JP2003288153A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard capable of entering characters or symbols, using a plurality of fingers in the same way as a conventional keyboard, and which is suitable for portability. <P>SOLUTION: Each key constituting the keyboard is moved or slanted in a predetermined direction, and generates different signals, depending on the moved or slanted direction, thereby enabling entering of a plurality of characters or symbols from one key. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard for inputting information such as characters and symbols to a device such as a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a keyboard for inputting information such as characters and symbols to a device such as a computer is installed on an input contact inside the keyboard and the keyboard body by pressing the input key with a finger. By making contact with the contact made and closing, and generating a signal, information such as characters or symbols is input to the computer.

[0003]

However, although the full-size or smaller compact size keyboard has excellent operability, it is not always convenient to carry.

For this reason, mobile phones and PDAs (Personal Di
When inputting characters or symbols with a portable communication terminal such as gital Assistants), it is not possible to provide space for the same number of input keys as a normal PC keyboard, so the push button can be used for inputting characters, etc. There is a problem that it is harder to input than the keyboard, and the input speed becomes slower.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a keyboard which is capable of inputting characters or symbols by using a plurality of fingers similarly to a conventional keyboard and which is suitable for carrying. To provide.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention according to claim 1 is a keyboard in which a plurality of characters or symbols are assigned to one input key.
Each input key is provided so as to be movable or tiltable in a plurality of preset directions, and one of the plurality of contacts provided according to the direction in which the input key is moved or tilted is one of the plurality of directions. The gist is that it is closed by driving the input key to one side.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, each input key constituting the keyboard is moved or tilted in a preset direction, and a plurality of contact points provided in accordance with the moved or tilted direction. Since one of them is closed by driving the input key, it is possible to input multiple characters from one input key, and as a result, a keyboard that can input many characters with a small number of input keys. Can be provided.

The present invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the input keys are arranged in a line.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by providing a keyboard in which a plurality of input keys constituting the keyboard are arranged in a line, it is possible to input many characters with a small number of input keys. And space saving can be realized.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, each of the input keys has a predetermined row of key tops, and the key tops are located diagonally upper left and diagonally lower right with respect to each of the predetermined row of key tops. Is integrated with each other, and any one of the plurality of contacts is closed by driving one of the integrated key tops by receiving an action from the outside. .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the plurality of input keys include a predetermined row of key tops, for example, a row of key tops located at a home position as will be described later and diagonally upper left and diagonally with respect to the key tops. Since the key top located at the lower right is integrated with each other, it is possible to input a plurality of characters from the integrated input key.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, each of the input keys passes through the center of the predetermined row of key tops and is rotated by the same angle in the same direction with respect to an axis perpendicular to the key tops. The point is to overlap with.

According to the present invention of claim 4, claim 3
The plurality of input keys described in (1) pass through the center of each input key, are all rotated in the same direction with respect to an axis perpendicular to a predetermined row of key tops, and overlap each other,
Since a plurality of input keys are arranged in a line, a space-saving keyboard suitable for carrying when not in use can be provided.

[0014]

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

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is an explanatory view showing a configuration of a keyboard 100 according to the embodiment.

The keyboard 100 shown in FIG. 1 has nine input keys 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 2.
5, 27, and the substrate 7 that is the base of these input keys
Each input key has a hexagonal shape. Characters or symbols that can be input are engraved on the key tops of the input keys.

In the following description, the input keys will be simply referred to as keys.

When eight of the nine keys except the key 27 are pressed with a finger, a character or symbol located at the home position of a normal keyboard is input. In the case of the QWERTY layout, which is the basic layout of the most common English keyboard, keys 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 2
If you press 1, 23, 25 respectively, "A",
"S", "D", "F", "J", "K",
“L” and “; (semicolon)” can be input.

The right end key 27 is a return key, and when this key 27 is pressed, a line feed is performed on the output screen connected to the keyboard 100.

