JP2002289063A - Key switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key switch, of which the structure can be simplified and thinned, the cost can be reduced, by eliminating the need for a conventional holder plate. SOLUTION: On a support plate 25 made of a metal thin plate, locking parts 26, 27 corresponding to locking parts 2, 3 of respective key top 1 are formed, respectively. On the locking parts 2, 3 formed on the back of a key top 1, locking pins 13, 14 formed on the upper end of a link member 7 and locking pins 23, 24 formed on the upper end of a link 8 are locked, respectively. On the locking parts 26, 27 formed on the support plate 25, locking pins 15, 16 formed on the lower end of the link member 7 and locking pins 21, 22 formed on the lower end of the link member 8 are locked, respectively.

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, and more particularly, to a key switch device having a simple structure with a reduced number of parts, and
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key switch device capable of reducing costs and suitable for use in a thin keyboard attached to a notebook type word processor, a notebook type personal computer, or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various types of key switch devices of this type have been proposed.
In the specification and drawings attached to -330160,
A guide support member is provided which is provided with two locking portions respectively corresponding to both the lower surface of each key top and the holder plate, and which supports a link member having a pair of locking pins at both ends in a crossed manner. There has been proposed a key switch device which is disposed between a key top and a holder plate and in which each locking pin is locked to a locking portion provided on each of the key top and the holder plate.

In this key switch device, each key top, guide support member, holder plate, rubber spring, and circuit board constituting the key switch device are supported on a support plate, thereby achieving the key switch device. I have.

[0004]

However, in the key switch device described in the specification and the drawings attached to the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 3-330160, the locking pin formed on the link member of the guide support member is connected to the key. The holder plate is indispensable because it is configured to lock between the locking portion of the top and the locking portion of the holder plate.

[0005] Such a holder plate is relatively expensive in terms of processing, and the thickness of the key switch device as a whole increases due to the presence of the holder plate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a key capable of simplifying the structure, reducing the thickness, and reducing the cost by eliminating the need for a holder plate conventionally required. It is an object to provide a switch device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a key switch device according to the present invention comprises a key top having an upper locking portion formed on a lower surface, and a key top disposed below the key top. A first link member and a second link member each of which has a locking member and guides and supports the key top in the vertical direction; a spring member for urging the key top upward;
A circuit board that performs a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top, and a metal thin plate in which the circuit board is disposed above and a lower locking portion corresponding to the upper locking portion of each of the key tops is formed. For each keytop, of the locking members formed at both ends of both link members, the locking member located on the upper side is locked to the upper locking portion of the keytop, and is located on the lower side. The locking member is locked to a lower locking portion of a thin metal plate.

[0008]

In the key switch device of the present invention having the above-described structure, the lower locking portions corresponding to the upper locking portions of the respective key tops are respectively formed on the thin metal plate, and the circuit board is disposed upward. For each keytop, of the locking members formed on both ends of both link members, the locking member located on the upper side is locked to the upper locking portion of the keytop, and the locking member located on the lower side is locked. The stop member is locked to the lower locking portion of the thin metal plate.

When the keytop is depressed, the keytop is lowered by the first link member and the second link member against the urging force of the spring member, and a switching operation is performed. On the other hand, if you release the keytop press,
Due to the urging force of the spring member, the first link member and the second link member are returned to their original positions together with the key top.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the key switch device showing a state where the key top is slightly pressed down, and FIG. 2 is an exploded explanatory view of the key switch device.

In these figures, the key top 1 is AB
It is molded from a synthetic resin such as S resin, and letters such as alphabets are formed on the upper surface thereof by printing or the like. In addition, from the back surface of the key top 1, a holding member B is formed by hanging (forming) a plurality of locking portions 2, 3 downward.
Are provided integrally with the key top 1 main body. FIG.
2 and FIG. 2, two locking portions 2 and 3 are shown in a side view, but two locking portions 2 and 3 are provided respectively.

