JP3318326B2 - Key switch device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the structure of a key switch device used for a keyboard or the like which is an input device of a word processor, a personal computer or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a key switch device of this type, a stem projecting downward from a lower surface of a key top is formed on a holder member as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 59-33250. In general, the key top is configured to be guided up and down so as to be vertically movable by being inserted through the stem guide portion.

However, in such a structure, if the vertical movement of the stem is shortened in order to increase the vertical movement stroke of the key top, the vertical sliding length with the stem is insufficient, and the key top is depressed. Occasionally, the key touch cannot be smoothly performed due to the occurrence of a twist. Therefore, the vertical length of the stem guide must be increased, and the keyboard cannot be made thinner.

[0004] In order to solve this problem, the applicant of the present invention has disclosed in the specification and drawings attached to the application for Japanese Patent Application No. 3-330160 a guide means for vertically moving the key top.
A first link and a second link that are arranged in an X-shape when viewed from the side; the first link and the second link are rotatably connected to each other at a midway intersection of the two links; and one of the free ends of the first link and the second link Is rotatably locked to the lower surface of the key top and the holder member, while the other free end is slidably locked to the lower surface of the key top and the holder member, and the head of the rubber spring intersects the intersection of the two links. A configuration in which pressing is performed on the lower surface in the vicinity is proposed.

[0005]

By the way, the size of the operation surface of the keytop in this kind of keyboard, that is, the size of the plane area of the keytop, is determined by taking into account the type of input, the frequency of use, the usability, and the like. There are several types, and large and small types of key tops are arranged on the keyboard. For example, the most frequently used hiragana (Katakana), English letters,
The key tops for the numbers are of a normal medium size with a substantially square shape in plan view, the space key and the tab key are rectangular key tops having a large horizontal aspect ratio, and the auxiliary function keys are for the medium size. A horizontally long key top (hereinafter, referred to as a half unit key) which is approximately half the size of a key top having a medium size is used.
Among these various key tops, in particular, in the case of a key switch using a long key top such as a space key or a tab key, the key top may be depressed depending on the pressed position due to the long key top. May move up and down in an inclined state. For example, when the end of the space key is pressed, the space key moves up and down in an inclined state, which may cause a problem in the switching operation.

However, the aforementioned Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 3-330
In the key switch described in the specification and the drawing of No. 160, in the case of the above-mentioned character key or half unit key, the key top is held in a parallel state by the guide means including the first link and the second link. It is possible to guide up and down while moving, but in the case of a long key top such as a space key or a tab key, the up and down guide while maintaining the parallel state of the key top with only the first link and the second link It was difficult to do.

[0007] When the key top is fully depressed,
The distance between the lower ends of the pair of links in the planar projection length of the pair of links is equal to the length of each link in plan view, and the interval between the lower ends of the pair of links is widened in the link opening direction (sliding direction).
Further, in order to obtain a keystroke required for key operation, it is necessary to lengthen each link to some extent. At this time, if the pair of links is arranged so that the leg opening direction (sliding direction) matches the width direction of the long key top, the width of the long key top is small. There is a possibility that the lower end of each link may extend beyond the width of the key top and come out outward when the key top is fully pressed.

In such a case, in consideration of the required plane projection length of each link, the arrangement relationship of the other key tops adjacent to the long key tops with respect to the depth of the keyboard must be increased, and the operation of the entire keyboard is required. There is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the area.

Further, in order to guide the vertical movement of a long key top such as a space key or a tab key, it is generally practiced to guide the vertical movement through a posture holding lever such as a space bar made of a metal rod. However, when the guide means including the two first links and the second links is used, the first links and the second links are rotatably locked to the key tops and the holder members, respectively, and the sliding is performed. Because of the need for dynamic locking, how to position the attitude holding lever is an important issue. For example, in order to guide up and down movement while maintaining the parallel state, it is necessary to arrange a posture holding lever along the longitudinal direction of the key top, but as described above, the key opening direction of the pair of links is elongated. If the key tops are arranged so as to coincide with each other in the width direction, the lower ends of the links may interfere with the attitude holding levers when the key tops are pressed, and the key tops may not be properly operated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. In the case of using a pair of link members and a posture holding lever to guide and support the up-and-down movement of a long key top. Link when pressing the key top
The lower end of the click member will exit outwardly beyond the width of the key top, and, possible to reliably prevent the lower end of the link member may interfere with the attitude holding lever It is an object to provide a simple key switch device.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a key switch device according to a first aspect of the present invention has a long key top and a plurality of key switches arranged below the key top.
A holder member having a stop portion, the lower surface of the key Toppu the holder
Together are locked coupled engagement to a plurality of engaging portions of the member, a pair of link members disposed movably to each other, a guide support member for guiding and supporting vertical movement of the key top, the vertical movement of the key Toppu Elastic deformation with key top
A key switch device including an elastic member that urges the at the lower surface of the key Toppu, together provided as to surround the draft in the support member in the region of the plan view of the key top, the shaft portion of the longitudinal has, axially and link member of the shaft portion
And a posture holding lever arranged so that the sliding direction when the key top is depressed is the same direction.