Each of the above keys has a key top diameter of 8 mm.
To about 15 mm, more preferably 10 mm to 13 m
It has a size of about m, and the key pitch, which is the interval between the keys, is about 12 mm to 20 mm, more preferably 14 m.
m to 17 mm. The interval between the key 17 and the key 19, which is the boundary between the left-hand and right-hand key positions, is slightly wider than the above-mentioned key pitch, and is preferably about 18 mm to 25 mm.

The substrate 70 is horizontally (X-) depending on the size of the key.
The X direction) has a size of about 100 mm to 200 m, and the length (Y-Y direction) has a size of about 20 mm to 40 mm.
Considering the convenience of carrying, the width is 120mm to 1
More preferably, it is about 50 mm and the length is about 25 mm to 35 mm. The keyboard 10 according to the present embodiment
Of course, 0 is not necessarily limited to such a size.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the keyboard 100 viewed from the YY direction (the lower side of FIG. 1).

Also in the following description, the above-mentioned QWERT
Although a keyboard having a Y arrangement will be described, it goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if the arrangement of the keyboard 100 is a DVORAK arrangement.

The keyboard 100 is a USB (Universal S
It is also possible to connect to a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone or PDA through an (erial bus) connector or the like, while it is also possible to transmit an input signal to the mobile communication terminal via wireless communication such as infrared rays.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a more detailed structure of the key by taking the key 11 as an example. In the key 11 shown in the figure, the deepest part is about 3 mm to 6 mm from the key top, and more preferably 4 mm, in order to facilitate the operation of the key.
A recess 111 having a depth of about 5 mm is formed.

The key 11 has a key top supported by a supporting portion 113, has an input contact 11a at the lowermost portion of the supporting portion 113, and is installed on the substrate 70 when the key 11 is pushed in the direction of arrow 11A. A signal is generated by contacting (closing) the contact 12a provided on the support receiving portion 12 to input the character "A".

A spring is provided between the key 11 and the base plate 70 to connect the key 11 and the base plate 70 (not shown because they are not shown in the cross section of FIG. 3).
1 is returned to its original position by the repulsive force of the spring.

The key stroke, which is the difference between the standard position of the key top of each key and the position of the upper surface when the key is pressed all the way down, may be 4 mm to 5 mm as in a normal keyboard, or the keyboard 100 may be more portable. When the thickness of the is reduced, it may be about 2 mm to 4 mm.

The key 11 has other input contacts 11b, 1
1c, and has a function of inputting other characters by being slid in the direction of contacting the contacts 12b, 12c provided on the support receiving portion 12 corresponding to these contacts. That is, the key 11 can input a desired character by performing an alternative selection from the pressing direction and the three directions of sliding in the Y-Y direction.

More specifically, when the key 11 is slid in the direction of arrow 11Q, the contact point 11b contacts the contact point 12b to generate a signal. The character "Q" is input by this signal. Further, when the key 11 is slid in the direction of the arrow 11Z, the contact 11c contacts the contact 12c and a signal for inputting the character "Z" is generated. In addition, it is desirable that the sliding width of the key top here is designed to be a value approximately the same as the key stroke (pushing width).

Even when sliding in the directions of the arrows 11Q and 11Z, when the force from the finger is no longer applied, the key 11
Springs 121 and 123 are provided between the support portion 113 and the support receiving portion 12 so that the springs return to their original positions.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the positions of the contacts which come into contact when the key 11 is slid, from the key top direction. In the case shown in the figure, the key 11 is moved in the vertical direction (Y-Y
By sliding along the (direction), "Q" is input when sliding upward in the figure, and "Z" is input when sliding downward.

The sliding direction is not necessarily limited to the direction shown in FIG. 4 (sliding vertically in FIG. 4). On a normal keyboard, the "Q" key is positioned slightly above the "A" key to the left, and the "Z" key is tilted slightly below the "A" key to the right. It is located in the direction.

Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the sliding direction may be set to be the same as the normal keyboard layout. In the case shown in the drawing, the arrow 11Q, which is the input direction of "Q", is directed toward the "Q" key with respect to the "A" key of the normal keyboard layout, and
The arrow 11Z, which is the input direction of "Z", is directed toward the "Z" key with respect to the "A" key of the normal keyboard layout.

By setting the slide direction as shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to operate the keyboard 100 more comfortably for a user who is touch-typed and whose key arrangement is soaked in the feeling of fingers. .

In the following description, the same direction as the arrow 11Q in FIGS.
The same direction as 1Z is called a (diagonal) downward direction. That is, such a description will be made assuming that one of the slide directions in FIGS. 4 and 5 is appropriately set.

Of the keys other than the key 11, the keys 13 and 15 for inputting "S" and "D" when pressed with a finger are,
When it is slid upward (diagonally), "W" and "E" can be input respectively, and when it is slid downward (diagonally), "X" and "C" can be input respectively.

The keys 21 and 23 for inputting "K" and "L" respectively when pressed are the same, and when sliding upward (obliquely), "I" and "O" are inputted respectively (obliquely). When sliding down, you can enter ", (comma)" and ". (Period)" respectively.

The keys 17, 19 and 25 are the three keys described above.
It has the function of inputting 6 characters, which is more than the number of keys that can input characters.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view seen from the key top direction to show the structure of the key 17 which is the home position of the left index finger. In the figure, as an example, a case where the (slant) vertical slide is parallel to FIG. 4, that is, a vertical slide along the YY direction is shown.

As shown in FIG. 6, the key 17 is (diagonally)
When sliding in the upward direction (arrow 17R), the contact point 17b on the key 17 and the contact point 18b on the support receiving portion 18 come into contact with each other to generate an "R" input signal.

Similarly, when sliding in the direction rotated by about 45 degrees clockwise (arrow 17T) from the direction of arrow 17R, "T" (contact points 17d and 18d contact), rightward (arrow 17G). "G" (contact point 17e
18e) and "B" when sliding in the direction rotated further 45 degrees clockwise from the right direction (arrow 17B).
(Contact points 17f and 18f are in contact with each other), "V" (contact points 17c and 18c) when slid down (arrow 17V)
Contact).

Therefore, a total of 6 characters can be input together with the "F" input when the key 17 is pressed. Although not shown in the figure, a spring for returning the key 17 to its original position when the force from the finger is no longer applied is provided between the contact points as in the case of the key 11 (see FIG. 3). Is.

The key 19 which is the home position of the index finger of the right hand is "U" when slid upward (obliquely), and "Y" when slid in a direction rotated about 45 degrees counterclockwise, leftward. Input "H" when sliding, "N" when sliding leftward 45 degrees counterclockwise, and "M" when sliding (obliquely) downward. Therefore, the key is that it is possible to input a total of 6 characters including the "J" when the key is pressed.
Is the same as.

Like the keys 17 and 19, the key 25 is also a key capable of inputting 6 characters, and is "P" when slantingly slid upward, and is rotated by about 45 degrees clockwise. "Back Space (BS)" when sliding, ": (colon)" when sliding to the right, "@" when sliding 45 degrees clockwise from the right, and when slanting downward. Enter "/ (slash)". When pressing the key 25, ";(semicolon)" which is the home position of the little finger of the right hand is input.

Except for the key 27 (return key) necessary for line feed, at least all alphabets can be input by the eight keys described above. Therefore, simple character input can be performed by using the keyboard 100 having the above configuration.

The keys 27 may be assigned with cursor keys "←" and "→" so that a plurality of symbols can be input.

In the keyboard 100, in addition to punctuation marks including a semicolon ";" as characters other than the alphabet,
"@" And URL (Unifo
rm Resource Locator) ":" required when inputting,
"/" And "Back Space (B.
S.) ”keys are equipped, but selection of these keys is made appropriately according to the application.

For example, by providing a "shift" key in place of any of the above-mentioned symbols to enable capitalization of the alphabet, or by providing a "ctrl (control)" key, Japanese input is typical. Of course, it is possible to make various input processing convenient.

