JP2003123580A - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard device capable o incorporating a new structure to a notebook type information processing apparatus advantageously in regard to space, and reducing constraints in incorporation. SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus body 1 has a key top 3 arranged thereon, and an opening and closing lid 2 has a display surface 4. The information processing apparatus body 1 has a fixedly arranged support plate 9, a movable circuit board 10, a key support 7 supporting the key top 3 and coupled with the support plate 9 and the circuit board 10, a switch 11 closing a normally opened contact 111 by movement of the opening and closing lid 2 to a closed position, and a motor 12 and an actuator 13 driven when the normally opened contact 111 is closed and moving the circuit board 10. When the opening and closing lid 2 is in an opened position, the circuit board 10 is moved to a stationary position and the key top 3 is moved to a usage position via the key support 7. When the opening and closing lid 2 is in the closed position, the circuit board 10 is moved to a moved position by a drive of the motor 12, and the key top 3 is moved to a storage position lower than the usage position via the key support 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard device, and more particularly to a notebook type information processing device, in which the positions of a plurality of key tops are raised to the use position when the lid is opened for use. The present invention relates to a keyboard device that enables key operation and lowers the thickness of the device by lowering it to a storage position when the lid is closed and not in use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a notebook type information processing device such as a notebook type personal computer can be used not only on a table but also on a desk and at a desired place. A portable notebook information processing device has been widely used in place of a stationary desktop information processing device, which has a large shape.

By the way, in order to make the portable notebook type information processing equipment excellent in portability, it is necessary to reduce the shape and volume and to reduce the weight thereof. Regarding miniaturization, a keyboard device has been already proposed, which not only reduces its size but also reduces its thickness when not in use.

Here, FIGS. 5A and 5B are sectional views showing an example of a main part of a known keyboard device.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), this keyboard device is composed of a device body 51 and an opening / closing lid 52, and is attached to a rotary shaft 61 provided at one side edge of the device body 51. The one side edge of the opening / closing lid 52 is pivotally supported so that the opening / closing lid 52 can be opened / closed with respect to the device body 51. The device main body 51 is regularly arranged on one surface side and has a plurality of key tops 53 each having a key support 54 on the lower side, a support plate 56 fixed to a holder portion 55 of the device main body 51, and a support plate. And a circuit board 57 disposed on the support board 56 and slidable with respect to the support board 56. The opening / closing lid 52 has a display surface 58 such as a liquid crystal display surface on the inner surface.

Further, the key support 54 has two cross-coupled link members (no drawing number), one end of one link member is joined to the support plate 56, and one end of the other link member. Are coupled to the circuit board 57. The circuit board 57 is provided with two fixed contacts at a portion facing the lower movable contact of the corresponding key support 54. The rotating shaft 61 is connected to a partly toothless gear 62 having gear teeth 62T.
A rack plate 58 having rack teeth 58T is arranged at the lower part of 1. The rack plate 58 is provided with a projecting portion 60 at the lower portion, and a spring 59 is coupled between one end and the device body 51. After the circuit board 57 is inserted, the projecting portion 60 is inserted into the support plate 5.
It projects downward from the support plate 56 through an oval hole provided in 6.

The keyboard device having the above-mentioned configuration is roughly
It works as follows.

Now, when the keyboard device is in use, the opening / closing lid 52 is open with respect to the device main body 51 and is in the state shown in FIG. 5 (a). In this state, the rack plate 58 moves rightmost due to the elasticity of the spring 59. At this time, the gear teeth 62T and the rack teeth 58T are disengaged from each other, and the protrusion 6 of the rack plate 58 is released.
0 is moved to the rightmost position of the oval hole of the support plate 56, and the circuit board 57 is similarly moved to the right as the protrusion 60 moves to the right. When the circuit board 57 moves to the right, the other link member of each key support 54 is erected, and thereby one link member is erected, so that the position of each key top 53 rises and the key operation is performed. Is set to a position suitable for. At this time, if a key operation is performed, the lower movable contact simultaneously contacts two fixed contacts of the circuit board 57 by pressing the key top 53 by the key operation, and the electrical output by the key operation is supplied to the device main body 51. It

On the other hand, when the keyboard device is not in use, the opening / closing lid 52 is closed with respect to the device main body 51 and is in the state shown in FIG. 5 (b). In this state, the gear teeth 62T and the rack teeth 58T mesh with each other,
The rotation of the tooth-chipped gear 62 causes the rack plate 58 to move leftward against the elasticity of the spring 59. Then, the protrusion 60 of the rack plate 58 is moved to the leftmost position of the oval hole of the support plate 56, and the circuit board 57 is also moved leftward as the protrusion 60 moves leftward.
When the circuit board 57 moves to the left, the other link member of each key support 54 is laid down sideways, and thereby one link member is laid down sideways, so that the position of each key top 53 is lowered and the open / close lid is opened. It is set at a position suitable for the closed state of 52.

