WO2008117977A1

WO2008117977A1 - Decoration plate comprising decorated 3-d layer

Info

Publication number: WO2008117977A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/001662
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jong Wan Kim
Original assignee: Mogem Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-03-27
Filing date: 2008-03-25
Publication date: 2008-10-02
Also published as: KR100798626B1

Abstract

Disclosed are a decoration plate for wireless terminal unit, a window for wireless terminal unit using the same and a window-integrated keypad capable of being decorated in detail and in various shapes free from being restricted materialO-wise, having an excellent scratch resistance and abrasion resistance by way of a simple method, and having an excellent protuberant (decorated) shape or profile coupled with three dimensional aesthetic perception of various colors.

Description

DECORATION PLATE COMPRISING DECORATED 3-D

LAYER

Technical Field

[1] The following description relates generally to a decoration plate for wireless terminal units.

[2]

Background Art

[3] FIG.1 illustrates a perspective view of a conventional wireless terminal unit. As illustrated in FIG.l, wireless terminal units (hereinafter referred to as terminals), including, for example, mobile phones are typically disposed with a liquid crystal display (120) for displaying various information required for transmission and reception of signals, and a key panel (110) having holes into which a plurality of key buttons (130) of key pad for performing various functions are inserted.

[4]

[5] The keypad has the plurality of key buttons (130) formed with a printed surface printed with numerals and characters, and the key buttons (130) are protruded from an external side of the key panel (110) of the mobile phone. A user uses the mobile phone by pressing desired key buttons by checking the numerals and characters displayed on the printed surface. A light source comprising a light emitting device is disposed underneath an external surface of the key buttons (130) for identification of the printed surface at nights or in the dark. When light is irradiated on the light source, the numerals and characters printed on the key buttons (130) can be easily recognized by the user according to the backlighting effect.

[6]

[7] If a protruded (decorated) shape is embodied on an upper surface of external elements of the mobile phone, the external aesthetic perception of the mobile phone would be markedly enhanced, and if the protruded (decorated) shape portion is additionally colored, particularly, if colored in an excellent mirror effect by deposition, the decorative aesthetic sensibility of the mobile phone would be maximized. In order to realize the three dimensional decoration, four methods may be considered including, 1) a method in which a core for embodying a protruded shape on the formed mold itself is prepared and injection-molded to form the protruded shape or profile, 2) a method in which a sheet or film type synthetic resin substrate is applied with a partial blanking, a CNC (computer numerical control), or pressing, 3) an insertion protrusion method in which holes or gaps are made using a mechanical or etching process including punching on a metal substrate, and a separate element apart from the substrate having a silicone and urethane formation or other protruded shapes are pushed into the holes or gaps from under the substrate, and 4) an insertion assembly method in which a flat substrate is fabricated, and an component having a shape apart from that of the substrate is prepared using injection molding or other various methods where the component is bonded on the substrate, assembled using a double-sided tape or insertedly assembled.

[8]

[9] However, there are many shortcomings in the methods thus mentioned, which are as follows:

[10] (1) Materials for the components or parts must be injection-moldable synthetic resin, of blanking and numerical controllable process or of metallic stainless steel, aluminum or copper that is etchable, which renders the manufacturing method to be materially -restrained. (2) It is difficult to decorate only the protruded shape portion because a plain portion and the protruded shape portion are integrally injected in case of injection molding. Worse yet, there is a limit in the injectionable thickness for the plain portion, such that it is very difficult to injection mold if the thickness is less than 0.4T, resulting in difficulty in slimming. (3) Injection-molded components are not provided with scratch-resistance attributes, such that a spray process including ultraviolet or urethane coating must follow in order to provide a scratch resistance characteristics to surfaces after the injection molding. The disadvantage is that, subsequent to the spray process, decoratively protruded portions are damaged, distorted, and grooves are blocked or surfaces of the protruded portions bordering with the bottom surface get indistinct, making it substantially difficult to provide a scratch resistance to the surfaces of the injection molded components. (4) It is difficult to form a protruded miniscule shape on a metal substrate in an etching process, such that assembly with a separate component having a protruded shape is sought to achieve this end, which results in an increase cost caused by added-up processes and components and difficulty in providing a variety of desired decorations on the protruded portions as the components of assembled protruded shapes are typically silicone moldings. The etching process has further disadvantages in that thickness is restrained due to assembly of two or more components, and designs are restricted due to limited kinds of assembled moldings. (5) The process of providing a separate fine protrusion on a plain substrate made of synthetic resin and metal and the cost thereof are rendered in- competitive, and it is next impossible to bond the components especially when the components are small and precise. It is cumbersome to put respective decorations on a basic substrate and separate components when separate protrusions are bonded or insertedly assembled. Particularly, colored matching becomes even further meticulously difficult wherein all individual components corresponding to each protrusion are separately colored, and all the components to be assembled for one single finished product have to be matched in desired similar colors. In other words, decorations become restricted due to difficulty in profile machining and postprocessing of each component (a front decoration itself is hard to come by due to difficulty in fabricating process of each component) and effects resultant therefrom also fall short (back decoration lacks of effects over those of front decoration). Integrity decreases due to assembly of separate components and it is almost impossible to obtain a particular decorative protrusion having a front (upper) or external superficial aesthetic beauty.

[H]

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[12] The present invention is directed to solve the aforementioned problems and it is an object of the instant invention to provide a decoration plate for wireless terminal units, a window for wireless terminal units using the same and a window-integrated keypad capable of being decorated in detail and in various shapes free from being restricted in kinds of materials, having excellent attributes of scratch resistance and abrasion resistance by way of a simple method, and having an excellent protuberant (decorated) shape or profile coupled with three dimensional aesthetic perception of various colors Technical Solution

[13] In one general aspect, a decoration plate for wireless terminal units comprises: a base plate formed with a first decoration layer on at least one surface out of an upper surface or a bottom surface thereof; a curable three dimensional decoration layer three - dimensionally protruded on part of the upper surface of the base plate; and a second decoration layer formed between an entire or part of the curable three dimensional decoration layer and the base plate.

[14]

[15] Implementations of this aspect may include one or more of the following features.

[16]

[17] The curable three dimensional decoration layer is formed by curing photocurable and heat curable solution or two-kind mixture hard coating solution.

[18]

[19] The base plate is a plain sheet of transparent polymer material.

[20]

[21] The base plate is a conventional common transparent glass or a reinforced glass.

[22] [23] The base plate is made of an opaque metal material.

[24]

[25] The base plate formed with the first decoration layer is hard-coated at least on the upper surface or the bottom surface of the base plate, an upper surface or a bottom surface of the first decoration layer. [26] [27] The curable three dimensional decoration layer includes a coloring agent for expressing colors. [28] [29] The curable three dimensional decoration layer includes an additive for expressing matte or anti-glaring texture. [30] [31] The decoration layer is formed by deposition or printing method or a mixture of deposition and printing method. [32] [33] In another general aspect, a window for wireless terminal units using the decoration plate is formed with a transparent window unit on part of the decoration plate. [34] [35] In still another general aspect, a window-integrated keypad equipped with the decoration plate comprises: a transparent window unit disposed on the decoration plate; and a keypad unit that has expressed an entire or part of a key by way of the curable three dimensional decoration layer. [36] [37] In still further general aspect, the present invention provides a wireless terminal unit equipped with a window.

Advantageous Effects

[38] A decoration plate for wireless terminal units, a window for wireless terminal units using the same and a window-integrated keypad according to the present invention are capable of being decorated in detail and in various shapes free from being restricted in kinds of materials, have an excellent scratch resistance and abrasion resistance by way of a simple method, and have an excellent protruded (decorated) shape or profile coupled with three dimensional aesthetic perception of various colors. Brief Description of the Drawings

[39] FIG.1 illustrates a perspective view of a conventional wireless terminal unit.