Further, in the key switch device according to the present invention, one of the plurality of locking portions of the holder member is a sliding locking portion.

[0013]

In the key switch device of the present invention having the above structure, when the long key top is depressed, the guide support member and the posture holding lever, which are constituted by a pair of link members arranged to be movable relative to each other. The key top is guided downward through. At this time, the elastic member deforms elastically.
Te, switching operation is performed.

At this time, based on the action of the posture holding lever, the key top can be operated up and down while maintaining the parallel state regardless of the pressed position. Also, the link section
Since the sliding direction of the material and the axial direction of the longitudinal shaft portion of the posture holding lever are arranged in the same direction, when the long key top is pressed, the pair of link members are connected to the posture holding lever. of it will be open leg each other along the longitudinal direction, thereby, possible to reliably prevent the lower end of the pair of link members would exit the outward beyond the width of the key top, also, the pair Can reliably prevent the lower end of the link member from interfering with the attitude holding lever.

When the keytop is released,
The key top is pushed upward based on the elastic force of the elastic member, and returns to the original position.

[0016]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show a key switch 1 of one of a plurality of half unit keys arranged on a keyboard, FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a plan view of a horizontally long key top, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view, and FIG. The sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2 is shown. The lower side in FIG. 1 and the left side in FIG. 3 are the near side (operator side) of the keyboard.

As shown in FIG. 2, the key switch 1 has a key top 2, a guide member 3 in which a first link 4 and a second link 5 are arranged in an X-shape in a side view. a cap-shaped rubber spring 6 to be pressed, plan inner member 3
And a flexible printed circuit board stretched on the lower surface of the holder member 7 so that the switching portions 29, 29 (see FIG. 5) face the arrangement holes 7a of the holder member 7. 9 and a reinforcing plate 10 stretched on the lower surface side thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rubber spring 6 is provided with an arrangement hole of the holder member 7 so as to cover above the switching parts (electric contact parts) 29, 29 (see FIG. 5) on the printed circuit board 9. 7a. In this state, the rubber spring 6 is placed on the printed circuit board 9 as shown in FIG. 2, whereby the lower portion of the rubber spring 6 is stored within the thickness of the holder member 7, and It is possible to dispose it below corresponding to the thickness of the member 7. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the overall height of the key switch 1 by effectively using the thickness of the holder member 7 while maintaining a large stroke amount of the key top 2, and to reduce the thickness of the key switch 1. be able to.

The upper end of the rubber spring 6 is exposed from the upper surface of the holder member 7 and is disposed in the arrangement hole 7a as described above, as shown in FIG. Is in contact with Here, the pressing portion 26 of the guide member 3 is in contact with the upper end of the rubber spring 6, but a pressing portion is formed from the keytop 2, and the pressing portion is in contact with the upper end of the rubber spring 6. It may be.

The rubber spring 6 of the present invention is made of an electrically insulating silicone rubber or EPDM (ethylene propylene diene methylene) or the like, and has a substantially disk-shaped thick head in plan view and a downward facing from the periphery of the head. And a thick flap portion extending substantially radially outward on the outer periphery of the dome portion, and is integrally formed in a downward open cap shape. When the keytop is depressed, contact portions of the switching portions 29, 29 are provided on the lower surface of the head of the rubber spring 6 pressed by the pressing portion 26 on the lower surface of the connection crossing portion between the first link 4 and the second link 5. , A movable contact portion 30 made of conductive rubber having conductivity for electrically turning on and off both switching portions is fixed. The entire rubber spring 6 may be formed to have conductivity by dispersing and filling conductive particles such as carbon black in silicone rubber.

