JP2001210179A - Key switch - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key switch in which the periphery of the keytop can respond to the composition which makes the form settled in an approximately rectangle and the key-in is certainly made even pushing the end or corner on a keytop. SOLUTION: In the key switch, a key rubber 4 and a contact pattern 5 come into contact with each other to perform key-in by means of pushing a keytop. The keytop makes a form of circumscribing to an approximately rectangle, and the key rubber 4 have a smaller area than the keytop, and the form makes a ellipse or the keytop forms. The contact pattern 5 is formed symmetrically with respect to a line or a point. Contact range (4a1, 4a2, 4b1. 4b4) in the edge of the key rubber 4 is arranged for covering a plurality of sections (5A, 5B) of the contact pattern 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a key switch used in an information processing device and the like, and more particularly to a key pattern provided on a printed circuit board of a key switch.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a key switch of this kind,
As disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 8-7690, a key top generally has a square pressing surface.
In this prior art, such a pressing surface is formed of a resin key top or an integral rubber key top having a square shape, a circular key rubber forming a contact provided below the key top, and further provided on a printed board below the key rubber. A configuration including a key pattern is disclosed. In the key switch having such a configuration, the related art discloses a pattern shape that always short-circuits the two carbon patterns forming the key pattern even when only the edge of the contact contacts the key pattern. ing. Specifically, the inner pieces of the two carbon patterns are arranged in parallel and alternately, and the two side pieces of the two carbon patterns are formed to be shorter than the inner pieces, and the edge of the contact position is formed in a state where they are opposed to each other. Section.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-61312 discloses a contact pattern applied to a key switch provided with a general key top in which the pressing surface of the key top has a square shape as in the above-mentioned prior art. ing. This contact pattern is composed of a plurality of sector-shaped conductive portions radially arranged at a fixed interval from one point, and the sector-shaped conductive portions are connected alternately in the arrangement direction to form two contact points. This technique also has a pattern shape that is advantageous for pressing the key top end.

Further, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 64-34721 discloses a switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact which is arranged to be able to contact / separate from the fixed contact. The movable contact is circular, so that the movable contact contacts the branch contact even when the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact. Therefore, similar to the above-described prior art, the pattern shape is advantageous for pressing the end of the key top.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned prior art discloses a technique applied to a key switch provided with a general key top in which the pressing surface of the key top has a square shape. There is no disclosure of a technology capable of coping with end pressing and square pressing of a key top whose pressing surface shape is not square, for example, a vertically or horizontally long key top.

The present invention corresponds to a configuration in which the pressed surface shape of the keytop is not square but vertically or horizontally long, that is, the outer shape of the pressed surface of the keytop is formed into a substantially rectangular shape. It is another object of the present invention to provide a key switch capable of reliably performing key input even when the user presses the edge or the square.

[0007]

In order to achieve the object of the present invention, a key switch according to the present invention is arranged at a key top and below the key top, and is deformed in accordance with depression of the key top. A key rubber and a contact pattern formed on a printed circuit board and formed by continuously forming a plurality of pieces are provided. By pressing the key top, the key rubber and the contact pattern contact each other to perform key input. In the key switch, the pressing surface of the key top has a shape circumscribing a substantially rectangular shape, and the key rubber has an area smaller than the pressing surface, and has an elliptical shape or a shape similar to the pressing surface shape. The contact pattern has a line-symmetric or point-symmetrical shape, and the contact area at the edge of the key rubber is the contact pattern. Characterized by that it is formed to span a plurality of sections down.

With this configuration, when the key top is pressed end or square, the key rubber is deformed following the pressed portion of the key top, and the contact range extends over a plurality of sections of the contact pattern. It is possible to reliably contact between different sections and input is possible.

In the above configuration, the key top is
A configuration made of resin or integrated rubber may be used. Further, it is preferable that a gap having a predetermined interval is formed between the sections, and this contact pattern is formed by carbon printing. In particular, it is desirable to secure 0.4 mm as this interval, and since a plurality of sections fall within one contact range, the plurality of sections can be reliably contacted and input reliably. Also, if carbon printing is used, the manufacturing cost can be kept low.

[0010]

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

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and a rubber with a key top using an integral rubber key top.
It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of a key. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a contact pattern and an arrangement state of a key rubber applied to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a key rubber corresponding to square pressing and end pressing at a key top applied to this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a contact range, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing corner-pressed and end-pressed portions of a key top applied to this embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between the first contact pattern and the contact range applied to this embodiment.

