JP2001356863A - Printed circuit board for keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printed circuit board for keyboard capable of improving the latitude of the circuit pattern design of a keyboard. SOLUTION: Contacts 2b for leading of a keyboard substrate 2 are formed at positions where a space key is arranged. A key contact 2a of the space key is formed in the same shape as the key contacts 2a of the other keys, and one key contact is assigned to one key in the same way. On the other hand, the size of the space key is formed so as to be larger than those of the other keys. Therefore, the position where the space key is arranged or a circuit pattern in the neighborhood is made relatively scarce so that the design of the circuit pattern of the keyboard substrate 2 can be made relatively easy by forming the contact 2b for leading at the position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printed circuit board for a keyboard, and more particularly, to a printed circuit board for a keyboard which can improve the degree of freedom in designing a circuit pattern of the keyboard board.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, this type of printed circuit board is constituted by connecting a flexible circuit board for transmitting a signal of the circuit board to another circuit board to a plate-shaped circuit board on which a circuit is printed. I was

The connection between the plate-like circuit board and the flexible circuit board has been made as follows. The contact of the flexible circuit board is placed on the draw-out contact of the plate-like circuit board, and a plate-like solid (non-hollow) elastic body is placed on the contact portion. The connection between the circuit board and the flexible circuit board has been made by pressing with a plate-shaped pressing member.

Incidentally, various components are mounted on the circuit board. In particular, in the case of a keyboard board, the lifting mechanism of each key and key contacts are mounted on the keyboard board, so the flexible circuit board having one end connected to the keyboard board has the other end facing the outside of the keyboard board. There was no other way but to pull it out. This is because pulling out the other end of the flexible circuit board toward the inside of the circuit board cannot obstruct the mounting components, the lifting / lowering mechanism of each key, and the key contacts. For this reason, there has been a problem that restrictions are placed on the direction in which the flexible circuit board is pulled out.

If the connection portion of the flexible circuit board is provided at the center of the circuit board, the periphery is surrounded by the mounting components, the lifting / lowering mechanism of each key, and the key contacts, so that the flexible circuit board can be mounted in any direction. Can't withdraw. Therefore, the connection portion of the flexible circuit board must be provided on the peripheral portion of the circuit board, and there is a problem that circuit design is restricted.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a keyboard printed circuit board capable of improving the degree of freedom in designing the circuit pattern of the keyboard board. It is intended to be.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, a printed circuit board for a keyboard according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a plate-shaped keyboard board on which a key matrix circuit is printed, and a signal from the keyboard board. A printed circuit board for a keyboard having a flexible circuit board having one end electrically connected to a surface of the keyboard board for transmitting to a control circuit, wherein a connection portion between the keyboard circuit board and the flexible circuit board is connected to the keyboard board. At or near the space key arrangement position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keyboard printed circuit board having a plate-shaped keyboard board on which a key matrix circuit is printed, and one end provided on a surface of the keyboard board for transmitting signals from the keyboard board to a control circuit. In a printed circuit board of a keyboard having a flexible circuit board electrically connected to the keyboard, a portion of the keyboard board connected to the flexible circuit board is provided with a larger key than other keys of the keyboard board. At or near that position.

The printed circuit board for a keyboard according to the third aspect of the present invention is the printed circuit board for a keyboard according to the second aspect, wherein one surface of the keyboard substrate is provided irrespective of the size of the key. One and the same key contacts are provided for the key.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printed circuit board for a keyboard, comprising: a plate-shaped keyboard board on which a key matrix circuit is printed; and one end on a surface of the keyboard board for transmitting a signal from the keyboard board to a control circuit. A printed circuit board of a keyboard having a flexible circuit board electrically connected thereto, wherein a connection portion of the keyboard board with the flexible circuit board is positioned at or near a position where the circuit pattern of the key matrix circuit is sparse. Prepare for.

A printed circuit board for a keyboard according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the printed circuit board for a keyboard according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, in the vicinity of a connection portion of the keyboard board with the flexible circuit board. And an opening for extending the flexible circuit board to the back surface of the keyboard board.

The printed circuit board for a keyboard according to claim 6 is the printed circuit board for a keyboard according to claim 5, wherein the lead-out contact, which is a connection portion of the keyboard board with a flexible circuit board, is provided. The circuit board is provided on both sides of the opening, and is configured to be compatible with a plurality of types of flexible circuit boards for one circuit board.

[0013]

According to the keyboard printed circuit board according to the first aspect of the present invention, one end of the flexible circuit board is located at or near the space key arrangement position on the plate-shaped keyboard board on which the key matrix circuit is printed. Electrically connected.

