Process of producing key units wherein marking on their tops made of light-transmitting material can be completed later on
US7616224B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 25, 2003 |
| Grant date | Nov 10, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 30, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49002
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method is provided for marking a key top made of a translucent material with a character, a symbol, or the like, and a process is provided for quickly producing an illumination key unit. The inside of a transparent plastic key top is irradiated intermittently with focused laser light having a wavelength belonging to near infrared region of 1064 nm or less, visible region or near ultraviolet region to form an aggregation of multiple fine carbonization black points and an aggregation of points whitened by fine cracks or bubbling representing a character, a symbol, or the like. After a process capable of being carried out without determining a destination has ended, production is interrupted temporarily or ended and marking is performed by irradiating the top surface of the key top with laser light upon determination of a character, a symbol, or the like, related with the destination.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.