TOUCH KEY ASSEMBLY FOR A MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20070103453A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• 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 8,049,728 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/004 Printed circuit tail
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/014 LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/038 ambient light dependent
• 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 2221/09 Flexible integral part of housing
• 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 includes a cover having at least one touch key which is identified by an optically transmissive region of the cover. The cover is also shaped to define a push key opening. The assembly also includes a touch pad structured to operatively couple to the cover such that the touch pad is positioned relative to the touch key. A push key is positioned within the push key opening of the cover. 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 cover comprising at least one touch key which is identified by an optically transmissive region of said cover, wherein said cover is shaped to define a push key opening;

a touch pad structured to operatively couple to said cover, said touch pad being positioned relative to said at least one touch key; and

a push key positioned within said push key opening of said cover.

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

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

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

a reflection element operatively associated with a bottom side of said touch pad, said reflection element being structured to reflect light.

4. The touch key assembly according to claim 1, wherein said push key is positioned proximate to said at least one touch key.

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

a light guide formed in said touch pad, said light guide being associated with said at least one touch key.

6. The touch key assembly according to claim 5, wherein said touch pad is shaped to define an aperture which forms said light guide.

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

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

8. The touch key assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a plurality of touch keys which are each identified by a separate optically transmissive region of said cover, and wherein said touch key assembly further comprises:

at least one light source positioned relative to a bottom side of said touch pad, said at least one light source being structured to provide light to said plurality of touch keys.

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

a plurality of light sources positioned relative to said bottom side of said touch pad, each of said plurality of light sources being structured to provide light to one or more of said plurality of touch keys.

10. The touch key assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cover comprises a plurality of touch keys which are each identified by a separate optically transmissive region of said cover, and wherein said touch key assembly further comprises:

a plurality of light guides formed in said touch pad, each of said plurality of light guides being individually associated with one of said plurality of touch keys.

11. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a first body structured to slideably engage a second body to permit opening and closing of said mobile terminal by relative sliding motion between said first body and said second body;

a display positioned relative to said first body;

a keypad positioned relative to said second body; and

a touch key assembly associated with said first body, said touch key assembly comprising;

a cover comprising at least one touch key which is identified by an optically transmissive region of said cover, wherein said cover is shaped to define a push key opening, and wherein said display is positioned relative to a separate optically transmissive region of said cover;

a touch pad structured to operatively couple to said cover, said touch pad being positioned relative to said at least one touch key; and

a push key positioned within said push key opening of said cover.

12. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, further comprising:

a speaker positioned relative to said first body; and

a microphone positioned relative to said second body.

13. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, further comprising:

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

14. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, further comprising:

a reflection element operatively associated with a bottom side of said touch pad, said reflection element being structured to reflect light.

15. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein said push key is positioned proximate to said at least one touch key.

16. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, further comprising:

a light guide formed in said touch pad, said light guide being associated with said at least one touch key.

17. The mobile terminal according to claim 16, wherein said touch pad is shaped to define an aperture which forms said light guide.

18. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, further comprising:

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

19. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein said cover comprises a plurality of touch keys which are each identified by a separate optically transmissive region of said cover, and wherein said touch key assembly further comprises:

at least one light source positioned relative to a bottom side of said touch pad, said at least one light source being structured to provide light to said plurality of touch keys.

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

a plurality of light sources positioned relative to said bottom side of said touch pad, each of said plurality of light sources being structured to provide light to one or more of said plurality of touch keys.

21. The mobile terminal according to claim 11, wherein said cover comprises a plurality of touch keys which are each identified by a separate optically transmissive region of said cover, and wherein said touch key assembly further comprises:

a plurality of light guides formed in said touch pad, each of said plurality of light guides being individually associated with one of said plurality of touch keys.