JP2001283676A - Key-switching device, keyboard equipped with the same, and electronic apparatus equipped with the keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key-switching device, keyboard equipped with the same, and electronic apparatus equipped with the keyboard that make stable key operation possible by confining horizontal move of the key top on the way of its depression. SOLUTION: In a locking groove 17A of a locking member 17, a slope 17E is formed continuously from its wall parts 17D, and together, slope face 17F of the slope 17E are tilting down outward. Also lower shaft parts 22 of the first link member 3 and second link member 4 that are locked in the locking groove 17A have an elliptic shape in the side view. When each of the lower shaft parts 22 slides inside the locking groove 17A based on upper part of the key top 2, each of the lower shaft parts 22 is let slide while making contact with the slope face 17F of the locking groove 17A based on its elliptic shape.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key switch device for performing a switching operation while guiding up and down movement of a key top through a pair of link members, a keyboard provided with the key switch device, and an electronic apparatus provided with the keyboard. In particular, a key switch device that restricts the key top from moving in the horizontal direction while the key top is being depressed and enables a stable key operation, a keyboard including the key switch device, and an electronic apparatus including the keyboard It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various key switch devices that perform a switching operation while guiding up and down movement of a key top through a pair of link members have been proposed. It is widely used in electronic devices such as personal computers.

Generally, in a key switch device, if the key top moves in a horizontal direction in a state where the key top is not pressed or pressed, the key operation becomes unstable and the key operability is reduced. The key top is prevented from moving in the horizontal direction in the non-pressed state and the pressed state.

[0004] In addition, the fact that the key top moves in the horizontal direction while the key top is being depressed poses a greater problem in terms of key operability. It has also been practiced to restrict the key top from moving in the horizontal direction while the top is being pressed.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-44860 discloses that a locking rod of one link member is slidably locked in a locking groove of a locking portion formed on the back surface of the keytop, The locking pin is slidably locked in the locking groove in the locking portion of the holder member, and the locking pin of the other link member is locked in the locking groove of the locking portion formed on the back surface of the keytop. A key switch device is described that locks slidably and locks a locking rod slidably in a locking groove in a locking portion of a holder member.

In such a key switch device, the upper end and the lower end of each link member are slidable by each locking portion of the key top, and slidable by each locking portion of the holder member. Since the key top moves in the horizontal direction while the key top is being depressed, the shaft body formed outside one of the link members is connected to the shaft guide groove of the guide wall provided upright on the holder member. The vertical movement guide restricts the key top from moving in the horizontal direction while the key top is being pressed.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-342945, the upper end of one link member is rotatably supported on the back surface of the key top, and the lower end is slidably engaged with the holder member. Further, there is described a key switch device in which the upper end of the other link member is rotatably locked to the back surface of the keytop and the lower end is slidably locked to the holder member. Also in this key switch device, the lower end of each link member is slidably locked to the holder member, and the key top moves in the horizontal direction while the key top is being depressed. In order to restrict the movement of the key top, when the key top is pressed, the positioning pin of the positioning member provided on the holder member is inserted and guided in the positioning groove of the positioning member vertically suspended from the back surface of the key top.

[0008]

The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-448.
In the key switch device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H06-342 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-342945, the cooperation between the shaft of the link member and the shaft guide groove of the guide wall, or the cooperation between the positioning groove of the positioning member and the positioning pin. Based on the action, it is possible to restrict the key top from moving in the horizontal direction even during the pressing of the key top.

However, in the key switch device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-44860, it is necessary to form a guide wall having a shaft guide groove in the holder member, and such a guide wall can be provided up to about half the height of the key switch device. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the thickness of the key switch device. In addition, the structure of the holder member becomes complicated, and the manufacturing cost will be increased in the future.

Also, in the key switch device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-34294, it is necessary to form a positioning member having a positioning groove and a positioning member having a positioning pin in the holder member. Is required to be formed at a height of about half of the height of the key switch device. Therefore, similar to the case of the key switch device, there is a great problem in reducing the thickness of the key switch device. In addition, the structure of the holder member becomes complicated, and the manufacturing cost will be increased in the future.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. By adopting a simple structure, the key top can be moved in the horizontal direction while the key top is being pressed without increasing the cost at all. A key switch device that restricts the movement of the key switch device, enables the key switch device to be reduced in thickness and enables stable key operation, a keyboard including the key switch device, and an electronic apparatus including the keyboard. I do.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a key switch device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes two upper locking portions vertically provided from a back surface of a key top, and a lower portion below the key top. Two lower locking portions arranged corresponding to the respective upper locking portions, a first locking member locked to one of the upper locking portions, and one of the lower locking portions. Second stopped
A first link member having a locking member, a third locking member locked to the other of the upper locking portions, and a fourth locking member locked to the other of the lower locking portions. A key switch device comprising: a guide member that guides the vertical movement of a key top, and a switching member that performs a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top, wherein the two link members and the two link members are arranged in a mutually movable state. The second locking member of the first link member is slidably locked at the one lower locking portion, and the fourth locking member of the second link member is slidable at the other lower side. A key is slidably locked by the locking portion, and a key is provided between the one lower locking portion and the first link member or between the other lower locking portion and the second link member. Movement restriction means is provided to restrict the key top from moving in the horizontal direction while the top is being pressed. It is characterized in that is.

In the key switch device of the first aspect, the second locking member of the first link member is slidably locked by one of the lower locking portions, and the fourth locking member of the second link member. The locking member is slidably locked at the other lower locking portion, between the one lower locking portion and the first link member, or between the other lower locking portion and the first lower locking portion. Between the two link members, there is provided a movement restricting means for restricting the key top from moving in the horizontal direction while the key top is being depressed. The horizontal movement of the keytop is restricted. Thus, stable key operation can be performed.

The key switch device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the key switch device according to the first aspect, wherein the movement restricting means is formed in the one or other lower locking portion,
A sliding groove having an inclined surface that is inclined from a wall portion with which the second locking member or the fourth locking member abuts when the key top is not pressed is provided. In the key switch device according to the second aspect, the movement restricting means is formed on one or the other lower locking portion, and the second locking member or the fourth locking member abuts on the key top in a non-pressed state. The second locking member or the fourth locking member slides while abutting on the inclined surface of the sliding groove when the key top is depressed, since the sliding groove includes a sliding groove having an inclined surface inclined from the sliding groove. Become. At this time, the slope is
Since the sliding of the second locking member or the fourth locking member that attempts to slide in the horizontal direction in the sliding groove is restricted, the key top cannot move in the horizontal direction even during the pressing. Absent. In addition, since the horizontal movement of the key top is regulated by the cooperative action of the inclined surface of the sliding groove and the second or fourth locking member, the relatively large guide wall or positioning member is required. No members or the like are required at all, so that the entire key switch device can be made thinner, and the cost can be reduced by adopting a simple configuration.

Further, in the key switch device according to a third aspect, in the key switch device according to the second aspect, the second locking member or the fourth locking member is formed as a shaft member having an oval shape in a side view. The elliptical shaft member moves horizontally or upright along the inclined surface as it slides in the sliding groove as the key top moves up and down. In the key switch device of claim 3,
The second locking member or the fourth locking member is formed as a shaft member having an oval shape in a side view, and the oval shaft member moves in the sliding groove as the key top moves up and down. As it slides, it becomes horizontal or upright along the inclined surface, so that even if the inclined groove is gradually narrowed or widened based on the inclined surface, the oblong shaft member and the inclined surface The contact force generated between them does not become unnecessarily large. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly perform the pressing operation of the key top while restricting the movement of the key top in the horizontal direction.

A key switch device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the key switch device according to the second aspect, wherein the inclined surface is inclined outward. In the key switch device of the fourth aspect, the sliding groove has an inclined surface inclined outward from the wall portion, and the inclined surface is slid in the sliding groove in the horizontal direction. Since the sliding of the second locking member or the fourth locking member is restricted, the key top does not move in the horizontal direction even during the pressing thereof. In addition, since the horizontal movement of the key top is regulated by the cooperative action of the inclined surface of the sliding groove and the second or fourth locking member, the relatively large guide wall or positioning member is required. No members or the like are required at all, so that the entire key switch device can be made thinner, and the cost can be reduced by adopting a simple configuration.

Further, in the key switch device according to a fifth aspect, in the key switch device according to the fourth aspect, the second locking member or the fourth locking member is formed as a shaft member having an oval shape in a side view. The elliptical shaft member moves horizontally along the inclined surface as it slides in the sliding groove as the key top moves up and down. In the key switch device of the fifth aspect, the second locking member or the fourth locking member is formed as a shaft member having an oval shape in a side view, and the oval shaft member is a key top. When the inclined groove gradually narrows based on the inclined surface, the elliptical shaft member and the inclined surface can be used even if the inclined groove gradually narrows based on the inclined surface. The contact force generated between them does not become larger than necessary. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly perform the pressing operation of the key top while restricting the movement of the key top in the horizontal direction.

The key switch device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the key switch device according to the first aspect, wherein the movement restricting means includes a shaft member protruding from a side surface of the first link member or the second link member. A wall formed near the lower locking portion of the one or the other and for guiding the shaft member in contact with the sliding of the second locking member or the fourth locking member when the key top is pressed down. And a member.
According to the key switch device of the sixth aspect, the shaft member protruding from the side surface of the first link member or the second link member and the one or the other formed near the lower locking portion, and are associated with the depression of the key top. A movement restricting means is constituted by a wall member that guides the shaft member in contact with the sliding of the second locking member or the fourth locking member, and a key is formed based on a cooperative action between the shaft member and the wall member. The movement of the top in the horizontal direction can be restricted. In such a case, similarly to the above, there is no need for a relatively large guide wall, positioning member, or the like, so that the entire key switch device can be made thinner and a simple configuration is adopted. This makes it possible to reduce costs.

Furthermore, the keyboard according to claim 7 includes at least two or more key switch devices according to claim 1, and therefore, as in the case of claim 1, when the key top is depressed, the key switch device is moved via the movement restricting means. Thus, the horizontal movement of the key top is restricted, so that a stable key operation can be performed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus, wherein two upper locking portions are provided vertically from a back surface of the key top, and the upper locking portions are arranged below the key top in correspondence with the respective upper locking portions. A second locking member locked to one of the lower locking portions, a first locking member locked to one of the upper locking portions, and a second locking member locked to one of the upper locking portions. One link member and a second link member having a third locking member locked to the other of the upper locking portion and a fourth locking member locked to the other of the lower locking portion are mutually connected. A key switch device comprising: a guide member for guiding the vertical movement of a key top; and a switching member for performing a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top. The two locking members are slidably locked at the one lower locking portion. , Fourth locking members of the second link member is slidably engaged with the other of the lower engaging portion,
Between the one lower locking portion and the first link member or between the other lower locking portion and the second link member, the key top moves horizontally while the key top is being pressed. A key switch device provided with a movement restricting means for restricting that, a keyboard for inputting characters and symbols, a display means for displaying characters and symbols, and the display means based on input data from the keyboard And control means for displaying characters, symbols, and the like.

