising;

a plurality of display regions arranged in a matrix pattern; and

a non-display region surrounding the plurality of display regions;

a circuit board on the display panel, the circuit board comprising a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of display regions, and a plurality of keys at regions of the circuit board near peripheral edges of the plurality of openings, the regions of the circuit board corresponding to the non-display region; and

a pad on the circuit board, the pad comprising a plurality of transparent windows corresponding to the plurality of openings, and a plurality of pressing units at regions of the pad near peripheral edges of the transparent windows, the regions of the pad corresponding to the plurality of keys,

wherein each of the plurality of display regions comprises;

at least one first electrode extending in a first direction;

at least one second electrode extending in a second direction crossing the at least one first electrode; and

at least one emitting layer at a crossing region between the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode,

wherein the at least one emitting layer, the at least one first electrode, and the at least one second electrode define a pixel,

wherein each of the plurality of display regions further comprises at least one first separator thicker than two adjacent emitting layers, and

wherein the non-display region comprises at least one second separator wider than the at least one first separator, the at least one second separator being at a region of the non-display region corresponding to a key of the plurality of keys of the circuit board.

20. The display of claim 19, further comprising a transparent substrate on the at least one first separator and the at least one second separator,

wherein the plurality of keys of the circuit board are on regions of the transparent substrate corresponding to the at least one second separator.

21. A display for a multi-function keypad, comprising:

a display panel comprising;

a plurality of display regions arranged in a matrix pattern; and

a non-display region surrounding the plurality of display regions;

a circuit board on the display panel, the circuit board comprising a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of display regions, and a plurality of keys at regions of the circuit board near peripheral edges of the plurality of openings, the regions of the circuit board corresponding to the non-display region; and

a pad on the circuit board, the pad comprising a plurality of transparent windows corresponding to the plurality of openings, and a plurality of pressing units at regions of the pad near peripheral edges of the transparent windows, the regions of the pad corresponding to the plurality of keys,

wherein each of the plurality of display regions comprises;

at least one first electrode extending in a first direction;

at least one second electrode extending in a second direction crossing the at least one first electrode;

at least one emitting layer at a crossing region between the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode; and

at least one transistor coupled to the at least one first electrode,

wherein the at least one emitting layer, the at least one first electrode, the at least one second electrode, and the at least one transistor define a pixel,

wherein each of the plurality of display regions further comprises at least one first pixel definition layer thicker than two adjacent emitting layers,

wherein the non-display region comprises at least one second pixel definition layer that is wider than the at least one first pixel definition layer, and

wherein the plurality of keys of the circuit board are at regions of the circuit board corresponding to the at least one second pixel definition layer.

22. The display of claim 21, further comprising a transparent substrate on the at least one first pixel definition layer and the at least one second pixel definition layer,

wherein the plurality of keys of the circuit board are on regions of the transparent substrate corresponding to the at least one second pixel definition layer.

23. An electronic device, comprising:

a display for a multi-function keypad comprising;

a display panel comprising;

a plurality of display regions each comprising at least one pixel and arranged in a matrix pattern; and

a non-display region surrounding the plurality of display regions, the non-display region having no pixels formed therein;

a circuit board on the display panel, the circuit board comprising a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of display regions, and a plurality of keys at regions of the circuit board near peripheral edges of the plurality of openings, the regions of the circuit board corresponding to the non-display region; and

a pad on the circuit board, the pad comprising a plurality of transparent windows corresponding to the plurality of openings and a plurality of pressing units at regions of the pad near peripheral edges of the transparent windows, the regions of the pad corresponding to the plurality of keys; and

a main display panel electrically and mechanically connected to the display,

wherein each of the plurality of display regions further comprises at least one first separator, and

wherein the non-display region comprises at least one second separator wider than the at least one first separator, the at least one second separator being at a region of the non-display region, the second separator being aligned with a key of the plurality of keys of the circuit board in a direction in which the key is configured to be pressed.