The above-mentioned configuration example relates to the movement of the circuit board 57 when the opening / closing lid 52 is closed by the meshing of the gear teeth 62T of the toothless gear 62 and the rack teeth 58T of the rack plate 58. However, in the known keyboard device, the opening / closing lid 52 side is provided with a claw portion that moves with opening / closing of the opening / closing lid 52, and the device body 51 side is provided with a slide plate with which the claw portion is selectively engaged. Another configuration example in which the circuit board 57 is moved by moving the slide plate by the engagement of the claw portion is also proposed.

[0011]

In the known keyboard device, when the opening / closing lid 52 is opened, the key tops 53 are raised to their normal operating positions so that the key operation is not hindered. In addition, when the open / close lid 52 is closed and in the non-use state, the position of each key top 53 is lowered to the storage position lower than the normal operation position so that the thickness of the device when not in use is reduced. However, the position of each key top 53 is raised and lowered by a mechanical structure in which the toothless gear 62 and the rack plate 58 are selectively engaged or the claw portion and the slide plate are selectively engaged. Therefore, it is quite difficult in terms of space to newly install such a mechanical structure in an originally small device such as a notebook type information processing device, and moreover, it occurs when such a mechanical structure is installed. There is a need to overcome many of the limitations that.

The present invention has been made in view of such a technical background, and an object thereof is to incorporate a new structure into a notebook type information processing device in an advantageous manner in view of space and to incorporate it. It is to provide a keyboard device with less time constraints.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has an information processing equipment body having a plurality of key tops arranged on one surface, a display surface on the inner surface, and one side edge portion of the above. A keyboard device comprising an opening / closing lid rotatably supported by a rotation shaft arranged at one side edge of an information processing device body, wherein the information processing device body comprises a support member fixedly arranged inside and a support member. A circuit board that is slidable with respect to the support member on the member, a key support member that supports a plurality of key tops and is connected to the support member and the circuit board, and a closed position of the open / close lid that is arranged on the support member. To the circuit board when the normally open contact is closed when the normally open contact of the switch is closed, and an electric drive member that is driven when the normally open contact of the switch is closed to move the circuit board. Move it to the normal position and insert the key support member. When a plurality of key tops are moved to the use position and the opening / closing lid is in the closed position, the circuit board is moved to the sliding position by the drive of the electric drive member, and the plurality of key tops are moved from the use position through the key support member. Means for moving to a lower storage position.

According to the above-mentioned means, when the keyboard device having the information processing equipment is used or not used, the electric drive member, for example, the opening / closing lid is slid on the circuit board for raising or lowering the positions of the plurality of key tops. Since relatively small individual components such as a switch that is turned on and off by opening and closing, and a motor and an actuator that are selectively driven by turning the switch on and off are used, it is easy to secure the installation location of the electric drive member. Therefore, it is space-saving as compared with the incorporation of mechanical structure, and
It is possible to reduce restrictions when assembling the electric drive member.

Further, the information processing equipment main body in the above means is provided with a key top position adjusting member capable of finely adjusting the steady position of the circuit board.

With this configuration, when the information processing device is used, it is possible to appropriately select the raised positions of the plurality of key tops, so that the key top position suitable for the keyboard operator can be selected. it can.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a keyboard device 1 according to the present invention.
1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of the keyboard device according to one embodiment, and shows an example in which an information processing device is a personal computer. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, this keyboard device comprises an information processing equipment body 1 and an opening / closing lid 2. A plurality of key tops 3 are arranged on one surface of the information processing device body 1, and the opening / closing lid 2 is arranged on the inner surface side of the display surface 4 such as a liquid crystal display unit (see FIG. 1).
(Not shown). Information processing equipment body 1
A rotary shaft 5 is rotatably supported at one side edge portion thereof, and a hinge member 6 pivotally supported by the rotary shaft 5 is provided at one side edge portion of the opening / closing lid 2. Therefore, the opening / closing lid 2 has the hinge member 6
By the rotation of the rotation shaft 5 that pivotally supports the information processing device body 1
Is set to the open state or the closed state.

