1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hardware operating interface, and in particular to a keypad panel that can be applied to an electronic product, such as a mobile phone or personal digital assistant (PDA).
2. Description of Prior Art
A keyboard is one of the primary input means for an electronic device. Each key of a keypad panel of the keyboard is provided thereon with corresponding numerals, characters, phonetic symbols, roots for an input method and/or various functional icons, so that a user can input correct data or perform various functions of the electronic device. Therefore, for an electronic device, the keyboard acts as an important human/machine interface.
Since the light may be sometimes insufficient for a working environment of an electronic device, the keypad panel of a common keyboard is usually provided with a light source to generate a little or sufficient light for recognition, so that the user can still operate the keypad panel even though the light is dim. Although the displaying area can be illuminated directly via an underneath light source so as to generate a better illumination effect, the direct illumination may be harsh to the user's eyes. Especially in a dark environment, a light emitted suddenly may be so harsh to the user's eyes if he/she looks at the light, which will affect the vision of the user temporarily.
According to the above, in order to overcome the drawbacks of prior art, the inventor proposes the present invention based on his researches and expert experience.
The present invention is to provide a keycap for guiding light laterally and a keypad panel having the keycap, in which a lateral light is provided to illuminate a keypad without making the light to irradiate the user's eyes directly. In this way, the hurt to the user's eyes can be reduced or eliminated.
The present invention provides a keycap for guiding light laterally, which is made of a light-transmitting material. The bottom of the keycap has a light-entering surface A light-exiting surface extends from one side of the light-entering surface and intersects therewith. A connecting surface is formed between the light-entering surface and the light-exiting surface. The connecting surface is covered by a light-shielding layer. A light-reflecting surface is formed in the light-shielding layer. Via this arrangement, the light is introduced from the light-entering surface and reflected by the light-reflecting surface to project toward the light-exiting surface. Therefore, an effect of guiding light laterally can be achieved.
The present invention also provides a keypad panel for guiding light laterally, which includes an opaque layer and a keycap assembly. The opaque layer is an opaque thin sheet, and is provided thereon with a plurality of recognition regions. A corresponding keycap hole is provided adjacent to one side of each recognition region. The keycap assembly has a carrier located underneath the opaque layer, and a plurality of keycaps protruding from the carrier. Each of the keycaps is arranged in the corresponding keycap hole to protrude from the surface of the opaque layer. Via the above arrangement, a keypad panel can be formed to achieve the desired effects.
In order to make the Examiner to better understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present invention, a detailed description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only, but not used to limit the scope of the present invention.
The opaque layer 10 is a thin sheet made of an opaque material such as a circuit board, electronic ink, wood, cork, leather, metal or the like. Via a printing, etching or an electronic ink developing process, an upper surface of the opaque layer 10 is provided with recognition regions 100 constituted of numerals, characters, phonetic symbols, roots for an input method and/or various functional icons. A corresponding keycap hole 101 is provided adjacent to one side of each recognition region 100 on the opaque layer 10. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, when the opaque layer 10 is in an upright position, each of the keycap holes 101 is located below the corresponding recognition region 100. Of course, the possible arrangement is not limited thereto.
The keycap assembly 11 is located on a lower surface of the opaque layer 10. The keycap assembly 11 has a carrier 110 that is overlapped in parallel with the surface of the opaque layer 10, and a plurality of keycaps 111 protruding from the carrier 110. Each of the keycaps 111 is arranged to correspond to an associated recognition region 100, and penetrates through the corresponding keycap hole 101 to protrude from the surface of the opaque layer 10, so that a user can press the keycap.
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According to the above, the present invention really achieves the desired objects and solves the drawbacks of prior art. Further, the present invention has novelty and inventive steps, and thus conforms to the requirements for a utility model patent.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to the foregoing preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details thereof. Various equivalent variations and modifications can still occur to those skilled in this art in view of the teachings of the present invention. Thus, all such variations and equivalent modifications are also embraced within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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097200507 | Jan 2008 | TW | national |
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/947,821 filed on Nov. 30, 2007 is submitted as related application.