Method of making a thin film keypad
US6821467B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 31, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 17, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T428/24289
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A thin film keypad includes a retainer sheet and a plurality of keycaps molded onto keycap attachment regions on the retainer sheet such that the keys are mechanically secured to the retainer sheet. The retainer sheet is made of a thin film material, such as polycarbonate or polyester, and each keycap attachment region includes at least a hole and/or at least one retainer anchor portion. The keycaps are molded from a plastic material, such as polycarbonate or polyester, ABS or a polycarbonate/ABS blend. The thin film material is placed in a molding tool and the plastic material is injected into a keycap mold cavity such that the plastic material flows through the holes and/or around the retainer anchor portions, thereby anchoring the keycaps to the retainer sheet.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.