[40] FIGS. 2 to 5 illustrate schematic cross-sectional views of an exemplary implementation of a decoration plate for wireless terminal unit according to the present invention. [41] FIGS.6 and 7 illustrate enlarged cross-sectional views of an exemplary implementation of a decoration plate for wireless terminal unit according to the present invention.

[42] FIG.8 is a perspective view of an exemplary implementation of a window for wireless terminal unit according to the present invention.

[43] FIG.9 is a perspective view of an exemplary implementation of a window- integrated keypad for wireless terminal unit according to the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[44] Now, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[45]

Mode for the Invention

[46] Now, the manufacturing method of window for display device according to the present invention will be described.

[47]

[48] FIGS. 2 to 5 illustrate schematic cross-sectional views of an exemplary implementation of a decoration plate (1) for wireless terminal unit according to the present invention.

[49]

[50] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, a decoration plate (1) for wireless terminal unit may comprise: a base plate (10) formed with a first decoration layer (11) on at least one side (one side in FIG.2, and both sides in FIG.3) out of an upper side or a bottom side thereof; a curable three dimensional decoration layer (20) three-dimensionally protruded on part of the upper side of the base plate (10); and a second decoration layer (12) formed between an entire or part of the curable three dimensional decoration layer (20) and the base plate (10).

[51]

[52] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the base plate (10) decorated with the first decoration layer (11) may be hard-coated at least on the upper side or the bottom side of the base plate (10), an upper surface or a bottom surface of the first decoration layer (11).

[53]

[54] The base plate (10) may not be particularly restricted but examples of the base plate

(10) may be made of acrylic resin such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, commonly known as acrylic), polyestere base resins such as polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), metal materials such as stainless steel, aluminum and copper, general glass and reinforced glass. Although it is not restricted, transparent materials are preferred for showing decorations of both sides.

[55]

[56] FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic cross-sectional views of each exemplary implementation of hard coating layer, where the base plate is made of synthetic resin, glass and metal materials. As illustrated, at least the upper surface out of upper and bottom surfaces of the base plate, or both surfaces may be hard-coated for improved scratch- resistance and abrasion-resistance in case of the base plate being made of synthetic resins. In other words, in doing so, the desired portions may be partially formed with decoration layer and three dimensional decoration layer and other surfaces where the decoration layer is removed may be also hard-coated to be provided with an advantage of being scratch-resistant.

[57]

[58] Furthermore, although the glass base plate may be hard-coated, the glass surface already has sufficient attributes of scratch-resistance and abrasion-resistance, such that it would be sufficient enough to hard-coat either the upper surface or the bottom surface instead of hard-coating both surfaces as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[59]

[60] In the same context, although the metal base plate (see FIG.5) may be hard-coated, the metal surface already has sufficient attributes of scratch-resistance and abrasion- resistance, such that there would be no need of hard-coating the upper surface or the bottom surface. However, it is preferable that the first decoration layer be disposed on an upper surface of the base plate due to opaqueness of the metal base material, and as a result, a hard coating layer be formed on the first decoration layer in order to protect the first decoration layer. A secondary additional decoration layer on top of the first decoration layer and the hard coating layer may be configured in the same construction layer as that of the transparent type of base material.

[61]

[62] The first decoration layer (11) and the second decoration layer (12) are intended for decoration such as coloring of background color and particular pattern or displaying numerals and characters. The base plate may be formed with the colored decoration layer by way of deposition or printing method. For a different partial decoration on a same surface, the deposition method may be applied and etching may be performed, or a particular region may be selectively printed using the screen printing method. As an exemplary manufacturing method, particles having a certain color may be deposited on a rear surface of the base plate to form a deposition layer. Part of the deposition layer may be removed and the region where the part of the deposition layer has been removed may be printed with numerals, characters or colors to form a printed layer. [64] Furthermore, the first decoration layer (11) may be formed at an upper surface or a bottom surface of the base plate (10) to embody a partially different decoration layer on the same plain surface. The first decoration layer may be formed on both surfaces to embody a variety of decoration layers. For example, a decoration layer that expresses the background color may be formed on the whole bottom surface while a decoration layer that expresses a specific pattern or keys may be partially formed on the upper surface.