The key top 2 formed of a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin is provided with predetermined characters such as numerals and alphabets on the upper surface (surface) by engraving or printing. As shown in FIG. 1, the key top 2 has a left-right operation surface, and on its lower surface, pin portions 11a and 11b on an upper free end side of a first link 4 described later are provided in a substantially horizontal direction. Sliding locking portions 16, 16 in the form of left and right longitudinal grooves for locking slidably along the left and right longitudinal directions, and the pin portions 13 a, 13 b at the upper free end of the second link 5 can only rotate. A pair of front and rear locking members 17, 17, which are integrally provided with hole-shaped rotation locking portions 15, 15 for locking, are integrally formed or are protruded by being bonded with an adhesive or the like.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b),
The first link 4 and the second link 5 made of a synthetic resin such as a glass fiber reinforced synthetic resin will be described in detail. FIG. 4A is a plan view of the first link 4, and FIG. 4B is a plan view of the second link 5. The first link 4 has a base 18 and an upper and lower free end 1
9 and 20, which are formed substantially integrally in a substantially H shape in plan view. A support hole 21 is formed in the side surface of the base 18 in a lateral direction, and arm portions 20 extending from both side ends of the lower free end portion 20.
Pin portions 12a and 12b are laterally protruded from the outer surfaces of the upper and lower free ends 19, respectively.
a, 11b are protruded sideways.

The second link 5 also has a base 22 and an upper and lower free end 2.
3 and 24 to form a substantially H-shape integrally in plan view. A pivot shaft 25 is protruded laterally from one side surface of the base 22, and the pivot shaft 25 is rotatably fitted into the support hole 21 of the first link 4. Arms 24a and 24b extending from both ends of lower free end 24 of second link 5
Pin portions 14a and 14b are respectively provided on the outer side surface of the upper free end portion 23, and pin portions 13a and 13b
Is protruded sideways. The first link 4 and the second link 5, which are assembled as described later, are arranged such that the axial direction of the pivot 25 is orthogonal to the left-right longitudinal direction of the key top 2.

Here, the support hole 21 of the first link 4 and the second
The portion of the link 5 including the pivot shaft 25 forms an intermediate intersection of the first link 4 and the second link 5, and the axis of the pivot shaft 25 is a rotation axis in the intermediate intersection.

In this embodiment, when viewed from the side, the first
The distance from the center line of the support hole 21 in the link 4 to the center line of the upper and lower pin portions 11a and 12a, and the distance from the center line of the pivot 25 in the second link 5 to the pin portions 13a and 14
It is formed so that the distances to a are equal to each other.
With such a configuration, as described later, the key top 2 is rotated by the guide member 3 centering on the pin portions 12a and 12b on the lower free end side of the first link 4, so that the key top 2 is fixed to the holder member 7. It can move up and down in parallel to the upper surface.

Although not shown, downwardly convex polygon-shaped pressing portions are formed on the lower surfaces of the base portion 18 of the first link 4 and the base portion 22 of the second link 5, respectively. The upper surface of the head may be pressed.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a part of a holder member 7 made of a synthetic resin such as a glass fiber reinforced synthetic resin. In this embodiment, the holder member 7 is flat. The holder member 7 is provided with a substantially rectangular arrangement hole 7a in which a flange at the lower end of the cap-shaped rubber spring 6 can be inserted without displacement, and a pair of front and rear edges of the arrangement hole 7a are provided. Rotation locking part 27
And a sliding locking portion 28 in the shape of a front and rear longitudinal groove are integrally formed by injection so that the locking portions 27 and 28 are opened downward.

In this case, a downwardly extending U-shaped locking groove 27a of the rotation locking portion 27 and a right and left
When one of the molding dies is formed so as to open in the normal direction with respect to the back surface of the holder member 7, the die-shaped locking groove 28 makes it extremely easy to remove the mold after injection molding of synthetic resin. become.

