NON-BACKLIGHTED ILLUMINATING KEYPAD

• US 20090242368A1
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ichia Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ichia Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Liu, Chang-Li, CHANG, Yu-Chih
• Granted Patent: US 7,893,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/310
• 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 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• 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 2221/07 transparent

Abstract

A non-backlighted illuminating keypad includes a keypad panel, a light gathering layer, an electronic ink layer, a first elastic layer and a switch board. The keypad panel includes a carrier and a plurality of keycaps arranged on the carrier. The light gathering layer is arranged on a bottom surface of the keypad panel and located corresponding to the keycaps. The electronic ink layer is arranged on a bottom surface of the light gathering layer. The first elastic layer is arranged on a bottom surface of the electronic ink layer and comprises a plurality of protrusion portions respectively corresponding to the keycaps. The switch board is arranged below the elastic layer.

Claims

1. A non-backlighted illuminating keypad, comprising:

a keypad panel comprising a carrier and a plurality of keycaps arranged on a top surface of the carrier;

a light gathering layer arranged on a bottom surface of the carrier and located corresponding to the keycaps;

an electronic ink layer arranged on a bottom surface of the light gathering layer;

a first elastic layer arranged on a bottom surface of the electronic ink layer and comprising a plurality of protrusion portions respectively corresponding to the keycaps; and

a switch board arranged below the first elastic layer.

2. The non-backlighted illuminating keypad according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is a plastic thin film.

3. The non-backlighted illuminating keypad according to claim 1, wherein the keycaps are made of ultraviolet-curing resin.

4. The non-backlighted illuminating keypad according to claim 1, wherein the light gathering layer is made of light gathering ink material.

5. The non-backlighted illuminating keypad according to claim 1, further comprising a first adhesion layer for attaching the electronic ink layer to the carrier.

6. The non-backlighted illuminating keypad according to claim 5, wherein the first adhesion layer is adhesive agent or double-sided adhesive tape.

7. The non-backlighted illuminating keypad according to claim 1, wherein the electronic ink layer comprises an electrode substrate and an electronic ink material printed on the top surface of the electrode substrate.

8. The non-backlighted illuminating keypad according to claim 1, further comprising a second adhesion layer for attaching the first elastic layer to the electronic ink layer.

9. The non-backlighted illuminating keypad according to claim 8, wherein the second adhesion layer is adhesive agent or double-sided adhesive tape.

10. The non-backlighted illuminating keypad according to claim 1, wherein the switch board comprises a printed circuit board, a second elastic layer arranged on the printed circuit board and a thin film covered on the printed circuit board and the second elastic layer.

11. The non-backlighted illuminating keypad according to claim 10, wherein the second elastic layer comprises a plurality of metal domes.

12. The non-backlighted illuminating keypad according to claim 10, wherein the switch board further comprises a light source electrically connected to the printed circuit board and correspondingly located at a lateral side of the carrier.

13. The non-backlighted illuminating keypad according to claim 12, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.