JP2002099371A - Capacity variable keyboard unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard unit which can be made compact as a whole including small electronic equipment by connecting the small electronic equipment such as palm top smaller than the keyboard unit to the keyboard unit by a connector. SOLUTION: In the capacity variable keyboard unit 3 in which plural key switches are integrally connected in several groups continuing in a prescribed direction to form switch groups 1 and a housing of each switch group 1 moves while interlocked with each other, a cancel means for a linking arm is provided between the housings of the suitable switch group 1 among the housings of the plural switch group 1, and a space part is formed between the housings of the relevant switch group 1. In this space part, an almost plate-like component hinged to the side face of the keyboard unit 3 is housed, the keyboard unit 3 is divided along with the terminal edge of one side or both the sides of the space part and the hinge part is formed thereon so that the keyboard unit 3 can be folded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard device having a switch group capable of changing a key interval mainly in a horizontal direction. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electronic component hinged to a keyboard device. The present invention relates to a keyboard device having a folding structure in addition to a housing space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a variable volume keyboard device capable of changing a key interval and a height in a horizontal direction or a vertical direction has been known, but none of them has a specific structure. In contrast, the present inventor is a general keyboard switch composed of a plurality of key switches that perform an input operation by a vertical movement operation by providing a return spring between a key top and a lower contact, Several groups of key switches connected in a predetermined direction are integrally connected by an appropriate housing to form a switch group, and each switch group is slidably supported to expand in a predetermined direction. We have invented a variable volume keyboard device.

[0003]

By the way, in recent keyboard devices, it has been attempted to connect and use small electronic devices smaller than keyboard devices such as palmtops with a connector. There has been a need to reduce the size of the entire keyboard device, including electronic devices.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has the following features. This discloses a structure in which a keyboard device is folded to be compact.

According to the first structure of the present invention, a return spring is provided between a key top and a lower contact, so that a plurality of key switches which perform an input operation by a vertical movement operation are provided in a predetermined direction. A series of switches are integrally connected by an appropriate housing to form a switch group, and both ends of the housing of the switch group in the longitudinal direction are slidably mounted, and one of the housings of the adjacent switch group is slidably moved. A variable displacement keyboard that is slidably connected by a connecting arm extended from the housing of the switch group, so that the housing of each switch group moves in conjunction with the sliding movement of the housing of one switch group. In the apparatus, a connection arm is provided between housings of appropriate switch groups among the housings of the plurality of switch groups. Provided the release means is realized by forming a space between the switches of the housing.
More specifically, a small electronic device is housed in a space portion as a substantially plate-shaped component hinged to the side surface of the keyboard device.

In the first structure of the present invention, the keyboard device is divided along one or both edges of a space portion of the keyboard device, and a hinge portion is formed on the keyboard device so that the keyboard device can be folded. This is achieved by doing so.

[0007]

1 to 15 are explanatory views showing a switch structure in a variable volume keyboard device of the present invention. Note that the keyboard device 3 shown in the drawings of the embodiment of the present invention.
Indicates a support plate or the like that forms the entire shape.

According to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, in a substantially long rectangular key switch, several groups connected in a vertical direction (short direction) are integrally connected in an appropriate housing, for example, in a staggered manner. A plurality of switch groups 1 are formed by forming support pieces at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the switch groups 1, and the guide grooves formed on the inner peripheral surface of the side wall of the support of the main body case. This is a variable-capacity keyboard device that can be expanded and contracted in the horizontal direction, for example, by a configuration such that the keyboard device is slidably supported.

FIG. 1 shows one side of the switch group 1.
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 15, a connecting arm 1b is protruded, and a receiving hole 1c is formed on the other side surface corresponding to the connecting arm 1b.

A hook 1d is provided at the tip of the connecting arm 1b.
Is formed, and once the connecting arm 1b is inserted into the receiving hole 1c of the adjacent switch group 1, the hook 1d is hooked on the inner wall surface, so that the respective switch groups 1.1 are mutually connected. As shown in FIG. 15, even if the switch group 1 is separated, the mutual connection state is maintained.

As shown in FIG. 14, when the respective switch groups 1.1 are brought close to each other, one connecting arm 1b
Are stacked so as to overlap with the other connecting arm 1b. Therefore, when one switch group 1 is moved, the connected switch group 1 is slidably operated in conjunction.

