JP2001188646A - Variable capacity type keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure for allowing all of a display body, inclination structure and extension structure to interlock with each other in a variable capacity type keyboard device. SOLUTION: In the variable capacity type keyboard device capable of inclining a supporting plate by allowing the supporting plate to interlock with a display body and providing the supporting plate with a movable unit capable of moving a switch group to be horizontally extended, one end part of a link arm to which at least two arms are rotatatably connected is rotatably fitted to the movable unit of the switch group, a guide groove for guiding a sliding member such as a cylindrical roller member provided projectingly on the other end part of the link arm is provided to a body case supporting the supporting plate and the movable unit is extended by the motion of the link arm when the position of the supporting plate is changed to the direction of the display body while inclining the supporting plate by the operation of the display body. A 1st pulley and a 2nd pulley are provided to the supporting plate so as to stretch a wire connected to the display body, the movable unit of the switch group is fixed to the wire and the movable unit is extended by the displacement of the wire when the position of the supporting plate is changed to the direction of the display body while inclining the supporting plate by the operation of the display body.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a variable volume keyboard device in an information processing apparatus having a rotating structure of a display such as a notebook personal computer, and more particularly, to a variable volume keyboard device. In the inclined structure of
The present invention relates to a drive structure interlocked with a tilt structure of a movable unit of a switch group.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a variable volume keyboard device is fixedly attached to a casing, and when using the keyboard device, a tilt mechanism provided on a bottom surface of a main body device is used. I was adjusting. More specifically, this angle adjustment has been performed by pulling out a movable piece called a tilt (foot) made of hard plastic from the rear end of the bottom surface of the main unit.

However, according to the above structure, the user not only takes time to lift the entire heavy body upward and raise the movable piece each time, but also takes time and effort.
Since the entire heavy main body is supported by small pieces, there is a problem in durability such as easy damage. In addition, there is a problem that the angle adjustment range of the volume-variable keyboard device is limited, and so the present inventor has proposed that in this type of notebook personal computer, the length of the length of the keyboard at an appropriate position from the front edge to the center of the support plate is increased. A volume-variable keyboard device excellent in operability comprising a pivot portion on an axis provided along the direction and a hinge plate which supports the front edge or the rear edge of the support plate movably in the vertical direction. Invented an inclined structure and filed an application.

[0004]

According to the structure described above, the keyboard device can be tilted in accordance with the opening and closing operation of the display. It is desirable that the keyboard device be expanded in accordance with the inclined structure.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and has as its object to provide a structure in which a display body, an inclined structure, and an extended structure are all linked.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, a first means of a variable volume keyboard device of the present invention allows a support plate and a display body to interlock with each other so that the support plate can be tilted. In a variable volume keyboard device provided with a movable unit of a switch group extending in the left-right direction to both the support plate, at least two arms are rotatably connected to the movable unit of the switch group. A guide groove for guiding a sliding member protruding from the other end of the link arm to a main body case supporting the support plate; When the position of the movable unit is changed in the direction of the display body while the support plate is tilted by the above operation, the movable unit is expanded by deformation of the link arm.

Thus, the rotation operation of the display body is converted into a vertical movement operation on the horizontal plane together with the inclination of the support plate, and this operation is converted into an expansion operation of the movable unit of the switch group attached to the left and right. Can be. The sliding member is formed of a cylindrical roller member so that the sliding member smoothly passes through the guide groove.

