JP2000306465A - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard device possible to be thinned, capable of producing a large operating feel as well as reducing the number of components. SOLUTION: In this keyboard device, a magnet 7 and a coil 4 are disposed between a key top 5 and a membrane switch 3, a thrust feel to thrust up the magnet 7 is produced by the coil 4 excited by switching the contact of the membrane switch 3, and the thrust feel is transmitted to the key top 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard device, and more particularly to a keyboard device suitable for a keyboard input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A keyboard device generally used for a keyboard input device includes a housing, a membrane switch built in the housing, a key top supported by the lifting mechanism with respect to the housing, and a key top. It consists of an elastically deformable rubber spring disposed below the top. In the membrane switch, electrodes are formed so as to face each other at predetermined positions of a film which is provided to face each other with a predetermined gap, and the electrodes facing each other are brought into contact by pressing the key top. As a result, the contacts of the keyboard device are switched.

[0003] The operation of the keyboard device having the above-described structure is performed by moving the key top downward against the elastic force of the rubber spring in an initial state in which the electrodes of the membrane switch are separated from each other. When it is lowered, the rubber spring is inverted during this moving process to generate a click feeling, and the electrodes of the membrane switch come into contact with each other to switch the contacts. Then, the click feeling due to the reversal of the rubber spring is transmitted to the operator via the key top. When the operator recognizes this click feeling and releases the pressing force applied to the key top, the key top supported by the elevating mechanism is raised by the restoring force of the inverted rubber spring, and the moving process The electrodes of the membrane switch are separated from each other to return to the initial state.

A conventional keyboard device having such a configuration is mounted on a keyboard input device or the like and is used in, for example, a portable personal computer. However, in recent years, a small and thin portable personal computer such as a notebook has become popular. Accordingly, there has been a strong demand for a thinner keyboard device.

[0005]

However, in the conventional keyboard device as described above, in order to obtain an appropriate click feeling by inverting the rubber spring, the stroke for raising and lowering the key top must be increased. Was. Therefore, there is a limit to the reduction in thickness. In addition, since an elevating mechanism for elevating and lowering the key top is used, there are problems that the number of components is large, the structure is complicated, and the assemblability is deteriorated. An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems and to provide a keyboard device that can be reduced in thickness, can obtain a large operation feeling, and can reduce the number of components. Things.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keyboard device according to the present invention, wherein a key top which can be moved up and down, and a contact is switched by pressing the key top. A membrane switch is provided, and a magnet and a coil are disposed between the key top and the membrane switch. By switching a contact point of the membrane switch, the coil is excited to push up the magnet. A touch is generated, and the push-up feeling is transmitted to the key top.

As a second means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the coil is formed in a tubular or angular shape having a hollow portion and is mounted on the membrane switch, and the magnet is provided on a lower surface of the key top. And the magnet can be moved up and down in the hollow portion of the coil by pressing the key top.

As a third means for solving the above problems, the coil comprises a printed coil formed on a printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board on which the printed coil is formed is mounted on the membrane switch. The magnet was attached to the lower surface of the keytop, and the magnet was positioned on the print coil.

As a fourth solution to solve the above-mentioned problem, a dome-shaped reversible return spring is disposed in the hollow portion of the coil on the membrane switch, and the return spring is provided as the keytop is pressed. Then, the return spring is inverted to switch the contacts of the membrane switch.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, an elastic member is provided between the magnet and the return spring, and the return spring is provided via the elastic member when the keytop is pressed. Is inverted.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the keyboard device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an essential part for explaining a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a keyboard device of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part illustrating another embodiment of a key top mounting structure according to the present invention.

First, in a keyboard device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a flat base plate 2 made of a metal plate such as aluminum is provided at a lower end portion. On this base plate 2, a membrane switch 3 in the form of a film is arranged. In this membrane switch 3, two film members are disposed with a predetermined gap therebetween, and electrodes (not shown) are respectively opposed to a plurality of predetermined positions of the two film members with the gap therebetween. In the initial state, the electrodes are separated from each other. When the membrane switch 3 is pressed from above on the portion of the film member where the electrodes are formed, the electrodes come into contact with and separate from each other, and the contacts are switched.

On the membrane switch 3, a coil 4 formed in a cylindrical or square shape is attached with an adhesive or the like. The coil 4 is formed in a cylindrical or square shape, and an electrode (not shown) of the membrane switch 3 is located at a substantially central portion of the internal hollow portion 4a. Above the coil 4, a key top 5 made of a resin material or the like and having a substantially rectangular outer shape is arranged. The key top 5 is attached to the holding film 6 by bonding or the like. The key top 5 can be moved up and down by a pressing operation with an operator's finger or the like by the elastic force of the holding film 6.