In the present invention, the connecting arm 1b is formed of a material having a spring property. Therefore, when the connecting arm 1b is inserted into the receiving hole 1c, the connecting arm 1b
Is inserted over the receiving hole 1c.
By pushing up the connecting arm 1b upward by means (not shown) from the outside, it is possible to release the stopper action of the hook 1d and to remove the connecting arm 1b from the receiving hole 1c.

As described above, the present invention releases the connection of the predetermined adjacent switch group 1.1, and moves the switch group 1 so as to push and expand the released part.
This forms a space in the keyboard device 3 in which components can be stored.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment in which a space is formed in the center of the keyboard device 3. FIG. In this embodiment, the mounting plate 2 of the small portable device attached to the keyboard device 3 by the hinge portion 2a is pivotally accommodated in the space formed. At this time, by providing means for positioning and fixing at least one of the switch groups 1 of the switch groups 1.1 to be disconnected from each other on the keyboard device 3, the connection arm 1b can be connected to the receiving hole 1c. When inserting the hook 1d into the receiving hole 1c while obtaining a reaction force with the housing of the fixed switch group 1,
It can be smoothly inserted into. Further, with respect to the movable switch group 1, by forming stopper walls on both side edges of the mounting plate 2 of the small portable device, the mounting plate 2 can be stably housed in the space.

FIGS. 3 to 5 show a second embodiment in which, in addition to the structure of the above-described first embodiment, the keyboard device 3 is divided along both side edges of the space and is foldable by the hinge 3a. This is an example. In this embodiment, in addition to the above structure, the keyboard device 3 itself can be made compact.

FIGS. 6 to 11 show an embodiment in which the space is formed so as to be deviated from the center line of the keyboard device 3 to the left in the drawing, unlike the structure of the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the switch group on the right side of the switch group 1.1 to be disconnected is fixed to the keyboard device 3 in advance.

The keyboard device 3 is divided at one side edge of the space, that is, the center line of the keyboard device 3, and can be folded by the hinge portion 3a. The folding operation is as determined in FIGS. 9 to 11, and the keyboard device 3 folded in this way is housed in a separate sleeve-shaped case and is in a state suitable for carrying. Things.

[0018]

The present invention has been configured as described above.
The horizontal volume change of the entire keyboard device is performed by a very simple operation in a stable state, and at this time, a space is formed at a predetermined position, and components can be stored in the space, and the space can be accommodated. Since the keyboard device is configured to be foldable in accordance with the part, it is possible to make the entire device more compact and improve the convenience of carrying and the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are explanatory views of a first embodiment of a variable volume keyboard device according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3 to 5 are explanatory views of a second embodiment of the variable volume keyboard device according to the present invention.

FIGS. 6 to 11 are explanatory diagrams of a third embodiment of a variable-volume keyboard device according to the present invention.

FIGS. 12 to 15 are explanatory views showing the relationship between a housing and a connecting arm of a switch group according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Switch group 1b Connecting arm 1c Receiving hole 1d Hook part 2 Mounting plate 2a Hinge part 3 Keyboard device 3a Hinge part

Claims (5)

[Claims] A plurality of key switches connected in a predetermined direction of a plurality of key switches which perform an input operation by a vertical movement operation by providing a return spring between a key top and a lower contact point are provided in an appropriate housing. To form a switch group, and both ends in the longitudinal direction of the housing of this switch group are slidably mounted, and the housings of adjacent switch groups are extended from the housing of one switch group. By slidably connecting the connection arms with a connection arm, when the housing of one switch group is slid, the housing of each switch group moves in conjunction with each other. A release means for a connecting arm is provided between housings of appropriate switch groups in the housing, and the switch group is provided. Variable volume type of the keyboard apparatus, and forming a space between the housing. 2. The volume-variable keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein a substantially plate-shaped component hinged to a side surface of the keyboard device is accommodated in the space. 3. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard device is divided along one or both edges of the space portion of the keyboard device, and a hinge portion is formed on the keyboard device so that the keyboard device can be folded. 2. The variable volume keyboard device according to 1. 4. The connecting arm is an arm having a spring property and extending from a side surface of a housing of one of the switch groups and having a hook at a distal end thereof. A receiving hole for inserting the connecting arm and having a stopper function at the hook portion is formed, and the releasing means of the connecting arm deforms the position of the hook portion of the connecting arm so that the connecting arm can be pulled out from the receiving hole. The variable volume keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein 5. A housing for one of the switches in the housing of one of the switches in which the connection of the connecting arm is released, the housing of one of the switches being fixed to the keyboard device. 2. The variable-volume keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting arm of the housing of the other switch group is easily inserted and connected again by obtaining the reaction force.