The locking portion 2 slides horizontally on locking pins 13 and 14 formed at one end of one of two link members 7 and 8 to be described later, and has an end wall. 4A is provided with a locking groove 4 capable of contacting and locking, and the locking portion 3 slides locking pins 23 and 24 formed at one end of the other link member 8 in the horizontal direction. At the same time, a locking groove 5 is formed in the end wall 5A so as to be able to contact and lock.

A guide support member 6 for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key top 1 is provided below the key top 1, and the guide support member 6 includes link members 7 and 8.

As shown in FIG. 3, one link member 7 is formed by integrally forming two base ends 10 and 11 at both ends of a base 9. A shaft 12 extends from one side surface of the central portion of the base 9, and the shaft 12 is supported by a shaft hole 20 formed in the other link member 8, which will be described later.

The locking pins 13 and 14 of the link member 7
The locking pins 15 and 16 are arranged in a straight line about the shaft 12, and the distances from the shaft 12 are equal. The locking pins 21 and 22 and the locking pins 23 and 24 of the link member 8 are arranged in a straight line with the shaft hole 20 as a center, and the distances from the shaft hole 20 are equal.

The link members 7 and 8 are bent so as to protrude upward at the positions of the base ends 11 and 18 when the shaft 12 and the shaft hole 20 are rotatably connected. . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the rubber spring 31 is configured to have a large space below the shaft supporting portion A, and a substantially trapezoidal rubber spring 31 in a side view described later is efficiently placed below the shaft supporting portion A. It can be stored.

Further, locking pins 13 and 14 extend from the side surfaces of both end extending portions 10A of the base end portion 10. The locking pins 13 and 14 are provided on the locking portion 2 of the key top 1. The locking groove 4 is locked. Further, the base end 11
Is formed in a U-shape in plan view, and the same locking pins 15 and 16 as those described above are extended from the side surfaces of the U-shaped both end extending portions 11A. The locking pins 15 and 16 are locked by locking portions 26 formed on a support plate 25 described later.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the link member 8 is formed by integrally forming two base ends 18, 19 at both ends of a base 17. The shaft hole 2 is provided at the center of the base 17.
The shaft 12 provided on the base 9 of the link member 7 is inserted into the shaft hole 20 as described above. Also,
The base end portion 18 is formed in a U-shape in plan view, and locking pins 21 and 22 are extended from the U-shaped both end extending portions 18A. The locking pins 21 and 22 are locked by locking portions 27 formed on a support plate 25 described later.

Lock pins 23 and 24 similar to the above are extended from both end extending portions 19A of the base end portion 19, and these lock pins 23 and 24 are formed on the lock portion 3 of the key top 1. The locking groove 5 is slidably locked in the locking groove 5.

As described above, the guide support member 6 is formed by inserting the shaft 12 formed in the base 9 of one link member 7 into the shaft hole 20 formed in the base 17 of the other link member 8. The two link members 7 and 8 are mutually rotatable via a shaft support A formed by the shaft 12 and the shaft hole 17. The shaft support A is disposed at a substantially central position of the top of the rubber spring 31 so as to be opposed to each other as described later.

When the link members 7, 8 are attached to the key top 1, the locking pins 13, 14, 23, 24
Are in contact with the end walls 4A, 5A, thereby preventing backlash in the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.

Next, a support plate 25 made of a thin metal plate such as an iron plate is provided below the guide support member 6.
The base 1 of the link member 7 is provided on the support plate 25.
Locking portions 26 and 27 are provided for locking the locking pins 15 and 16 extending to the first member 1 and the locking pins 21 and 22 extending to the base end portion 18 of the link member 8, respectively. .

As shown in FIG. 5, each of the locking portions 26 has a rectangular side at four corners around each key switch (each key top 1) on the support plate 25 on which each key switch is arranged. It is composed of a locking piece 35 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) formed by punching out three sides while being continuous with 25 and cutting it into a predetermined shape.

The locking piece 35 includes locking pins 15 and 16.
35A and its horizontal portion 3
5A having a hanging portion 35B hanging from an outer end of the 5A.
The horizontal portion 35A and the hanging portion 35B form an elongated locking groove 28. The locking pins 15 and 16 of the link member 7 are slidably locked in the locking groove 28 in the horizontal direction.

Here, at both ends of the locking groove 28, a first edge portion 28A (left side in FIG. 1) and a second edge portion 28B
(Right side in FIG. 1). Of these edge portions 28A, 28B, the first edge portion 28A is provided with the locking pins 15, 16 of the link member 7 in the non-pressed state of the key top 1 in the leftward direction in FIG. It regulates sliding.
When the key top 1 is pressed, the edge 28B is
The right and left slides 5 and 16 in FIG. 1 are restricted.

As shown in FIG. 5, the locking portion 27 has four corners around each key switch (each key top 1) on the support plate 25 on which the key switches are arranged, as shown in FIG. , One side of the rectangular shape is
5 and is formed by locking pieces 36 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) formed by punching out three sides and cutting and raising the sides into a predetermined shape.

The locking piece 36 includes the locking pins 21 and 22.
36A and its horizontal portion 3
6A having a hanging part 36B hanging from an outer end portion thereof,
A long hole-shaped locking groove 29 is formed by the horizontal portion 36A and the hanging portion 36B. In the locking groove 29, locking pins 21 and 22 of the link member 8 are locked so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction.

Here, the locking groove 2 is provided at both ends of the locking groove 29.
Like FIG. 8, two edge portions of a first edge portion 29A (right side in FIG. 1) and a second edge portion 29B (left side in FIG. 1) are formed. Each of these edge portions 29A, 29
B, the first edge portion 29A is engaged with the locking pin 2 of the link member 8 when the key top 1 is not pressed down as described later.
1 and 22 are restricted from sliding in the rightward direction in FIG. 1, and the second edge portion 29 </ b> B is configured such that the locking pins 21 and 22 move leftward in FIG. It regulates sliding.

Thus, when the key top 1 is not pressed down, the locking pins 15 of the link member 7 are connected to the first edge 28A of the locking groove 28 and the first edge 29A of the locking groove 29.
16 and the locking pins 21 and 22 of the link member 8 are in contact with each other and cooperate with each other to perform an operation of restricting the sliding of the link members 7 and 8 in the left and right directions in FIG. As a result, the key top 1 is held in the non-pressed state in combination with the upward elastic force of the rubber spring 31 described later.

When the key top 1 is pressed down, the second edge 28 B of the locking groove 28 and the second edge 29
B, the locking pins 15 and 16 of the link member 7 and the locking pins 21 and 22 of the link member 8 abut, and cooperate with each other to move the link members 7 and 8 in the rightward and leftward directions in FIG. As a result, after the key top 1 performs a switching operation by pressing the rubber spring 31 via the shaft support A as described later,
This prevents the key top 1 from further sliding in the horizontal direction.

In any case, the locking piece 3
The backlash of the link members 7 and 8 is prevented by 5 and 36, and the shaft 12 is prevented from coming out of the shaft hole 20.

Further, a flexible circuit board 30 on which a predetermined circuit pattern (not shown) including a switch electrode is formed is disposed above the support plate 25, and an inverted cup shape is provided at a position corresponding to the switch electrode. Rubber spring 31 is mounted. The rubber spring 31 has a well-known movable electrode inside, and a shaft supporting portion A which supports the two link members 7 and 8 so as to be rotatable relative to each other is arranged at the center of the upper surface thereof. You. The top of the rubber spring 31 is formed to a thickness that does not deform even when pressed by the shaft support A.

