JP2002229709A - Keyboard mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard mechanism which can be thinner than a conventional one while maintaining operability and reliability. SOLUTION: This keyboard mechanism comprises a link member for rotationally and crosswise linking a frame body with a plate body, the frame body being composed of one pair of arms arranged in parallel, provided with shaft portions on upper ends thereof, and coupled through a rod at lower ends thereof, and the plate body being provided with shaft portions on both ends thereof; a key top provided on an under surface thereof with bearing portions for pivotally supporting shaft portions at upper ends of the arms, and with bearing portions for pivotally and slidably supporting the shaft portions of the upper ends of the plate body; a substrate having bearing portions for pivotally and slidably supporting the shaft portions of lower ends of the plate; and a movable plate horizontally slidable, and provided with an elastic engaging portion for pivotally supporting the rod.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard mechanism for a portable personal computer represented by a notebook personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, further reductions in weight and thickness have been desired for products that are designed to be easy to carry, such as information devices such as portable personal computers represented by so-called notebook personal computers. Is coming. On the other hand, with regard to the operability of such information devices, there is a demand that the keystroke of the keyboard, which is the main input means, be as large as possible to approximate the feeling of a normal keyboard used in a desktop personal computer. .

As a solution to such a contradictory problem, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-54964, a keyboard structure in which individual keys can expand and contract in accordance with opening and closing of a lid is disclosed.

Specifically, a key support structure having an upper side and a lower side, and supported on the upper side of the key support structure,
A base having a series of keys that each move vertically relative to each other by a vertical keystroke distance between the extended position and the retracted position, and an upper side supported under the key support structure and facing the lower side of the key support structure; And a series of spaced resilient key return members disposed above the base structure, the key support structure and the base structure comprising: a key return member below the key; A second position for elastically holding the elastic key return member in the extended position and a second position for enabling the key return member to move the elastic key return member from the extended position to the retracted position without vertically compressing the elastic key return member. It is configured to be horizontally shiftable with respect to the position.

[0005] Alternatively, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-203975, the operability and reliability of a push-button switch used in an input device which requires a thinner display unit such as a foldable display-type word processor are required. A configuration of a push button switch that can reduce the height when not in use while maintaining it is disclosed.

More specifically, two sets of frames, which are provided with fulcrum portions at both ends and connect a pair of arms arranged in parallel, are rotatable using two opposing portions of the arms as pivot support portions. A link member provided with a connecting portion that cross-connects and connects the two shaft connecting portions; an upper supporting portion provided on an arm of the link member; A key top provided with an engagement portion on the back surface where the upper fulcrum portion is slidable and rotatable, and an engagement portion where the one lower fulcrum portion provided on the arm is slidably and rotatable and the other A case in which a lower fulcrum portion is provided with an engaging portion that is rotatable, and the key top is urged upward by pressing a lower surface of a connecting portion connecting the two pivotal connecting portions of the link member. An elastic door having a projection on the back surface for pressing the switch of the switch member. And a switch member having a switch portion disposed on the lower surface of the seat, the switch member having a switch portion disposed on the lower surface of the sheet, and a switch member disposed on the lower surface of the switch member. It consists of the board | substrate couple | bonded with the said case, and is cross-connected by the pivot connection part, and from the substantially center pivot connection part of the arm of at least one set of frame bodies among two sets of frame bodies which comprise a link member. The dimension from the engagement portion with the key top is made larger than the dimension from the pivot connection portion to the engagement portion with the case.

[0007] It is stated that this makes it possible to realize a pushbutton switch having a reduced height when not in use, while maintaining an appropriate size of operation force and moderation as well as an operation stroke.

[0008]

However, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-54964 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
In the configuration described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 75-75, an elastic dome body having an elastic key return member or a projection for pressing a switch portion of a switch member provided on the back surface is usually made of rubber, and is pressed ( Tapping) There is naturally a limit to the reliability over life, environment, and aging. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a keyboard mechanism that can be made thinner than before while ensuring operability and reliability.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a pair of arms provided with a shaft at the upper end and having a pair of arms arranged in parallel are connected at their lower ends by rods to shafts at both ends. A link member rotatably cross-connecting a plate body having a portion, a bearing portion in which a shaft portion of the upper end of the arm is rotatably supported, and a shaft portion of the upper end of the plate body slidably and rotatably. A key top provided with a bearing portion pivotally supported on the lower surface, a substrate having a bearing portion pivotally supported by a shaft at the lower end of the plate body, and a rod pivotally supported by the rod. And a movable plate slidable in the horizontal direction and having a resilient engaging portion.