The key switch according to the present embodiment includes a key top 1 made of rubber, a key rubber 4 which is arranged on the lower surface of the key top 1 and is deformed in accordance with depression of the key top 1, and a key switch 4 on the printed circuit board 3. And a contact pattern 5 in which a plurality of pieces are continuously formed.
The key top 1 is a bottom part 1 fixed on a printed circuit board 3
1b, an elastic portion 11a, and a key pressing portion 11c, which form an integrated structure made of rubber. Further, the key rubber 4 and the contact pattern 5 are arranged at opposing positions. The pressing surface 1A of the key top 1 has a substantially rectangular shape having a corner portion R as shown in FIG. Also,
The key rubber 4 has a pressing surface 1A as shown in FIGS.
It has an elliptical shape with a smaller area. The contact pattern 5 is a first contact pattern as shown in FIG. This first contact pattern includes ridges 5a, 5b,
Section 5A on which 5c, 5d, 5m, 5n, 5o, 5p are formed, and ridges 5h, 5g, 5f, 5e, 5i, 5j, 5
Sections 5B on which k and 5l are formed are respectively formed continuously and form a point-symmetric pattern shape. In addition, each section 5
A gap 2 is formed between A and 5B, and shows a pattern shape extending radially from the central portion. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the end portions 1a ₁ , 1 of the pressed surface 1A of the key top 1
If the user presses the a ₂ and corner portions _{1b 1, 1b 2, 1b 3} , 1b 4, the contact area of each Kigomu 4, the contact area 4a _1, 4a ₂ at the end, the contact at the corner subrange 4b _1, 4b ₂ , 4b ₃ , 4b ₄ .

[0013] With the above configuration, the contact area has, for example, contact area 4b ₄ has a two formed structures to span sections of sections 5A and intercept 5B, even if pressing the corner of the key top 1, The key rubber 4 and the first contact pattern 5 can be securely contacted to perform key input.

The first contact pattern 5 is applied to, for example, a substantially rectangular key of the key group 42 of the electronic desk calculator 40 shown in FIG. 15, excluding the keys 42a and 42b, and is provided on each printed circuit board. As shown in FIG. 12, the contact patterns provided on the printed circuit board of the entire key in the set of FIG. 15 are the first contact pattern 5 described above, the fifth contact pattern 16 described later, and the sixth contact pattern. Pattern 17 is used.

In the above embodiment, the configuration using the integrated rubber key top has been described. However, a configuration using a resin key top 12 made of a resin as shown in FIG. 6 can also be applied. In this configuration, the resin key tops 12 are supported on the printed circuit board 3 via the rubber pads 7 and the contact patterns 5 formed on the printed circuit board 3 are formed.
The key rubber 4 is provided on the lower surface portion of the rubber pad 7 facing the rubber pad 7. By the elastic force of the rubber pad 7, the key rubber 4 and the contact pattern 5 come into contact with each other to form a contact. <Comparative Example 1 with First Contact Pattern> In the prior art, as in the case of the first contact pattern, the entire contact pattern has an elliptical shape, and has a comb-teeth pattern as shown in FIG. Contact pattern 200 as shown in
Is shown as Comparative Example 1. In this configuration, the left and right comb-shaped pieces are alternately arranged so as to mesh with each other via the gap 202, and one piece extending in the direction of the end is formed. The key rubber 201 has an elliptical shape. In this contact pattern 200, FIG.
For example, as shown in FIG.
Since the intercepts 200r and 200s are input to only one signal with respect to the key rubber contact point 220, the square pressing of the key cannot be performed. In addition, for the end pressing of the key, the center of the key rubber 201 is set to the section 100r and the section 100s.
Because the key is not in the middle of the gap between the keys, the key cannot be pressed.

As contact patterns applied to the key switch having the above configuration, there are second contact patterns to sixth contact patterns as shown in FIGS. 7 to 11 in addition to the above-mentioned first contact patterns. . Hereinafter, these contact patterns will be described. 7 to FIG.
(A) is a diagram showing the configuration of each contact pattern and key rubber, and (b) is a diagram for explaining a contact state when the edge of the key top is pressed. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of the sixth contact pattern and the key rubber.

First, the second contact pattern 13 shown in FIG.
Is a comb pattern formed through the gap 132 and has a point symmetry. The contact pattern 13 has a rectangular shape as a whole. This second contact pattern 13
As shown in FIG. 13, a hand-held electronic desk calculator 20 in which the shape of the carbon contact of the key rubber 131 is small.
The present invention is applied to a small key used for a keypad and having a substantially rectangular pressing surface of the keytop. The key rubber 131 that comes into contact with the second contact pattern 13 has an elliptical shape.
Is formed so as to extend over the section 13a and the section 13c, and has a pattern shape in which two signals are simultaneously connected. When the end is pressed, the contact area 131b
Is formed in the middle of the gap 132a,
Two signals are simultaneously connected across the section 3a and the section 13c, as in the case of the square pressing.

