JP2001167672A - Composite key apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a composite key apparatus that can make clearance between keys small and realize a high quality of key apparatus without increasing the number of parts and the number of assembling processes. SOLUTION: It is constituted by an aperture 21 for inserting and passing an elliptical hinge key in the middle of a seesaw key 20, an axis part 22 on the extended line of the elliptical short diameter, the seesaw key 20 having an implanted pin in order to transmit a key pressing operation on it, a boss 33 into which a cylindrical aperture is formed in order to receive the pin, a hinge key 30 having a hinge part 31 inserting and passing a key top into the hinge key and molded integrally with the key top, a key frame member 40 holding bearing part 41 receiving the axis part 22 and the hinge part 31, and a printed circuit board 50 having a switch member 51 fixed to the under case 90.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a composite key device used for electronic equipment such as a digital cordless telephone, and more particularly, to a seesaw key for scrolling a plurality of function menus, telephone directory data, and the like, and a control item during scroll display. A composite key device configured by combining push-button keys for selection and selection is configured to eliminate rattling of the seesaw key and to reduce the clearance between the seesaw key and the push-button key to enhance the quality.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional digital cordless telephone or facsimile apparatus, a scroll key for scrolling a plurality of function menus, telephone directory data, and the like, and a push button key for selecting and operating a control item being scrolled are operated independently. They were used as keys on the operation panel. After that, in order to save space and improve operability, some proposals were proposed in which a push button key was placed in the middle and a scroll key was arranged on the outer periphery of the push button key. Each key is arranged as an independent key so as not to interfere with the key. For this reason, a member constituting the scroll key and a member constituting the push button key are merely provided separately, and it is difficult to say that the composite key has an original meaning that is related to each other. In addition, since the gap between each key is large so that the movement of each key does not interfere with each other,
There was a problem that the clearance was large and the quality was poor.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and a high-quality key device in which the clearance between keys is reduced without increasing the number of parts and the number of assembling steps. It is an object of the present invention to provide a composite key device that realizes the above.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a seesaw portion is swingably supported with respect to a key frame member, and the seesaw portion is provided with respect to a plane of the seesaw portion. There is a push-down part that can move up and down in the vertical direction,
One or more first switches that operate by swinging the seesaw portion and a second switch that operates by pushing down the push-down portion are arranged below the seesaw portion. This is a composite key device. With this configuration, the first switch such as a scroll switch and the second switch such as a push button switch can be operated by one composite key device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a key top portion for pressing down is projected from an upper surface of a pressing portion of the seesaw portion, and a hole for inserting the key top portion is provided in the seesaw portion. With the seesaw key
When the seesaw key is depressed, the entire seesaw portion is swung with respect to the key frame member, and when the depressed key top portion is depressed, the seesaw portion is operated as an operation independent of the swinging operation of the entire seesaw portion. 2. The composite key device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing part is moved up and down. With this configuration, the seesaw key and the key top portion can be pressed separately to use the first switch and the second switch in a combined manner.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the seesaw portion and the seesaw key are fixed in a state of being fitted to each other by fitting portions provided mutually. This is a composite key device. With this configuration, the seesaw portion and the seesaw key can be made to move as an integrated unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composite key device according to the second or third aspect, wherein the seesaw key is swingably supported by the key frame member. is there. With this configuration, the pressing force when the seesaw key is pressed is directly supported by the key frame member, and external movement seen from the outside of the seesaw key can be regulated by the key frame member. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, at least one first switch which is operated by swinging the seesaw portion is a scroll switch for performing a scroll operation, and the push-down portion is pushed down. 5. The composite key device according to claim 1, wherein the second switch to be operated is configured as a determination switch for selecting and determining a control item scroll-displayed by the scroll operation. With this configuration, a plurality of function menus, telephone numbers, and the like can be scrolled, and a desired control item can be selected and determined to operate.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a substantially circular key top insertion hole is provided in the center of the seesaw key, and a shaft portion is provided on an extension of the substantially circular center line. A seesaw key having a pin and transmitting a key operation through the pin, a boss having a hole formed therein, the pin being received by the boss, the keytop being inserted through the keytop insertion hole, A hinge key having a hinge part integrally formed with the key top, a bearing part for receiving the shaft part, a key frame member holding the hinge part, and a switch member fixed to the lower case and operated by the key operation to perform a switch operation. And a printed circuit board having the same. With this configuration, rattling of the seesaw key can be eliminated, and the clearance between the keys can be reduced to realize a high-quality key device.

The invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that a rib serving as a key operation fulcrum of the seesaw key is provided on the hinge portion to suspend tension on the seesaw key. This is a composite key device. With this configuration, rattling of the seesaw key can be eliminated.

In the invention described in claim 8, the boss having the hole serves also for positioning the seesaw key and the hinge key.
It is a composite key device as described. With this configuration, rattling of the seesaw key can be eliminated, and the clearance between the keys can be reduced to realize a high-quality key device.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the boss having the hole has a function of operating the hinge key to tilt in the same direction in conjunction with the tilt of the seesaw key due to the seesaw operation of the seesaw key. A composite key device according to claim 8, wherein: With this configuration, it is possible to realize a high-quality key device by reducing the clearance between keys.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the composite key device according to the eighth or ninth aspect, wherein the hole formed in the boss is substantially cylindrical. With this configuration, it is possible to realize a high-quality key device by reducing the clearance between keys.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus characterized by mounting the composite key device according to the first to tenth aspects. With this configuration, the rattle of the seesaw key is eliminated and the clearance between the keys is reduced to provide a high-quality key device, and the first switch and the second switch are combined by pressing the seesaw key and the key top part separately. An electronic device that can be used selectively can be realized.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a telephone device characterized by being equipped with the composite key device according to the first to tenth aspects. With this configuration, the rattle of the seesaw key is eliminated and the clearance between the keys is reduced to provide a high-quality key device, and the first switch and the second switch are combined by pressing the seesaw key and the key top part separately. It is possible to realize a telephone device that can be used selectively.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a digital cordless telephone as an example of an electronic apparatus equipped with a composite key device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a digital cordless telephone 1 includes an upper case 10 provided with insertion holes such as a seesaw key 20 and a numeric keypad 4, a lower case 90, an antenna 2, a display unit 3 including a liquid crystal display, and a numeric keypad 4. And handset holder 5
And a handset (not shown).

The display unit 3 displays a name and a telephone number from an electronic telephone directory stored in advance in a built-in storage device (in FIG. 1, the name "TARO" and the telephone number "0451234567" are displayed). Can be read out and displayed one by one. By pressing the right side portion 20a or the left side portion 20b of the seesaw key 20, the name and the telephone number are scrolled in ascending or descending order as a set, and when the desired telephone number is displayed, the seesaw key is displayed.
The key top 30a in the insertion hole 20 is pressed to make a call to the displayed telephone number.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the composite key device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, a printed circuit board 50 on which a plurality of switch members 51 are mounted is fixed to a lower case 90, and the key frame member 40 is placed on the printed circuit board 50 so as to cover the plurality of switch members 51.

As shown in the plan view of FIG. 3, the key frame member 40 is formed by integrally connecting a plate-like seesaw portion 40a with a connecting portion 40b so as to protrude inside. The surfaces are connected to a pair of arms 40c, respectively, and three connection portions support the plate-like seesaw portion 40a at three points. Since the connecting portion 40b is wide and the length is short, and the pair of arms 40c is narrow and the length is long, if one of the plate-like seesaw portions 40a near one of both ends is pushed, the pushed side is pushed. The arm 40c is bent downward, the other arm 40c is bent upward about the connecting portion 40b as a rotation axis, and the plate-shaped seesaw portion 40a is inclined.

A hinge key 30 having a key top 30a protruding upward is supported by a pair of hinge portions 31 inside the plate-like seesaw portion 40a.
It is vertically movably supported with respect to the plane of a. Since the hinge key 30 is provided so that the pair of hinge portions 31 straddle the connection portion 40b of the key frame member 40,
When the seesaw portion 40a is tilted, the seesaw portion 40a is tilted together with the seesaw portion 40a. However, independently of the tilting operation of the seesaw portion 40a, the action of the pair of hinge portions 31 causes the seesaw portion 40a to bend in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the seesaw portion 40a.

Therefore, when the seesaw portion 40a is tilted, the switch member 51a below the seesaw portion 40a is pushed to operate the switch, and when the hinge key 30 is pushed, the switch member 51b below the hinge key 30 is pushed to push the switch. Operates. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, an example is shown in which the connection portion 40b is provided at one place. However, as a matter of course, as shown in FIG. 3, a configuration in which the connection portion 40b is provided in a pair above and below the seesaw portion 40a may be employed. .

As shown in FIG. 2, above the seesaw portion 40a of the key frame member 40, an oval hinge key insertion hole 21 is provided in the middle, and a pair of A seesaw key 20 having a shaft portion 22 and a pin (see reference numeral 23 in FIG. 4) which is erected for transmitting a pressing operation of the key is superimposed. A boss 33 having a cylindrical hole is provided on the upper surface of the seesaw portion 40a for receiving the pin 23. The key top 30a is inserted into the hinge key insertion hole 21.