According to the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to the second aspect of the present invention, the flexible circuit is provided at or near a position where a key larger than other keys is arranged on the plate-shaped keyboard substrate on which the key matrix circuit is printed. One end of the substrate is electrically connected.

According to the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to the third aspect, it operates in the same manner as the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to the second aspect, and the surface of the keyboard substrate is related to the size of the key. Instead, the same and plural key contacts provided for one key are arranged.

According to the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the flexible circuit board is provided at a position where the circuit pattern of the key matrix circuit is sparse or in the vicinity thereof on the plate-like keyboard substrate on which the key matrix circuit is printed. Are electrically connected.

According to the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to the fifth aspect, the printed circuit board of the keyboard operates in the same manner as the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to any one of the first to fourth aspects. An opening is provided in the vicinity of the connection portion for extending the flexible circuit board to the back surface of the keyboard board.

According to the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to the sixth aspect, it operates in the same manner as the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to the fifth aspect, and furthermore, the drawer which is a connection portion of the keyboard substrate with the flexible circuit board. Contact points are provided on both sides of the opening, respectively, so that one circuit board can correspond to a plurality of types of flexible circuit boards.

[0019]

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

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a printed circuit board of a keyboard on which a number of key contacts and their circuit patterns are printed, and on which a number of key switch mechanisms are disposed. .

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a printed circuit board 1 showing a connection structure between a keyboard board 2 and a flexible circuit board 3. The printed circuit board 1 of this embodiment includes a keyboard board 2 as a circuit board, a flexible circuit board 3 for transmitting signals input / output to / from the keyboard board 2 to a control board, and the flexible circuit board 3. It is composed of a rubber tube 4 as an elastic body for pressing and connecting to the keyboard substrate 2 and a pressing tool 5 as a pressing member.

The keyboard substrate 2 is made of a plastically deformable metal such as iron or aluminum, and its surface is subjected to resist printing 2h as an insulating process.
On the insulated surface, a key contact 2a, a lead-out contact 2b as a connection portion, and a circuit pattern are printed with a conductive paint 2i such as silver. A portion corresponding to the key contact 2a and the lead-out contact 2b is coated with carbon coating 2j from above to prevent the contact portions 2a and 2b from being deteriorated by oxidation. The portions other than the contact portions 2a and 2b are subjected to resist printing to perform insulation processing in order to prevent oxidation and short circuit of the circuit pattern. The keyboard board 2 is provided with four mounting portions 2c for the key lifting mechanism for each key contact 2a. That is, a metal plate as the keyboard substrate 2 is punched, pressed and cut up.

The lead-out contact 2b of the keyboard substrate 2
It is provided at the position where the space key is arranged. The key contacts 2a of the space key have the same shape as the key contacts 2a of the other keys, and the number thereof is also one for each key. On the other hand, the size of the space key is larger than other keys. Therefore, since the position where the space key is arranged and the circuit pattern in the vicinity thereof are relatively sparse, if the extraction contact 2b is provided at this position, the keyboard substrate 2
This is because the design of the circuit pattern becomes relatively easy.

An elongated rectangular opening 2d is provided in the keyboard substrate 2 near the lead-out contact 2b. This opening 2d is also provided at or near the space key arrangement position, similarly to the extraction contact 2b. Opening 2d
Is for extending the flexible circuit board 3 crimped to the keyboard board 2 from the front surface provided with the key contacts 2a and the extraction contacts 2b to the back surface. Since the mounting components and the key contacts 2a are not provided on the back surface of the keyboard substrate 2, the flexible circuit board 3 drawn on the back surface can be freely drawn in any direction. On the surface with the mounted key switches and key contacts 2a,
Flexible circuit board 3 in the direction without its mounted parts
This is because there is no choice but to pull out. For this reason, by providing the keyboard substrate 2 with an opening 2d for extending the flexible circuit board 3 connected on the front surface of the keyboard substrate 2 to the rear surface, the lead-out contact 2b can be attached to any portion on the keyboard substrate 2. This makes it possible to improve the degree of freedom in circuit design.

The contact 2 for pulling out the keyboard substrate 2
By omitting the resist printing 2h for a part of b, the lead-out contact 2b at that part can be a ± 0v terminal. This is because the keyboard substrate 2 is formed of a plastically deformable metal. Therefore, with this configuration, the ± 0 V terminal can be pulled out through the flexible circuit board 3.

The flexible circuit board 3 is for transmitting signals input / output to / from the keyboard board 2 to the control board. In order for the control board to recognize what key has been input, a signal input to the keyboard board 2 for accessing the circuit pattern of the keyboard board 2 and a signal output from the keyboard board 2 indicating the result are displayed. This is for transmitting to the control board.