Further, the movable member slides in the horizontal direction in conjunction with the opening and closing of the display portion, and the engaging portion moves in the horizontal direction in conjunction with the movable plate, whereby the link member rotates. The key top is moved up and down. Further, a lock member for locking the movable plate when the display section is opened is provided.

Further, the key top is urged upward through the link member by the engagement portion urging the rod in a horizontal direction.

A switch member having a switch portion disposed below the plate is provided, and the switch is pressed by a pressing portion extending downward from the plate. Further, the switch member slides in the horizontal direction in conjunction with the movable plate.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 are side sectional views schematically showing a keyboard mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Here, a notebook personal computer is illustrated as an example, and shows the stored state of the key top at each stage when the open display unit is closed. In each of the drawings, the user operates the notebook computer from the right side. In addition, the right part of each figure, that is, the part on the near side as viewed from the user, is not shown. Further, hatching is omitted in thin portions of the cross section. Hereinafter, in the main body, the front end side at which the display unit is opened and closed is referred to as a near side, and the base side (center side) of the opening and closing is referred to as a back side.

First, FIG. 1 shows a state in which the display unit is widely opened (about 120 degrees here) with respect to the main body, and the notebook personal computer is usable. In the figure,
The display unit 1 has, for example, a liquid crystal display panel 1a attached to the inner surface thereof, and has a substantially columnar rotating unit 1b at the lower and open / close center side. Guide portions 1c and 1d are provided around the rotating portion 1b, and these are provided with steps.

That is, the guide portions 1c and 1d have different radii from the center axis O of the rotating portion 1b, the guide portion 1d is equal to the outer radius of the rotating portion 1b, and the guide portion 1c is smaller than that. ing. The difference between the radii is a stroke in which a movable plate described later slides in the horizontal direction. And
A slope a is provided at one end of the guide 1c between the guide 1d and a slope b at the other end of the guide 1c. The display unit 1 is rotatable around a central axis O of the rotating unit 1b.

On the other hand, the lower case 3 of the main body 2 including the keyboard is provided with a holding portion 3a for holding the keyboard at a position one step lower than the upper surface thereof. An end 4e of the movable plate 4 is inserted into the bottom case 3 toward the back. A roller 5 is rotatably attached to the end of the end 4 e of the movable plate 4. The roller 5 protrudes outside through an opening 3 c at the upper end corner on the back side of the bottom case 3 and contacts the guide 1 c of the display unit 1. In contact. The configuration is not limited to the configuration in which the roller 5 is attached. For example, the rear end of the movable plate 4 may be bent into an L-shape, and this may be brought into contact with the guide portion 1c. The shape is not limited to this, and any shape may be used as long as it can smoothly contact the rotation of the guide portion 1c. By the way, the bottom upper corner of the bottom case 3 is
The display unit 1 has an arc shape along the outer periphery of the rotating unit 1b.

In the movable plate 4, a projection 4 a extends slightly upward from the roller 5. Further, further on the front side, a projection 3d extends downward from the ceiling surface inside the bottom case 3. And projection 4
The compression coil spring 6 is sandwiched between a and 3d in a slightly contracted state. As a result, the movable plate 4 is always urged to the rear as shown by the arrow A. Further, a bent leaf spring 7 is attached to the ceiling surface inside the bottom case 3 in front of the projection 3d, and a boss 7 is
a is protruding and is urged downward. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the boss 7a is fitted into the locking hole 4b provided in the movable plate 4 and the movable plate 4 is locked. Instead of the leaf spring 7, for example, a pin having the same function as the boss 7a and a coil spring for urging the pin downward may be combined.