<Comparative Example 2 with Second Contact Pattern> In the prior art, as in the case of the second contact pattern, assuming that the entire shape of the contact pattern is rectangular and has a comb pattern, FIG. The contact pattern 100 shown in FIG. In this configuration, the left and right comb teeth are alternately arranged so as to engage with each other via the gap 102. The key rubber 201 has an elliptical shape. In this contact pattern 100, as shown in FIG.
Since c and 100b are input to only one signal with respect to the contact point 110 of the key rubber, square pressing of the key cannot be performed.

Next, the third contact pattern shown in FIG. 8 will be described. The third contact pattern 14 is formed with a gap 142 interposed therebetween. The third contact pattern 14 has a comb-shaped tooth pattern radially extending along the end and the corner, and is symmetrical with respect to points. The contact pattern 14 has an elliptical shape as a whole. As shown in FIG. 14, the third contact pattern 14 is a small key used for a handy-type electronic desk calculator 30 having a small shape of a carbon contact of a key rubber and having a substantially rectangular pressing surface of a key top. Applied to In addition,
The third contact pattern 14 is used for the right three rows of keys of the electronic desk calculator shown in FIG. The key rubber 141 that contacts the third contact pattern 14 is
The contact pattern 14 has an elliptical shape similar to the ellipse of the contact pattern 14. In this configuration, for example, when square pressing is performed, the contact area 141a is formed over the slice 14a and the slice 14b, and has a pattern shape in which two signals are simultaneously connected. When the end is pressed, the contact range 141b is formed in the middle of the gap 142a, so that the two signals are simultaneously connected to the section 14a and the section 14b as in the case of the square pressing.

Next, the fourth contact pattern shown in FIG. 9 will be described. The fourth contact pattern 15 corresponds to the first contact pattern 15 described above.
The contact pattern is substantially the same as the contact pattern described above, except that the difference between the major axis and the minor axis is large in the overall shape.
Further, the R shape of the corner portion of the ellipse forming the entire shape is different from the first contact pattern. By appropriately changing the contact pattern in this way, it is possible to cope with various shapes of the key top to be applied. As shown in FIG. 14, the fourth contact pattern 15 is a notebook type electronic desk calculator 30 in which the shape of the carbon contact of the key rubber is small.
, And is applied to a key-top having a substantially rectangular pressing surface. The fourth contact pattern 15 is used for the four rows on the left side of the keys of the electronic desk calculator 40 shown in FIG. The key rubber 151 that contacts the fourth contact pattern 15 has an elliptical shape, and has an elliptical shape similar to the ellipse of the contact pattern 15. In this configuration, for example, when square pressing is performed, the contact area 151a is formed over the section 15a and the section 15b, and has a pattern shape in which two signals are simultaneously connected. Further, when the end is pressed, the contact range 151b is formed in the middle of the gap 152a, so that the two signals are simultaneously connected to the section 15a and the section 15b, as in the case of the square pressing.

Next, a fifth contact pattern shown in FIG. 10 will be described. The fifth contact pattern 16 is a key used in a notebook type electronic desk calculator having a small carbon rubber key contact, and is applied to a key top having a substantially rectangular pressing surface. In particular, the fifth contact pattern 16 is used for the "+ key" in the second row from the right among the keys of the electronic desk calculator 40 in FIG.
The fifth contact pattern 16 has a line-symmetrical configuration in which a radial pattern is formed at each end in the longitudinal direction and a comb pattern is formed at the center. Further, the key rubber 1 that comes into contact with the fifth contact pattern 16
Reference numeral 61 denotes an elliptical shape.
It is an elliptical shape similar to the ellipse.

In this configuration, when the key is depressed, the center of the gap between the section 16a and the section 16b is located at the center of the contact 161a of the key rubber 161 so that two signals are simultaneously connected. Pattern, and the key can be pressed squarely. Further, since the center 161c of the key rubber 161 is disposed in the middle of the gap between the section 16a and the section 16b in response to the end pressing of the key, the contact 161
The key can be pressed by b.

Next, the sixth contact pattern shown in FIG. 11 will be described. The sixth contact pattern 17 is formed on the printed board of the key 42b of the electronic desk calculator 40 shown in FIG. The sixth contact pattern 17 has a line-symmetric configuration in which two radial patterns are formed at each end in the longitudinal direction, and a comb pattern is formed at the center. The pressed surface of the key top has a special boat-like shape, but has a shape circumscribing a substantially rectangular shape. The key rubber 171 disposed below the key top has a shape similar to the shape of the key top. The sixth contact pattern 17 is used as a key 42b in the second row from the right among the keys of the electronic desk calculator 40 in FIG. In this configuration, the section 17a and the section 1
Since the middle of the gap 7b is located in the middle of the contact 171b of the key rubber 171, the pattern is configured so that two signals are simultaneously connected, and the key can be pressed squarely. In addition, the center 171c of the key rubber 171 is pressed against the end of the key by the gap 17 between the section 17a and the section 17b.
Since it is arranged in the middle of 2a, the end of the key can be pressed.

When the contact patterns described above are formed by carbon printing, a printed circuit board is required to prevent carbon printing accuracy and leakage at high temperature and high humidity. Therefore, it goes without saying that even when carbon printing is performed on the printed circuit board, the input can be performed by pressing the corners and the ends of the keys.

Further, in the above-mentioned contact pattern, a gap having an interval of 0.4 mm is formed between the sections, so that a gap smaller than the conventional one can be secured. According to the configuration of the above-described pattern shape and the interval of the gap in the contact pattern, in the present embodiment, it is possible to reliably input even when the key is pressed squarely or the edge is pressed.

[0026]

As described above, according to the key switch of the present invention, the pressing surface of the key top has a substantially circumscribed rectangular shape, and the key rubber has an area smaller than the pressing surface. Has an elliptical shape or a similar shape to the pressed surface shape, and the contact pattern has a line-symmetrical or point-symmetrical shape, and is formed so that the contact area at the edge of the key rubber extends over a plurality of sections of the contact pattern. With this configuration, even when the key top is end-pressed or square-pressed, the input can be reliably performed, and the reliability of the key switch is improved.

When the keytop is made of resin or integral rubber, the material used for the keytop is convenient and simple because the material used in conventional switch manufacturing can be applied.

Further, when a gap is formed at a predetermined interval between the sections and this contact pattern is formed by carbon printing, the plurality of sections fall within one contact area, and the plurality of sections can be securely inserted into the plurality of sections. , And input can be made reliably. In addition, the carbon printing can reduce the manufacturing cost and is economical.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a contact pattern and an arrangement state of a key rubber applied to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a contact area of a key rubber corresponding to square pressing and edge pressing in a key top applied to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing corner-pressed and end-pressed portions of a key top applied to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a relationship between a first contact pattern and a contact range applied to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, showing a structure using an integrated rubber keytop.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, showing a structure using a resin keytop.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a second contact pattern applied to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a third contact pattern applied to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a fourth contact pattern applied to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a fifth contact pattern applied to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a sixth contact pattern applied to the embodiment of the present invention.

12 is a diagram showing a state in which a contact pattern applied to the present invention is provided in the electronic desk calculator shown in FIG.

FIG. 13 is an external view of an electronic desk calculator employing the second contact pattern of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an external view of an electronic desk calculator employing the first and third contact patterns of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an external view of an electronic desk calculator employing the fourth, fifth, and sixth contact patterns of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a comparative example 1 in which the key rubber applied to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a conventional contact pattern.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a comparative example 2 in which the key rubber applied to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to another conventional contact pattern.

[Explanation of symbols]

1,12 key top 1A depressed surface 2 gaps 3 printed circuit board 4 Kigomu _{4a 1, 4a 2, 4b 1} ~4b 4 contact area 5,13,14,15,16,17 contact pattern

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A key top, a key rubber disposed below the key top, and deformed in response to pressing of the key top, formed on a printed circuit board, and a plurality of sections are continuously formed. A key switch comprising a contact pattern, wherein the key rubber and the contact pattern come into contact with each other by pressing the key top to perform key input, wherein the pressed surface shape of the key top has a shape circumscribing a substantially rectangular shape, The key rubber has an area smaller than the pressing surface, the shape thereof is an elliptical shape or a similar shape to the pressing surface shape, and the contact pattern has a line symmetry or a point-symmetrical shape, and has an edge of the key rubber. A key switch, wherein a contact range at an end portion is formed to extend over a plurality of sections of the contact pattern. 2. The key switch according to claim 1, wherein the key top is made of resin or integral rubber. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a gap is formed at a predetermined interval between the sections, and the contact pattern is formed by carbon printing.
Or the key switch according to 2.