The key frame member 40 has the shaft 22
There is a bearing part 41 which receives the bearing. Although the elliptical hinge key insertion hole 21 and the key top 30a are shown in the above description, it goes without saying that the hinge key insertion hole 21 may be circular or polygonal. In addition, the upper case of the bearing of the shaft portion 22 described above is an upper case.
Although the bearing is constituted by the flat ribs (not shown) provided on the 10, it is needless to say that the bearing may be constituted only by providing the bearing only on the key frame member 40.

Further, the seesaw portion 40a is provided with ribs 32 for applying tension to the seesaw key 20 on the left and right sides.
To prevent the rattling of the seesaw key 20.

The cylindrical hole provided in the boss 33 for receiving the pin 23 (see reference numeral 23 in FIG. 4) also functions as a positioning for mounting the hinge key 30 and the seesaw key 20. It has a function of operating the hinge key to tilt in the same direction in conjunction with the tilt of the seesaw key 20 due to the seesaw operation (this will be described later).

When the composite key device shown in FIG. 2 is mounted on a digital cordless telephone as shown in FIG. 1, a seesaw in which the hinge key 30 shown in FIG. Insert the key 20 and assemble.
The upper case 10 is provided with assembling pins 11 and 12 for assembling the printed circuit board 50 at a predetermined position.

FIGS. 4 to 6 are cross-sectional views for explaining the configuration and operation of the composite key device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows a state where the seesaw key 20 and the hinge key 30 are not operating. FIG. 2 described above with reference to FIG.
, The pin 23, which is not shown, is clearly inserted through the left and right bosses 33. The switch operating portion of the hinge key 30 is in contact with the switch member 51b of the printed circuit board 50, but the contact pressure is set higher than the other switch members.

FIG. 5 shows a state where the hinge key 30 is operated by being depressed. In FIG. 5, when the hinge key 30 is pressed, the middle switch member 51b operates. In this case, the hinge portion has an elastic force, and if the pressing is stopped, the hinge portion returns to the original position.

FIG. 6 shows a state where the left side of the seesaw key 20 is operated. In FIG. 6, when the seesaw key 20 is pressed, the left of the seesaw portion 40a is lowered,
The switch member 51a on the left side operates by raising the right side. In this case, the hinge key 30 rises to the right while the pin 23 on the right side of the seesaw key 20 abuts on the boss 33 due to the above-described seesaw operation, so that the hinge key 30 also leans to the left, whereby the hinge key and the seesaw key Move together, the clearance between the keys can be reduced, and a high-quality key device can be realized. There is a gap in the cylindrical hole of the left boss 33, which has such a structure in consideration of the yield, and the above-mentioned function is operatively realized by the right boss. It is possible.

[0030]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the seesaw portion is swingably supported with respect to the key frame member, and the seesaw portion is provided with respect to the plane of the seesaw portion. A lower portion vertically movable vertically, and one or more first switches operated by swinging the seesaw portion below the seesaw portion and a second switch operated by pressing down the lower portion. A composite key device characterized in that the switches are arranged to operate a first switch such as a scroll switch and a second switch such as a push button switch with one composite key device. There is an effect that can be.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a key top portion for pushing down is provided on the upper surface of the pushing down portion of the seesaw portion, and a hole for inserting the key top portion is provided in the seesaw portion. With the seesaw key
When the seesaw key is depressed, the entire seesaw portion is swung with respect to the key frame member, and when the depressed key top portion is depressed, the seesaw portion is operated as an operation independent of the swinging operation of the entire seesaw portion. 2. The composite key device according to claim 1, wherein the first switch and the second key switch are depressed so that the first switch and the second switch are combined. There is an effect that it can be used properly.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the seesaw portion and the seesaw key are fixed in a state of being fitted by fitting portions provided mutually. This is a composite key device, and has an effect that the seesaw portion and the seesaw key can be moved as an integrated device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composite key device according to the second or third aspect, wherein the seesaw key is swingably supported by the key frame member. is there. With this configuration, the pressing force when the seesaw key is pressed is directly supported by the key frame member, and the movement of the seesaw key can be regulated by the key frame member.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, at least one of the first switches operated by swinging the seesaw portion is a scroll switch for performing a scroll operation, and the push-down portion is pushed down. 5. The composite key device according to claim 1, wherein the second switch to be operated is configured as a determination switch for selecting and determining a control item scroll-displayed by the scroll operation. With this configuration, it is possible to scroll through a plurality of function menus, telephone numbers, and the like, select a desired control item, and operate the selected control item.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a substantially circular key top insertion hole is provided in the center of the seesaw key, and a shaft portion is provided on an extension of the substantially circular center line. A seesaw key having an implanted pin and transmitting a key operation through the pin; a boss having a hole formed therein; receiving the pin in the boss; and inserting the keytop into the keytop insertion hole. Are inserted into the key top, and a hinge key having a hinge part integrally formed with the key top, a bearing part for receiving the shaft part, a key frame member for holding the hinge part, and a switch operation by operating the key fixed to the lower case. A composite key device comprising a printed circuit board having a switch member, which eliminates rattling of a seesaw key and reduces clearance between keys. There is an effect that it is possible to realize a high-quality key device to.

