JP2003297176A - Key switch, keyboard equipped with key switch, and personal computer equipped with keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key switch, a keyboard equipped with the key switches, and a personal computer equipped with the keyboard, the thinning of which can be realized easily, and stable operability and other characteristics of which can be maintained for a long time without being influenced by a use environment. <P>SOLUTION: A keyboard 105 of a note type personal computer 101 is equipped with key switches 1, where the key switch 1 is so constructed that a spring member 6 made of a metal elastic thin plate is hooked between a spring supporter 21 formed on a first link member 4 guiding up-and-down movement of a key top 2 and a second spring supporter 27 formed on a second link member 5, and the key top 2 is biased upward through the spring member 6, which is formed in an almost circular shape, and the width of which increases with going up to the center area from spring support holes 29, 30. <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 key switch for guiding the vertical movement of a key top through a pair of link members, and more particularly to urging the key top upward through a spring member made of a metal elastic thin plate. The present invention relates to a key switch configured as described above, a keyboard including the key switch, and a personal computer including the keyboard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various key switches have been proposed which are attached to a keyboard of a notebook personal computer and are configured to guide a vertical movement of a key top through a pair of link members.

For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-172380, a key top of a key top is movably connected to a lower surface of a key top having a pressing projection and an upper surface of a base mold. There is described a key switch which guides the vertical movement and suspends a rubber sheet made of silicon rubber or the like between the protrusions for suspending the rubber sheet formed on each geared link.

In the key switch, when the key top is not pressed, the pressing projection abutting on the rubber sheet is urged upward by the elastic force of the rubber sheet to hold the key top in the non-pressed position. During the switching operation, the rubber sheet is pressed through the pressing protrusions as the key top is pressed, and the pressing protrusions cause switching with the rubber sheet and the switch part of the membrane sheet that is arranged below the base mold. is there.

[0005]

However, in the key switch disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-172380, a rubber sheet is used as a spring member for urging the key top upward. It is poor in durability because it is easily affected by the use environment such as temperature and humidity and deteriorates in a relatively short period of time.
Further, regarding holding the key top in the non-depressed position, as shown in FIG. 2 of JP-A-10-172380, the pressing protrusion of the key top is always brought into contact with the upper surface of the rubber sheet, and the elastic force of the rubber sheet is Therefore, it is necessary to urge the key top upward, and in this state, the rubber sheet is always elastically deformed. When the rubber sheet is constantly elastically deformed in this way, the rubber sheet
Coupled with its poor durability, it permanently deforms and cannot return to its original state (state with initial elastic force). As a result, the elastic force of the rubber sheet gradually decreases, so the non-pressed position of the key top also gradually moves to the lower position, and as a result, the key operability and other characteristics of the key top change. There is a risk that it will end up.

Further, when the switching operation is performed at the switch portion of the membrane sheet disposed below the base mold, the switch portion is pushed together with the rubber sheet through the pushing projection formed on the lower surface of the key top. In order to achieve this, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-1
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of No. 72380, the pressing protrusion is formed to have a length of about three times the thickness of the key top so that the pressing protrusion protrudes sufficiently downward from the lower end of the key top. There is a need to. As a result, the height of the key top at the non-depressed position inevitably becomes high, and it is extremely difficult to make the key switch thin.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art. By using a spring member made of a metal elastic thin plate for guiding the vertical movement of the key top, the influence of the use environment is reduced. A key switch, a keyboard with a key switch, and a personal computer equipped with a keyboard that can maintain characteristics such as stable key operability for a long period of time without receiving them, and can easily achieve thinning. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, a key switch according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a key top having a plurality of sliding engaging portions formed on a lower surface thereof, and a plurality of key tops arranged below the key top. Of the holder member formed with the rotation locking portion, the sliding locking portion of the key top and the rotation locking portion of the holder member, respectively, and crossed in an X shape in a side view, and A first link member and a second link member for guiding the vertical movement of the key top, a switch portion for performing a switching operation based on the pressing operation of the key top, and a metal elastic thin plate, and the key top is moved upward. A key switch comprising: a spring member having a central portion having a pressing portion that is urged and that performs a switching operation by acting on the switch portion when the key top is pressed. The pressing portion of the member and its peripheral portion are arranged in a concave shape in side view, and the first link member and the second link member are closer to the rotation locking portion than the crossing portion of both link members in side view. A deformation action portion that deforms the spring member into a U-shape when the key top is pressed is provided at the portion.

In the key switch according to the first aspect, in the spring member formed of the metal elastic thin plate for urging the key top upward, at least the pressing portion and the peripheral portion are arranged in a concave shape in a side view. The deformation direction of the member can be ensured, and the first link member and the second link member are provided with the deformation action portion at the portion closer to the rotation locking portion of the holder member than the crossing portion of both link members in a side view. Since the spring member is provided, when the key top is pressed, the spring member is deformed into a U shape by the deforming action portion of the link member, and the pressing portion of the spring member is lowered so that the switching operation can be reliably performed. In addition, the spring member is made of a metal elastic thin plate, and due to the high durability of the metal elastic thin plate, it is possible to maintain stable key operability and other characteristics without being affected by the operating environment. Becomes

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a key switch according to the first aspect, wherein the first link member has a first holding portion and the second link member has a second holding portion.
A holding portion is formed, the spring member is mounted between the first holding portion and the second holding portion, and the first holding portion and the second holding portion serve as the deformation acting portion. According to the key switch of the second aspect, the first member for mounting the spring member is provided.
Since the holding portion and the second holding portion are shared as the deformation acting portion that deforms the spring member, it is not necessary to provide a special deformation acting portion of the spring member, and the configuration of the first link member and the second link member is reduced. Can be simple.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the key switch according to the second aspect, the spring member has a first holding hole loosely fitted in the first holding portion and a second holding portion. A second holding hole into which the spring member is fitted is formed, and the spring member is formed so that the width gradually increases from the first holding hole and the second holding hole toward the central portion. In the key switch according to the third aspect, since the spring member is formed so as to become wider from the first holding hole and the second holding hole toward the central portion, the stress generated in the spring member due to the depression of the key top is not generated. It is possible to surely prevent the pressing stress from being concentrated in the central portion because it is dispersed in the wide central portion. Thereby, the durability of the spring member can be improved.