Further on the near side, the main part of the movable plate 4 is placed on the holding portion 3a, and further thereon,
The film substrate 8 and the key base 9 are sequentially superimposed. Here, the film substrate 8 and the key base 9 are bonded together by bonding or the like to be integrated. These are fixed to the holding portion 3a by a method not shown. On the key base 9, for example, a key top 10 formed of resin is supported from below by a link member L in which a seesaw plate 11 and a frame body 12 are combined.
The keys are arranged vertically and horizontally. This forms a keyboard.

The seesaw plate 11 and the frame body 12 are cross-linked in a substantially X-shape to form a link member L, and are rotatable about a central axis X. And seesaw board 11
Is rotatably supported by a bearing 9a projecting from the upper surface of the resin key base 9 by resin molding, for example.
The upper end of the seesaw plate 11 is supported by a slide bearing 10a having a long hole projecting from the lower surface of the key top 10 so as to be rotatable and slidable within a predetermined range.

On the other hand, the upper end of the frame 12 is
It is rotatably supported by a bearing 10b projecting from the lower surface. Further, the rod s located at the lower end of the frame 12 is rotatably supported by the hooks 4c and the projections 4d extending upward from the upper surface of the movable plate 4 while being sandwiched from the near side and the back side, respectively. I have. Here, the hook 4c and the projection 4
“d” is inserted into a hole communicating with a through hole 8a formed in the film substrate 8 and a through hole 9b formed in the key base 9, and protrudes upward. At this time, the communicating hole has a margin on the near side with respect to the hook 4c.

From the lower portion of the seesaw plate 11, a leaf spring-like pressing portion 11a extends obliquely downward toward the center of the key. An opening 9c is formed on the key base 9 immediately below the pressing portion 11a, and a so-called membrane switch (not shown) is formed in a region 8b of the film substrate 8 exposed by the opening 9c. And key top 1
When 0 is depressed, the tip of the pressing portion 11a presses the film substrate 8 through the opening 9c, and the membrane switch is turned on. Details will be described later. The details of the keyboard mechanism described above will also be described later.

Next, FIG. 2 illustrates a case where the display unit is closed to a certain degree with respect to the main body and forms an angle of about 30 degrees. Then, as the display unit 1 is closed from the state of FIG. 1, the roller 5 rolls on the guide unit 1c, and the slope a
Shows a state in which it is in contact with. The angle here exemplifies a state where the display unit 1 does not hit the key top 10 when the display unit 1 is closed with respect to the main body 2.
The angle at which the roller 5 comes into contact with the slope a may be an angle at which the display unit 1 and the key top 10 do not come into contact.
Here, the positional relationship of the movable plate 4 with respect to the bottom case 3 has not changed, and the locking hole 4 b
The boss 7a of the leaf spring 7 fits into the movable plate 4 and the movable plate 4 remains locked.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the display unit is slightly closed with respect to the main body. Here, when the roller 5 relatively climbs the slope a, the roller 5 is pushed outward in the radial direction of the rotating portion 1b, and the movable plate 4 slides slightly toward the near side as shown by the arrow B, and fits into the hole 4b. Outgoing boss 7
a is released, and the lock of the movable plate 4 is released. At this time,
Each hook 4c and each projection 4d extending above the movable plate 4
Also slide to the front side, so that each frame 12
The rod s located at the lower end moves toward the front side while being sandwiched by the corresponding hooks 4c and projections 4d. As a result, each frame 12 rotates counterclockwise around the upper end thereof, and each seesaw plate 11 rotates clockwise around the lower end thereof.
Each key top 10 descends because it is guided to 0a and slides forward. Here, the compression coil spring 6 is in a state of being slightly contracted from the beginning.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the display unit is slightly further closed with respect to the main body than in the case of FIG. Here, when the roller 5 rides on the guide portion 1d via the slope a, it is completely pushed radially outward of the rotating portion 1b,
As shown by arrow C, the movable plate 4 slides completely toward the user. At this time, the rod s located at the lower end of each frame 12 completely moves to the near side, and the upper end of each seesaw plate 11 slides completely to the near side.
0 is completely lowered, and each key is completely stored. Here, the compression coil spring 6 is in a state where it is slightly further contracted than in the case of FIG.