In the electronic device according to the eighth aspect, the electronic device according to the first aspect is provided.
Since the keyboard provided with the key switch device described in (1) is provided, similarly to the case of claim 1, the movement of the key top in the horizontal direction is restricted via the movement restricting means when the key top is pressed, Thus, stable key operation can be performed.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a key switch device, a keyboard and an electronic device according to the present invention will be described in detail based on a first embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. First, a notebook personal computer, which is a kind of electronic equipment according to the present embodiment, is shown in FIG.
A description will be given based on (B). 1A and 1B show a notebook personal computer, FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the notebook personal computer, and FIG. 1B is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the notebook personal computer.

In FIG. 1A, a notebook personal computer 100 basically includes a main body 102 having a CPU for performing various arithmetic processing, and a display 103 supported by the main body 102 to be openable and closable. It is composed of Here, the display 103 is rotatably supported by the connecting portion 104 of the main body 102, and is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the main body 102. The main body 102 is provided with a keyboard 105 on which a plurality of key switch devices 1 are provided.

In FIG. 1B, the CPU 101
Are connected via a bus 108 to a ROM 106 storing a program for controlling each unit of the personal computer 100 and a RAM 107 for storing various data. Also, the CPU 101 has a bus 108.
The input / output interface 109 is connected to the input / output interface 109. The input / output interface 109 is connected to the display 103, the keyboard 105, and a hard disk device 110 storing programs such as documents and spreadsheets. The CPU 101 includes a keyboard 105
Based on the input data from, a program such as document creation or spreadsheet is read from the hard disk device 110 and executed, and characters and symbols are displayed on the display 103.

Next, a schematic configuration of the key switch device according to the first embodiment attached to the keyboard 105 of the notebook personal computer 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the key switch device.

First, referring to FIG.
The guide member 5 basically comprises a key top 2, a pair of first link members 3, and a second link member 4, and guides the key top 2 up and down, and a support plate 6 below the guide member 5. Membrane switch sheet 7 placed on top
It is composed of

Here, the key top 2 is formed of an ABS resin or the like, and characters such as letters and numerals are formed on the surface thereof by printing or the like. On the back surface of the key top 2, two rotation locking portions 8 are integrally formed corresponding to the first link member 3, and two rotation locking portions 8 are formed corresponding to the second link member 4. The locking portions 9, 9 are formed integrally. Each of the rotation locking portions 8 and 9 has a locking groove 8.
A and 9A are provided. Locking groove 8 of each rotation locking portion 8
A rotatably locks the upper shaft portion 21 (described later) of the first link member 3, and locks grooves 9 </ b> A of each rotation locking portion 9.
Locks the upper shaft portion 21 (described later) of the second link member 4 in a rotatable manner.

The guide member 5 is formed by combining the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 with each other.
The second link members 3 and 4 have basically the same configuration. The detailed configuration of each of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 will be described later.

Further, below the guide member 5, a membrane switch sheet 7 mounted on a support plate 6 made of a thin metal plate made of aluminum, iron or the like is provided. The membrane switch sheet 7 includes a lower film sheet 12 on which a switch circuit pattern 11 including a fixed electrode pattern 10 is formed from a so-called copper foil, conductive paint, or the like, and an upper side on which a movable electrode pattern 13 is similarly formed on the lower surface. It has a three-layer structure in which a film spacer 16 provided with a switching hole 15 corresponding to the fixed electrode pattern 10 and the movable electrode pattern 13 is interposed between the film spacer 14 and the film sheet 14. The configuration of the membrane switch sheet 7 is known.

Here, on the upper switch sheet 14,
Two chip-shaped locking members 17 made of metal, resin or the like are bonded and fixed on both sides of the movable electrode pattern 13 with an adhesive. Each locking member 17 has the same configuration, and a long hole-shaped locking groove 17A is formed on both sides of the central adhesive fixing portion 17B. In addition, each locking groove 17A
Are provided with adhesive fixing portions 17C, respectively. Each locking member 17 is arranged below the side edge of the key top 2, which is off the center of the key top 2.

In each of the locking grooves 17A, a wall 17D is formed so as to rise from an end of the central adhesive fixing portion 17B, and an inclined portion 17E inclined downward from the wall 17D to the outside is formed. Have been. Such an inclined portion 17E
Constitutes an inclined surface 17F. The lower shaft 22 of the first link member 3 and the lower shaft 22 of the second link member 4 are slidably locked in each locking groove 17A. Here, as will be described later, the lower shaft portion 22 of the first link member 3 and the lower shaft portion 22 of the second link member 8 abut on the wall portion 17D in a non-pressed state of the key top 2, and the key top 2 To a non-pressed position. The operation performed between the inclined surface 17F on the lower surface of the inclined portion 17E and each lower shaft portion 22
The operation will be described later.

The structure in which the locking members 17 are bonded and fixed to the upper surface of the upper film sheet 14 of the membrane switch sheet 7 is the same as the structure described in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 11-32608. There is a detailed description thereof with reference to the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 11-32608, and the description is omitted here.

Next, a detailed configuration of the two first link members 3 and the second link member 4 constituting the guide member 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 have the same configuration, and are used in a rotationally symmetric relationship with each other when the guide member 5 is assembled. FIG. 3 shows the first link member 3 and the second link member 4.
FIG. 4 shows a first link member 3 and a second link member 4.
FIG.

2 to 4, the first link member 3
The second link member 4 includes a pair of plate-like members 18, 18, a connecting portion 19 connecting the plate-like members 18, and an inward portion from one end of the plate-like member 18 at a position near the base of the connecting portion 19. The plate spring portion 20 is formed integrally from a polyacetal resin or the like. At a position near one end (upper end in FIG. 2, right end in FIG. 3) of each plate-shaped member 18, an upper shaft portion 21 is extended outwardly. A lower shaft portion 22 extends outward on the other end side of FIG. 18 (the lower end in FIG. 2 and the left end in FIG. 3). Each upper shaft portion 21 is rotatably locked in the locking groove 8A of the rotation locking portion 8 of the key top 2, and each lower shaft portion 22 is connected to the upper film of the membrane switch sheet 7. It is slidably locked in a locking groove 17A of a locking member 17 adhesively fixed to the surface of the sheet 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the lower shaft portion 22 is formed in an oval shape in a side view. The reason why the lower shaft portion 22 is formed in the shape of an ellipse is as follows. That is, each locking groove 17A of the locking member 17 is
As described above, the lower shaft portion 22 has the inclined portion 17E which is inclined downward from the wall portion 17D to the outside. Is always brought into contact with the inclined surface 17F of the inclined portion 17E in the locking groove 17A, and the lower shaft portion 22 is moved in accordance with the depression of the key top 2 as described later.
In order to keep the lower shaft portion 22 in a horizontal state when sliding outward in order to prevent the contact force generated between the lower shaft portion 22 and the inclined surface 17F from becoming unnecessarily large. It is.

A cam portion 24 is formed integrally with the outer end of the leaf spring portion 20. As shown in FIG. 4, a cam surface 25 is formed below the cam portion 24. At the boundary between the cam surface 25 and the surface continuous above the cam surface 25,
There is a cam vertex 27. Here, the cam surface 25
As is clear from FIG. 6, the key top 2 corresponds to the non-pressed position. The angle formed by the cam surface 25, the cam vertex 27, and the surface that continues upward from the cam vertex 27 is set to an obtuse angle.

In each plate 18, the upper shaft 2
Gear teeth 28 are provided on the end side (the right end side in FIGS. 2 and 3) with respect to 1. One or two gear teeth 28
It has two gear teeth 28A. In FIG. 4, two gear teeth 28A are formed on the gear teeth 28 of the plate 18 on one side, and one gear is formed on the gear teeth 28 of the plate 18 on the other side. A tooth 28A is formed. The gear teeth 28 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 are meshed with each other, and when the key top 2 is moved up and down, the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 are moved.
And act synchronously.

Further, a resin elastic piece 23 extending from the inner wall of one of the plate-like members 18 (the upper plate-like member 18 in FIG. 3) to approximately the center of the distance between the plate-like members 18 is integrally formed. The switch pressing portion 2 is provided at the lower end of the resin elastic piece 23.
6 are provided. When the key top 2 is pressed, the switch pressing portion 26 of the resin elastic piece 23 pushes the upper switch sheet 14 of the membrane switch sheet 7 when the key top 2 is pressed.
In this case, the movable electrode pattern 13 is elastically pressed from above to perform a switching operation with the fixed electrode pattern 10 of the lower film sheet 12.

Next, the relationship between the cam portions 24 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows the first link member 3 to the leaf spring portion 20.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view schematically showing the leaf spring section 20 and the cam section 24 taken out from the cam section 24 and the second link member 4.

5 (A) and 5 (B), the cam vertex 27 of the cam portion 24 formed integrally with the leaf spring portion 20 of the first link member 3 has a ridge over the entire width of the cam portion 24. Part 2
7A, and a cam vertex 27 of the cam portion 24 formed integrally with the leaf spring portion 20 of the second link member 4.
Is formed with a concave groove 27B into which the ridge 27A is fitted. Here, the first link member 3 and the second link member 4
The leaf spring portions 20 of each of the above have the function of mutually biasing the respective cam portions 24 in the contacting direction, so that the ridges 27A and the concave grooves 27B make the cam surfaces 25 of the respective cam portions 24 contact each other. They are always fitted from the contacting contact state (see FIG. 6A) to the state of getting over each cam vertex 27 (see FIGS. 6B and 6C). This allows key top 2 during key operation.
Link member 3 and second link member 4 according to the vertical movement of
Are activated, the cam surfaces 24 of the cam portions 24 of the first link member 3 and the cam portions 24 of the second link member 4
Synchronization between the cam vertices 27 can be ensured.

Next, the operation of the key switch device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
Is an explanatory view schematically showing a series of operations from a non-pressed state of the keytop 2 to a pressing operation of the keytop 2 to perform a switching operation, focusing on movements of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4. is there.

First, in a non-pressed state where the key top 2 is not pressed, the key top 2 is held at a non-pressed position as shown in FIG. In this state, the cam surface 25 of the cam portion 24 of the first link member 3 and the cam surface 25 of the cam portion 24 of the second link member 4 are in a contact state in which they are in contact with each other. , The biasing force of the leaf spring portions 20, 20 acts in a direction in which the cam surfaces 25 come into contact with each other. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6A, the lower shaft portion 22 of the first link member 3 comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the wall portion 17D of the locking groove 17A of the locking member 17, and the lower link Similarly, the lower shaft portion 22 of the member 4 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the wall portion 17D of the locking groove 17A of the locking member 17, whereby the key top 2 is stably held at the non-pressed position. ing. Also, each cam surface 25
Are in contact with each other, the leaf spring portions 20, 2
Since the urging force of 0 acts in the direction in which the cam surfaces 25 come into contact with each other, the key top 2 held at the non-pressed position
Does not move in the horizontal direction, and the rattling of the key top 2 can be prevented. At this time, the lower shaft portions 22 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 have an elliptical shape as described above, and the upper portion is formed on the wall portion 17D of the locking groove 17A. The lower part is in contact with the upper surface of the upper film sheet 14 of the membrane switch sheet sheet 7.