Next, FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views showing an example of the main structure of the keyboard device shown in FIG. In addition, in FIGS.
The same components as those shown in are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the information processing equipment main body 1 is regularly arranged on one surface side, and a key support (key top position adjusting member) 7 is arranged on the lower side thereof. A plurality of key tops 3 provided, a support plate 9 fixed to the holder portion 8 of the information processing device body 1, a circuit board 10 arranged on the support plate 9 and slidable with respect to the support plate 9, A switch 11 having a normally-open contact 11 ₁ arranged on a surface facing the opening / closing lid 2 and arranged inside the information processing apparatus main body 1;
The motor 12 driven when the normally open contact 11 ₁ of the switch 11 is closed, and the actuator 1 connected to the motor 12.
3, a rack plate 14 screwed to the actuator 13,
The rack plate 14 is provided with a protruding portion 15, a relay plate 16 connected to the protruding portion 15, and a spring 17 coupled between the relay plate 16 and the information processing device body 1. Further, the opening / closing lid 2 includes a display surface 4 such as a liquid crystal display portion arranged on the inner surface side, and a circular protrusion 18 formed and arranged on a surface facing the switch 11. In this case, the projecting portion 15 projecting from the rack plate 14 passes through the oval hole provided in the support plate 9, passes through the circuit board 10, and is connected to the relay plate 16. In addition, the motor 12 and the actuator 1
3 is coupled only when the motor 12 is in a rotating state. When the motor 12 is stopped, the motor 1 is connected.
2 and the actuator 13 are disengaged from each other so that the actuator 13 can freely rotate. In addition,
The switch 11, the motor 12, and the actuator 13 together constitute an electric drive member.

Next, FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are shown in FIG.
It is sectional drawing which shows an example of a detailed structure of the key support body 7 containing the key top 3 shown by (a). Note that FIG.
2A, the same components as those shown in FIG. 2A are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the key top 3 has a first locking portion 3 ₁ and a second locking portion 3 ₂ provided inside. The key support 7 has a pivot shaft 7 ₆
Two link members 7 ₁ , 7 cross-coupled by
₂ , a base portion 7 ₃ , a rubber spring 7 ₄ attached to the base portion 7 ₃ , and a movable contact 7 ₅ arranged on the bottom surface of the rubber spring 7 ₄ . The circuit board 10 includes two fixed contacts 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ provided at a portion facing the movable contact 7 ₅ of the corresponding key support 7 and a third locking portion 10 ₃ fixedly arranged on the upper side. Have. The holder portion 8 has a fourth locking portion 8 ₁ fixedly arranged.

In this case, one end of the link member 7 ₁ is rotatably and slidably locked to the second locking portion 3 ₂ via a locking pin (no drawing number), and the other end is a locking pin. It is rotatably locked to the fourth locking portion 8 ₁ via (no drawing number). The link member 7 ₂ has one end rotatably locked to the first locking portion 3 ₁ via a locking pin (not shown) and the other end to the first locking part (not shown) via a locking pin (not shown). 3 Locking part 10 ₃ is rotatably locked.

The operation of the keyboard device having the above-described structure according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
A description will be given using (a) and (b).

When the keyboard device is in use
Indicates that the opening / closing lid 2 is opened with respect to the information processing device body 1.
State, that is, the state shown in FIG.
It In this state, the normally open contact of the switch 11
11₁Opens and no drive voltage is applied to the motor 12,
As a result, the motor 12 is stopped. At this time,
The actuator 12 and actuator 13 are disconnected,
Since the eta 13 rotates freely, the spring 17
Depending on the nature, through the relay plate 16 and the oval hole of the support plate 9
And the protruding portion 15 connected to the relay plate 16,
The rack plate 14 and the coupled rack plate 14 can be freely attached to the actuator 13.
The rotation shifts to the right, respectively, and is shown in Fig. 2 (a).
Move to the position shown. And to the right of the protruding portion 15
Of the circuit board 10 through which the protrusion 15 is inserted.
It moves to the right along with the protrusion 15. Circuit board 10
When moved to the right, the movement of the key support 7
Link member 7₂The other end of the third locking portion 10₃Right direction through
And press the link member as shown in FIG. 3 (a).
7₂The link member 7 to the standing position.₂Standing position
To the link member 7 by moving to₁Also moved to the standing position
It Such a link member 7 ₁, 7₂To the standing position
By the movement, the position of each key top 3 rises, and each key top
Is set to a position suitable for key operation. This and
If the key operation is performed at the
The key top 3 is pressed by the key operation,
Moving contact 7_FiveIs rubber spring 7_FourDownwards against
To the two fixed contacts 10 of the circuit board 10.₁10,
₂Since they are simultaneously touched with the
It is supplied to the information processing device body 1.