The flexible circuit board 3 is formed of a thin insulating base film 3a such as a polyester film, a polyimide film, polyethersulfone, or a polyamide bismaleidic resin. A circuit pattern for electrically connecting to the control board is printed with a conductive paint 3b such as silver. A portion of the circuit pattern 3b connected to the lead-out contact 2b of the keyboard board 2 and the control board is coated with carbon 3d to prevent the circuit pattern 3b from being deteriorated by oxidation. Where the carbon coating 3d is not applied, a resist printing 3c is applied to perform insulation processing to prevent oxidation and short circuit of the circuit pattern.

A portion of the printed surface of the circuit pattern 3b of the flexible circuit board 3 which is in contact with the opening 2d of the keyboard board 2 is provided with a cover film 3 as a cover member.
e is stuck. With this cover film 3e,
Even when the flexible circuit board 3 comes into contact with the keyboard board 2, the circuit pattern 3b of the flexible circuit board 2
Can be protected.

The rubber tube 4 is made of a cylindrical member made of silicon and having a hollow center. As described above, since the rubber tube 4 is formed in a columnar shape, the rubber tube 4 can come into contact with the flexible circuit board 3 by line contact. Therefore, when the flexible circuit board 3 is pressed by the rubber tube 4, all the contacts 3 d of the flexible circuit board 3 can be pressed uniformly to the draw-out contacts 2 d of the keyboard board 2. Further, since a hollow is provided at the center of the rubber tube 4, the elastic force of the rubber tube 4 is increased, so that the flexible circuit board 3 can be reliably connected to the keyboard board 2 even with a small pressing force.

The rubber tube 4 does not necessarily have to be a columnar member, but may have any shape as long as it can make line contact with the flexible circuit board 3. For example, it may be a diamond-shaped member having an elliptical shape or a corner that comes into contact with the flexible circuit board 3. Further, a member having a linear projection and configured so that the projection portion is in line contact with the flexible circuit board 3 may be used. Further, as the material of the rubber tube 4, besides silicon rubber, urethane rubber, EPDM, nitrile rubber, isoprene rubber, kuldprene and the like can be used.

The holding member 5 is formed of a columnar member whose cross section is formed by bending a metal into a U-shape. One of the four side surfaces 5a is open, and the open surface 5a is arranged to face the flexible circuit board 3. For this reason, since the presser 5 can hold the rubber tube 4 from three surfaces, it is possible to prevent the rubber tube 4 from being displaced at the time of assembling or after assembling.

The side surface 5b of the presser 5 facing the open surface 5a
Are provided with screw holes 5d for set screws 6 for crimping the presser 5 to the keyboard substrate 2. Also,
The width of the side surface 5b facing the open surface 5a is
The width of the other side surface 5c is set to be equal to or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the rubber tube 4. When the presser 5 is pressed against the keyboard substrate 2, the rubber tube 4 is bent and the rubber tube 4 is bent.
This is because the flexible circuit board 3 is pressed against the keyboard board 2 by the elastic force of.

The shape of the holding member 5 does not necessarily have to be a columnar member having a U-shaped cross section, and the rubber tube 4 can be held from the side when the flexible circuit board 3 is pressed against the keyboard board 2. Any shape is acceptable. For example,
A holding tool having a cam-shaped (semicircular) or chevron holding surface may be used.

The means for crimping the presser 5 to the keyboard substrate 2 is not limited to the set screw 6. For example, both ends of the holding member 5 are connected to the keyboard substrate 2.
May be inserted and bent, or the presser 5 may be snap-fit fixed using resin.

The components of the printed circuit board 1 configured as described above are connected as follows. The flexible circuit board 3 is placed on the keyboard board 2 so that the lead-out contact 2b of the keyboard board 2 and the contact portion 3d of the flexible circuit board 3 are in contact with each other. Then, the flexible circuit board 3 is pressed from above the contact portion 3 d by a pressing tool 5 holding the rubber tube 4.
, And the contact portion 3d of the flexible circuit board 3 is crimped and connected to the lead-out contact 2b of the keyboard board 2. The other end of the flexible circuit board 3 not connected to the keyboard board 2 is connected to the keyboard board 2.
Through the opening 2d of the keyboard substrate 2 from the front surface to the rear surface.

The operation of the printed circuit board 1 configured as described above will be described. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the printed circuit board 1 showing a connection portion between the keyboard board 2 and the flexible circuit board 3. In the drawings, the set screw 6 is not shown.