When the key top 2 starts to be pressed, the first link member 3 upper shaft portion 21 rotates clockwise in the locking groove 8A of the rotation locking portion 8 in accordance with the key top 2 being pressed. The upper shaft portion 21 of the second link member 4 rotates counterclockwise in the locking groove 9A of the rotation locking portion 9. At the same time, the lower shaft portion 22 of the first link member 3 is
Of the second link member 4 and the lower shaft portion 22 of the second link member 4
Slide to the right in A. At this time, the inclined surface 17F of the inclined portion 17E in the locking groove 17A is gradually inclined downward as going outward from the wall portion 17D.
Because the clearance of 7A gradually narrows,
Each of the lower shafts having an oblong shape while the upper portion of the lower shaft portion 22 of each of the first and second link members 3 and 4 is in contact with the inclined surface 17F and the lower portion of the lower shaft portion 22 and the upper film sheet 14. The part 22 gradually becomes horizontal. Therefore, there is no trouble in sliding the lower shaft portion 22 in each locking groove 17A. Further, the cam surfaces 25 of the cam portions 24 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 gradually separate from each other, and each cam portion 24
It comes in contact with. This state is shown in FIG.

As described above, even when the cam vertices 27 of the cam portions 24 of the first and second link members 3 and 4 come into contact with each other, the cam vertices 27 of the cam portions 24 of the first link member 3 also contact with each other. Is formed with a ridge 27A, a groove 27B is formed at the cam vertex 27 of the cam portion 24 in the second link member 4, and the ridge 27A is
7B, the cam vertices 27 do not deviate from each other at all, and the cam portions 24 can be completely synchronized.

When the key top 2 is further depressed, the cam surfaces 25 are separated from each other, and reach the state shown in FIG. The switch pressing portion 26 formed on the resin elastic piece 23 of the first link member 3 and the switch pressing portion 26 formed on the resin elastic piece 23 of the second link member 4
Presses the upper film sheet 14 of the membrane switch sheet 7. Thereby, the upper film sheet 14
The movable electrode pattern 13 formed on the lower surface of the lower film sheet 12 contacts the fixed electrode pattern 10 of the lower film sheet 12 through the switching hole 15 of the film spacer 16, and a predetermined switching operation is performed. At this time, each lower shaft portion 22 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 is
As shown in (C), it is completely horizontal in the locking groove 17A.

The switch pressing portion 2 of each resin elastic piece 23
It is desirable that the first and second switches 6 and 6 simultaneously contact the upper film sheet 14 and press the same. Since the switch pressing portion 26 comes into contact with the upper film sheet 14, even if the switch pressing portion 26 of the one resin elastic piece 23 comes into contact with the upper film sheet 14, vibration or the like occurs in the upper film sheet 14. The vibration and the like of the upper film sheet 14 can be eliminated by the contact of the switch pressing portion 26 of the other resin elastic piece 23. Therefore, chattering that occurs at the time of switching can be reliably prevented.

Each resin elastic piece 23 is elastically deformed when the key top 2 is further depressed from the state shown in FIG. 6C.
, The so-called overtravel of the key top 2 can be realized.

When the pressing of the key top 2 is released after the switching operation is performed as described above, the key top 2 is released from the leaf spring portions 20 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4.
6A is performed on the basis of the urging force acting on, and returns to the non-pressed position shown in FIG.

As described above in detail, in the key switch device 1 according to the first embodiment, the locking groove 17 of the locking member 17
A has an inclined portion 17E formed continuously from a wall portion 17D, and an inclined surface 17F of the inclined portion 17E is inclined downward toward the outside, and a locking groove 17A is formed.
First link member 3 and second link member 4 locked inside
The lower shaft portion 22 has an oval shape in a side view, and when each lower shaft portion 22 slides in the locking groove 17A based on the key top 2, each lower shaft portion 22 Slides while contacting the inclined surface 17F of the locking groove 17A based on the oval shape. At this time, the inclined surface 17F is engaged with the locking groove 17A.
Since the sliding of each lower shaft portion 22 that attempts to slide in the horizontal direction in the inside is restricted, it is possible to reliably prevent the key top 2 in the middle of being pressed from moving in the horizontal direction.
In addition, since the horizontal movement of the key top 2 is regulated by the cooperation between the inclined surface 17F of the locking groove 17A and each of the lower shaft portions 22, a relatively large guide wall, positioning member, or the like is used. Is not required at all, and therefore the cost can be reduced by adopting a simple configuration. Further, each lower shaft portion 22 having an oval shape gradually becomes horizontal along the inclined surface 17F as it slides in the locking groove 17A as the key top 2 is depressed. Even when the locking groove 17A gradually narrows based on the inclined surface 17F that is inclined downward toward the outside at the stop groove 17A, the oblong lower shaft portion 22 and the inclined surface 17
The contact force generated between F and F does not increase more than necessary. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly perform the pressing operation of the key top 2 while restricting the movement of the key top 2 in the horizontal direction.

Next, a key switch device according to a second embodiment attached to the keyboard 105 of the notebook personal computer 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the key switch device according to the second embodiment has basically the same configuration as the configuration of the key switch device 1 of the first embodiment. In the key switch device 1 of the first embodiment, As an arrangement for preventing the key top 2 from moving in the horizontal direction while the key top 2 is being depressed, an inclined portion 17F having an inclined surface 17F which is gradually inclined downward toward the outside in an engaging groove 17A of an engaging member 17. 17E
Is formed, and the lower shaft 22 having an elliptical shape is slid in the locking groove 17A, based on the restricting force acting between the inclined surface 17F and the lower shaft 22 having an oval shape. Although the configuration for restricting the horizontal movement of the key top 2 has been adopted, in the second embodiment, the first link member and the second
The restricting projection is formed by extending from a side surface of each plate-like body 18 of the link member, and a wall member is formed integrally with each locking member 17, and a key is formed based on a cooperative action between the restricting projection and the wall member. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the horizontal movement of the top 2 during pressing is restricted. The remaining configuration is the same as in the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following description, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted, and only the components unique to the second embodiment will be described. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the key switch device according to the second embodiment, FIG. 8 is a plan view of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4, and FIG. 9 is a first link member 3 and the second link member 4.
It is a side view of the link member 4.

7 to 9, the first link member 3
A restricting projection 30 (only one is shown in FIG. 7) is formed to extend outward from the side surface of each plate-like body 18 of the second link member 4. From the side surface of the body 18, the regulating protrusion 30 (only one is shown in FIG. 7)
Are formed to extend outward.

In each of the locking members 17, a wall member 31 is formed integrally with an inner edge near each of the locking grooves 17A. As shown in FIG. 7, each wall member 31 has a shaft regulating surface 31A that curves outward, and the regulating protrusion 30 is always in contact with the shaft regulating surface 31A of the wall member 31. Here, unlike the case of the first embodiment, each locking groove 17A does not have an inclined portion, and as shown in FIG. 7, the upper wall portion from the wall portion 17D to the adhesive fixing portion 17C has It is formed flat.

The remaining configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the key switch device 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
0 is an explanatory view schematically showing a series of operations from the non-pressed state of the keytop 2 to the pressing operation of the keytop 2 to perform a switching operation, focusing on the movement of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4. It is.

In FIG. 10, first, in a non-pressed state in which the key top 2 is not pressed, the key top 2 is held at a non-pressed position as shown in FIG.
In this state, the cam surface 25 of the cam portion 24 of the first link member 3 and the cam surface 25 of the cam portion 24 of the second link member 4 are in a contact state in which they are in contact with each other. , The biasing force of the leaf spring portions 20, 20 acts in a direction in which the cam surfaces 25 come into contact with each other. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 10A, the lower shaft portion 22 of the first link member 3 abuts on the inner wall surface of the wall portion 17D of the locking groove 17A of the locking member 17, and the second link Similarly, the lower shaft portion 22 of the member 4 is
7A is in contact with the inner wall surface of the wall portion 17D, whereby the key top 2 is stably held at the non-pressed position.
Further, in the contact state where the respective cam surfaces 25 are in contact with each other, since the urging force of the leaf spring portions 20 is acting in the direction in which the respective cam surfaces 25 are in contact with each other, it is held at the non-pressed position. The key top 2 does not move in the horizontal direction, and the rattling of the key top 2 can be prevented. At this time, the regulating protrusions 30 formed on the respective plate-like bodies 18 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 are in contact with the upper side of the shaft regulating surface 31A of the wall member 31.

When the key top 2 is pressed down, the upper shaft portion 21 of the first link member 3 rotates clockwise in the locking groove 8A of the rotation locking portion 8 as the key top 2 is pressed down. At the same time, the upper shaft portion 21 of the second link member 4 rotates counterclockwise in the locking groove 9A of the rotation locking portion 9.
At the same time, the lower shaft portion 22 of the first link member 3 is
7 slides leftward in the locking groove 17A of the
The lower shaft portion 22 of the link member 4 is provided with the locking groove 1 of the locking member 17.
Slide to the right within 7A. At this time, each regulating protrusion 30
Is guided while abutting along the curved surface of the shaft regulating surface 31A of the wall member 31. Therefore, the regulating protrusion 30 and the wall member 3
The horizontal movement of the key top 2 can be regulated based on the cooperative action with the first shaft regulating surface 31A. Further, the cam surfaces 25 of the cam portions 24 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 gradually separate from each other, and the respective cam portions 24 come into contact with the respective cam vertexes 27. This state is shown in FIG.

As described above, even when the cam vertices 27 of the cam portions 24 of the first and second link members 3 and 4 come into contact with each other, the cam vertices 27 of the cam portions 24 of the first link member 3 also contact with each other. Is formed with a ridge 27A, a groove 27B is formed at the cam vertex 27 of the cam portion 24 in the second link member 4, and the ridge 27A is
7B, the cam vertices 27 do not deviate from each other at all, and the cam portions 24 can be completely synchronized.

When the key top 2 is further depressed, the respective cam surfaces 25 are separated from each other, and reach the state shown in FIG. Then, the resin elastic piece 23 of the first link member 3
And a switch pressing portion 26 formed on the resin elastic piece 23 of the second link member 4.
Presses the upper film sheet 14 of the membrane switch sheet 7. Thereby, the upper film sheet 14
The movable electrode pattern 13 formed on the lower surface of the lower film sheet 12 contacts the fixed electrode pattern 10 of the lower film sheet 12 through the switching hole 15 of the film spacer 16, and a predetermined switching operation is performed. At this time, the lower shaft portions 22 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 are
As shown in (C), it is in contact with the wall surface on the opposite side to the wall portion 17D in the locking groove 17A.

