The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 26, 2012
Filed:
Jun. 25, 2008
Masaru Matsumoto, Osaka, JP;
Kimiaki Imai, Osaka, JP;
Masaru Matsumoto, Osaka, JP;
Kimiaki Imai, Osaka, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
In a portable terminal, a plurality of operation keysare formed in a key through hole, which is formed in a housing main body that covers a printed board, by partitioning a stainless steel sheet(a key sheet) by slits. A urethane sheetis attached to the rear side of the stainless steel sheet, where the urethane sheethas ridge portionsthat bulge out through the slitsto the front side of the stainless steel sheet, and the rear sides of the ridge portionshave groove-like openings. A rubber layeris attached to the rear side of the urethane sheet, where the rubber layerhas a plurality of protruding portionsthat protrudes toward a substrateat positions corresponding to a plurality of fixed contactsover the substrate. LEDs (light emitting means) and a light guide sheetare disposed closer to the substrate than the rubber layeris. Recess grooves(wrong operation preventing means), for preventing the operation keyslocated adjacent to each ridge portionfrom being depressed at the same time, are formed in the rubber layerat locations corresponding to the rear sides of the ridge portions. This implements the operation keysthat have a nice feel and are less likely to cause wrong operation, while uniformly guiding light from the LEDs to the operation keys