On the lower surface of the key top 5, a boss 5a having a concave portion 5b at the center is formed so as to protrude downward, and a magnet 7 having a predetermined magnetic force is positioned on the outer periphery of the boss 5a. , Attached with an adhesive or the like. In the recess 5b of the boss 5a of the key top 5,
For example, an elastic pressing member 8 made of a foamed material such as silicone rubber is attached. When the key top 5 is pressed, the magnet 7 is turned into the hollow portion 4 of the coil 4.
It moves up and down in a.

The operation of the keyboard device 1 according to the first embodiment having such a configuration is such that when the key top 5 is lowered by an operator's pressing operation, the magnet 7 moves downward in the hollow portion 4a of the coil 4. When the pressing member 8 presses on the electrodes of the membrane switch 3, the upper and lower electrodes come into contact, and the contacts of the membrane switch 3 are switched. A signal generated by the switching of the contact causes a rectangular current having a predetermined frequency to flow through the coil 4. The electromagnetic action due to the square current generates a push-up feeling for pushing up the magnet 7, and this push-up feeling is transmitted to the keytop 5, and the operator switches the contact points of the membrane switch 3. You can recognize that.

Then, after the operator recognizes the feeling of thrust,
When the pressing force on the key top 5 is released, the holding film 6 is released.
With the elastic force of the above, the key top 5 returns above the initial state, the electrodes of the membrane switch 3 that have been in contact therewith are separated, and the membrane switch 3 returns to the initial state.

The keyboard device 1 according to the present invention has the following features.
Elevating mechanism for raising and lowering the key top as before,
Alternatively, since a rubber spring for generating a click feeling is not required, the thickness can be reduced, and the operator can be informed that the contact of the membrane switch 3 has been switched by the push-up feeling transmitted to the key top 5. It can be transmitted reliably.

As shown in FIG. 2, a keyboard device 11 according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes, for example, a plurality of ring-shaped print coils 9 on a membrane switch 3.
A printed circuit board 9 in which a is formed by printing or the like is attached. A magnet 17 is attached to the lower surface of the key top 15.
Are arranged facing the print coil 9a at a predetermined interval. The boss 15 of the key top 15
A pressing member 18 is attached to a, and a through hole 9b in which the pressing member 18 is located is provided in the center of the printed circuit board 9.

The operation of the keyboard device 11 is as follows.
When the operator presses the key top 15 to lower the key top 15 to switch the contacts of the membrane switch 3,
The magnet 17 approaches the print coil 9a. When a signal is generated by switching the contact point of the membrane switch 3, a rectangular current having a predetermined frequency flows through the print coil 9a, and the electromagnetic action of the rectangular current causes a thrusting feeling to push the magnet 7 upward. be able to.

In such a keyboard device 11, since the coil is flat, the keyboard device 11 can be made thinner. Further, the facing area between the print coil 9a and the magnet 17 can be increased, and more magnetic flux of the magnet 17 passing through the print coil 9a can be absorbed. A touch can be created.

Further, in the keyboard device 21 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, a tubular coil 14 is disposed on the membrane switch 3, and the coil on the membrane switch 3 A dome-shaped reversible return spring 10 is disposed inside the hollow portion 14 a of the dome 14. A pressing portion 25a is formed on the lower surface of the key top 25,
The magnet 27 is inserted into the pressing portion 25 a and attached to the lower surface of the key top 25. The pressing portion 2
5 a is located above the dome-shaped top portion 10 a of the return spring 10, and the top portion 10 a of the return spring 10 is located on the electrode of the membrane switch 3.

The operation of the keyboard device 21 according to the third embodiment having such a configuration is such that when the operator presses the key top 25 to lower the key top 25 downward, the pressing portion 25a causes the top portion 10a of the return spring 10 to move downward. Is pressed, the return spring 10 is elastically deformed and inverted to generate a click feeling. Further, with the reversing operation of the return spring 10, the electrode of the membrane switch 3 is pressed and the contact is switched.

A rectangular current having a predetermined frequency flows through the coil 14 in response to a signal generated by the switching of the contacts, and the electromagnetic action of the rectangular current can generate a thrust to push the magnet 27 upward. That is, the keyboard device 21 according to the third embodiment of the present invention can transmit both the click feeling and the push-up feeling to the operator who presses the key top 25, and the contact of the membrane switch 3 can be transmitted. The fact that the switching has been performed can be more reliably transmitted to the operator.