The switch pressing portion 2 of each resin elastic piece 23
It is desirable that the first and second switches 6 and 6 simultaneously contact the upper film sheet 14 and press the same. Since the switch pressing portion 26 comes into contact with the upper film sheet 14, even if the switch pressing portion 26 of the one resin elastic piece 23 comes into contact with the upper film sheet 14, vibration or the like occurs in the upper film sheet 14. The vibration and the like of the upper film sheet 14 can be eliminated by the contact of the switch pressing portion 26 of the other resin elastic piece 23. Therefore, chattering that occurs at the time of switching can be reliably prevented.

Each resin elastic piece 23 is shown in FIG.
Since the key top 2 is elastically deformed when the key top 2 is further depressed from the state shown in FIG. 2, each resin elastic piece 23 absorbs the moving amount of the key top 2 to realize a so-called overtravel of the key top 2. Can be.

When the key top 2 is released after the switching operation has been performed as described above, the key top 2 is disengaged from the leaf spring portions 20 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4.
The operation reverse to the above-described operation is performed based on the urging force acting on the button, and returns to the non-pressed position shown in FIG.

As described in detail above, in the key switch device 1 according to the second embodiment, the first link member 3 and the second
A regulating projection 30 formed to protrude from a side surface of each plate-like body 18 of the link member 4 and each locking groove 1 in the locking member 17
Since the wall member 31 having the curved shaft regulating surface 31A integrally formed at the inner side edge near 7A is provided, the cooperating action between the regulating protrusion 30 and the shaft regulating surface 31A of the wall member 31 is improved. Based on this, it is possible to restrict the movement of the key top in the horizontal direction. In addition, for restricting the movement of the key top 2 in the horizontal direction during the pressing, there is no need for a guide wall or a positioning member having a relatively large height, and therefore, by adopting a simple configuration. Costs can be reduced.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments, and it goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the first and second embodiments, the present invention is applied to a notebook personal computer. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to an electronic device having a key switch device such as a typewriter or a word processor. Nor.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the movement of the key top 2 in the horizontal direction during pressing is restricted.
Although the movement restricting mechanism is provided between the locking member 17 and each of the link members 3 and 4, the movement restricting mechanism may be provided between the keytop 2 and each of the link members 3 and 4. Good.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the upper shaft 21 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 is rotatably locked on the back surface of the key top 2 and the lower shaft 22 is locked. Although the movement restricting mechanism of the present invention is embodied with respect to the key switch device 1 that is locked by the locking groove 17A of the member 17 so as to be able to be impulsively engaged, in the key switch device in which these locking relationships are reversed. Can be realized similarly.

The present invention also relates to the first link member 3 and the second link member 3.
A guide member 5 in which the link member 4 and the link member 4 are mutually pivotally supported
Can be similarly realized.

Further, in the first embodiment, the locking member 1
7, the inclined surface 17F formed on the lower surface of the inclined portion 17E of the locking groove 17A is formed as an inclined surface which is inclined downward as going outward from the wall portion 17D, and the first and second link members 3, 4 The lower shaft portion 22 is formed in an elliptical shape so that the lower shaft portion 22 gradually becomes a horizontal state from a state in which the lower shaft portion 22 is standing obliquely as the key top 2 is pressed down, but is not limited thereto. Not something. For example, contrary to the case of the first embodiment, the inclined surface 17F formed on the lower surface of the inclined portion 17E in the engaging groove 17A of the engaging member 17 is
It may be configured as an inclined surface that gradually inclines upward from the wall 17D toward the outside. In this case, the lower shaft portions 22 of the first and second link members 3 and 4 are in a horizontal state when the key top 2 is not pressed down, and gradually stand obliquely as the key top 2 is pressed down. It slides in the sliding groove 17A.

[0068]

As described above, in the key switch device of the first aspect, the second locking member of the first link member is slidably locked by one of the lower locking portions. The fourth locking member of the two-link member is slidably locked at the other lower locking portion, and is provided between one lower locking portion and the first link member or the other lower locking portion. Between the side locking portion and the second link member, there is provided a movement restricting means for restricting the key top from moving in the horizontal direction during the pressing of the key top. The movement of the keytop in the horizontal direction is restricted via the movement restricting means. Thus, stable key operation can be performed.

Further, in the key switch device according to the second aspect, the movement restricting means is formed on one or the other lower locking portion, and the second locking member or the fourth locking member is formed when the key top is not pressed.
Since the locking member includes a sliding groove having an inclined surface inclined from a wall portion with which the locking member abuts, the second member is pressed when the keytop is pressed.
The locking member or the fourth locking member slides while abutting on the inclined surface of the sliding groove. At this time, since the inclined surface restricts the sliding of the second locking member or the fourth locking member that attempts to slide in the horizontal direction in the sliding groove, even if the key top is being pressed down, It does not move horizontally.
In addition, since the horizontal movement of the key top is regulated by the cooperative action of the inclined surface of the sliding groove and the second or fourth locking member, the relatively large guide wall or positioning member is required. No members or the like are required at all, so that the entire key switch device can be made thinner, and the cost can be reduced by adopting a simple configuration.

Further, in the key switch device according to the third aspect, the second locking member or the fourth locking member is formed as a shaft member having an oval shape in side view, and the oval shaft is formed. As the member slides in the sliding groove as the key top moves up and down, it becomes horizontal or upright along the inclined surface, so that the inclined groove is gradually reduced based on the inclined surface that is inclined downward toward the outside. Even when the width becomes narrower or wider, the contact force generated between the oval shaft member and the inclined surface does not increase more than necessary. Therefore,
It is possible to smoothly perform the pressing operation of the keytop while restricting the movement of the keytop in the horizontal direction.

In the key switch device according to the fourth aspect,
The sliding groove has an inclined surface inclined outward from the wall, and the inclined surface is a second locking member or a fourth locking member that slides horizontally in the sliding groove. , The key top does not move in the horizontal direction even when the key top is being pressed. In addition, since the horizontal movement of the key top is regulated by the cooperative action of the inclined surface of the sliding groove and the second or fourth locking member, the relatively large guide wall or positioning member is required. No members or the like are required at all, so that the entire key switch device can be made thinner, and the cost can be reduced by adopting a simple configuration.

Further, in the key switch device according to the fifth aspect, the second locking member or the fourth locking member is formed as a shaft member having an elliptical shape in a side view, and the oval shaft is formed. Since the member becomes horizontal along the inclined surface as it slides in the sliding groove with the vertical movement of the key top, even if the inclined groove is gradually narrowed based on the inclined surface, the elliptical shape is obtained. The contact force generated between the shaft member and the inclined surface does not increase more than necessary. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly perform the pressing operation of the key top while restricting the movement of the key top in the horizontal direction.

Further, in the key switch device according to the sixth aspect, the shaft member protruding from the side surface of the first link member or the second link member and one or the other of the lower locking portions are formed in the vicinity. The movement restricting means is constituted by a wall member that guides the shaft member in contact with the sliding of the second locking member or the fourth locking member in response to the depression of the keytop, and cooperates with the shaft member and the wall member. The horizontal movement of the key top can be restricted based on the operation. In such a case, similarly to the above, there is no need for a relatively large guide wall, positioning member, or the like, so that the entire key switch device can be made thinner and a simple configuration is adopted. This makes it possible to reduce costs.

Further, the keyboard according to the seventh aspect includes at least two or more key switch devices according to the first aspect. Therefore, similarly to the first aspect, when the key top is pressed, the keyboard is moved via the movement restricting means. Thus, the horizontal movement of the key top is restricted, so that a stable key operation can be performed.

Further, in the electronic device according to the eighth aspect, since the keyboard provided with the key switch device according to the first aspect is provided, similarly to the first aspect, the electronic apparatus moves when the key top is pressed. The movement of the key top in the horizontal direction is restricted via the restricting means, so that a stable key operation can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B illustrate a personal computer, FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a notebook personal computer, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a notebook personal computer.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the key switch device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first link member and a second link member.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a first link member and a second link member.

FIG. 5 shows a first link member to a leaf spring portion and a first cam portion;
It is explanatory drawing which takes out a leaf spring part and a 2nd cam part from a 2nd link member, and shows it typically.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a series of operations from a non-pressed state of the keytop to a pressing operation of the keytop to perform a switching operation, focusing on movements of a first link member and a second link member. .

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a key top and a guide member of a key switch device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a first link member and a second link member used in the key switch device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a first link member and a second link member used in the key switch device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a key switch device according to a second embodiment.
It is explanatory drawing which shows typically a series of operation | movement from the state in which a key top is not pressed down to the time when a key top is pressed down and performs a switching operation paying attention to the movement of a 1st link member and a 2nd link member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key switch device 2 Key top 3 1st link member 4 2nd link member 5 Guide member 6 Support plate 7 Membrane switch sheet 8, 9 Rotation locking part 10 Fixed electrode pattern 12 Lower film sheet 13 Movable electrode pattern 14 Upper side Film sheet 15 Switching hole 16 Film spacer 17 Locking member 17A Locking groove 17B, C Adhesive fixing portion 17D Wall portion 17E Inclined portion 17F Inclined surface 20 Leaf spring portion 21 Upper shaft portion 22 Lower shaft portion 24 Cam portion 25 Cam surface 27 Cam apex 30 Control protrusion 31 Wall member 31A Shaft control surface

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] April 25, 2000 (200.4.2
5)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Full text

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Document Name] Statement

Patent application title: KEY SWITCH DEVICE, KEYBOARD HAVING KEY SWITCH DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT HAVING KEYBOARD

[Claims]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key switch device for performing a switching operation while guiding up and down movement of a key top through a pair of link members, a keyboard provided with the key switch device, and an electronic apparatus provided with the keyboard. In particular, a key switch device that restricts the key top from moving in the horizontal direction while the key top is being depressed and enables a stable key operation, a keyboard including the key switch device, and an electronic apparatus including the keyboard It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various key switch devices that perform a switching operation while guiding up and down movement of a key top through a pair of link members have been proposed. It is widely used in electronic devices such as personal computers.

Generally, in a key switch device, if the key top moves in a horizontal direction in a state where the key top is not pressed or pressed, the key operation becomes unstable and the key operability is reduced. The key top is prevented from moving in the horizontal direction in the non-pressed state and the pressed state.