Next, a method of assembling the key switch thus configured will be described. First, both links 4
5 is assembled at the position of the pivot shaft 25 and the support hole 21 in an X-shape in side view, and then the upper pin portions 11 of both links 4 and 5 are assembled.
a, 11b, 13a, and 13b are inserted into the rotation locking portions 15, 15 and the sliding locking portions 16, 16 of the key top 2, and then the lower end free ends 20, 24 of the links 4, 6 are inserted. With the intervals narrowed, the pin portions 12a, 12b, 14a,
14b is inserted so as to protrude from the arrangement hole 7a to the back side of the holder member 7. Then, lower free end 2 of both links 4 and 5
The distance between the pin portions 12a and the lower end side of the first link 4 is increased with respect to the rotation locking portions 27 and 27.
12b is inserted from below, and the pin portions 14a, 14 on the lower end side of the second link 5 are inserted into the sliding locking portions 28, 28.
If the printed circuit board 9 is stretched and fixed to the lower surface of the holder member 7 after the member b is inserted so as to slide back and forth from below, the links 4 and 5 do not fall off the holder member 7.

At this time, the pin portions 11a, 11b and 14
a, 14b and the shape of the sliding locking portions 16, 28 are as follows:
The first link 4 and the second link 5 are substantially immovable in the left-right direction in FIG. 3, and the pin portions 11a and 14a of FIG.
Is determined so as not to hinder sliding in the left-right direction at
More specifically, in the present embodiment, the tip of each pin portion slides substantially in contact with the outer side surface of the corresponding sliding engagement portion. Therefore, the pivot shaft 25 is prevented from coming out of the support hole 21.

With this configuration, when the key top 2 is pressed, the first link 4 rotates downward (clockwise in FIG. 2) around the rotation locking portion 27 of the holder member 7.
On the other hand, the second link 5 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 2 around the pivot shaft 25. Then, the head of the rubber spring 6 is pressed downward by the pressing portion 26 near the cross connection portion of the links 4 and 5, and the movable contact 30 on the lower surface thereof contacts the switching portions 29 and 29 to perform a switching operation. It is.

As in the present embodiment, when the rotation axis of the pivotal support shaft 25 of the cross connection between the first link 4 and the second link 5 is arranged to be orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the horizontally long key top 2, the key The pair of links 4 and 5 along the longitudinal direction of the top 2
Can be arranged so that their longitudinal directions are along. In other words, by disposing a pair of links 4 and 5 having a narrow width and a long length, a keystroke of a predetermined required size can be obtained, and the arrangement interval of the key tops of the adjacent half unit keys can be reduced. It can be prevented from spreading more than necessary,
This has the effect that the operation area of the keyboard can be reduced to make it compact.

As another embodiment, a large diameter head is formed at the tip of the pivot shaft 25 of the second link 5, while the first
A substantially C-shaped holding member, which is open downward and is viewed from the side, is formed on the lower surface of the base 18 of the link 4 (both are not shown), and the supporting shaft 25 is covered with the holding member from a direction crossing the axis thereof. The fitting prevents the pair of links 4 and 5 from coming off after assembling them in an X-shape and widens the gap (the distance between the links 4 and 5 increases).
May be realized.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show that the key top 2 'having a horizontally long operation surface, such as a tab key, can be pressed in any direction by pressing any part of the key top 2'. The device is a device for raising and lowering, and has, on the lower surface of the key top 2 ′, a substantially U-shaped posture holding lever 31 having a longitudinal shaft portion 31 a extending in the laterally long direction. In this case, the longitudinal shaft portion 31a is formed by a pair of upwardly-bifurcated fitting locking members 32, 32 protruding from the upper surface of the holder member 7.
The support member 31b, 31b of the attitude maintaining lever 31 made of a metal bar is slidably engaged with the sliding locking pieces 33, 33 provided on the lower surface of the key top 2 '. Stop.

At this time, the posture holding lever 31 is
As shown in FIG. 3, the key top 2 ′ is provided at a position deviating from the pair of first link 4 and second link 5 in the area of the key top 2 ′ in plan view, so that the first link 4 and the second link 5 are provided.
There is no problem in the operation of.

The opening direction (sliding direction) of the pair of the first link 4 and the second link 5 and the axial direction of the longitudinal shaft portion 31a of the posture maintaining lever 31 (the longitudinal direction of the posture maintaining lever 31). ) Is almost the same direction.

Thus, when the long key top 2 'is depressed, the first link 4 and the second link 5 move along the longitudinal direction of the attitude holding lever 31, that is, along the longitudinal direction of the key top 2'. The pin portions 14a, 14b, 12a, 12b of the first link 4 and the second link 5 can be reliably prevented from protruding outward beyond the width of the key top 2 '. In other words, by disposing a pair of links 4 and 5 having a narrow width and a long length, a keystroke of a predetermined required size can be obtained, and the arrangement interval of the long key tops 2 'can be reduced. Unnecessary expansion can be prevented, and the keyboard operation area can be reduced to make it more compact.

It is to be noted that the fitting and locking members 32, 32 may be penetrated from the back side through holes formed in the holder member 7 or may be formed integrally with the holder member 7. good.

With this configuration, even if the end of the operation surface of the key top 2 'is pressed, the key top 2' moves up and down in parallel. Since the shapes, structures and arrangements of the first link 4, the second link 5 and the rubber spring 6 in this embodiment are substantially the same as those in the above-described embodiments, detailed description will be omitted.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show that the longitudinal shaft portion 31a of the posture holding lever 31 is pivotally attached to the lower surface of the key top 2 'so as to be rotatable only.
This is an embodiment of the sliding locking portion 34 formed in the holder member 7 for slidably locking the b. The supporting projections 36 are provided on both side edges on the surface side of the hole 35 formed in the holder member 7. And the holding portion 37 are integrally protruded. With this configuration, the support portion 31b of the posture holding lever 31 inserted between the support protrusion 36 and the holding portion 37 can slide while rotating. Reference numeral 38 denotes a stopper for preventing the support portion 31b from coming off in the horizontal direction.

In each of the above embodiments, a substrate such as a membrane switch circuit board may be used instead of the flexible printed circuit board 9 forming the switching section 29, and the present invention can be applied to a variable capacity keyboard.

[0042]

As described above in detail, according to the key switch device of the present invention, the key top is pressed by the link member.
Since the sliding direction at the time of lowering and the axial direction of the longitudinal shaft portion of the posture holding lever are arranged in the same direction, when the elongate keytop is pressed, a pair of link portions is pressed.
The material is placed in the axial direction (long
The legs are mutually opened along the hand direction) , whereby it is possible to reliably prevent the lower end portions of the pair of link members from going outside beyond the width of the key top. In other words, it is possible to obtain a keystroke of a predetermined required size by arranging a pair of links having a narrow width but a long width.
Together it becomes, it is possible to prevent widening the arrangement interval of the key top more than necessary, by reducing the operation area of the keyboard keys
-It may be possible to make the board compact.

Further, it is possible to reliably prevent the lower end portions of the pair of link members from interfering with the attitude holding lever. Therefore, the long key top can be always smoothly and appropriately operated while being held by the posture holding lever together with the pair of link members .

Further, on the lower surface of the long key top,
A pair of link members should be
A position holding lever provided so as to surround the guide support member , the longitudinal axis of which is the key top of the link member.
The guides are supported so that they are arranged along the sliding direction when pressed.
Even when a long key top is supported via a member , up and down input operations can be performed while maintaining the parallel state of the key top regardless of the pressed position of the key top,
A pair of links by the posture holding lever during up / down input operation
The key input operation can be performed properly without hindering the guiding action of the members .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a key switch.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the key switch.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2;

4A is a plan view of a first link, and FIG. 4B is a plan view of a second link.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an arrangement hole of a holder member.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a long key top.

7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of the locking portion of the posture holding lever.

9 is a sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key switch 2, 2 'key top 3 Guide member 4 1st link 5 2nd link 6 Rubber spring 7 Holder member 9 Printed circuit board 10 Reinforcement board 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b Pin part 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b Pin part 15, 27 Rotation locking part 16, 28 Sliding locking part 18, 22 Base 21 Support hole 25 Pivot shaft 31 Posture holding lever 31a Shaft part 31b Support part 32 Fitting locking member 33 Sliding locking piece 34 sliding engagement portion 35 hole 36 supporting projection 37 holding portion 38 stopper portion

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A long key top and a plurality of locking portions disposed below the key top.
A holder member, a lower surface of the key top , and a plurality of locking portions of the holder member.
Connected and locked and arranged in a mutually movable state
A guide support member comprising a pair of link members for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key top; and a key top , which is elastically deformed with the vertical movement of the key top.
A key switch device comprising: an elastic member for urging the key top upward , and provided on the lower surface of the key top so as to surround the guide support member in a region of the key top in a plan view, It has a longitudinal shaft portion, and has a posture holding lever arranged so that the axial direction of the shaft portion and the sliding direction when the key top of the link member is pressed are the same direction. Key switch device. 2. One of a plurality of locking portions of the holder member,
2. The key switch device according to claim 1, wherein the key switch device is a sliding engagement portion.