According to the eleventh and twelfth aspects of the present invention, there is provided an electronic device or a telephone device characterized by mounting the composite key device according to the first to tenth aspects. There is a high-quality key device that eliminates rattling of the seesaw key and reduces the clearance between keys, and separates the seesaw key and the key top part by pressing the first switch such as a scroll switch and the decision switch. There is an effect that an electronic device such as a telephone device that can use the second switch in a complex manner can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a digital cordless telephone equipped with a composite key device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the composite key device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a composite key device in which a key frame member, a seesaw portion, and a pressing portion are integrally formed according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration and operation of the composite key device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where the seesaw key and the hinge key are not operated;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a configuration and operation of the composite key device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing a state where a hinge key is operated;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration and operation of the composite key device according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing that the hinge key also tilts when the seesaw key is tilted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital cordless telephone 2 Antenna 3 Display part 4 Numeric keypad 5 Handset holder 10 Upper case 11 Assembly pin 12 Assembly pin 13 Seesaw key insertion hole 20 Seesaw key 21 Hinge key insertion hole 22 Axis 23 Pin 30 Hinge key 31 Hinge part 32 Rib 33 Boss 40 Key frame part 41 Bearing part 50 Printed circuit board 51 Switch member 52 Assembly hole

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A seesaw portion is swingably supported with respect to a key frame member, and the seesaw portion is provided with a push-down portion vertically movable with respect to a plane of the seesaw portion. A composite key device comprising: at least one first switch that operates by swinging the seesaw portion and a second switch that operates by pushing down the push-down portion. . 2. A push-down key top portion protrudes from an upper surface of a push-down portion of the see-saw portion, and a see-saw key having a hole for inserting the key top portion is fixed on the see-saw portion in an overlapped state. When the seesaw key is depressed, the entire seesaw portion is swung with respect to the key frame member.When the depressed key top portion is depressed, the operation is performed independently of the swinging operation of the entire seesaw portion. 2. The composite key device according to claim 1, wherein the press-down portion of the seesaw portion is configured to move up and down. 3. The composite key device according to claim 2, wherein the seesaw portion and the seesaw key are fixed in a state where they are fitted by fitting portions provided mutually. 4. The composite key device according to claim 2, wherein the seesaw key is swingably supported by the key frame member. 5. A scroll switch for performing a scroll operation, wherein at least one first switch operated by swinging the seesaw portion is used as a scroll switch, and a second switch operated by pressing down the push-down portion is used as the scroll switch. 5. The composite key device according to claim 1, wherein the composite key device is configured as a determination switch for selecting and determining a control item scroll-displayed by an operation. 6. A substantially circular key top insertion hole in the middle of a seesaw key, a shaft portion extending from an extension of the substantially circular center line, and further comprising an implanted pin. And a hinge having a boss having a hole formed therein, the pin being received by the boss, the keytop being inserted into the keytop insertion hole, and being integrally formed with the keytop. A printed circuit board having a hinge key having a portion, a bearing portion for receiving the shaft portion, a key frame member for holding the hinge portion, and a switch member fixed to the lower case and operated by operating the key. Characteristic composite key device. 7. The composite key device according to claim 6, wherein a rib serving as a key operation fulcrum of the seesaw key is provided on the hinge portion to suspend tension on the seesaw key. 8. The composite key device according to claim 6, wherein the boss having the hole serves also for positioning the seesaw key and the hinge key. 9. The boss having the hole formed therein has a function of operating the hinge key to tilt in the same direction in conjunction with the tilt of the seesaw key by the seesaw operation. A composite key device as described. 10. The composite key device according to claim 8, wherein the hole formed in the boss is substantially cylindrical. 11. An electronic apparatus comprising the composite key device according to claim 1 mounted thereon. 12. A telephone device comprising the composite key device according to claim 1 mounted thereon.