[0004] In addition, the fact that the key top moves in the horizontal direction while the key top is being depressed poses a greater problem in terms of key operability. It has also been practiced to restrict the key top from moving in the horizontal direction while the top is being pressed.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-44860 discloses that a locking rod of one link member is slidably locked in a locking groove of a locking portion formed on the back surface of the keytop, The locking pin is slidably locked in the locking groove in the locking portion of the holder member, and the locking pin of the other link member is locked in the locking groove of the locking portion formed on the back surface of the keytop. A key switch device is described that locks slidably and locks a locking rod slidably in a locking groove in a locking portion of a holder member.

In such a key switch device, the upper end and the lower end of each link member are slidable by each locking portion of the key top, and slidable by each locking portion of the holder member. Since the key top moves in the horizontal direction while the key top is being depressed, the shaft body formed outside one of the link members is connected to the shaft guide groove of the guide wall provided upright on the holder member. The vertical movement guide restricts the key top from moving in the horizontal direction while the key top is being pressed.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-342945, the upper end of one link member is rotatably supported on the back surface of the key top, and the lower end is slidably engaged with the holder member. Further, there is described a key switch device in which the upper end of the other link member is rotatably locked to the back surface of the keytop and the lower end is slidably locked to the holder member. Also in this key switch device, the lower end of each link member is slidably locked to the holder member, and the key top moves in the horizontal direction while the key top is being depressed. In order to restrict the movement of the key top, when the key top is pressed, the positioning pin of the positioning member provided on the holder member is inserted and guided in the positioning groove of the positioning member vertically suspended from the back surface of the key top.

[0008]

The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-448.
In the key switch device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H06-342 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-342945, the cooperation between the shaft of the link member and the shaft guide groove of the guide wall, or the cooperation between the positioning groove of the positioning member and the positioning pin Based on the action, it is possible to restrict the key top from moving in the horizontal direction even during the pressing of the key top.

However, in the key switch device disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-44860, it is necessary to form a guide wall having a shaft guide groove in the holder member, and such a guide wall can be provided up to about half the height of the key switch device. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the thickness of the key switch device. In addition, the structure of the holder member becomes complicated, and the manufacturing cost will be increased in the future.

Also, in the key switch device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-34294, it is necessary to form a positioning member having a positioning groove and a positioning member having a positioning pin in the holder member. Is required to be formed at a height of about half of the height of the key switch device. Therefore, similar to the case of the key switch device, there is a great problem in reducing the thickness of the key switch device. In addition, the structure of the holder member becomes complicated, and the manufacturing cost will be increased in the future.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. By adopting a simple structure, the key top can be moved in the horizontal direction while the key top is being pressed without increasing the cost at all. A key switch device that restricts the movement of the key switch device, enables the key switch device to be reduced in thickness and enables stable key operation, a keyboard including the key switch device, and an electronic apparatus including the keyboard. I do.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a key switch device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes two upper locking portions vertically provided from a back surface of a key top, and a lower portion below the key top. Two lower locking portions arranged corresponding to the respective upper locking portions, a first locking member locked to one of the upper locking portions, and one of the lower locking portions. Second stopped
A first link member having a locking member, a third locking member locked to the other of the upper locking portions, and a fourth locking member locked to the other of the lower locking portions. A key switch device comprising: a guide member that guides the vertical movement of a key top, and a switching member that performs a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top, wherein the two link members and the two link members are arranged in a mutually movable state. The second locking member of the first link member is slidably locked at the one lower locking portion, and the fourth locking member of the second link member is slidable at the other lower side. A key is slidably locked by the locking portion, and a key is provided between the one lower locking portion and the first link member or between the other lower locking portion and the second link member. Movement restriction means is provided to restrict the key top from moving in the horizontal direction while the top is being pressed. It is characterized in that is.

In the key switch device of the first aspect, the second locking member of the first link member is slidably locked by one of the lower locking portions, and the fourth locking member of the second link member. The locking member is slidably locked at the other lower locking portion, between the one lower locking portion and the first link member, or between the other lower locking portion and the first lower locking portion. Between the two link members, there is provided a movement restricting means for restricting the key top from moving in the horizontal direction while the key top is being depressed. The horizontal movement of the keytop is restricted. Thus, stable key operation can be performed.

The key switch device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the key switch device according to the first aspect, wherein the movement restricting means is formed in the one or other lower locking portion,
A sliding groove having an inclined surface that is inclined from a wall portion with which the second locking member or the fourth locking member abuts when the key top is not pressed is provided. In the key switch device according to the second aspect, the movement restricting means is formed on one or the other lower locking portion, and the second locking member or the fourth locking member abuts on the key top in a non-pressed state. The second locking member or the fourth locking member slides while abutting on the inclined surface of the sliding groove when the key top is depressed, since the sliding groove includes a sliding groove having an inclined surface inclined from the sliding groove. Become. At this time, the slope is
Since the sliding of the second locking member or the fourth locking member that attempts to slide in the horizontal direction in the sliding groove is restricted, the key top cannot move in the horizontal direction even during the pressing. Absent. In addition, since the horizontal movement of the key top is regulated by the cooperative action of the inclined surface of the sliding groove and the second or fourth locking member, the relatively large guide wall or positioning member is required. No members or the like are required at all, so that the entire key switch device can be made thinner, and the cost can be reduced by adopting a simple configuration.

Further, in the key switch device according to a third aspect, in the key switch device according to the second aspect, the second locking member or the fourth locking member is formed as a shaft member having an oval shape in a side view. The elliptical shaft member moves horizontally or upright along the inclined surface as it slides in the sliding groove as the key top moves up and down. In the key switch device of claim 3,
The second locking member or the fourth locking member is formed as a shaft member having an oval shape in a side view, and the oval shaft member moves in the sliding groove as the key top moves up and down. As it slides, it becomes horizontal or upright along the inclined surface, so that even if the inclined groove is gradually narrowed or widened based on the inclined surface, the oblong shaft member and the inclined surface The contact force generated between them does not become unnecessarily large. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly perform the pressing operation of the key top while restricting the movement of the key top in the horizontal direction.

A key switch device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the key switch device according to the second aspect, wherein the inclined surface is inclined outward. In the key switch device of the fourth aspect, the sliding groove has an inclined surface inclined outward from the wall portion, and the inclined surface is slid in the sliding groove in the horizontal direction. Since the sliding of the second locking member or the fourth locking member is restricted, the key top does not move in the horizontal direction even during the pressing thereof. In addition, since the horizontal movement of the key top is regulated by the cooperative action of the inclined surface of the sliding groove and the second or fourth locking member, the relatively large guide wall or positioning member is required. No members or the like are required at all, so that the entire key switch device can be made thinner, and the cost can be reduced by adopting a simple configuration.

Further, in the key switch device according to a fifth aspect, in the key switch device according to the fourth aspect, the second locking member or the fourth locking member is formed as a shaft member having an oval shape in a side view. The elliptical shaft member moves horizontally along the inclined surface as it slides in the sliding groove as the key top moves up and down. In the key switch device of the fifth aspect, the second locking member or the fourth locking member is formed as a shaft member having an oval shape in a side view, and the oval shaft member is a key top. When the inclined groove gradually narrows based on the inclined surface, the elliptical shaft member and the inclined surface can be used even if the inclined groove gradually narrows based on the inclined surface. The contact force generated between them does not become larger than necessary. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly perform the pressing operation of the key top while restricting the movement of the key top in the horizontal direction.

The key switch device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the key switch device according to the first aspect, wherein the movement restricting means includes a shaft member protruding from a side surface of the first link member or the second link member. A wall formed near the lower locking portion of the one or the other and for guiding the shaft member in contact with the sliding of the second locking member or the fourth locking member when the key top is pressed down. And a member.
According to the key switch device of the sixth aspect, the shaft member protruding from the side surface of the first link member or the second link member and the one or the other formed near the lower locking portion, and are associated with the depression of the key top. A movement restricting means is constituted by a wall member that guides the shaft member in contact with the sliding of the second locking member or the fourth locking member, and a key is formed based on a cooperative action between the shaft member and the wall member. The movement of the top in the horizontal direction can be restricted. In such a case, similarly to the above, there is no need for a relatively large guide wall, positioning member, or the like, so that the entire key switch device can be made thinner and a simple configuration is adopted. This makes it possible to reduce costs.

Furthermore, the keyboard according to claim 7 includes at least two or more key switch devices according to claim 1, and therefore, as in the case of claim 1, when the key top is depressed, the key switch device is moved via the movement restricting means. Thus, the horizontal movement of the key top is restricted, so that a stable key operation can be performed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus, wherein two upper locking portions are provided vertically from a back surface of the key top, and the upper locking portions are arranged below the key top in correspondence with the respective upper locking portions. A second locking member locked to one of the lower locking portions, a first locking member locked to one of the upper locking portions, and a second locking member locked to one of the upper locking portions. One link member and a second link member having a third locking member locked to the other of the upper locking portion and a fourth locking member locked to the other of the lower locking portion are mutually connected. A key switch device comprising: a guide member for guiding the vertical movement of a key top; and a switching member for performing a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top. The two locking members are slidably locked at the one lower locking portion. , Fourth locking members of the second link member is slidably engaged with the other of the lower engaging portion,
Between the one lower locking portion and the first link member or between the other lower locking portion and the second link member, the key top moves horizontally while the key top is being pressed. A key switch device provided with a movement restricting means for restricting that, a keyboard for inputting characters and symbols, a display means for displaying characters and symbols, and the display means based on input data from the keyboard And control means for displaying characters, symbols, and the like.

In the electronic device according to the eighth aspect, the electronic device according to the first aspect is provided.
Since the keyboard provided with the key switch device described in (1) is provided, similarly to the case of claim 1, the movement of the key top in the horizontal direction is restricted via the movement restricting means when the key top is pressed, Thus, stable key operation can be performed.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a key switch device, a keyboard and an electronic device according to the present invention will be described in detail based on a first embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. First, a notebook personal computer, which is a kind of electronic equipment according to the present embodiment, is shown in FIG.
A description will be given based on (B). 1A and 1B show a notebook personal computer, FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the notebook personal computer, and FIG. 1B is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the notebook personal computer.

In FIG. 1A, a notebook personal computer 100 basically includes a main body 102 having a CPU for performing various arithmetic processing, and a display 103 supported by the main body 102 to be openable and closable. It is composed of Here, the display 103 is rotatably supported by the connecting portion 104 of the main body 102, and is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the main body 102. The main body 102 is provided with a keyboard 105 on which a plurality of key switch devices 1 are provided.

In FIG. 1B, the CPU 101
Are connected via a bus 108 to a ROM 106 storing a program for controlling each unit of the personal computer 100 and a RAM 107 for storing various data. Also, the CPU 101 has a bus 108.
The input / output interface 109 is connected to the input / output interface 109. The input / output interface 109 is connected to the display 103, the keyboard 105, and a hard disk device 110 storing programs such as documents and spreadsheets. The CPU 101 includes a keyboard 105
Based on the input data from, a program such as document creation or spreadsheet is read from the hard disk device 110 and executed, and characters and symbols are displayed on the display 103.