Further, the flexible circuit board 30 is formed with an insertion hole 30A (see FIGS. 1 and 2) corresponding to each of the locking pieces 35 and 36 for inserting the locking pieces 35 and 36 upward. A part of each locking piece 35, 36 is shown in FIG.
2, as shown in FIG. 2, it is inserted upward through the insertion hole 30A and is disposed above the flexible circuit board 30. Here, the flexible circuit board 30 is positioned at an appropriate position on the support plate 25 based on the insertion of the locking pieces 35 and 36 from the insertion holes 30A.

When the key support 1 is depressed and the shaft support A moves downward, the shaft support A presses the rubber spring 31. When the pressing amount exceeds a certain limit, the rubber spring 31 is crushed. The movable electrode in the rubber spring 31 is bent and the switch electrode is short-circuited.

At this time, the locking pins 13 and 14 are slid horizontally on the flexible circuit board 30 along the locking grooves 4 and the like. As a result, the rubber spring 31 moves up and down while being in contact with a substantially central position at the top of the rubber spring 31, whereby the rubber spring 31 can be pressed vertically.

Next, the operation of the key switch device having the above configuration will be described. First, when the key top 1 is not depressed, the locking pins 15 and 16 of the link member 7 abut and lock on the first edge 28 A of the locking groove 28 in combination with the upward elastic force of the rubber spring 31. The locking pins 21 and 22 of the link member 8 are
9, the key top 1 is kept in the non-pressed state without being moved in the horizontal direction.

When the key top 1 is pressed downward, the locking pins 13 and 14 of the link member 7 are moved horizontally (in the locking groove 4 of the locking portion 2) as the key top 1 moves downward. While sliding in the left direction in FIG. 1, the locking pins 23 and 24 of the link member 8 slide in the horizontal direction (right direction in FIG. 1) in the locking groove 5 of the locking portion 3. At the same time, the locking pins 21 and 22 of the link member 8 slide horizontally (leftward in FIG. 1) in the locking groove 29 of the locking portion 27 of the support plate 25, and The stop pins 15 and 16 slide horizontally (rightward in FIG. 1) within the locking groove 28 of the locking portion 26.

As a result, the link members 7 and 8
Are moved downward and gradually depress the rubber spring 31, and when the amount of depression exceeds a certain limit, the rubber spring 31 is buckled. Thereby, the movable electrode in the rubber spring 31 short-circuits the switch electrode on the flexible circuit board 30, and a predetermined switching operation is performed.

After the switching operation, the key top 1 is further depressed for key operation. At this time, the locking pins 13 and 14 of the link member 7 slide in the locking groove 4 to move the end wall. 4A, and the locking pins 23 and 24 of the link member 8 slide in the locking groove 5 to slide into the end wall 5A.
Is abutted and locked. At the same time, the link member 7
The locking pins 15, 16 of the link member 8 slide in the locking groove 28 to abut and lock on the second edge portion 28B, and the locking pins 21, 22 of the link member 8 move in the locking groove 29. It slides and abuts and locks on the second end portion 29B.

Thus, the key top 1 performs a switching operation between the movable electrode in the rubber spring 31 and the fixed electrode on the flexible circuit board 30 by depressing the rubber spring 31 via the shaft supporting portion A. , Each locking pin 13 and the like, each end wall 4A, 5A, edge 2
Since it is positioned at the pressed position in cooperation with 8B and 29B, it is not moved unnecessarily in the horizontal direction.

When the key top 1 is released from being pressed, the shaft supports A of the link members 7 and 8 are pushed upward by the elastic restoring force of the rubber spring 31. Accordingly, each of the locking pins 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, and 22 performs an operation reverse to the above-described operation, and as a result, the key top 1 is returned to the original non-pressed state.

As described in detail above, in the key switch device according to the present embodiment, the locking portions 26, 27 having the locking grooves 28, 29 by forming the locking pieces 35, 36 directly on the support plate 25. And these locking pieces 35, 3
6, the locking pins 13 and the like are slidably locked by the locking grooves 28 and 29 and the locking grooves 4 and 5 of the locking portions 2 and 3 formed in the key top 1, respectively. The conventionally required holder plate can be completely eliminated.

When the key top 1 is not pressed down, the locking pins 15, 16 of the link member 7 are
At the edge 28A, the locking pins 21 and 22 of the link member 8 are engaged with the first edge 29 of the locking groove 29.
Since the key top 1 is abutted and locked, when the key top 1 is not depressed, the key top 1 is prevented from moving in the horizontal direction in combination with the upward elastic force of the rubber spring 31 and positioned.

Further, when the key top 1 is pressed,
The locking pins 13, 14 of the link member 7 and the locking pins 23, 24 of the link member 8 are respectively connected to the end walls 4A of the locking groove 4,
The locking pins 15 and 16 of the link member 7 and the locking pins 21 and 22 of the link member 8 are respectively brought into contact with the end wall 5A of the locking groove 5 and the second edge of the locking groove 28. 28
B, the key groove 1 is switched between the movable electrode of the rubber spring 31 and the fixed electrode of the flexible circuit board 30 when the key top 1 is pressed because the key groove 1 is brought into contact with and locked to the second edge 29B of the locking groove 29 After the operation, the key top 1 is prevented from moving in the horizontal direction, and the key top 1 is positioned at the pressed position.

As described above, in the key switch device according to the present embodiment, the key top 1 is prevented from being unnecessarily moved in the horizontal direction both when the key top 1 is not pressed and when it is pressed. Further, it is possible to realize a key switch device which has good key operability and enables a reliable switching operation.

Thus, the number of parts can be reduced, the structure can be simplified, the thickness can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and the key switch with good key operability can be obtained. An apparatus can be provided.

Since a part of each of the locking pieces 35 and 36 is inserted through the insertion hole 30A formed in the flexible circuit board 30, the flexible circuit board 30 is inserted into the insertion hole 3A.
It is positioned at an appropriate position on the support plate 25 based on the insertion relationship between 0A and the locking pieces 35 and 36.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, it is a matter of course that the same effect can be obtained by using the same kind of members that are combined in a pantograph shape for the link members 7 and 8 in the present embodiment.

When the coefficient of friction of the flexible circuit board 30 is higher than that of the support plate 25,
The locking pins 15, 16, 21, 22 of the link members 7, 8 may be slid with the support plate through the insertion hole 30A of the flexible circuit board 30.

[0050]

As described above, according to the key switch device of the present invention, the lower locking portions corresponding to the upper locking portions of the respective key tops are formed on the thin metal plate, and the circuit board is moved upward. And, for each key top, of the locking members formed at both ends of both link members, the locking member located on the upper side is locked to the upper locking portion of the key top, and Since the locking member located on the side is locked to the lower locking portion of the thin metal plate, the holder plate, which was conventionally required, is not required, and the structure is simplified, thinned, and the cost is reduced. Can be done.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a key switch device showing a state in which a key top is slightly pressed down.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the key switch device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one link member.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the other link member.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a locking portion formed on a support plate.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key top 2, 3, 26, 27 Lock part 4, 5, 28, 29 Lock groove 6 Guide support member 7, 8 Link member 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24 Lock pin 25 Support plate 30 Flexible circuit board 30A Insertion hole 31 Rubber spring 35, 36 Locking piece A Axle support

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A key top having an upper locking portion formed on a lower surface thereof, and a first member disposed below the key top and having locking members at both ends thereof for guiding and supporting the key top in a vertical direction. A link member and a second link member; a spring member for urging the key top upward; a circuit board for performing a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top; A metal thin plate formed with a lower locking portion corresponding to the upper locking portion of the key top, and for each of the key tops, an upper side of the locking members formed at both ends of the link members And a locking member positioned below the key top is locked to a lower locking portion of the thin metal plate. apparatus.