Finally, FIG. 5 shows a state where the display unit is completely closed with respect to the main body. Here, as the display unit 1 closes, the roller 5 only rolls on the guide unit 1d, the movable plate 4 does not move, and each key remains in the same storage state as in FIG. In a completely stored state of each key shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pressing portion 11a of the seesaw plate 11 is in a non-contact state with the film substrate 8. However, even in the contact state, the weight of the key top 10 and the like is light, so that the membrane switch is not turned on.

Next, the operation when the previously closed display unit is opened will be described. When the display unit 1 is completely closed with respect to the main body 2 as shown in FIG. 5 and is slightly opened as shown in FIG. 4, the roller 5 is over the guide unit 1d and the display unit 1 is closed. Rolls in the opposite direction. Then, when the display unit 1 is further opened slightly as shown in FIG. 3, the roller 5 is moved to the guide unit 1c.
Is relatively lowered on the slope a provided at one end of the rotary unit 1 by the restoring force due to the elasticity of the compression coil spring 6.
The movable plate 4 is pulled inward in the radial direction of b, and slightly slides in the direction opposite to the arrow B, that is, in the depth direction.

At this time, each of the hooks 4c and each of the projections 4d extending above the movable plate 4 also slide to the rear side, so that the rod s located at the lower end of each of the frame members 12 has the corresponding hook 4c and the corresponding projection. Each of them moves to the back side while being sandwiched by 4d. Thereby, each frame body 12 rotates rightward in the figure around its upper end, and each seesaw plate 11 rotates leftward in the figure around its lower end, so that the upper end of each seesaw plate 11 slides inward. Therefore, each key top 10 stands up.

When the display section 1 is further opened slightly as shown in FIG. 2, the roller 5 further descends the slope a, and the rotating section 1b is restored by the elastic force of the compression coil spring 6. Is completely drawn inward in the radial direction, and abuts on the guide portion 1c. At the same time, the movable plate 4 completely slides in the direction opposite to the arrow B, that is, in the depth direction. Then, the boss 7a fits into the locking hole 4b provided in the movable plate 4, and the movable plate 4 is locked.

At this time, the hooks 4c and the projections 4d extending above the movable plate 4 also slide completely backward, respectively, so that the rods s located at the lower end of each frame 12
Is sandwiched between the corresponding hook 4c and projection 4d,
Each moves completely to the back side. Thereby, since the upper end of each seesaw plate 11 slides completely to the back side,
Each key top 10 is completely raised, and the keyboard can be used.

Finally, from the state of FIG. 2, the display unit 1 is widely opened with respect to the main body 2 as shown in FIG.
(About 0 degrees), the roller 5 becomes the guide portion 1c.
The upper part rolls in a direction opposite to the direction in which the display part is closed. Then, the notebook computer can be used. In addition, even when the display unit 1 is opened by, for example, about 180 degrees with respect to the main body 2, the lock of the movable plate 4 is released by the contact of the roller 5 with the slope b provided at the other end of the guide unit 1 c. Nothing. That is, since the guide portion 1c is provided in a sufficient angle range with respect to the center axis O, there is no problem in the use state due to the opening angle of the display portion 1.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view schematically showing a key operation state in this embodiment. Here, the display unit 1 is omitted, and only the main body 2 side is shown, showing a state in which a notebook personal computer can be used. Each step in the key operation is indicated by a separate key. Now, as shown by the center key, when the key top 10 is slightly pressed down in the direction of arrow D from the usable state indicated by the back key, the frame 12 rotates counterclockwise around its upper end in the figure. The rod s located at the lower end of the frame 12 moves toward the front side and presses the hook 4c. At the same time, the seesaw plate 11 rotates clockwise around its lower end, and the upper end of the seesaw plate 11 slides toward the near side.

When the key top 10 is further depressed in the direction of arrow E, as shown by the keys on the near side, the rod s located at the lower end of the frame 12 moves further toward the front side and the hook 4c is moved. Is further pressed. Seesaw plate 1 at the same time
The upper end of 1 further slides toward the near side. At this time, the tip of the pressing portion 11a of the seesaw plate 11 presses the region 8b of the film substrate 8 through the opening 9c of the key base 9, and the membrane switch is turned on.

