JP2001154783A - Keyboard power generator and information processing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make information processing equipment such as a notebook computer operatably without necessitating power by a battery. SOLUTION: This keyboard power generator 12 which is constituted so that generated power is taken out from a piezoelectric element 21 by pressurizing the piezoelectric element 21 by a key 16 when the key 16 is pressed by arranging the piezoelectric element 21 under the key 16 of a keyboard 4 is integrated inside the information equipment and the information equipment is driven by using the power supplied from the keyboard power generator 12 as a power source.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard power generator for generating electric power by pressing a key of a keyboard, and an information processing apparatus having the keyboard power generator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in the case of a notebook-type personal computer as an information processing device, when it is used outside or the like, a built-in battery (rechargeable battery) is driven as a power source.

In this case, the current driving time of a currently used battery is about several hours per charge.

[0004]

For this reason, when using a notebook-type personal computer or the like on the go, it is impossible to use it for a long time, and charging is difficult on the go.
There was a significant restriction on the usage time.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel power generator as a drive power supply for information processing equipment such as a notebook personal computer, and to solve the above problems. .

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention relates to a power generator incorporated in a keyboard, wherein a piezoelectric element is arranged under a key and the key is pressed when the key is pressed. An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard power generation device having a structure in which generated power is taken out from a piezoelectric element by applying pressure to the piezoelectric element with a key.

[0007] By incorporating the keyboard power generation device into an information processing device such as a notebook type personal computer, and driving the information processing device with the power supplied from the keyboard power generation device as a power source, the information processing device can be used even when going out. Can be used without the need for a battery.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a notebook personal computer (personal computer) 1 as an example of an information processing apparatus, 2 is a personal computer main body, and 3 is a display unit.

A keyboard 4 for inputting characters, symbols and the like is provided on the upper surface side of the personal computer body 2, while an LCD (liquid crystal display panel) 5 for displaying images is provided on the front of the display unit 3. And this display unit 5
Is configured to be foldable with respect to the personal computer body 2.

The personal computer 2 has a CPU as shown in FIG.
(Central processing unit) 6, hard disk drive 7,
Memory (RAM) 8, keyboard controller 9, LC
A D controller 10 and the like are mounted on or connected to an internal motherboard 11. In addition, a floppy disk drive device, a CD-ROM device, a modem device, and the like are incorporated in the personal computer body 2 as necessary, or are connected from the outside.

In the notebook computer 1, the keyboard generator according to the present invention is incorporated inside the keyboard 4, and the whole personal computer is driven by using the power supplied from the keyboard generator as a power source. It has become.

That is, in this keyboard power generation device, power is generated by pressing a key of the keyboard 4.
As shown in FIG. 3, the power generated by the keyboard power generator 12 is a capacitor (or storage battery) of a power storage circuit 13.
Is stored in the motherboard 1 via the voltage control circuit 14.
1 power supply circuit.

FIG. 4 shows a keyboard generator 1 according to the present invention.
2 shows a specific configuration example. In the figure, reference numeral 16 denotes a key of the keyboard 4, and a switch unit 17 is provided immediately below the key 16. The key 16 is supported by a switch unit 17 at a portion of a rod 16a extending downward from the center thereof so as to be vertically movable.

The switch unit 17 is fixed on a circuit board 18 of a keyboard base, and has a switch mechanism and a spring mechanism incorporated therein. That is, when the key 16 is pressed with a finger, the switch mechanism is electrically operated. Switching is performed, and when the finger is released, the key 16 is elastically returned to the original height position by the spring mechanism.

In this configuration, in this embodiment, the key 1
The keyboard power generating device 12 according to the present invention is configured between the rod 16a of FIG.

That is, in this embodiment, the rod 1 of the key 16 is
The lower end 16b of 6a protrudes from the switch unit 17, and the piezoelectric element 21 is arranged on the circuit board 18 side correspondingly.

