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US 7,378,606 B2Granted
Keypad and keypad assembly
AssigneeSamsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
InventorsJoo-Hoon Lee, Sun-Tae Jung, Kyoung-Youm Kim, Byung-Duck Cho, Dong-Hoon Jang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A keypad includes a light guide panel, the interior of which light propagates through, a film positioned on the upper surface of the light guide panel and having at least one key button positioned on the upper surface thereof, and at least one reflective pattern fixedly positioned with respect to the light guide panel to reflect a part of the light, which propagates through the interior of the light guide panel, towards the key button.
Claims26
A keypad comprising:
- a light guide panel for propagating light therethrough;
- a film disposed on an upper surface of the light guide panel and having at least one key button disposed on the upper surface thereof;
- at least one protrusion formed on a lower surface of the light guide panel and protruding outwardly from the lower surface of the light guide panel, the lower surface that is opposite to the upper surface of the light guide panel;
- and
- at least one reflective pattern fixedly positioned with respect to the light guide panel to reflect a part of the light propagating through the interior of the light guide panel towards the key button, wherein the reflective pattern is formed on the lower surface of the light guide panel and around the protrusion.
2 more elements
A keypad assembly comprising:
- a keypad having:
- light guide panel for propagating light therethrough, a film disposed on an upper surface of the light guide panel with at least one key button provided on the upper surface of the film,
- at least one protrusion formed on a lower surface of the light guide panel and protruding outwardly from the lower surface of the light guide panel, the lower surface that is opposite to the upper surface of the light guide panel, and at least one reflective pattern locally formed on the light guide panel to reflect a part of the light propagating through the interior of the light guide panel towards the key button;
- and
- a switch board having at least one switch formed on its upper surface, which faces the keypad, wherein as the key button is pressed, a portion of the keypad deformed towards the switch board to activate the switch, wherein the reflective pattern is formed on the lower surface of the light guide panel and around the protrusion.
2 more elements
A portable terminal comprising:
- a switch board having at least one switch positioned on the upper surface thereof;
- a keypad having a light guide panel with upper, lower, and lateral surfaces;
- and
- at least one light emitting device positioned adjacent to at least one of the lateral surfaces of the light guide panel, wherein the keypad comprises:
- a film positioned on the upper surface of the light guide panel and having at least one key button positioned on the upper surface thereof;
- at least one protrusion formed on the lower surface of the light guide panel and protruding outwardly from the lower surface of the light guide panel, the lower surface that is opposite to the upper surface of the light guide panel;
- and
- at least one reflective pattern locally formed on the light guide panel to reflect a part of light, which propagates through the interior of the light guide panel, towards the key button, wherein the reflective pattern is formed on the lower surface of the light guide panel and around the protrusion.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.