[0008] The second means of the present invention is the above-mentioned first means.
As an alternative to the means, a first pulley and a second pulley for transferring a wire connected to a display to the support plate are provided, and a movable unit of a switch group is fixed to the wire, and the operation of the display is performed. When the position of the movable unit was changed in the direction of the display body while the support plate was inclined, the movable unit was expanded by the displacement of the wire.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an information processing apparatus employing a variable-volume keyboard device according to the present invention when the lid is closed. FIG. 2 employs a variable-volume keyboard device according to the present invention. It is a side view at the time of opening the information processing device,
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the information processing apparatus employing the variable volume keyboard apparatus according to the present invention when the lid is closed.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the information processing apparatus employing the variable-volume keyboard device according to the present invention when the lid is opened. FIG. 5 shows a main body case in the variable-volume keyboard device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic rear view of a support plate showing a mounting state of a link arm according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a movable unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view in which a support plate is omitted to show the interlocking of the link arm, FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sliding member at the tip of the link arm, and FIG.
FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view showing a main body case in the variable volume keyboard device of the embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a schematic rear view of a support plate showing a state of attachment of a link arm according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a support plate is omitted to show interlocking of a movable unit and a link arm. FIG. 12 is a volume-variable keyboard of a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view showing a support plate in the apparatus, FIG. 13 is a schematic rear view showing a state of mounting a pulley according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 14 is a movable unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view in which the support plate is omitted to show the interlocking of the pulley and the pulley, and FIG.
FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the interlocking of the movable unit and the pulley of the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 16 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the interlocking of the movable unit and the pulley of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an inclined structure of a keyboard device 1 of a variable volume type according to the present invention. As shown
The front edge of the support plate 2 is slidably mounted on a support wall erected on the front edge of the main body case 7 that supports the support plate 2, while the rear edge of the support plate 2 is movable in the vertical direction. Is connected to the display body 5 by a hinge plate 41 having a pivot so as to support the display body 5. Then, as the display unit 5 is rotated by the opening operation, the rotating unit 6 is rotated, whereby the support plate 2 of the variable volume keyboard device 1 can be moved upward and tilted.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the outline of a variable volume keyboard device. The keyboard device has a plurality of movable switch groups in which a plurality of key switches 1a are continuously arranged in a substantially rectangular shape by an appropriate housing. In the illustrated example, the keyboard device has a telescopic expansion structure in the left-right direction. It is formed as a variable volume keyboard device. Further, the keyboard device 1 includes the support plate 2
As a result, the switch group is movably supported on the bottom surface integrally, and the outermost switch group is pulled out in the left-right direction to expand the entirety.

The present invention is provided with a mechanism for pulling out the outermost switch group in the left-right direction by the opening operation of the display body 5. The detailed structure and the like will be described below.

FIGS. 1 to 7 are schematic diagrams of a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the main body case 7 supporting the support plate 2 is provided with a pair of right and left guide grooves 71 in a substantially right and left shape. And FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, one end of a link arm 8 in which two plate-like arms are rotatably connected by a pivot in this guide groove 71 is slidably locked, and as shown in FIG.
The other end is rotatably attached to the outermost movable unit 9 of the switch group.

FIG. 8 shows a sliding member at one end of a link arm 8 which is slidably attached to the guide groove 71. As shown in the figure, a cylindrical shaft 81 is fixed to the tip of the link arm 8, and its outer periphery is rotatably coated with a hard cylindrical body such as metal or the like, or a soft rubber or the like on the outside of the cylindrical body. A roller member 82 made of a cylindrical body is attached. With such a configuration, when the link arm 8 is pressed against the side wall of the groove 71, the tip of the link arm 8 slides along the groove 71 by rotating the cylindrical roller member 82 around the axis. It is.

In the present invention configured as described above, when the support plate 2 is tilted by operating the display body 5, the display body 5 moves horizontally to the display body 5 side in a plane, so that the tip of the link arm 8 is moved. It slides along the groove 71. On the other hand, since the movable unit 9 of the switch group is fixed so as to be movable only in the left-right direction, the deformation of the link arm 8 is
Is pushed outward, whereby the entire switch group constituting the keyboard device can be expanded.

FIGS. 9 to 11 show a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the technical outline is the same as that of the first embodiment, except that the guide groove 71 is formed in the main body case 7 supporting the support plate 2 on the display body 5 side. Each embodiment can be appropriately selected according to the arrangement space of the internal mechanism of the main body.

