JPS6217941Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a keyboard switch that allows a large operating stroke.

Recently, keyboard switches have been used in a wide range of applications, such as desktop electronic calculators, typewriters, and even personal computers.

In particular, those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have been developed and are now in use as thin-type devices.

The one shown in FIG. 1 has a
Insulating film 3 with fixed contacts 2, 2' on the top surface
A spacer 5 with an opening 4 is placed at a position corresponding to the fixed contacts 2, 2', and a movable contact 6 is placed on the bottom surface of the spacer 5 at a position corresponding to the fixed contacts 2, 2'. A flexible insulating film 7 is placed on top of the insulating film 7, a flexible decorative character sheet 8 is placed on top of the insulating film 7, and a finger 9
By pressing the decorative character sheet 8 corresponding to the opening 4 of the spacer 5, the insulating film 7 is bent into the opening 4, and the movable contact 6 is connected to the fixed contacts 2, 2'.
The switch was configured to perform a switching operation by making contact with the switch.

Moreover, the one shown in FIG. 2 is a fixed contact 10, 1
A rubber sheet 12 is placed on a substrate 11 having
A curved portion 13 that protrudes upward is provided at a position corresponding to
5 is provided, and by pressing the curved portion 11 with a finger or the like, the movable contact piece 15 is brought into contact with the fixed contacts 10, 10' to perform a switching operation.

Although this configuration is effective in terms of making it thinner, it has the disadvantage that the operating stroke is too short to be used in typewriters, personal computer keyboards, etc.

In other words, the keyboard of a typewriter or personal computer is often operated by the operator by placing his or her finger on the control panel. There was a problem that without a stroke, it was difficult to tell whether or not an operation was performed, and it became mentally tiring.

For this reason, keyboards for typewriters and personal computers that use Hall elements, reed switches, mechanical contacts, and capacitive switches are the mainstream, but these have disadvantages such as cost disadvantages. It was hot.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to FIG. 3 of the drawing.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a flexible film made of polyester film, etc., on which fixed contacts 17, 17' are formed by printing, sputtering, etching, vapor deposition, etc.
A spacer 19 having an opening 18 at a position corresponding to the fixed contacts 17, 17' is arranged above.
A flexible film 21 having a movable contact 20 formed on its lower surface by printing sputtering, etching, vapor deposition, etc. is disposed on the spacer 19. The flexible film 21 may be formed separately from the flexible film 16, or may be folded back and used as a unit.

A holding frame 2 is placed on this flexible film 21.
2 is arranged, and the lower part of a T-shaped movable element 24 fits into the cylindrical part 23 at the center of the bottom surface of this holding frame 22, and between this movable element 24 and the bottom surface of the holding frame 22, A coil spring 25 that always urges the movable element 24 upward is attached, and a coil spring 26 for operation is arranged on the upper surface of the movable element 24.
A holding frame 22 is attached to the upper end of this coil spring 26.
It is in contact with the lower end of a push button 27 that partially protrudes from the upper surface.

With this configuration, when the pushbutton 27 is pressed with a finger and moved downward, the operating coil spring 26 first elastically contracts, and the elastic force is large enough to overcome the elastic force of the coil spring 25 that supports the movable element 24. When this happens, the coil spring 25 is elastically compressed, the mover 24 moves downward, and the flexible film 21 is attached to the spacer 1.
9 into the opening 18, the movable contact 20 contacts the fixed contacts 17, 17' to perform a switching operation.

After this, if the pressing force of the pushbutton 27 is released,
Mover 24 by coil springs 25 and 26,
The pushbutton 27 returns to the upward movement, and normally the mover 2
4 is held floating above the flexible film 21.

Since the keyboard switch of the present invention is constructed as described above, the operation stroke of the pushbutton can be made quite large as it is the sum of the amount of elasticity of the two coil springs and the amount of deflection of the flexible film. Therefore, it can be fully used as a typewriter or personal computer keyboard, and by combining the elastic force of the two coil springs and the elastic force of the flexible film, any operating force can be obtained. Furthermore, since no pressure is normally applied to the flexible film, it will never deform or wear out, resulting in extremely superior reliability and longevity, which is of great practical value.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are sectional views of the main parts of a conventional keyboard switch, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the main parts of an embodiment of the keyboard switch of the present invention. 16...Flexible film, 17, 17'
... Fixed contact, 18 ... Opening, 19 ... Spacer, 20 ... Movable contact, 21 ... Flexible film, 22 ... Holding frame, 23 ... Cylindrical part, 24
...Mover, 25, 26...Coil spring,
27...Push button.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a keyboard switch in which a fixed contact and a movable contact provided on a flexible film face each other via a spacer having an opening, a holding frame is placed on the flexible film, and a coil spring is attached to the keyboard so that the holding frame is always attached upwardly within the holding frame. A keyboard switch that incorporates a movable element that is energized and a push button placed on the movable element via another coil spring.