JPH09311744A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to perform key operation by both hands even when the keyboard is small-sized, by providing a coupling means which connects board substrates, on which keys are mounted, to each other by a flexible electric conductor. SOLUTION: This keyboard consists of the board substrates 3 on which the keys 1 are mounted and an X-shaped frame 3 which connects the board substrates 2. When a left- and a rightward tensile force are applied to the board substrates 2, the X-shaped frame 3 is opened on a shaft 5 as a fulcrum, a shaft 6 moves by the distance of a groove 4 to separate the board substrates 3 laterally by a specific distance, and the board substrate 2 slide partially to expand the pitch between keys. Consequently, the key intervals can be operated with both the hands irrelevantly to the size of the device, so the operability of the keyboard is improved and when a desk-top personal computer, etc., is used, the space on a desk is saved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard, and more particularly to a small keyboard attached to a portable information device or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 3, a keyboard 102 used in a conventional portable information device is limited within the area of the information device main body, so that the interval between the keys 1 and 1 is narrow.
It was hard to type.

[0003]

In this conventional keyboard 102, since the key 1 interval is narrower than the standard size,
There was a problem that the input efficiency was poor because it was not possible to type with both hands when blind-touching.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard which can be operated with keys by both hands even if it is small.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the keyboard of the present invention is a board substrate on which a plurality of keys are mounted, and a joint means for connecting the board substrates with a flexible conductor. It is composed of and.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the keyboard of the present invention has a key unit in which a plurality of keys are divided into front, rear, left and right, and the key units can be slid in parallel by a flexible conductor. And a joint means.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a board substrate 2 on which a plurality of keys 1 are mounted and an X-shaped frame 3 connecting the board substrates 2.

Next, the operation of the keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the operation of the keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, when tension is applied to the board substrate 2 in the left-right direction, the X-shaped frame 3 is pulled in the direction of the arrow and the shaft 5 is moved. With the fulcrum as a fulcrum, the shaft 6 moves by the distance of the groove 4 and the board substrate 2 is laterally separated by a predetermined distance, and the board substrate 2 is partially slid in the left-right direction, and also in the front-back direction. Similarly, the pitch between the keys 1 can be widened by sliding.

Next, a keyboard according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a keyboard according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, has keys 11 that can be separated one by one.
And a parallel slide type frame 3 for connecting this key 11.
And 1.

Next, the operation of the keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, the operation of the keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention is such that when tension is applied in the front-back direction of the top 12 of the key 11, the parallel slide type frame 3
1 moves and the overlapped part of the parallel slide type frame 31 moves by the distance of the groove 33, and when the pin 32 collides, it stops and the key 11 slides in the vertical direction for a predetermined distance. However, the pitch between the keys 11 similarly widens.

[0017]

As described above, according to the keyboard of the present invention, it is possible to provide a key interval that can be operated by both hands regardless of the size of the device, so that the operability of the keyboard is improved and the keystroke efficiency is improved. If it is improved and used for a desktop PC, etc., it will be effective in saving space on the desk.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a keyboard according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a conventional keyboard.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,11 key 2 board substrate 3 x-shaped frame 4,33 groove 5,6 axis 12 top 31 parallel slide type frame 32 pins

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard comprising: a board substrate on which a plurality of keys are mounted; and a joint means for connecting the board substrates to each other with a flexible conductor. 2. A keyboard comprising a key unit in which a plurality of keys are divided into front, rear, left and right, and a joint means capable of sliding the key units in parallel with each other by a flexible conductor.