Thereafter, when the key top 10 is released, the rod s moves to the back side by the restoring force due to the elasticity of the hook 4c. As a result, the frame body 12 rotates rightward in the figure around its upper end, and the seesaw plate 11 rotates leftward in the figure around its lower end, and the upper end of the seesaw plate 11 slides to the back side. The state returns to the usable state indicated by the key on the far side of the figure.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are side sectional views schematically showing a keyboard mechanism according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment has the same basic configuration as the above-described first embodiment. However, in the present embodiment, the film substrate 8 is bonded not to the key base 9 but to the movable plate 4 by bonding or the like to be integrated. The key base 9 is fixed to the holding section 3a by a method not shown.

FIG. 7 exemplifies a case where the display unit is closed to a certain extent with respect to the main body and forms an angle of about 30 degrees, similarly to FIG. Then, a state in which the roller 5 rolls on the guide portion 1c and comes into contact with the slope a is shown. The angle here exemplifies a state in which the display unit 1 does not hit the key top 10 when the display unit 1 is closed with respect to the main body 2, and the roller 5 and the slope a
The angle at which the display unit 1 contacts the key top 1
The angle may be any angle at which 0 does not strike. Here, the movable plate 4
The position of the boss 7a of the leaf spring 7 in the lock hole 4b provided in the movable plate 4 has not changed from the state in which the notebook computer can be used.
And the movable plate 4 remains locked.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the display unit is completely closed with respect to the main body, similarly to FIG. Here, as shown by the arrow F, the movable plate 4 and the film substrate 8 are completely slid toward the near side. At this time, each frame 12
The rod s located at the lower end of is completely moved to the near side,
Since the upper end of each seesaw plate 11 is also completely slid to the near side, each key top 10 is completely lowered,
Each key is completely stored.

In this state, the seesaw plate 11
Is in contact with the film substrate 8, but since the film substrate 8 slides forward with the movable plate 4, the membrane switch formed here is moved from the pressing portion 11 a Even if the film substrate 8 is moved to the deviated position and the film substrate 8 is pressed by the pressing portion 11a, the membrane switch is not turned on.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the keyboard mechanism of the present invention. Thus, the configuration of each unit will be described again. In FIG. 1, the display unit 1 has, for example, a liquid crystal display panel 1a attached to the inner surface thereof, and has a substantially columnar rotating unit 1b at the lower and open center side. Guide portions 1c and 1d are provided around the rotating portion 1b, and these are provided with steps. And
A slope a is provided at one end of the guide 1c between the guide 1d and a slope b (not shown) at the other end of the guide 1c.

On the other hand, the bottom case 3 of the main body 2 including the keyboard is provided with a holding portion 3a for holding the keyboard at a position one step lower than the upper surface thereof. The end 4e of the movable plate 4 is inserted into the bottom case 3 toward the back. 3e is a notch for facilitating insertion of the end 4e.

A roller 5 is rotatably mounted at the end of the end 4e, and projects outward from an opening 3c at the upper end corner on the back side of the bottom case 3. Here, the rotating part 1b of the display unit 1 is previously rotatably attached to one end of a substantially cylindrical holding part 3f provided at the upper end corner on the rear side of the bottom case 3, and the display unit 1 is opened. In the state, the roller 5 comes into contact with the guide portion 1c.

A hinge 13 is provided inside the rotating portion 1b so as to be coaxial with the central axis O. The hinge 13 includes a shaft portion 13a and arm portions 13b and 13c which are rotatable outward from both ends around the shaft portion 13a. The arm portion 13b is fixed to the display 1 side, and the arm portion 13c has an opening 3c. Then, it is fixed to the bottom case 3 side. In the hinge 13, for example, a compression spring is interposed between the shaft portion 13a and the arm portions 13b and 13c, and the display portion 1 can be locked at an arbitrary rotation position by the frictional force.