The keyboard board 2 and the flexible circuit board 3 are pressed by the presser 5 via the rubber tube 4. Since the width C of the side surface 5c of the holding member 5 is smaller than the outer diameter B of the rubber tube 4, the flexible circuit board 3 is pressed against the keyboard board 2 while the rubber tube 4 is bent. As a result, the keyboard board 2 and the flexible circuit board 3 are electrically connected, so that if the other end of the flexible circuit board 3 is connected to the control board, signals are transmitted between the control board and the keyboard board 2. Input and output are possible.

The other end of the flexible circuit board 3, one end of which is connected to the keyboard substrate 2, extends from the front surface to the rear surface of the keyboard substrate 2 through the opening 2 d of the keyboard substrate 2. At this time, the flexible circuit board 3 comes into contact with the corner of the opening 2d of the keyboard board 2, but the portion of the printed surface of the circuit pattern 3b that contacts the opening 2d of the keyboard board 2 has a cover film 3e. Is adhered, so that the circuit pattern 3b of the flexible circuit board 3 is not damaged. The circuit pattern 3b of the flexible circuit board 3 includes a cover film 3e.
Protected by

FIGS. 3 to 5 show the flexible circuit board 3.
3 when pulling out from the front surface of the keyboard substrate 2 to the back surface
Two examples are shown. FIG. 3 shows the flexible circuit board 3 drawn out to the near side of the keyboard board 2, and FIG. 4 shows the flexible circuit board 3 drawn out in the opposite direction to FIG. In FIG. 5, the flexible circuit board 3 is formed in an L-shape, and is drawn to the right side of the keyboard board 2. Thus, by providing the opening 2d in the vicinity of the lead-out contact 2b of the keyboard substrate 2, the flexible circuit board 3 connected to the keyboard substrate 2 can be pulled out in any direction.

If the drawing contacts 2b are provided on both sides of the opening 2d, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 can be realized only by replacing the flexible circuit board 3 with one keyboard board 2. Therefore, with such a configuration, the versatility of the keyboard substrate 2 can be improved.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the printed circuit board 1 of this embodiment, since the rubber tube 4 is formed of a columnar member, it is arranged in line contact with the flexible circuit board 3. You. Therefore, all the contacts can be pressed evenly. Further, since the rubber tube 4 is provided with a hollow at the center thereof, the elastic force is increased, and the flexible circuit board 3 can be reliably connected to the keyboard board 2 even with a small pressing force. Therefore, the flexible circuit board 3 can be formed without forming a contact that causes a contact failure.
Can be reliably connected to the keyboard substrate 2.

Since the holding member 5 is composed of a columnar member having a U-shaped cross section, it can be pressed while holding the rubber tube 4. Therefore, the displacement of the rubber tube 4 can be prevented at the time of assembling and after assembling. Therefore, the assembling work can be simplified, and the occurrence of poor contact due to the displacement of the rubber tube 4 after the assembling can be prevented.

The other end of the flexible circuit board 3 passes through an opening 2d provided in the keyboard board 2 and extends from the surface of the keyboard board 2 having the key contacts 2a to the back face without the key contacts 2a and the mounted components. . Therefore, the flexible circuit board 3 can be pulled out from the keyboard board 2 in any direction. Further, since the other end of the flexible circuit board 3 can be pulled out from the keyboard board 2 in any direction as described above, the connecting portions 2b and 3d between the keyboard board 2 and the flexible circuit board 3 can be arbitrarily set. Can be arranged at the position. Therefore, the degree of freedom in circuit design of the keyboard substrate 2 can be improved.

Since the lead-out contact 2b and the opening 2d are provided at or near the space key arrangement position of the keyboard substrate 2, the degree of freedom in designing the circuit pattern of the keyboard substrate 2 can be improved. This is because the space key is large, and the circuit pattern of the keyboard substrate 2 becomes sparse at or near the space key arrangement position.

Circuit pattern 3 of flexible circuit board 3
Since the cover film 3e is provided on the portion of the printed surface b that contacts the opening 2d of the keyboard substrate 2, even when the flexible circuit substrate 3 and the keyboard substrate 2 come into contact with each other, the printed film is printed on the flexible circuit substrate 3. The circuit pattern 3b can be protected.

Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.
It can be easily inferred that various modifications and improvements are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the present embodiment, the case where the flexible circuit board is connected to the keyboard board has been described, but the present invention can be similarly applied to boards other than the keyboard board.