Next, a schematic configuration of the key switch device according to the first embodiment attached to the keyboard 105 of the notebook personal computer 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the key switch device.

First, referring to FIG.
The guide member 5 basically comprises a key top 2, a pair of first link members 3, and a second link member 4, and guides the key top 2 up and down, and a support plate 6 below the guide member 5. Membrane switch sheet 7 placed on top
It is composed of

Here, the key top 2 is formed of an ABS resin or the like, and characters such as letters and numerals are formed on the surface thereof by printing or the like. On the back surface of the key top 2, two rotation locking portions 8 are integrally formed corresponding to the first link member 3, and two rotation locking portions 8 are formed corresponding to the second link member 4. The locking portions 9, 9 are formed integrally. Each of the rotation locking portions 8 and 9 has a locking groove 8.
A and 9A are provided. Locking groove 8 of each rotation locking portion 8
A rotatably locks the upper shaft portion 21 (described later) of the first link member 3, and locks grooves 9 </ b> A of each rotation locking portion 9.
Locks the upper shaft portion 21 (described later) of the second link member 4 in a rotatable manner.

The guide member 5 is formed by combining the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 with each other.
The second link members 3 and 4 have basically the same configuration. The detailed configuration of each of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 will be described later.

Further, below the guide member 5, a membrane switch sheet 7 mounted on a support plate 6 made of a thin metal plate made of aluminum, iron or the like is provided. The membrane switch sheet 7 includes a lower film sheet 12 on which a switch circuit pattern 11 including a fixed electrode pattern 10 is formed from a so-called copper foil, conductive paint, or the like, and an upper side on which a movable electrode pattern 13 is similarly formed on the lower surface. It has a three-layer structure in which a film spacer 16 provided with a switching hole 15 corresponding to the fixed electrode pattern 10 and the movable electrode pattern 13 is interposed between the film spacer 14 and the film sheet 14. The configuration of the membrane switch sheet 7 is known.

Here, on the upper switch sheet 14,
Two chip-shaped locking members 17 made of metal, resin or the like are bonded and fixed on both sides of the movable electrode pattern 13 with an adhesive. Each locking member 17 has the same configuration, and a long hole-shaped locking groove 17A is formed on both sides of the central adhesive fixing portion 17B. In addition, each locking groove 17A
Are provided with adhesive fixing portions 17C, respectively. Each locking member 17 is arranged below the side edge of the key top 2, which is off the center of the key top 2.

In each of the locking grooves 17A, a wall 17D is formed so as to rise from an end of the central adhesive fixing portion 17B, and an inclined portion 17E inclined downward from the wall 17D to the outside is formed. Have been. Such an inclined portion 17E
Constitutes an inclined surface 17F. The lower shaft 22 of the first link member 3 and the lower shaft 22 of the second link member 4 are slidably locked in each locking groove 17A. Here, as will be described later, the lower shaft portion 22 of the first link member 3 and the lower shaft portion 22 of the second link member 8 abut on the wall portion 17D in a non-pressed state of the key top 2, and the key top 2 To a non-pressed position. The operation performed between the inclined surface 17F on the lower surface of the inclined portion 17E and each lower shaft portion 22
The operation will be described later.

The structure in which the locking members 17 are bonded and fixed to the upper surface of the upper film sheet 14 of the membrane switch sheet 7 is the same as the structure described in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 11-32608. There is a detailed description thereof with reference to the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 11-32608, and the description is omitted here.

Next, a detailed configuration of the two first link members 3 and the second link member 4 constituting the guide member 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 have the same configuration, and are used in a rotationally symmetric relationship with each other when the guide member 5 is assembled. FIG. 3 shows the first link member 3 and the second link member 4.
FIG. 4 shows a first link member 3 and a second link member 4.
FIG.

2 to 4, the first link member 3
The second link member 4 includes a pair of plate-like members 18, 18, a connecting portion 19 connecting the plate-like members 18, and a position inward from one end of the plate-like member 18 near the base of the connecting portion 19. The plate spring portion 20 is formed integrally from a polyacetal resin or the like. At a position near one end (upper end in FIG. 2, right end in FIG. 3) of each plate-shaped member 18, an upper shaft portion 21 is extended outwardly. A lower shaft portion 22 extends outward on the other end side of FIG. 18 (the lower end in FIG. 2 and the left end in FIG. 3). Each upper shaft portion 21 is rotatably locked in the locking groove 8A of the rotation locking portion 8 of the key top 2, and each lower shaft portion 22 is connected to the upper film of the membrane switch sheet 7. It is slidably locked in a locking groove 17A of a locking member 17 adhesively fixed to the surface of the sheet 14.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the lower shaft portion 22 is formed in an oval shape in a side view. The reason why the lower shaft portion 22 is formed in the shape of an ellipse is as follows. That is, each locking groove 17A of the locking member 17 is
As described above, the lower shaft portion 22 has the inclined portion 17E which is inclined downward from the wall portion 17D to the outside. Is always brought into contact with the inclined surface 17F of the inclined portion 17E in the locking groove 17A, and the lower shaft portion 22 is moved in accordance with the depression of the key top 2 as described later.
In order to keep the lower shaft portion 22 in a horizontal state when sliding outward in order to prevent the contact force generated between the lower shaft portion 22 and the inclined surface 17F from becoming unnecessarily large. It is.

A cam portion 24 is formed integrally with the outer end of the leaf spring portion 20. As shown in FIG. 4, a cam surface 25 is formed below the cam portion 24. At the boundary between the cam surface 25 and the surface continuous above the cam surface 25,
There is a cam vertex 27. Here, the cam surface 25
As is clear from FIG. 6, the key top 2 corresponds to the non-pressed position. The angle formed by the cam surface 25, the cam vertex 27, and the surface that continues upward from the cam vertex 27 is set to an obtuse angle.

In each plate 18, the upper shaft 2
Gear teeth 28 are provided on the end side (the right end side in FIGS. 2 and 3) with respect to 1. One or two gear teeth 28
It has two gear teeth 28A. In FIG. 4, two gear teeth 28A are formed on the gear teeth 28 of the plate 18 on one side, and one gear is formed on the gear teeth 28 of the plate 18 on the other side. A tooth 28A is formed. The gear teeth 28 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 are meshed with each other, and when the key top 2 is moved up and down, the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 are moved.
And act synchronously.

Further, a resin elastic piece 23 extending from the inner wall of one of the plate-like members 18 (the upper plate-like member 18 in FIG. 3) to approximately the center of the distance between the plate-like members 18 is integrally formed. The switch pressing portion 2 is provided at the lower end of the resin elastic piece 23.
6 are provided. When the key top 2 is pressed, the switch pressing portion 26 of the resin elastic piece 23 pushes the upper switch sheet 14 of the membrane switch sheet 7 when the key top 2 is pressed.
In this case, the movable electrode pattern 13 is elastically pressed from above to perform a switching operation with the fixed electrode pattern 10 of the lower film sheet 12.

Next, the relationship between the cam portions 24 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 shows the first link member 3 to the leaf spring portion 20.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view schematically showing the leaf spring section 20 and the cam section 24 taken out from the cam section 24 and the second link member 4.

5 (A) and 5 (B), the cam vertex 27 of the cam portion 24 formed integrally with the leaf spring portion 20 of the first link member 3 has a ridge over the entire width of the cam portion 24. Part 2
7A, and a cam vertex 27 of the cam portion 24 formed integrally with the leaf spring portion 20 of the second link member 4.
Is formed with a concave groove 27B into which the ridge 27A is fitted. Here, the first link member 3 and the second link member 4
The leaf spring portions 20 of each of the above have the function of mutually biasing the respective cam portions 24 in the contacting direction, so that the ridges 27A and the concave grooves 27B make the cam surfaces 25 of the respective cam portions 24 contact each other. They are always fitted from the contacting contact state (see FIG. 6A) to the state of getting over each cam vertex 27 (see FIGS. 6B and 6C). This allows key top 2 during key operation.
Link member 3 and second link member 4 according to the vertical movement of
Are activated, the cam surfaces 24 of the cam portions 24 of the first link member 3 and the cam portions 24 of the second link member 4
Synchronization between the cam vertices 27 can be ensured.

Next, the operation of the key switch device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
Is an explanatory view schematically showing a series of operations from a non-pressed state of the keytop 2 to a pressing operation of the keytop 2 to perform a switching operation, focusing on movements of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4. is there.

First, in a non-pressed state where the key top 2 is not pressed, the key top 2 is held at a non-pressed position as shown in FIG. In this state, the cam surface 25 of the cam portion 24 of the first link member 3 and the cam surface 25 of the cam portion 24 of the second link member 4 are in a contact state in which they are in contact with each other. , The biasing force of the leaf spring portions 20, 20 acts in a direction in which the cam surfaces 25 come into contact with each other. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 6A, the lower shaft portion 22 of the first link member 3 comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the wall portion 17D of the locking groove 17A of the locking member 17, and the lower link Similarly, the lower shaft portion 22 of the member 4 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the wall portion 17D of the locking groove 17A of the locking member 17, whereby the key top 2 is stably held at the non-pressed position. ing. Also, each cam surface 25
Are in contact with each other, the leaf spring portions 20, 2
Since the urging force of 0 acts in the direction in which the cam surfaces 25 come into contact with each other, the key top 2 held at the non-pressed position
Does not move in the horizontal direction, and the rattling of the key top 2 can be prevented. At this time, the lower shaft portions 22 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 have an elliptical shape as described above, and the upper portion is formed on the wall portion 17D of the locking groove 17A. The lower part is in contact with the upper surface of the upper film sheet 14 of the membrane switch sheet sheet 7.

When the key top 2 starts to be pressed, the first link member 3 upper shaft portion 21 rotates clockwise in the locking groove 8A of the rotation locking portion 8 in accordance with the key top 2 being pressed. The upper shaft portion 21 of the second link member 4 rotates counterclockwise in the locking groove 9A of the rotation locking portion 9. At the same time, the lower shaft portion 22 of the first link member 3 is
Of the second link member 4 and the lower shaft portion 22 of the second link member 4
Slide to the right in A. At this time, the inclined surface 17F of the inclined portion 17E in the locking groove 17A is gradually inclined downward as going outward from the wall portion 17D.
Because the clearance of 7A gradually narrows,
Each of the lower shafts having an oblong shape while the upper portion of the lower shaft portion 22 of each of the first and second link members 3 and 4 is in contact with the inclined surface 17F and the lower portion of the lower shaft portion 22 and the upper film sheet 14. The part 22 gradually becomes horizontal. Therefore, there is no trouble in sliding the lower shaft portion 22 in each locking groove 17A. Further, the cam surfaces 25 of the cam portions 24 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 gradually separate from each other, and each cam portion 24
It comes in contact with. This state is shown in FIG.