On the other hand, when the keyboard device is not in use, the open / close lid 2 is closed with respect to the information processing device body 1, that is, the state shown in FIG. 2 (b). Immediately before this state, when the circular protrusion 18 formed on the opening / closing lid 2 presses the normally open contact 11 ₁ of the switch 11, the normally open contact 11 ₁ is closed and a drive voltage is applied to the motor 12. , Which causes the motor 12 to rotate. When the motor 12 is rotated, the motor 12 and the actuator 13 are connected to each other, and the actuator 13
Rotate with the rotation of the motor 12. At this time, the rotation of the actuator 13 moves the rack plate 14 leftward against the elasticity of the spring 17, and the leftward movement of the rack plate 14 causes the protrusion 1 connected to the rack plate 14 to move.
5 is moved to the left through the oval hole of the support plate 9, and at the same time, the relay plate 16 connected to the protrusion 15 is moved to the left, and finally moved to the position shown in FIG. 2B.
Then, by moving the protrusion 15 to the left, the protrusion 1
The circuit board 10 through which 5 is inserted moves to the left together with the protrusion 15. When the circuit board 10 moves leftward, the movement causes the other end of the link member 7 ₂ of the key support 7 to move leftward via the third locking portion 10 ₃ , as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the link member 7 ₂ is moved to the horizontal lying position, and the link member 7 ₁ is also moved to the horizontal lying position by moving the link member 7 _{2 to} the horizontal lying position. By the movement of the link members 7 ₁ and 7 _{2 to} the lying position, the position of each key top 3 is lowered, and each key top 3 moves to a position suitable for storage. In this case, the storage position of each key top 3 is a position which is lowered by about 2 to 5 mm from the raised position of each key top 3.

As described above, according to the keyboard device of this embodiment, when the keyboard device having the information processing device is used, that is, when the opening / closing lid 2 is opened, the respective key tops 3 are lifted up suitable for key operation. When the keyboard device having the information processing device is not used, that is, when the opening / closing lid 2 is closed, each key top 3 is moved to the lowered position suitable for storage. The thickness of the keyboard device when closed can be made sufficiently thin, and a keyboard device excellent in portability can be obtained.

Further, according to the keyboard device of this embodiment, when the key tops 3 are moved from the raised position to the lowered position, the switch 11 and the motor 12 and the actuator 13 are used regardless of the mechanical structure. Since a comparatively small electric drive member is used, it is easy to secure a place to install the electric drive member, which is advantageous in terms of space as compared with the case where a mechanical structure is installed. It is possible to reduce restrictions.

In the above embodiment, the circuit board 10
Is moved to the right to the maximum, the key top 3 is moved to a raised position suitable for key operation, and when the circuit board 10 is moved to the left to the maximum, the key top 3 is moved to the lowered position suitable for storage. However, since the rising position of each key top 3 most suitable for key operation during key operation differs depending on each key operator, each key top 3 is lifted during key operation. It is preferred that the position can be adjustable.

By the way, in the keyboard device according to the above-described embodiment, when the key top 3 is moved to the raised position suitable for the key operation, the circuit board 10 is moved to the right. If the degree of movement to the key top 3 is adjusted appropriately, the raised position of the key top 3 can be adjusted.

Here, FIGS. 4A and 4B are sectional views showing a state in which the key top 3 is moved to a raised position suitable for a key operation, and FIG. 4A shows the raised position. When the maximum height is set to be shifted, (b) shows the case where the raised position is set to the intermediate height. Note that FIG.
In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the same components as those shown in FIG. 3A are designated by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 4A, when the rising position of the key top 3 is set to the maximum height, the thickness of the key top 3 is 2 mm, the support plate 9 and the circuit board are an example. When the thickness of the portion including 10 is 1 mm, the thickness of the key support 7 is 3 mm, and the total thickness is 6 mm.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the raised position of the key top 3 is set to the intermediate height, the thickness of the key top 3 is 2 mm, as an example.
When the thickness of the portion including the support plate 9 and the circuit board 10 is 1 mm, the thickness of the key support 7 is 1.5 mm, and the total thickness is 4.5 mm.