FIGS. 12 to 16 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a wire 11 is used instead of the link arm. FIG. 12 and FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a first pulley 10 is attached to the support plate 2.
And a second pulley 10 are mounted at an interval, and this pulley 10.10 is attached to the pulley 10.10 as shown in FIG.
One is connected to the display body 5 and the other is an elastic member 13.
The wire 11 tensed by is delivered. And
The movable unit 9 of the switch group is fixed to a part of the wire 11 by a fixing member 12.

According to the present invention configured as described above, when the support plate 2 is tilted by operating the display body 5, the display body 5 moves horizontally to the display body 5 side in a plane, so that the wire 11
Is attracted to the elastic member 13 and separated from the display body 5 side, and as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the movable unit 9 of the switch group fixed to a part of the wire 11 by the fixing member 12 corresponding to the , So that the entire switch group constituting the keyboard device can be expanded.

[0020]

As described above, the variable volume keyboard apparatus of the present invention can be tilted and expanded by a very simple operation of rotating the display unit.
At the time of use, the keyboard position automatically changes according to the position and height that are easy for the user to use, and the input operability is improved. In addition, since the keyboard device itself, which is lightweight and has a variable volume compared to the conventional tilt mechanism that moves a heavy body, it is not only durable, but also minimizes the overall volume. Is possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an information processing apparatus employing a variable-volume keyboard device according to the present invention when a lid is closed.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the information processing apparatus employing the variable volume keyboard device according to the present invention when the lid is opened.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the information processing apparatus employing the variable volume keyboard device according to the present invention when the lid is closed.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the information processing apparatus employing the variable-volume keyboard device according to the present invention when the lid is opened.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a main body case in the variable volume keyboard device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic rear view of the support plate showing a state of attachment of the link arm according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the first embodiment of the present invention, in which a support plate is omitted to show the interlocking of the movable unit and the link arm.

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a sliding member at the tip of a link arm.

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view showing a main body case in a variable volume keyboard device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic rear view of a support plate showing a state of attachment of a link arm according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a support plate is omitted to show interlocking of a movable unit and a link arm.

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view showing a support plate in a variable volume keyboard device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic rear view showing a mounted state of a pulley according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a schematic plan view of a third embodiment of the present invention, in which a support plate is omitted to show interlocking of a movable unit and a pulley.

FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view showing the interlocking of a movable unit and a pulley according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic sectional view showing the interlocking of a movable unit and a pulley according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Variable volume keyboard device 1a Key switch 2 Support plate 41 Hinge plate 5 Display part 6 Rotating body 7 Main body case 71 Guide groove 8 Link arm 81 Shaft body 82 Rotating roller 9 Movable unit 10 Pulley 11 Wire 12 Fixing member 13 Elastic body

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A variable-volume keyboard device in which a support plate and a display body are linked to each other so that the support plate can be inclined and a movable unit of a switch group extending in the left-right direction is provided on the support plate. One end of a link arm in which at least two arms are rotatably connected to the movable unit of the switch group is rotatably mounted, and the other end of the link arm is attached to a main body case supporting the support plate. A guide groove for guiding a projected sliding member is provided, and when the position of the movable plate is changed in the direction of the display while the support plate is inclined by operating the display, the movable unit is expanded by deformation of the link arm. A variable volume keyboard device characterized by the following. 2. The variable volume keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein said sliding member is a cylindrical roller member. 3. A variable-volume keyboard device in which a movable unit of a switch group extending in the left-right direction is provided on the support plate so that the support plate can be inclined by linking the support plate and the display body. A first pulley and a second pulley for transferring a wire connected to a display to the support plate are provided, and a movable unit of a switch group is fixed to the wire, and the support plate is tilted by operating the display. A variable volume type keyboard device, wherein the movable unit is expanded by the displacement of the wire when the position is changed in the direction of the display body.