[65]

[66] Under the state where the first decoration layer is formed as shown above, an upper surface of the decorated layer out of the upper surface (front surface) of the base plate, or an upper surface of other regions may be partially formed with a special pattern and various colors to form a second decoration layer (12), thereby providing an aesthetic design look and maximizing an creativity.

[67]

[68] Alternatively, prior to forming the first and second decoration layers, a pre-process such as wet or dry primer treatment may be performed to enhance the efficiency and reliability of the decorations, where each decoration layer may be formed using a sticker.

[69]

[70] The thickness of the first and second decoration layers (11, 12) is not particularly restricted but it is preferred to be in the range of 20nm to lOOnm and in the range of 20nm to 30nm in the sticker type.

[71]

[72] A protuberant curable three dimensional decoration layer (20) may be partially or wholly formed on the second decoration layer (12). Preferably, the curable three dimensional decoration layer (20) is made of a material having an excellent surface hardness capable of enhancing the scratch resistance and abrasion resistance, and having an excellent adhesiveness with the base plate material. To this end, curable, particularly photocurable hard coating solution is preferably used for the curable three dimensional decoration layer. The protuberant curable three dimensional decoration layer (20) may be formed on an upper surface of the base plate (or hard-coated base material) apart from the upper decoration layer. Preferably, the curable three dimensional decoration layer is formed on the first decoration layer (11), or on a layer overlapped by the first decoration layer and the second decoration layer if the first decoration layer (11) is formed on the base plate. The curable three dimensional decoration layer may be desirably formed on the second decoration layer.

[73]

[74] The curable hard coating solution may further include a coloring agent to enable a variety of colorings, and may further include additive to enable a variety of textures and external looks. One exemplary additive may include an additive for expressing matte or anti-glare texture of the curable three dimensional decoration layer. Examples of additives are not limited but may include organic polymers containing elements such as chloride, bromide and sulfur, metallic oxide nanoparticles such as titanium oxide, zirconium oxide and zinc oxide, organic polymer of fluorine or silica, and magnesium fluoride magnesium. Examples of additives may further include ITO, tin oxide, ATO, and zinc aluminium oxide.

[75]

[76] The curable three dimensional decoration layer may be produced in such a manner that a roll type mold or a plate type mold is made, a protuberant shape is directly made on the mold, a curable hard coating solution is coated on the surface of the base plate, molded and cured, and the substrate is removed from the mold. However, this way is hard to form a variety of three dimensional decoration layers. Worse yet, it is difficult to embody a selective clean three dimensional layer on a particular region. More preferably, a protuberant decoration is embodied by a droplet discharging method and/ or printing method using the curable hard coating solution in a dispenser, light (UV light) and/or heat is applied to cure the curable three dimensional decoration layer.

[77] The second decoration layer (12) formed on an upper surface of the base plate (10) may be formed in conformity with a region where the curable three dimensional decoration layer (20) is built.

[78]

[79] In other words, the first, second decoration layer or a mixed decoration layer of first and second decoration layer may be formed across the board, the curable three dimensional decoration layer may be accurately correspondingly positioned on the second decoration layer using the dispensing or printing method, or the curable three dimensional decoration layer is firstly formed and portions other than the curable three dimensional decoration layer is removed. The method for removing the decoration layer may be usefully carried out by the wet etching process, and the laser etching method may be also applied in some cases.

[80]

[81] Now, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the curable three dimensional decoration layer

(20) may be embodied with the same area as that of the second decoration layer (12) (see FIG.6), or embodied in a manner of wholly wrapping the second decoration layer (12). However, although it is not restricted, it is preferable that an upper portion of the curable three dimensional decoration layer take a round shape. Although it is not limted , the curable three dimensional decoration layer (20) may take the size in the range of 0.02mm to 1.00mm, but if the size is less than this range of scopes, the aesthetic three dimensional look may suffer.

[82]

[83] For examples of materials for the curable three dimensional decoration layer, the hard coating components will be explained in detail as below.