Further, in the above-described key arrangement, particularly in the case of being represented by the sectional view shown in FIG. 5, the movement of the finger at the time of touch typing is taken into consideration to set the slide direction in consideration of the arrangement of the conventional keyboard. However, other than this, for example, the keys 11, 1 corresponding to the home position of the left hand
Directly upward (Y-Y direction) with 3, 15 as diagonally upward direction
The left hand and the right hand by sliding it in the direction tilted to the right side from the right side and 180 degrees opposite to the diagonally upward direction as the diagonal downward direction. It is also possible that the sliding directions are symmetrical, that is, the left and right sides are aligned to form a “C” -shaped sliding direction. In this case, the sliding directions of the key 17 (operated by the left hand) and the keys 19 and 25 (operated by the right hand) are also in conformity with the above keys.

Further, by providing a structure in which the keyboard 100 is folded in two between the keys 17 and 19 (border between the left and right hand key positions), it is possible to further enhance the convenience of carrying. is there.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, one key is provided by providing the key of the keyboard with an input function by moving in an appropriate direction in addition to the normal input method (pressing). It is possible to input a plurality of characters from, and it is possible to provide a keyboard in which all the alphabets can be input with the eight keys of the left hand key (four) and the right hand key (four).

The keyboard 100 according to the present embodiment.
The input method from each of the keys constituting the above does not necessarily have a unique effect only when the keys are slid.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a possible modification of the present embodiment, using the key 11 as an example. In the case shown in the figure, by providing the support portion 113 with the rotation shaft 125, each character is input by inclining the key instead of sliding in each direction other than the pressing direction.

More specifically, in the case of the key 11 shown in FIG. 7, when the key 11 is pushed (obliquely) upward with a finger, an arrow 11Q is obtained.
The key 11 is rotated in the direction of
While 1d and 12d contact each other and a signal of "Q" input is generated, when the key 11 is pressed (diagonally) downward with a finger, an arrow 11Z
The key 11 rotates and tilts in the direction of and contacts 11e and 12
When the e contacts, a signal of "Z" input is generated.

The fact that "A" is input when the key 11 is pressed is the same as in the case of the first embodiment of the present invention described above (see FIG. 3). In this case, the rotary shaft 125
Needless to say, moves with the support portion 113 in the vertical direction when the key 11 is pressed.

Also, the point that a spring for returning the key 11 to the original position by the repulsive force when the input with the key 11 is completed is properly installed is similar to the first embodiment.

Also with respect to the keys 17 and 19, by tilting in each direction instead of sliding, it becomes possible to input five characters other than the character input by pressing.

The tilt angle of each key (for example, the angle at the time of tilting in the directions such as arrow 11Q and arrow 11Z in FIG. 7)
Is about 10 to 30 degrees, more preferably about 15 to 25 degrees.

It is apparent that the modification of the present embodiment described above has the same effect as that of the first embodiment described above.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
It is an explanatory view showing a configuration of a keyboard 200 according to the embodiment.

The keyboard 200 shown in FIG. 8 has the same character arrangement as a normal keyboard (here, the case of the QWERTY arrangement is shown as in the first embodiment), but the alphabet or symbols are engraved. The regular hexagonal key tops are not all independent, and for example, the key 31 has “Q”, “A”, and “Z” key tops integrated. Similarly, the key 33 is "W", "S", "X".
However, the key 35 is "E", "D", "C", the key 37 is "R", "F", "V", ..., The key 53 is "←",
"(Return key)", "→", Y'-
The three keys that form a line along the Y'direction are integrated with each other.

That is, the key according to this embodiment is QW.
With a row of home position keys in the ERTY arrangement as the center, each key top at the home position and three key tops located diagonally to the upper left and diagonally to the upper right are integrated.

Further, in addition to the characters or symbols that can be input in the first embodiment, the cursor keys "←" and "→" are the keys 5.
Participating in 3.