The degree of movement of the circuit board 10 to the right is adjusted by a mechanical lever capable of continuously setting the movement position of the circuit board 10 to the right, or to the right of the circuit board 10. This can be done by selecting a preset switch capable of setting the moving position of the stepwise or a plurality of keytop heights displayed on the display surface of the information processing device.

In this case, the selection of the thickness of the key support 7 for setting the key top 3 in the raised position is not limited to the above-mentioned example, and any appropriate thickness can be selected as long as it is suitable for key operation. It is possible.

According to this keyboard device, it is possible to appropriately select the raised positions of the plurality of key tops 3, so that the key top position suitable for the keyboard operator can be selected.

In the above embodiment, the example in which the information processing device is a personal computer has been described, but the information processing device according to the present invention is not limited to the case of a personal computer, and other notebooks. Of course, it may be a type information processing device, for example, a word processor.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the keyboard device having the information processing device is used or not used, the electric drive is applied to the sliding of the circuit board for raising or lowering the positions of the plurality of key tops. Since a relatively small individual component such as a member, for example, a switch that is turned on / off by opening / closing the opening / closing lid, and a motor and an actuator that are selectively driven by turning on / off the switch is used,
An advantage that it is easy to secure a place to install the electric drive member, which is advantageous in terms of space compared to the case where the mechanical structure is installed, and moreover, it becomes possible to reduce restrictions when installing the electric drive member. There is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a keyboard device according to the present invention, and is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of the keyboard device.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a main configuration of the keyboard device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a detailed configuration of a key support including the key top shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state when the key top is moved to a raised position suitable for key operation.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the main configuration of a known keyboard device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Information Processing Device Main Body 2 Open / Close Lid 3 Key Top 3 ₁ First Locking Part 3 ₂ Second Locking Part 4 Display Surface 5 Support Shaft 6 Hinge Member 7 Key Support 7 ₁ , 7 ₂ Link Member 7 ₃ Base 7 ₄ Rubber spring 7 ₅ Movable contact 7 ₆ Pivot shaft 8 Holder part 8 ₁ Fourth locking part 9 Support plate 10 Circuit board 10 ₁ , 10 ₂ Fixed contact 10 ₃ Third locking part 11 Switch 11 ₁ Normally open switch contact 12 Motor 13 Actuator 14 Rack plate 15 Projection 16 Relay plate 17 Spring 18 Circular projection

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H05K 7/14 G06F 1/00 312U F term (reference) 4E360 AA02 AB04 AB05 AB12 AB17 AB20 AB42 BA08 BB02 BB12 BB16 BC03 CA01 EA13 EA18 ED04 ED17 ED27 FA08 GA02 GA46 GA52 GB46 5B020 DD02 DD51 5E348 AA02 AA07 CC08 CC09 DG01 EE07 EE29 EF04 EF26 EF48 EF59 FF01 FF03 5G006 HB02 HB10 NB02

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An information processing device main body having a plurality of key tops arranged on one surface, and a display surface on an inner surface, and one side edge portion is rotated around a rotary shaft arranged at one side edge of the information processing device main body. A keyboard device comprising an opening / closing lid movably supported, wherein the information processing device main body has a support member fixedly arranged therein, and a circuit slidable on the support member with respect to the support member. A substrate and a key supporting member that supports the plurality of key tops and is coupled to the supporting member and the circuit board, and is arranged on the supporting member, and a normally open contact is formed by moving the opening / closing lid to a closed position. It has a closing switch and an electric drive member that is driven when the normally open contact of the switch is closed to move the circuit board, and moves the circuit board to a steady position when the opening / closing lid is in the open position. Place the key support member through Move the plurality of key tops to the use position, and when the opening / closing lid is in the closed position, move the circuit board to the sliding position by driving the electric drive member, and dispose the plurality of key tops through the key support member. A keyboard device, wherein the key top is moved to a storage position lower than the use position. 2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the information processing device body includes a key top position adjusting member capable of finely adjusting a steady position of the circuit board. 3. The keyboard device according to claim 2, wherein the key top position adjusting member adjusts a steady position of the circuit board stepwise or continuously. 4. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the electric drive member is a motor and an actuator connected to the motor. 5. The information processing device is a notebook personal computer, according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The keyboard device according to any one of 1.