[84]

[85] The hard coating components may include heat-cured hard coating agent such as silicon type, melamine type, but may preferably include UV-cured hard coating agent in light of manufacturing in consideration of curing reactivity. The UV-cured hard coating agent may include hard coating agent using radical polymer such as unsaturated polyester, acryl polymer and hard coating agent using cationic polymer such as epoxy resin, vinyl ether polymer. In consideration of curing reactivity and surface hardness, acrylic radical polymer hard coating agent is preferred. Furthermore, UV- cured resin may be used that is a bit added with thermal curing components to partially give rise to a thermal cure.

[86]

[87] The acrylic radical polymer hard coating agent has as main components the multifunctional (met) acrylate having two or more (met) acryloyl group in a molecule and UV -polymerization initiator.

[88]

[89] The multi-functional (met) acrylate may include, for example, 2-functianal

(met)acrylate such as l,6-haxanedi(met)acrylate, (poly)ethyleneglycoldi(met)acrylate, neopenthylglycoldi(met)acrylate, 3-functianal (met)acrylate such as pentaery- thritoltri(met)acrylate, trimethylolpropantri(met)acrylate, glyceroltri(met)acrylate, tris- (2-hydroxyethyl)-isocyanurateester(met)acrylate, 4- and above-functianal (met)acrylate such as pentaerythritoltetra(met)acrylate, dipentaerythritolhexa(met)acrylate.

[90]

[91] The multi-functional (met) acrylate may further include (met)acrylic acrylate obtainable by reacting the (met)acrylic acid with a compound having two or more epoxy groups in a molecule, polyester acrylate obtainable by esterifying multi-hydroxy compound, multi-carboxylic acid compound and/or its anhydride, and urethane acrylate obtainable by reacting multi-hydroxy compound and multi-isocyanate compound, and acrylate contain hydroxyl group.

[92]

[93] Among these, pentaerythritoltri(met)acrylate and dipentaerythritolhexa(met)acrylate are preferable in terms of high hardness. The agent may comprise one single species or a combination of two or more species. Furthermore, the amount of such multifunctional (met) acrylate mixed in is 20-80 weight % out of the hard coating agent (solid equivalents). The oligomer or polymer may be used except, for example, styrene polymer, styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene/(met)acrylate copolymer, (met)acrylate polymer, butadiene polymer and silicon polymer. The UV-cured oligomer or polymer may include, for example, polystyrelmatacrylate and polybutadie- neacrylate.

[94]

[95] The well-known agent may be used for the UV-polymerization initiator. For example, selections may be suitably made from ketone initiator(acetophenone, pro- piophenone, anthraquinone, tioxantone, benzophenone, or their derivatives), benzoate initiator( p-dimethylaminobenzoic methyl ester), benzoin ether or its derivative (benzoinmethylether, benzoinethylether) and acylphosphine oxide. It should be also noted that others may be used.

[96]

[97] The amount of such UV-polymerization initiator mixed in is, for example, 0.1-20 weight % relative to 100 parts by weight of the multi-functional (met) acrylate (A), and is preferably 1-10 parts by weight or less.

[98]

[99] There is no particular limitation on the additives so long as it is commonly used in the hard coating agent industry, and may be added with, for example, organic agent for deluting the hard coating agent. Examples may include alcohol such as ethyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, methylisobutylketone, cy- clohexanone, 2-methoxyethanol, 2-ethoxyethanol, ethyleneglycoldimethylether, ethyleneglycoldiethylether, diethyleneglycoldimethylether, xylene, methyl cellosolve and ethyl cellosolve

[100]

[101] FIG.8 is a perspective view of an exemplary implementation of a window (2) for wireless terminal unit equipped with a decoration plate (1) according to the present invention, and further illustrates a window for wireless terminal unit formed with a transparent window unit at a part of the decoration plate.