In the movable plate 4, a projection 4 a extends slightly upward from the roller 5. Further, on the further front side, a projection 3d extends downward from the ceiling surface inside the bottom case 3 (not shown here). The compression coil spring 6 is sandwiched between the protrusions 4a and 3d in a slightly contracted state. Thereby, the movable plate 4 is always urged to the back side as shown by the arrow G.
Further, a bent leaf spring 7 is attached to the inner ceiling surface of the bottom case 3 in front of the projection 3d, and a boss 7a protrudes from a lower end thereof to be urged downward. When the display unit 1 is open, the boss 7a fits into the locking hole 4b provided in the movable plate 4, and the movable plate 4 is locked.

Further, on the near side, the main part of the movable plate 4 is placed on the holding portion 3a, on which the film substrate 8 and the key base 9 are sequentially superimposed. The first
In the embodiment, the film substrate 8 and the key base 9 are bonded together by bonding or the like to be integrated. In the second embodiment, the film substrate 8 and the movable plate 4 are bonded together by bonding or the like to be integrated.

In the first embodiment, the film substrate 8 and the key base 9 are fixed to the holding portion 3a by a method (not shown), and in the second embodiment, only the key base 9 is fixed. On the key base 9, link members L are arranged vertically and horizontally. However, in the figure, only one line from the near side to the far side is shown, and the other is omitted. On each link member L, for example, a key top 1 made of resin
0 (not shown here) is provided, thereby forming a keyboard.

A hook 4c and a protrusion 4d extend upward from the upper surface of the movable plate 4 corresponding to each link member L. These hooks 4c and protrusions 4d are formed in the through holes 8a formed in the film substrate 8 and the key base 9. Through hole 9b is inserted into the communicating hole and protrudes upward. Although the movable plate 4 is illustrated as an integral part in the figure, the movable plate 4 may be appropriately divided and integrated at the time of assembly. As a result, assembly becomes easier, and parts can be shared between different products.

In the figure, the display unit 1 does not show the right side (that is, the far side in the figure) as viewed from the near side and the front end of the opening and closing. Further, the bottom case 3, the movable plate 4, the film substrate 8, and the key base 9 are not shown in the figure on the near side and on the right side when viewed from the near side.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the key structure in detail. As shown in the figure, the seesaw plate 11 and the frame 12
Are linked in a substantially X-shape when viewed from the side to form a link member L, and are rotatable about a central axis X. In the frame 12, two pairs of long plate-like arms 12a arranged in parallel with each other are connected by rods s at their lower ends, and have a substantially U-shape. A hole 12b formed near the center of each arm 12a has a shaft 11 extending laterally from near the center of both sides of the seesaw plate 11.
By fitting with d, the seesaw plate 11 and the frame body 12 are rotatable around the central axis X as described above.

The shafts 11e extending laterally from the lower ends of both sides of the seesaw plate 11 are fitted with bearings 9a projecting from the upper surface of the key base 9, whereby the seesaw plate 11 is pivotally supported. ing. A shaft 11c extending laterally from the upper end of both sides of the seesaw plate 11 is
It is fitted with a slide bearing 10a having a long hole projecting from the lower surface, whereby the seesaw plate 11 is pivotally supported on the keytop 10 so as to be rotatable and slidable within a predetermined range.

On the other hand, a shaft 12c extending laterally from the upper end of each arm 12a is fitted with a bearing 10b protruding from the lower surface of the key top 10, whereby the frame 12 is mounted on the key top 1
It is pivotally supported about 0. Note that FIG. 2 shows only the right half of the key top 10 when viewed from the near side.

The rod s located at the lower end of the frame 12
Is rotatably supported by a hook 4c and a protrusion 4d extending above the upper surface of the movable plate 4 while being sandwiched from the near side and the back side, respectively. Here, the hooks 4c and the projections 4d are inserted into the holes communicating with the through holes 8a formed in the film substrate 8 and the through holes 9b formed in the key base 9 as described above, and protrude upward. However, in this figure, the hook 4c and the projection 4d are drawn away from the through hole 9b.