[0048]

As is clear from the above description,
According to the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to claim 1,
One end of the flexible circuit board is electrically connected to or near the space key arrangement position on the plate-like keyboard board on which the key matrix circuit is printed, so that the connection with the flexible circuit board is made at a position where the circuit pattern is relatively sparse. And the design of the circuit pattern of the keyboard substrate is facilitated.

According to the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to the second aspect of the present invention, the key matrix circuit is printed on a plate-shaped keyboard substrate at or near a position where a key larger than other keys is arranged. Since one end of the flexible circuit board is electrically connected, a configuration related to connection with the flexible circuit board can be arranged at a position where the circuit pattern is relatively sparse, and the circuit pattern of the keyboard board can be easily designed. .

According to the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to the third aspect, in addition to the effects of the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to the second aspect, the surface of the keyboard board is
Regardless of the size of the key, the same and multiple key contacts provided for one key are arranged, so the configuration relating to the connection with the flexible circuit board is arranged at a position where the circuit pattern is relatively sparse. And the design of the circuit pattern is further facilitated.

According to the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to the fourth aspect, the key matrix circuit is printed on a plate-like keyboard substrate at a position where the circuit pattern of the key matrix circuit is sparse or in the vicinity thereof. Since one end of the circuit board is electrically connected, a configuration related to connection with the flexible circuit board can be arranged at a position where the circuit pattern is relatively sparse, and the circuit pattern of the keyboard board can be easily designed.

According to the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to the fifth aspect, in addition to the effect of the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, furthermore, in addition to the effect of the flexible printed circuit board in the keyboard substrate, Since an opening is provided in the vicinity of the connection part, the flexible circuit board extends from the front surface of the circuit board with each mounted component to the back surface without each mounted component through the opening, and the circuit pattern design of the keyboard substrate is extremely reduced. It will be easier.

Further, according to the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to the sixth aspect, in addition to the effect of the printed circuit board of the keyboard according to the fifth aspect, a drawer which is a connection portion of the keyboard board with a flexible circuit board is provided. Contact points are provided on both sides of the opening, and one circuit board can correspond to a plurality of types of flexible circuit boards, so that the versatility of the circuit board can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a printed circuit board showing a connection structure between a keyboard board and a flexible circuit board.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a printed circuit board at a connection portion between a keyboard board and a flexible circuit board.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which a flexible circuit board is drawn out to the near side of a keyboard board.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a state in which a flexible circuit board is pulled out behind a keyboard board.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state where a flexible circuit board is drawn out to the right side of a keyboard board.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printed circuit board 2 Keyboard board as a circuit board 2b Pull-out contact as a connection part 2d Opening 3 Flexible circuit board 3e Cover film as a cover member 4 Rubber tube as an elastic body 5 Presser as a pressing member

Continuation of the front page F term (reference) 5B020 DD00 5E344 AA02 AA19 AA22 BB02 BB04 CD15 CD29 DD08 EE13 EE16 EE21

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard board having a key matrix circuit printed thereon and a flexible circuit board having one end electrically connected to a surface of the keyboard board for transmitting a signal from the keyboard board to a control circuit. A printed circuit board for a keyboard, comprising: a connection portion of the keyboard board with the flexible circuit board at or near a space key arrangement position of the keyboard board. 2. A keyboard board having a key matrix circuit printed thereon, and a flexible circuit board having one end electrically connected to a surface of the keyboard board for transmitting a signal from the keyboard board to a control circuit. A printed circuit board for a keyboard, wherein a connection portion of the keyboard board with the flexible circuit board is provided at or near a position where a key larger than other keys of the keyboard board is arranged. Keyboard printed circuit board. 3. The keyboard substrate according to claim 2, wherein the surface of said keyboard substrate is provided with a plurality of identically shaped key contacts provided for each key, regardless of the size of the keys. A printed circuit board for a keyboard according to claim 1. 4. A keyboard board on which a key matrix circuit is printed, and a flexible circuit board having one end electrically connected to a surface of the keyboard board for transmitting a signal from the keyboard board to a control circuit. A printed circuit board for a keyboard, wherein a connection portion of the keyboard board with the flexible circuit board is provided at or near a position where a circuit pattern of the key matrix circuit is sparse. . 5. The keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising an opening in a vicinity of a connection portion of the keyboard substrate with the flexible circuit board, the opening extending the flexible circuit board to the back surface of the keyboard substrate. A printed circuit board for a keyboard according to any of the preceding claims. 6. A drawer contact, which is a connection portion of the keyboard board with the flexible circuit board, is provided on each side of the opening, and one circuit board can correspond to a plurality of types of flexible circuit boards. The printed circuit board of a keyboard according to claim 5, wherein: