Key module and mobile terminal having same, and method of assembling key module
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsIkhyun Jo, Sehoon Chun, Jangwoo Hong, Chalkee Jung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A key module for a mobile terminal, and which includes a key having a neck part and a head key pressed to enter an input to the mobile terminal; a circuit support configured to support a circuit board having a dome terminal to be pressed when the key head is pressed for entering the input to the terminal; and a waterproof member positioned between the key and the circuit support and configured to block a moisture penetration path along a hole in a case member of the mobile terminal into which the key module is inserted.
Claims18
A key module for a mobile terminal, the key module comprising:
- a key having a neck part and a head key pressed to enter an input to the mobile terminal;
- a circuit support configured to support a circuit board having a dome terminal to be pressed when the key head is pressed for entering the input to the terminal;
- and
- a waterproof member positioned between the key and the circuit support and configured to block a moisture penetration path along a hole in a case member of the mobile terminal into which the key module is inserted,
- wherein the waterproof member includes:
- a rubber plate facing the neck part of the key, the rubber plate including one or more slits;
- and
- a waterproof tape bonded to a front edge of the rubber plate facing the neck part.
A mobile terminal, comprising:
- a terminal body from having a display unit, an internal space being provided in the terminal body;
- and
- a key module partially exposed through a hole penetrating a sidewall of the terminal body,
- wherein the key module comprises:
- a key having a neck part and a head key pressed to enter an input to the mobile terminal;
- a circuit support configured to support a circuit board having a dome terminal to be pressed when the key head is pressed for entering the input to the terminal;
- and
- a waterproof member positioned between the key and the circuit support and configured to block a moisture penetration path along the hole in the sidewall of the mobile terminal into which the key module is inserted,
- wherein the waterproof member includes:
- a rubber plate facing the neck part of the key, the rubber plate including one or more slits;
- and
- a waterproof tape bonded to a front edge of the rubber plate facing the neck part.
A method of assembling a key module into an internal space of a terminal body of a mobile terminal through a hole penetrating a sidewall of the terminal body, the method comprising:
- inserting a key of the key module in the hole from the internal space of the terminal body toward an outside of the terminal body, the key having a neck part and a head key pressed to enter an input to the mobile terminal;
- positioning a waterproof member against the key, the waterproof member configured to block a moisture penetration path along the hole in the terminal body of the mobile terminal into which the key module is inserted;
- and
- fixing a circuit support, having a circuit board with a dome terminal to be pressed when the key head is pressed for entering the input to the terminal, to the internal space of the terminal body such that the waterproof member is positioned between the key and the circuit support and blocks a moisture penetration path along the hole in the terminal body into which the key module is inserted,
- wherein the waterproof member includes:
- a rubber plate facing the neck part of the key, the rubber plate including one or more slits;
- and
- a waterproof tape bonded to a front edge of the rubber plate facing the neck part.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.