In addition to the keys having the above-described structure, the keyboard 200 has at least a substrate 80 which is a base of the keys, and feet 81 and 83 for supporting and stabilizing the substrate 80. The feet 81 and 83 do not necessarily have to be provided.

Similar to the first embodiment, the size of each key top has a diameter of about 8 mm to 15 mm, and more preferably about 10 mm to 13 mm.
The key pitch is about 12 mm to 20 mm, more preferably 14 mm to 17 mm.

The substrate 80 has a size of about 180 mm to 250 mm in the horizontal direction (X'-X 'direction) and about 20 mm to 40 mm in the vertical direction according to the values of the keys and the key pitches described above. To further emphasize the convenience of carrying, the width is about 200 mm to 220 mm and the length is 25 mm to 3
More preferably, it is about 5 mm.

These values are assumed in consideration of the convenience of carrying the keyboard 200, and it goes without saying that the keyboard 200 according to this embodiment is not limited to those having such a size. is there.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the key 31 in the Y'-Y 'direction. As shown in the figure, "Q",
Key tops marked with "A" and "Z" are 1mm to 5mm
The key tops in the middle are engraved with an "A" and are integrated into a staircase with a step of about mm.
When the finger is pressed in the direction of 1A, the contact 31a provided on the support portion 311 and the contact 80a provided on the substrate 80 come into contact with each other to generate an "A" input signal.

When a finger is placed on the uppermost key top and the key 31 is pressed in the direction of arrow 31Q, the supporting portion 311 is pressed.
The rotation shaft 801 provided on the
The contact 31b and the contact 80b provided on the substrate 80 come into contact with each other to generate a signal of "Q" input.

Further, when a finger is placed on the lowermost key top and the key 31 is pushed in the direction of arrow 31Z, the supporting portion 31
The rotating shaft 801 provided in 1 rotates clockwise in the figure,
The contact 31c and the contact 80c provided on the substrate 80 come into contact with each other to generate a signal of "Z" input.

Here, the keystroke at the time of pressing each keytop may be 4 mm to 5 mm as in the case of a normal keyboard, or the keyboard 200 may be used to further improve portability.
If the thickness of the product is reduced to reduce size and weight, 2 mm
It may be set to about 4 mm.

The level difference between the key tops constituting the key 31 is more preferably about 1 mm to 3 mm in order to reduce the size and weight of the keyboard 200.

In FIG. 8, the contacts 31a, 31b, 31c provided on the support portion 311 are installed on the same member made of an insulating material, so that each contact comes into contact with the corresponding contact of the base 80. However, they do not electrically affect each other.

Further, the rotary shaft 801 is movable up and down together with the support portion 311, and although not shown in the figure,
It is the same as the key according to the first embodiment in that a spring for appropriately returning the key to the original position when the action on the key is lost is provided.

Other keys 33, 35, 37, 39, 41,
43, 45, 47, 49, 51 and 53 are also the above-mentioned key 3
It has the same configuration as that of 1, and can input three characters each.

The keyboard 200 according to the present embodiment further has the step-like key tops of the integrated keys. Therefore, when the key tops are appropriately rotated, the adjacent keys can overlap and be folded.

FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 respectively show an array view when the keyboard 200 is folded and a side view when it is viewed from the side when the keyboard 200 is folded so that the adjacent keys overlap each other. It is a thing.

When the keyboard 200 is folded, an axis perpendicular to these key tops passes through the center of each row of the home position (ASDFG ..., Key tops in the middle of each integrated key). Is used as a rotation axis, in other words, a support portion (corresponding to 311 in FIG. 9) of each key is rotated counterclockwise by 60 degrees as a rotation axis, so that all the key tops are aligned in the X′-X ′ direction. The keyboard 200 can be folded in the state of being arranged. At this time, the legs 83 and 85 are rotated by 90 degrees and folded.