As shown in FIG. 4, a keyboard device 31 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is formed on the lower surface of the magnet 27 of the keyboard device 21 described in the third embodiment by, for example, silicone rubber or the like. And an elastic member 12 having elasticity is attached. Therefore, in the keyboard device 31 of the fourth embodiment, the impact caused when the return spring 10 is reversed by pressing the key top 25 can be absorbed by the elastic member 12, and the return spring 10 can be inverted. The discomfort caused by the impact at the time can be eliminated.

In the description of each embodiment of the present invention, the key tops 5, 15, and 25 have been described as being mounted on the elastic holding film 6 so as to be vertically movable, as shown in FIG. For example, the key top 5 of the first embodiment may be attached to an elastic support member 113 made of a foam such as silicone rubber so as to be vertically movable. The support member 13 is attached to the surface of the membrane switch 3 with an adhesive or the like.

[0026]

According to the keyboard device of the present invention, a magnet and a coil are disposed between a keytop and the membrane switch, and the coil is excited by switching a contact point of the membrane switch so that the magnet is switched. A thrusting feeling that thrusts upward is generated, and this thrusting feeling is transmitted to the key top.Thus, the thickness can be reduced, and the contact of the membrane switch is switched by the thrusting feeling transmitted to the key top. Can be reliably transmitted to the operator.

Further, in the keyboard device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the coil is formed in a tubular or angular shape having a hollow portion and is mounted on the membrane switch, and the magnet is mounted on the key top. Attached to the lower surface of the coil, the magnet can be moved up and down in the hollow portion of the coil by the pressing operation of the key top, so that the elevating device described in the related art or the rubber spring is unnecessary, and the number of parts is reduced. It is possible to provide a keyboard device that can be reduced in size and has good assemblability.

Further, in the keyboard device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the coil comprises a printed coil formed on a printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board formed with the printed coil is mounted on the membrane switch. Since the magnet is attached to the lower surface of the key top so that the magnet is positioned on the print coil, the coil becomes flat and a thinner keyboard device can be provided.

In a keyboard device according to a third aspect of the present invention, a dome-shaped reversible return spring is provided in the hollow portion of the coil on the membrane switch, and the key top is pressed when the key top is pressed. Accompanied by inverting the return spring and switching the contacts of the membrane switch, a click feeling due to the inversion of the return spring,
By the push-up feeling transmitted to the keytop, it is possible to more reliably transmit to the operator that the contact of the membrane switch has been switched.

Further, in the keyboard device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, an elastic member is provided between the magnet and the return spring, and the return operation is performed via the elastic member by pressing the key top. Since the spring is inverted, the impact when the return spring is inverted can be absorbed by the elastic member, and the discomfort due to the impact when the return spring is inverted is eliminated, and the keyboard device has a good operation feeling. Can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a keyboard device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of a keyboard device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part of a keyboard device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part of a keyboard device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a modified example of mounting a keytop according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Keyboard apparatus 2 Base plate 3 Membrane switch 4 Coil 4a Hollow part 5 Key top 5a Boss part 6 Holding film 7 Magnet 8 Pressing member 9 Printed circuit board 9a Print coil 10 Return spring

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A key top which can be moved up and down, and a membrane switch whose contacts are switched by pressing the key top, wherein a magnet and a coil are arranged between the key top and the membrane switch. A keyboard, wherein the switching of the contacts of the membrane switch excites the coil to generate a push-up feel that pushes the magnet upward, and transmits the push-up feel to the keytop. apparatus. 2. The coil is formed in a tubular or angular shape having a hollow portion and is mounted on the membrane switch. The magnet is mounted on a lower surface of the keytop, and the magnet is pressed by pressing the keytop. 2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein a magnet is movable up and down in the hollow portion of the coil. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the coil includes a printed coil formed on a printed circuit board, the printed circuit board having the printed coil formed thereon is mounted on the membrane switch, and the magnet is mounted on a lower surface of the key top. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the magnet is located on the print coil. 4. A dome-shaped reversible return spring is disposed in the hollow portion of the coil on the membrane switch, and the return spring is reversed in response to the pressing of the keytop, and the membrane is turned over. 3. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein a contact of a switch is switched. 5. An elastic member is provided between the magnet and the return spring, and the return spring is inverted via the elastic member by a pressing operation of the key top. Item 5. The keyboard device according to Item 4.