As described above, even when the cam vertices 27 of the cam portions 24 of the first and second link members 3 and 4 come into contact with each other, the cam vertices 27 of the cam portions 24 of the first link member 3 also contact with each other. Is formed with a ridge 27A, a groove 27B is formed at the cam vertex 27 of the cam portion 24 in the second link member 4, and the ridge 27A is
7B, the cam vertices 27 do not deviate from each other at all, and the cam portions 24 can be completely synchronized.

When the key top 2 is further depressed, the cam surfaces 25 are separated from each other, and reach the state shown in FIG. The switch pressing portion 26 formed on the resin elastic piece 23 of the first link member 3 and the switch pressing portion 26 formed on the resin elastic piece 23 of the second link member 4
Presses the upper film sheet 14 of the membrane switch sheet 7. Thereby, the upper film sheet 14
The movable electrode pattern 13 formed on the lower surface of the lower film sheet 12 contacts the fixed electrode pattern 10 of the lower film sheet 12 through the switching hole 15 of the film spacer 16, and a predetermined switching operation is performed. At this time, each lower shaft portion 22 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 is
As shown in (C), it is completely horizontal in the locking groove 17A.

The switch pressing portion 2 of each resin elastic piece 23
It is desirable that the first and second switches 6 and 6 simultaneously contact the upper film sheet 14 and press the same. Since the switch pressing portion 26 comes into contact with the upper film sheet 14, even if the switch pressing portion 26 of the one resin elastic piece 23 comes into contact with the upper film sheet 14, vibration or the like occurs in the upper film sheet 14. The vibration and the like of the upper film sheet 14 can be eliminated by the contact of the switch pressing portion 26 of the other resin elastic piece 23. Therefore, chattering that occurs at the time of switching can be reliably prevented.

Each resin elastic piece 23 is elastically deformed when the key top 2 is further depressed from the state shown in FIG. 6C.
, The so-called overtravel of the key top 2 can be realized.

When the pressing of the key top 2 is released after the switching operation is performed as described above, the key top 2 is released from the leaf spring portions 20 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4.
6A is performed on the basis of the urging force acting on, and returns to the non-pressed position shown in FIG.

As described above in detail, in the key switch device 1 according to the first embodiment, the locking groove 17 of the locking member 17
A has an inclined portion 17E formed continuously from a wall portion 17D, and an inclined surface 17F of the inclined portion 17E is inclined downward toward the outside, and a locking groove 17A is formed.
First link member 3 and second link member 4 locked inside
The lower shaft portion 22 has an oval shape in a side view, and when each lower shaft portion 22 slides in the locking groove 17A based on the key top 2, each lower shaft portion 22 Slides while contacting the inclined surface 17F of the locking groove 17A based on the oval shape. At this time, the inclined surface 17F is engaged with the locking groove 17A.
Since the sliding of each lower shaft portion 22 that attempts to slide in the horizontal direction in the inside is restricted, it is possible to reliably prevent the key top 2 in the middle of being pressed from moving in the horizontal direction.
In addition, since the horizontal movement of the key top 2 is regulated by the cooperation between the inclined surface 17F of the locking groove 17A and each of the lower shaft portions 22, a relatively large guide wall, positioning member, or the like is used. Is not required at all, and therefore the cost can be reduced by adopting a simple configuration. Further, each lower shaft portion 22 having an oval shape gradually becomes horizontal along the inclined surface 17F as it slides in the locking groove 17A as the key top 2 is depressed. Even when the locking groove 17A gradually narrows based on the inclined surface 17F that is inclined downward toward the outside at the stop groove 17A, the oblong lower shaft portion 22 and the inclined surface 17
The contact force generated between F and F does not increase more than necessary. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly perform the pressing operation of the key top 2 while restricting the movement of the key top 2 in the horizontal direction.

Next, a key switch device according to a second embodiment attached to the keyboard 105 of the notebook personal computer 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the key switch device according to the second embodiment has basically the same configuration as the configuration of the key switch device 1 of the first embodiment. In the key switch device 1 of the first embodiment, As an arrangement for preventing the key top 2 from moving in the horizontal direction while the key top 2 is being depressed, an inclined portion 17F having an inclined surface 17F which is gradually inclined downward toward the outside in an engaging groove 17A of an engaging member 17. 17E
Is formed, and the lower shaft 22 having an elliptical shape is slid in the locking groove 17A, based on the restricting force acting between the inclined surface 17F and the lower shaft 22 having an oval shape. Although the configuration for restricting the horizontal movement of the key top 2 has been adopted, in the second embodiment, the first link member and the second
The restricting projection is formed by extending from a side surface of each plate-like body 18 of the link member, and a wall member is formed integrally with each locking member 17, and a key is formed based on a cooperative action between the restricting projection and the wall member. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the horizontal movement of the top 2 during pressing is restricted. The remaining configuration is the same as in the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following description, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted, and only the components unique to the second embodiment will be described. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the key switch device according to the second embodiment, FIG. 8 is a plan view of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4, and FIG. 9 is a first link member 3 and the second link member 4.
It is a side view of the link member 4.

7 to 9, the first link member 3
A restricting projection 30 (only one is shown in FIG. 7) is formed to extend outward from the side surface of each plate-like body 18 of the second link member 4. From the side surface of the body 18, the regulating protrusion 30 (only one is shown in FIG. 7)
Are formed to extend outward.

In each of the locking members 17, a wall member 31 is formed integrally with an inner edge near each of the locking grooves 17A. As shown in FIG. 7, each wall member 31 has a shaft regulating surface 31A that curves outward, and the regulating protrusion 30 is always in contact with the shaft regulating surface 31A of the wall member 31. Here, unlike the case of the first embodiment, each locking groove 17A does not have an inclined portion, and as shown in FIG. 7, the upper wall portion from the wall portion 17D to the adhesive fixing portion 17C has It is formed flat.

The remaining configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of the key switch device 1 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG.
0 is an explanatory view schematically showing a series of operations from the non-pressed state of the keytop 2 to the pressing operation of the keytop 2 to perform a switching operation, focusing on the movement of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4. It is.

In FIG. 10, first, in a non-pressed state in which the key top 2 is not pressed, the key top 2 is held at a non-pressed position as shown in FIG.
In this state, the cam surface 25 of the cam portion 24 of the first link member 3 and the cam surface 25 of the cam portion 24 of the second link member 4 are in a contact state in which they are in contact with each other. , The biasing force of the leaf spring portions 20, 20 acts in a direction in which the cam surfaces 25 come into contact with each other. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 10A, the lower shaft portion 22 of the first link member 3 abuts on the inner wall surface of the wall portion 17D of the locking groove 17A of the locking member 17, and the second link Similarly, the lower shaft portion 22 of the member 4 is
7A is in contact with the inner wall surface of the wall portion 17D, whereby the key top 2 is stably held at the non-pressed position.
Further, in the contact state where the respective cam surfaces 25 are in contact with each other, since the urging force of the leaf spring portions 20 is acting in the direction in which the respective cam surfaces 25 are in contact with each other, it is held at the non-pressed position. The key top 2 does not move in the horizontal direction, and the rattling of the key top 2 can be prevented. At this time, the regulating protrusions 30 formed on the respective plate-like bodies 18 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 are in contact with the upper side of the shaft regulating surface 31A of the wall member 31.

When the key top 2 is pressed down, the upper shaft portion 21 of the first link member 3 rotates clockwise in the locking groove 8A of the rotation locking portion 8 as the key top 2 is pressed down. At the same time, the upper shaft portion 21 of the second link member 4 rotates counterclockwise in the locking groove 9A of the rotation locking portion 9.
At the same time, the lower shaft portion 22 of the first link member 3 is
7 slides leftward in the locking groove 17A of the
The lower shaft portion 22 of the link member 4 is provided with the locking groove 1 of the locking member 17.
Slide to the right within 7A. At this time, each regulating protrusion 30
Is guided while abutting along the curved surface of the shaft regulating surface 31A of the wall member 31. Therefore, the regulating protrusion 30 and the wall member 3
The horizontal movement of the key top 2 can be regulated based on the cooperative action with the first shaft regulating surface 31A. Further, the cam surfaces 25 of the cam portions 24 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 gradually separate from each other, and the respective cam portions 24 come into contact with the respective cam vertexes 27. This state is shown in FIG.

As described above, even when the cam vertices 27 of the cam portions 24 of the first and second link members 3 and 4 come into contact with each other, the cam vertices 27 of the cam portions 24 of the first link member 3 also contact with each other. Is formed with a ridge 27A, a groove 27B is formed at the cam vertex 27 of the cam portion 24 in the second link member 4, and the ridge 27A is
7B, the cam vertices 27 do not deviate from each other at all, and the cam portions 24 can be completely synchronized.

When the key top 2 is further depressed, the respective cam surfaces 25 are separated from each other, and reach the state shown in FIG. Then, the resin elastic piece 23 of the first link member 3
And a switch pressing portion 26 formed on the resin elastic piece 23 of the second link member 4.
Presses the upper film sheet 14 of the membrane switch sheet 7. Thereby, the upper film sheet 14
The movable electrode pattern 13 formed on the lower surface of the lower film sheet 12 contacts the fixed electrode pattern 10 of the lower film sheet 12 through the switching hole 15 of the film spacer 16, and a predetermined switching operation is performed. At this time, the lower shaft portions 22 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 are
As shown in (C), it is in contact with the wall surface on the opposite side to the wall portion 17D in the locking groove 17A.

The switch pressing portion 2 of each resin elastic piece 23
It is desirable that the first and second switches 6 and 6 simultaneously contact the upper film sheet 14 and press the same. Since the switch pressing portion 26 comes into contact with the upper film sheet 14, even if the switch pressing portion 26 of the one resin elastic piece 23 comes into contact with the upper film sheet 14, vibration or the like occurs in the upper film sheet 14. The vibration and the like of the upper film sheet 14 can be eliminated by the contact of the switch pressing portion 26 of the other resin elastic piece 23. Therefore, chattering that occurs at the time of switching can be reliably prevented.

Each resin elastic piece 23 is shown in FIG.
Since the key top 2 is elastically deformed when the key top 2 is further depressed from the state shown in FIG. 2, each resin elastic piece 23 absorbs the moving amount of the key top 2 to realize a so-called overtravel of the key top 2. Can be.

When the key top 2 is released after the switching operation has been performed as described above, the key top 2 is disengaged from the leaf spring portions 20 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4.
The operation reverse to the above-described operation is performed based on the urging force acting on the button, and returns to the non-pressed position shown in FIG.

