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US 8,134,094 B2Granted
Layered thin-type keycap structure
AssigneeIchia Technologies, Inc.
InventorsKai-Jie Tsao, Kuo-Long Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thin-type keycap structure comprising a key cap layer and a plastic film on the upper surface of the key cap layer. The thin-type keycap structure and the metal dome on a PCB are assembled to form a keypad structure. The thin-type keycap structure is made through compression molding of the plastic film and a resin together. The surface of the plastic film may be embossed before the compression molding.
Claims27
A thin-type keycap structure, comprising:
- a resin key cap layer having an upper surface, a side end surface, and a flat bottom surface which spans the upper surface, wherein the upper surface has a bulge shape;
- a plastic film covering the upper surface of the key cap layer which does not cover the side end surface or the bottom surface of the key cap layer;
- and
- a printing layer between the upper surface of the key cap layer and the plastic film, wherein the key cap layer, the printing layer and the plastic film are together in a form of a compression-molded laminate.
1 more element
A thin-type keypad structure, comprising:
- a circuit board comprising a plurality of electrical connection sites;
- a plurality of metal domes disposed above the electrical connection sites respectively, wherein, when the metal domes are pressed, the metal domes are electrically connected to the underlying electrical connection sites;
- a plurality of plungers disposed above the metal domes respectively;
- and
- a plurality of keycap structures disposed above the plungers respectively and each comprising:
- a resin key cap layer having an upper surface, a side end surface, and a flat bottom surface which spans the upper surface, wherein the upper surface has a bulge shape;
- a plastic film covering the upper surface of the key cap layer which does not cover the side end surface or the bottom surface of the key cap layer;
- and
- a printing layer between the upper surface of the key cap layer and the plastic film, wherein the key cap layer, the printing layer and the plastic film are together in a form of a compression-molded laminate.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.