Sunarrow Co., Ltd.

Sunarrow Limited

Zeon Rize Co., Ltd.

Yoshio Kenmochi

Tetsuro Yamada

Atsuo Ishikawa

Ichiro Kawabuchi

Mobile phones are in a trend of having thinner configuration due to emphasis on the design. Thus, in order to meet this demand, the present invention aims to thin the key sheet portion as much as possible. The present invention provides a thin key sheetcomprising a key topmade of a metal or a resin having on the front surface or the back surface indications such as letters, symbols, graphics or the like indicating the functions of keys, a key padmade of a material having rubber elasticity such as a silicone rubber or various elastomers for supporting/fixing the key top, an EL elementformed on the back surface of the key top by means of printing, and a printed circuit boardon which a switch element is provided at its surface for turning ON/OFF of an electric circuit by the pressing of the key topand on which a circuit pattern involved therewith is formed.

Thin key sheet

Mobile phones are in a trend of having thinner configuration due to emphasis on the design. Thus, in order to meet this demand, the present invention aims to thin the key sheet portion as much as possible. A thin key sheet and a thin key unit incorporating the thin key sheet are configured by providing on its surface a key topmade of a metal or a resin with indications such as letters, symbols, graphics or the like indicating the functions of keys are formed on the front surface or the back surface thereof, and switch elementsfor turning ON/OFF of an electric circuit by the pressing of the key top, together with a printed circuit boardon which a circuit pattern involved therewith is formed; and by adhering and fixing the key topand the printed circuit boardtogether via a cushion gaskethaving appropriate elasticity and a filler layerdisposed between the key top and the printed circuit board.

Thin key sheet and thin key unit incorporating the thin key sheet

The present invention provides an illumination key and a method of making such illumination key, in which the upper surface of the key top is curved and slanted at an angle to make it possible to reliably recognize the pattern (such as a letter or the like) printed thereon, the key operating portion is provided with a rubber-like click sensitivity and elasticity while the key top portion is made of a hard resin, with the key operating portion and the key to being reliably bonded to each other, and in which a pattern such as a letter or the like can be simply created without the need for laser etching, and wherein it is possible to reliably carry out ON/OFF operations of a one key top without operating neighboring key tops.

Illumination key and method of manufacture

An illuminated keypad key and method of manufacture thereof, having a light-permeable resin key top, a film having a pattern formed in one side thereof, the film being fixed to the upper and side surfaces of the transparent resin key top, cutting away portions of the film that extend beyond the lower periphery of the key top, and upper surface of a key operating portion made from transparent rubber or thermoplastic elastomer, being fixed to the underside surface of the key top by means of a transparent adhesive. The above mentioned film has a thickness of 100 mm-200 mm.

Illuminated keypad key and method of manufacture thereof

Composition for a gasket and process for producing a gasket using the

A pushbutton switch is described which has a printed wiring board and a keypad arranged above the printed board, wherein the keypad has a non-working portion and a working portion made of translucent silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer in which the upper surfaces of the non-working portions only are covered with an opaque film, with an underside surface thereof covered by an insulating resin film so as to form an electrically conductive light-reflecting layer which is grounded to an earth portion.

Pushbutton switch

A pushbutton switch which is based on a printed-wiring board equipped with a light source and a keypad that is arranged above the printed-wiring board. The pushbutton switch has a non-working portion and a working portion made of transparent silicone rubber or a transparent thermoplastic elastomer, wherein the upper surfaces of the non-working portions, excluding the working portions of the keypad, are covered with an opaque film, with the underside thereof being covered by an insulating film which forms an electrically conductive light-reflecting layer in which the electrically conductive light reflective layer is grounded by being connected to an earth portion.

An illuminated key button is disclosed which is formed of a light permeable hard resin and has on the bottom of the key a print layer which is illuminated from below and is integral with the operating portion of the key button.

Illuminated button key

A laniform illumination plate comprising light emitters at one side thereof to irradiate the display section of the necessary keys with uniform illumination, a light-transmitting thin plate which has total reflection inside the plate thickness, the light emitters located in predetermined intervals, with sloped or curved concave reflecting sections formed on the bottom surface of the thin plate corresponding to the location of the keys, or strip shaped concave reflecting sections which run across the width of the thin plate, whereby the light is directed to the corresponding keys on the top surface of the thin plate.

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Ichihara, Japan

Yoshio Kenmochi