As described in detail above, in the key switch device 1 according to the second embodiment, the first link member 3 and the second
A regulating projection 30 formed to protrude from a side surface of each plate-like body 18 of the link member 4 and each locking groove 1 in the locking member 17
Since the wall member 31 having the curved shaft regulating surface 31A integrally formed at the inner side edge near 7A is provided, the cooperating action between the regulating protrusion 30 and the shaft regulating surface 31A of the wall member 31 is improved. Based on this, it is possible to restrict the movement of the key top in the horizontal direction. In addition, for restricting the movement of the key top 2 in the horizontal direction during the pressing, there is no need for a guide wall or a positioning member having a relatively large height, and therefore, by adopting a simple configuration. Costs can be reduced.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the first and second embodiments, and it goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the first and second embodiments, the present invention is applied to a notebook personal computer. However, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to an electronic device having a key switch device such as a typewriter or a word processor. Nor.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the movement of the key top 2 in the horizontal direction during pressing is restricted.
Although the movement restricting mechanism is provided between the locking member 17 and each of the link members 3 and 4, the movement restricting mechanism may be provided between the keytop 2 and each of the link members 3 and 4. Good.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the upper shaft 21 of the first link member 3 and the second link member 4 is rotatably locked on the back surface of the key top 2 and the lower shaft 22 is locked. Although the movement restricting mechanism of the present invention is embodied with respect to the key switch device 1 that is locked by the locking groove 17A of the member 17 so as to be able to be impulsively engaged, in the key switch device in which these locking relationships are reversed. Can be realized similarly.

The present invention also relates to the first link member 3 and the second link member 3.
A guide member 5 in which the link member 4 and the link member 4 are mutually pivotally supported
Can be similarly realized.

Further, in the first embodiment, the locking member 1
7, the inclined surface 17F formed on the lower surface of the inclined portion 17E of the locking groove 17A is formed as an inclined surface which is inclined downward as going outward from the wall portion 17D, and the first and second link members 3, 4 The lower shaft portion 22 is formed in an elliptical shape so that the lower shaft portion 22 gradually becomes a horizontal state from a state in which the lower shaft portion 22 is standing obliquely as the key top 2 is pressed down, but is not limited thereto. Not something. For example, contrary to the case of the first embodiment, the inclined surface 17F formed on the lower surface of the inclined portion 17E in the engaging groove 17A of the engaging member 17 is
It may be configured as an inclined surface that gradually inclines upward from the wall 17D toward the outside. In this case, the lower shaft portions 22 of the first and second link members 3 and 4 are in a horizontal state when the key top 2 is not pressed down, and gradually stand obliquely as the key top 2 is pressed down. It slides in the sliding groove 17A.

[0068]

As described above, in the key switch device of the first aspect, the second locking member of the first link member is slidably locked by one of the lower locking portions. The fourth locking member of the two-link member is slidably locked at the other lower locking portion, and is provided between one lower locking portion and the first link member or the other lower locking portion. Between the side locking portion and the second link member, there is provided a movement restricting means for restricting the key top from moving in the horizontal direction during the pressing of the key top. The movement of the keytop in the horizontal direction is restricted via the movement restricting means. Thus, stable key operation can be performed.

Further, in the key switch device according to the second aspect, the movement restricting means is formed on one or the other lower locking portion, and the second locking member or the fourth locking member is formed when the key top is not pressed.
Since the locking member includes a sliding groove having an inclined surface inclined from a wall portion with which the locking member abuts, the second member is pressed when the keytop is pressed.
The locking member or the fourth locking member slides while abutting on the inclined surface of the sliding groove. At this time, since the inclined surface restricts the sliding of the second locking member or the fourth locking member that attempts to slide in the horizontal direction in the sliding groove, even if the key top is being pressed down, It does not move horizontally.
In addition, since the horizontal movement of the key top is regulated by the cooperative action of the inclined surface of the sliding groove and the second or fourth locking member, the relatively large guide wall or positioning member is required. No members or the like are required at all, so that the entire key switch device can be made thinner, and the cost can be reduced by adopting a simple configuration.

Further, in the key switch device according to the third aspect, the second locking member or the fourth locking member is formed as a shaft member having an oval shape in side view, and the oval shaft is formed. member, since the horizontal state or the upright state along the inclined surface as to slide the sliding groove with the vertical movement of the key top, when the inclination groove based on the inclined surface inclined obliquely is narrowed gradually or Even if it becomes wider, the contact force generated between the oblong shaft member and the inclined surface does not increase more than necessary. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly perform the pressing operation of the key top while restricting the movement of the key top in the horizontal direction.

In the key switch device according to the fourth aspect,
The sliding groove has an inclined surface inclined outward from the wall, and the inclined surface is a second locking member or a fourth locking member that slides horizontally in the sliding groove. , The key top does not move in the horizontal direction even when the key top is being pressed. In addition, since the horizontal movement of the key top is regulated by the cooperative action of the inclined surface of the sliding groove and the second or fourth locking member, the relatively large guide wall or positioning member is required. No members or the like are required at all, so that the entire key switch device can be made thinner, and the cost can be reduced by adopting a simple configuration.

Further, in the key switch device according to the fifth aspect, the second locking member or the fourth locking member is formed as a shaft member having an elliptical shape in a side view, and the oval shaft is formed. Since the member becomes horizontal along the inclined surface as it slides in the sliding groove with the vertical movement of the key top, even if the inclined groove is gradually narrowed based on the inclined surface, the elliptical shape is obtained. The contact force generated between the shaft member and the inclined surface does not increase more than necessary. Therefore, it is possible to smoothly perform the pressing operation of the key top while restricting the movement of the key top in the horizontal direction.

Further, in the key switch device according to the sixth aspect, the shaft member protruding from the side surface of the first link member or the second link member and one or the other of the lower locking portions are formed in the vicinity. The movement restricting means is constituted by a wall member that guides the shaft member in contact with the sliding of the second locking member or the fourth locking member in response to the depression of the keytop, and cooperates with the shaft member and the wall member. The horizontal movement of the key top can be restricted based on the operation. In such a case, similarly to the above, there is no need for a relatively large guide wall, positioning member, or the like, so that the entire key switch device can be made thinner and a simple configuration is adopted. This makes it possible to reduce costs.

Further, the keyboard according to the seventh aspect includes at least two or more key switch devices according to the first aspect. Therefore, similarly to the first aspect, when the key top is pressed, the keyboard is moved via the movement restricting means. Thus, the horizontal movement of the key top is restricted, so that a stable key operation can be performed.

Further, in the electronic device according to the eighth aspect, since the keyboard provided with the key switch device according to the first aspect is provided, similarly to the first aspect, the electronic apparatus moves when the key top is pressed. The movement of the key top in the horizontal direction is restricted via the restricting means, so that a stable key operation can be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B illustrate a personal computer, FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a notebook personal computer, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a notebook personal computer.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the key switch device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first link member and a second link member.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a first link member and a second link member.

FIG. 5 shows a first link member to a leaf spring portion and a first cam portion;
It is explanatory drawing which takes out a leaf spring part and a 2nd cam part from a 2nd link member, and shows it typically.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a series of operations from a non-pressed state of the keytop to a pressing operation of the keytop to perform a switching operation, focusing on movements of a first link member and a second link member. .

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a key top and a guide member of a key switch device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a first link member and a second link member used in the key switch device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a first link member and a second link member used in the key switch device according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 shows a key switch device according to a second embodiment.
It is explanatory drawing which shows typically a series of operation | movement from the state in which a key top is not pressed down to the time when a key top is pressed down and performs a switching operation paying attention to the movement of a 1st link member and a 2nd link member.

[Description of Signs] 1 Key switch device 2 Key top 3 First link member 4 Second link member 5 Guide member 6 Support plate 7 Membrane switch sheet 8, 9 Rotation locking part 10 Fixed electrode pattern 12 Lower film sheet 13 Movable electrode pattern 14 Upper film sheet 15 Switching hole 16 Film spacer 17 Locking member 17A Locking groove 17B, C Adhesive fixing portion 17D Wall portion 17E Inclined portion 17F Inclined surface 20 Plate spring portion 21 Upper shaft portion 22 Lower shaft portion 24 Cam part 25 Cam surface 27 Cam vertex 30 Control projection 31 Wall member 31A Shaft control surface

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An upper locking portion vertically suspended from a back surface of a keytop, and two lower locking portions disposed below the keytop and corresponding to the respective upper locking portions. A first link member having a first locking member locked to one of the upper locking portions and a second locking member locked to one of the lower locking portions; A third locking member locked to the other of the lower portions and a second link member having a fourth locking member locked to the other of the lower locking portions are movably arranged with respect to each other; A key switch device comprising: a guide member for guiding the vertical movement of the key top; and a switching member that performs a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top. The lower link portion is slidably locked by the lower link portion, and the fourth link member The stop member is slidably locked by the other lower locking portion, between the one lower locking portion and the first link member or between the other lower locking portion and the second. A key switch device, wherein a movement restricting means is provided between the link member and the key top to restrict horizontal movement of the key top while the key top is being pressed. 2. The movement restricting means is formed on the one or other lower locking portion, and is formed from a wall portion with which the second locking member or the fourth locking member abuts when the key top is not pressed. The key switch device according to claim 1, further comprising a sliding groove having an inclined surface. 3. The second locking member or the fourth locking member,
A shaft member having an elliptical shape in side view is formed, and the elliptical shaft member is in a horizontal state along the inclined surface as it slides in the sliding groove as the key top moves up and down. 3. The key switch device according to claim 2, wherein the key switch device is in an upright state. 4. The key switch device according to claim 2, wherein said inclined surface is inclined outward. 5. The second locking member or the fourth locking member,
A shaft member having an elliptical shape in side view is formed, and the elliptical shaft member is in a horizontal state along the inclined surface as it slides in the sliding groove as the key top moves up and down. The key switch device according to claim 4, wherein 6. The movement restricting means includes: a shaft member protruding from a side surface of the first link member or the second link member; and a key top formed near one or the other lower locking portion. The key switch device according to claim 1, further comprising: a wall member that guides the shaft member in contact with the second locking member or the fourth locking member when the button is pressed. 7. A keyboard comprising at least two key switch devices according to claim 1. 8. Two upper locking portions that are suspended from the back surface of the keytop, and two lower locking portions disposed below the keytop and corresponding to the respective upper locking portions. A first link member having a first locking member locked to one of the upper locking portions and a second locking member locked to one of the lower locking portions; A third locking member locked to the other of the lower portions and a second link member having a fourth locking member locked to the other of the lower locking portions are movably arranged with respect to each other; A key switch device comprising: a guide member for guiding the vertical movement of the key top; and a switching member that performs a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top. The lower link portion is slidably locked by the lower link portion, and the fourth link member The stop member is slidably locked by the other lower locking portion, between the one lower locking portion and the first link member or between the other lower locking portion and the second. A key switch device provided with a movement restricting means for restricting the key top from moving in the horizontal direction while the key top is being depressed is provided between the link member and the keyboard. An electronic apparatus comprising: a display unit that displays characters, symbols, and the like; and a control unit that displays characters, symbols, and the like on the display unit based on input data from the keyboard.