Illumination type key sheet

• US 20080093961A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Polymatech Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Polymatech Company Limited
• Inventors: Nakanishi, Yutaka, Koyano, Shigeru
• Application Number:
  US11/642,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20080093961A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/11
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/83 characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/186 using an electroluminiscent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/018 Electroluminescent panel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/072 High temperature considerations
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/52 Cooling of switch parts cooling of contacts H01H1/62

Abstract

Provided is an illumination type key sheet which efficiently diffuses local heat generated by a mounted element on a board and which makes an EL member relatively free from generation of unevenness in luminance. An illumination type key sheet is equipped with a graphite sheet which diffuses heat in a surface direction. Thus, if a semiconductor device on a board generates heat, it is possible to prevent local heating of an EL sheet by the graphite sheet, making the EL sheet relatively free from generation of unevenness in luminance. At the same time, it is possible to prevent occurrence of problems, such as malfunction and failure, due to heat storage of the semiconductor device. As compared with other materials, the graphite sheet exhibits high heat conductivity allows efficient heat diffusion, and is lightweight. Thus, it can meet the demand for a reduction in a weight of portable electronic apparatuses.

Claims

1. An illumination type key sheet which has a depressing operation portion and which is arranged on a circuit board on which an electronic component generating heat is mounted, comprising:

an EL member for illuminating the depressing operation portion; and

a sheet-like heat diffusion member which promotes heat diffusion in a surface direction upon receiving heat generated by the electronic component.

2. The illumination type key sheet according to claim 1, wherein the heat diffusion member is provided on a side of the EL member opposed to the board.

3. The illumination type key sheet according to claim 1, further comprising through-holes extending in a thickness direction provided in portions of the heat diffusion member corresponding to the depressing operation portions.

4. The illumination type key sheet according to claim 1, wherein the heat diffusion member and the EL member constitute the same layer.

5. The illumination type key sheet according to claim 1, further comprising an insulating base sheet on a side of the heat diffusion member opposed to the circuit board.

6. The illumination type key sheet according to claim 1, wherein the heat diffusion member is a rubber-like elastic member in which a heat conductive filler is mixed.

7. The illumination type key sheet according to claim 1, wherein the heat diffusion member comprises a thin metal plate integrally provided on the EL member.

8. An illumination type key sheet according to claim 1, wherein the heat diffusion member comprises a graphite sheet.

9. An illumination key sheet according to claim 1, wherein the heat diffusion member comprises a laminate composed of a thin metal plate and a graphite sheet.

10. An illumination type key sheet according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the heat diffusion member is covered with a polymer protective layer.

11. The illumination type key sheet according to claim 1, wherein the depressing operation portion is a keytop formed of a translucent resin.

12. The illumination type key sheet according to claim 1, wherein the depressing operation portion comprises a translucent surface sheet.

13. The illumination type key sheet according to claim 1, wherein:

the EL member is equipped with an EL element having at least a surface film constituting a light emission side; and

the depressing operation portion comprises the surface film.

14. An illumination type key sheet according to claim 1, wherein the EL member comprises an EL sheet having a light emitting portion and a non-light-emitting portion.

15. An illumination type key sheet according to claim 9, wherein the heat diffusion member comprises a laminate in which the thin metal plate is situated on the circuit board side.

16. An illumination type key sheet according to claim 12, wherein the surface sheet is composed of at least a base sheet composed of a resin film and a keytop composed of a resin film fixed to the base sheet.

17. An illumination type key sheet according to claim 12, wherein the surface sheet comprises is a resin film on which a display element, including a character, figure, symbol, and color, is formed by printing.

18. An illumination type key sheet according to claim 13, wherein a display layer is provided on an inner surface of the surface film.

19. An illumination type key sheet according to claim 14, wherein:

the light emitting portion has an EL element;

the EL element is formed by successively stacking together a surface film, a transparent electrode, a light emitting layer, a dielectric layer, a back surface electrode, and a back surface film; and

the non-light-emitting portion has an insulating resin between the surface film and the back surface film.

20. An illumination type key sheet according to claim 14, wherein:

the light emitting portion has an EL element;

the EL element is formed by successively stacking together a surface film, a transparent electrode, a light emitting layer, a dielectric layer, a back surface electrode, and a resist ink layer; and

the non-light-emitting portion has between the surface film and the resist ink layer.