From the lower portion of the seesaw plate 11, a leaf spring-shaped pressing portion 11a extends obliquely downward toward the center as viewed from the side. The pressing portion 11a is formed by punching a seesaw plate 11 made of, for example, a metal plate by pressing, and bending the seesaw plate 11 while opening an escape hole 11b. An opening 9c is formed on the key base 9 immediately below the pressing portion 11a, and the film substrate 8 exposed through the opening 9c is formed.
A so-called membrane switch (not shown) is formed in the region 8b. When the key top 10 is pressed down, the tip of the pressing portion 11a presses the film substrate 8 through the opening 9c, and the membrane switch is turned on.
It is a mechanism that becomes.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view schematically showing the structure of a membrane switch. As shown in the figure, the membrane switch used in the keyboard mechanism of the present invention is formed inside the film substrate 8. Here, for example, films 8c and 8 made of polyester or the like having a thickness of 0.05 mm
For example, the film substrate 8 is formed by sandwiching a spacer 8e of the same material having a thickness of 0.1 mm from above and below and bonding the same to each other. In a portion corresponding to the above-described region 8b, a hole 8ea is formed in the spacer 8e. Is open.

The electrodes 8ca and 8ca are provided on the lower surface of the film 8c and the upper surface of the film 8d, respectively.
When the film 8c is pressed as shown by an arrow H in the area 8b by key operation, the electrodes come into contact with each other and the membrane switch is turned on.

As described above, as a mechanism for raising and lowering the key top, the use of an elastic hook on the movable plate that is driven in conjunction with the opening and closing of the display unit ensures that the key top is pushed up and the key top strokes smoothly. At the same time. In addition, by making the movable plate, the film substrate, and the key base have the above-described three-layer structure, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the elevating keyboard mechanism and to achieve ascending and descending and key input.

The plate body referred to in the claims corresponds to the seesaw plate in the embodiment. Hereinafter, the substrate will be the key base, the engaging portion will be the hook, the lock member will be the leaf spring, and the switch portion will be described. Corresponds to the membrane switch, and the switch member corresponds to the film substrate.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is possible to provide a keyboard mechanism capable of further reducing the thickness while maintaining operability and reliability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view schematically showing a first embodiment of the present invention (in a state where a display unit is opened).

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing the first embodiment of the present invention (in a state where a display unit is closed to some extent).

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing the first embodiment of the present invention (in a state where a display unit is slightly more closed than in FIG. 2).

FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing the first embodiment of the present invention (in a state where the display unit is further closed slightly than in FIG. 3).

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view schematically showing the first embodiment of the present invention (in a state where a display unit is completely closed).

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view schematically showing a key operation state according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view schematically showing a second embodiment of the present invention (a state in which a display unit is closed to some extent).

FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing a second embodiment of the present invention (in a state where a display unit is completely closed).

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing the keyboard mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a key structure in detail.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration of a membrane switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display part 2 Main body 3 Bottom case 4 Movable plate 5 Roller 6 Compression coil spring 7 Leaf spring 8 Film board 9 Key base 10 Key top 11 Seesaw board 12 Frame 13 Hinge

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A frame body in which a pair of arms provided with a shaft portion at an upper end and arranged in parallel are connected by a rod at a lower end thereof,
A link member rotatably cross-connecting a plate body having shaft portions at both ends; a bearing portion rotatably supporting the shaft portion at the upper end of the arm; and a shaft portion at the upper end of the plate body. A key top provided on a lower surface of a bearing portion rotatably supported by a pivot; a substrate having a bearing portion rotatably supported by a shaft at a lower end of the plate body; A keyboard mechanism comprising: a movable plate slidably movable in a horizontal direction, the movable mechanism including an elastic engaging portion pivotally supported movably. 2. The link member pivots when the movable plate slides in the horizontal direction in conjunction with opening and closing of the display unit, and the engaging portion moves in the horizontal direction in conjunction with the movable plate. The keyboard mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the key top is moved up and down. 3. A lock member for locking the movable plate when the display unit is opened.
Keyboard mechanism described in 1. 4. The key top is urged upward through the link member by the engaging portion urging the rod in a horizontal direction.
The keyboard mechanism according to claim 3. 5. A switch member having a switch portion disposed below the plate body, wherein the switch portion is depressed by a pressing portion extending downward from the plate member. The keyboard mechanism according to claim 4. 6. The keyboard mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the switch member slides in a horizontal direction in conjunction with the movable plate.