In this case, a U-shaped groove 19 is formed in the circuit board 18 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, so that a portion surrounded by the groove 19 is an elastic flexible portion 20, and this elastic flexible portion 20 is formed. It has a structure in which the piezoelectric element 21 is attached to the upper end by bonding or bonding. Also, the piezoelectric element 21
Is formed by printing on the circuit board 18 in parallel with the switch wiring.

When the key 16 of the keyboard 4 is depressed from the normal state shown in FIG. 4A in the keyboard generator 12 constructed as described above, the rod 16a of the key 16 is turned on as shown in FIG. The lower end 16b pushes the piezoelectric element 21 to apply pressure thereto. Since the piezoelectric element 21 is an element that converts distortion due to pressure into electricity, an electromotive voltage is generated by applying pressure with the rod 16a of the key 16 as described above, and this is taken out as generated power.

In this power generation operation, pressure can be more reliably applied to the piezoelectric element 21 by bending the elastic flexible portion 20 downward, as is apparent from the figure, so that stable power generation can be obtained. (If there is no elastic flexible portion 20, power is generated only by the instantaneous pressure, so that stable power cannot be obtained).

Then, the pressing force of the key 16 is released, and the key 1 is released.
When 6 returns to the original height position shown in FIG. 4A, the pressure on the piezoelectric element 21 is released, so that the elastic flexible portion 20 also returns to the original state.

In this power generation operation, the piezoelectric element 21 once generates a positive voltage when pressure is applied and generates a reverse voltage when the pressure is released.
More stable power can be obtained by using a circuit configuration that can obtain both powers. FIG. 7 shows an example of the circuit configuration.
Shown in

As described above, in the keyboard power generation device 12 of the present embodiment, stable power generation can be obtained by utilizing the force of pressing the key 16 of the keyboard.

By driving the notebook personal computer 1 as shown in FIG. 1, for example, using the power supplied from the keyboard power generator as a power source, the notebook personal computer 1 does not require a battery even when going out. Can be used.

In general, a keyboard of a personal computer has several tens to hundreds of keys. By providing the keyboard power generator according to the present invention for all these keys, sufficient power for driving the personal computer can be obtained. Also, even if not all keys are used frequently (for example, En
(Ter key, Space key, etc.) may be provided with the keyboard generator according to the present invention.

[0025]

As described above, according to the keyboard generator of the present invention, stable generated power can be obtained by utilizing the force of pressing the keys of the keyboard. And since the information processing device equipped with this keyboard power generation device can be used without the need for a battery, there is no restriction on the usage time due to running out of the battery,
In addition, the elimination of a battery can be expected to have a significant economic effect, and is also effective for environmental issues.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a notebook personal computer as an example of an information processing apparatus provided with a keyboard power generation device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the inside of the personal computer main body.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a power supply system from the keyboard power generator.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are partial cross-sectional side views showing a specific configuration example of the keyboard power generation device according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A shows a normal state, and FIG. 4B shows a state when a key is pressed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the main part, in which (A) is a normal state,
(B) shows the state when the key is pressed.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main part of the same.

FIG. 7 is a circuit configuration example of a power storage circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 notebook computer (information processing equipment), 4 keyboard, 12 keyboard generator, 16 key,
18 ‥‥ circuit board, 20 ‥‥ flexible part, 21 ‥‥ piezoelectric element

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A power generator incorporated in a keyboard, wherein a piezoelectric element is arranged below a key, and when the key is pressed, pressure is applied to the piezoelectric element by the key to generate power from the piezoelectric element. A keyboard power generating device having a structure from which electric power is taken out. 2. The keyboard generator according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric element is provided on an elastic flexible portion which is bent by a pressing force of the key. 3. The keyboard generator according to claim 2, wherein the elastic flexible portion is formed on a part of a circuit board inside the keyboard. 4. A keyboard power generator having a structure in which a piezoelectric element is arranged under a key of a keyboard, and when a key is pressed, pressure is applied to the piezoelectric element by the key to generate power from the piezoelectric element. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a power supply that is driven by power supplied from the keyboard power generation device.