The substrate 80 also has a structure suitable for folding. For example, the key top may be folded and then contracted in a direction perpendicular to the X′-X ′ direction in FIG. 8 (vertical direction in the figure), or the substrate 80 may be interlocked with the rotation of the key top. It may be configured to shrink.

The folded keyboard 200 is shown in FIG.
When it is 0, the vertical length is reduced to about 20 mm to 40 mm, and more preferably to about 25 mm to 35 mm. When not in use, the size is about the same as that of the keyboard 100 according to the above-described first embodiment and it is portable. It becomes possible to do.

According to the second embodiment of the present invention described above, it is possible to realize the space saving of the keyboard as in the first embodiment and improve the convenience of carrying.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the operability during use is almost the same as that of a normal keyboard, there is an effect that the user can use the keyboard without feeling awkward as compared with a conventional keyboard.

(Other Embodiments) The present invention should not be understood to exert unique effects only in the first and second embodiments described above.

According to the present invention, for example, the keyboard according to the first or second embodiment described above is appropriately added with other keys that are usually provided so that the same input as a full keyboard (for example, 101 keyboard or 104 keyboard) can be performed. Of course, it is also possible.

Particularly, in order to enable kana input, JI
JIS defined by S X 6002 or 6004
An array (for example, 106 keyboard or 109 keyboard) may be used, or a Japanese input consortium reference array (NICOLA: NIhongo nyuryoku COnthotium La).
yout) may be used.

The shape of the key top is not limited to the regular hexagonal shape described above, but it is also possible to construct the keyboard according to the present invention by using a circular or regular octagonal key top.

Further, as seen in a keyboard of a notebook computer, a pointing device having a mouse function, for example, a trackball for moving a mouse pointer displayed on an output screen by rotating it,
It is also possible to appropriately provide the keyboard of the present invention with a stick pointer for operating the protrusion to move the mouse pointer, or a touch pad for rubbing the surface to move the mouse pointer.

As described above, it goes without saying that the present invention can include various embodiments and the like which have the same effects as those of the above-described two embodiments.

[0090]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to input characters or symbols by using a plurality of fingers similarly to the conventional keyboard, and it is possible to provide a keyboard suitable for carrying.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an array diagram of a keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the inside of the key of the keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the key capable of inputting three characters is viewed from the side.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the inside of the key according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the key capable of inputting three characters is viewed from above.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the inside of a key according to the first embodiment of the present invention when another example of a key capable of inputting three characters is viewed from above.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the inside of the key according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the key capable of inputting six characters is viewed from above.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the inside of the key according to the modification of the first embodiment of the present invention when the key capable of inputting three characters is viewed from the side.

FIG. 8 is an array diagram of a keyboard according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a key of the keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention when viewed from the side.

FIG. 10 is an array diagram when the keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention is folded.

FIG. 11 is a side view when the keyboard according to the second embodiment of the present invention is folded.

[Explanation of symbols]

11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 2
7, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 4
5, 47, 49, 51, 53 Input keys 11a, 11b, 11c, 17a, 17b, 17c, 1
7d, 17e, 17f, 31a, 31b, 31c Contact point 12 Support receiving part 70, 80 Substrate 100, 200 Keyboard 111 Recess 113, 311 Support part 121, 123 Spring 125, 801 Rotating shaft

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard in which a plurality of characters or symbols are assigned to one input key, and each input key is provided so as to be movable or tiltable in a plurality of preset directions, and is moved or tilted. A keyboard characterized in that any one of a plurality of contacts provided according to a direction is closed by driving the input key in any one of the plurality of directions. 2. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the input keys are arranged in a line. 3. Each of the input keys has a predetermined row of key tops and a pair of key tops located diagonally upper left and diagonally lower right with respect to each of the predetermined row of key tops, respectively. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein any one of the plurality of contacts is closed by driving any one of the integrated key tops by receiving an action from the outside. 4. The input keys pass through the center of the predetermined row of key tops, are rotated by the same angle in the same direction with respect to an axis perpendicular to the key tops, and overlap each other. The keyboard according to claim 3.