[102]

[103] The decoration plate (1) may be suitably applied to a window covering and protecting a display window expressing images in the wireless terminal unit. To this end, a transparent window may be provided at an area of the decoration plate corresponding to the display window of the wireless terminal unit. For example, if a synthetic resin substrate of transparent material and a glass are used for a base plate of the decoration plate, and a decoration layer and a three dimensional decoration layer are formed at the outside, a window for the wireless terminal unit having an aesthetic perception may be simply manufactured. Furthermore, the window may be formed at a transparent window area according to size, shape or touch position that does not interfere with the images in a touch panel window as illustrated in FIG.6 (a). The window for the wireless terminal unit may be conveniently used as an inner display window for the wireless terminal unit and as a window for external display window providing simple information.

[104]

[105] FIG.9 is a perspective view of an exemplary implementation of a window- integrated keypad (3) for wireless terminal unit equipped with a decoration plate (1) according to the present invention, where the keypad includes a transparent window unit disposed on the decoration plate, and a keypad unit expressing a part or the whole of keys by the curable three dimensional decoration layer.

[106]

[107] In the bar-type wireless terminal unit, an assembly process and construction may desirably be reduced by integrating a display window and a keypad. In the bar-type wireless terminal unit, part of the decoration plate may be formed with the aforementioned window unit while the keypad region may be formed with the keypad unit to allow the decoration plate to be conveniently applied to the window-integrated keypad.

[108]

[109] As exemplarily illustrated in FIG.9, part or the whole of the keys may be formed by the three dimensional decoration layer on the keypad unit of the decoration plate to express the keys, where a variety of colored design mixture may be embodied by an appropriate configuration of the first and second decoration layer and the three dimensional layer. Furthermore, if the three dimensional layer is employed for the plain key plate to mix with other configurations of the conventional keypads, a window- integrated keypad with excellent aesthetic feelings may be simply manufactured.

[HO]

[111] Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of the present disclosure, without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive subject matter. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated implementations have been set forth only for the purposes of example, and that it should not be taken as limiting the inventive subject matter as defined by the following claims. The following claims are, therefore, to be read to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth but all equivalent elements for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, and also what incorporates the essential idea of the inventive subject matter. Industrial Applicability A decoration plate for wireless terminal unit, a window for wireless terminal unit using the same and a window-integrated keypad according to the present invention are capable of being decorated in detail and in various shapes free from being restricted materialO-wise, have an excellent scratch resistance and abrasion resistance by way of a simple method, and have an excellent protuberant (decorated) shape or profile coupled with three dimensional aesthetic perception of various colors.

Claims

[I] A decoration plate for wireless terminal units characterized by: a base plate formed with a first decoration layer on at least one surface out of an upper surface or a bottom surface thereof; a curable three dimensional decoration layer three-dimensionally protruded on part of the upper surface of the base plate; and a second decoration layer formed between an entire or part of the curable three dimensional decoration layer and the base plate.

[2] The decoration plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curable three dimensional decoration layer is formed by curing photocurable and heat curable solution or two-kind mixture hard coating solution.

[3] The decoration plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base plate is a plain sheet of transparent polymer material.

[4] The decoration plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base plate is a conventional transparent glass or a reinforced glass.

[5] The decoration plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base plate is made of an opaque metal material.

[6] The decoration plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base plate formed with the first decoration layer is hard-coated at least on the upper surface or the bottom surface of the base plate, an upper surface or a bottom surface of the first decoration layer.

[7] The decoration plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curable three dimensional decoration layer includes a coloring agent for expressing colors.

[8] The decoration plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curable three dimensional decoration layer includes an additive for expressing matte or anti- glaring texture.

[9] The decoration plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the decoration layer is formed by deposition or printing method or a mixture of deposition and printing method.

[10] A window for wireless terminal unit using the decoration plate in any one claim of 1 to 9, wherein a transparent window unit is formed on part of the decoration plate.

[I I] A window-integrated keypad equipped with the decoration plate of any one claim 1 to 9, characterized by: a transparent window unit disposed on the decoration plate; and a keypad unit that has expressed an entire or part of a key by way of the curable three dimensional decoration layer.

[12] A wireless terminal unit equipped with the window for wireless terminal unit of claim 10.