Furthermore, a key switch according to a fourth aspect is the key switch according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the spring member is formed in a substantially circular shape in a plan view. . In the key switch of claim 4, since the spring member is formed in a substantially circular shape in a plan view, the stress generated in the spring member due to the depression of the key top is uniformly distributed over the entire spring member. Is possible. Thereby, the durability of the spring member can be further improved.

A key switch according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the key switch according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the switch portion is composed of a membrane switch arranged below a holder member. The spring member bends downward as the key top is pressed,
It is characterized in that the membrane switch is activated. In the key switch according to the fifth aspect, since the membrane switch is actuated via the spring member that bends downward as the key top is pushed down, a depression protrusion for pushing the membrane switch is formed on the key top. There is no need at all, and this makes it possible to easily achieve a thin key switch.

Further, a keyboard according to a sixth aspect is characterized by including at least one key switch according to the first aspect. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the above-mentioned claim 1.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a personal computer in which a key top having a plurality of sliding engagement portions formed on a lower surface thereof and a holder arranged below the key top and having a plurality of rotation engagement portions. A first member that is locked to the member, the sliding locking portion of the key top and the rotation locking portion of the holder member, and is crossed in an X shape in a side view, and guides the vertical movement of the key top. A link member and a second link member,
A switching unit that performs a switching operation based on the pressing operation of the key top and a metal elastic thin plate, urges the key top upward, and acts on the switching unit when the key top is pressed to perform the switching operation. And a spring member having a pressing portion in a central portion for performing the above, wherein at least the pressing portion of the spring member and its peripheral portion are arranged in a concave shape in a side view, and the first link member and the second The link member is provided with a deforming portion that deforms the spring member into a U shape when the key top is pressed, at a portion closer to the rotation locking portion than the crossing portion of both link members in a side view. A keyboard equipped with a key switch for inputting various data such as characters and symbols, a display means for displaying characters and symbols, and a keyboard for inputting data from the keyboard. There is characterized in that a control means for displaying characters and symbols on the display means.

In the personal computer according to the seventh aspect, when various data such as characters and symbols are input from the key switches of the keyboard, the characters and symbols are displayed on the display means under the control of the control means. At this time,
Since the personal computer according to the seventh aspect includes the keyboard provided with the key switch according to the first aspect, the same effect as that of the first aspect can be obtained.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a key switch according to the present invention, a keyboard including the key switch, and a personal computer including the keyboard will be described in detail with reference to the drawings based on an embodiment embodying the present invention. explain. First, the notebook personal computer according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 16A is a perspective view of a laptop personal computer, and FIG. 16B is a block diagram showing an electrical structure of the laptop personal computer.

In FIG. 16 (A), a laptop personal computer 101 basically has a main body 102 having a built-in CPU 106 (FIG. 16 (B)) for performing each arithmetic processing.
And a display 103 supported so as to be openable and closable with respect to the main body 102. The display 103 is rotatably supported by the connecting portion 104 of the main body 102, and can be opened and closed with respect to the main body 102. The main body 102 is provided with a keyboard 105 having a plurality of key switches.

Further, in FIG. 16B, the CPU 10
A ROM 107 in which a program for controlling each unit of the personal computer 101 is stored and a RAM 108 for storing various data are connected to the computer 6 via a bus 109. In addition, the CPU 106 has a bus 10
9, an input / output interface 110 is connected, and the display 103, the keyboard 105, and a hard disk device 111 in which programs such as document creation and spreadsheet are stored are connected to the input / output interface 110. . Based on the input data from the keyboard 105, the CPU 106 reads a program such as document creation or spreadsheet from the hard disk device 111 and executes it, or displays characters or symbols on the display 103.

Next, the key switch according to the first embodiment attached to the keyboard 105 of the notebook personal computer 101 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the key switch, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the key switch with the key top removed, FIG. 3 is a rear view of the key top, FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the key top, and FIG. 5 is a first link. 6 is a side sectional view of the first link member, FIG. 7 is a plan view of the second link member, and FIG. 8 is a second view.
FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the link member, and FIG. 9 is a plan view of the spring member.

First, the schematic structure of the key switch will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the key switch 1 basically includes a key top 2, a holder member 3 disposed below the key top 2, and a back surface of the key top 2 and the holder member 3 are coupled and locked. A first link member 4 and a second link member 5 for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key top 2, a spring member 6 for urging the key top 2 upward, a membrane switch 7 arranged below the holder member 3, and Is arranged below the membrane switch 7,
A support plate 8 that supports the entire key switch 1 (see FIGS. 10 and 1).
1)).

Here, the key top 2 is formed of a synthetic resin such as ABS resin, characters, symbols and the like are formed on the upper surface thereof by a known method such as printing, and on the back surface thereof, As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a pair of sliding engagement portions 9 on one side (right side in FIG. 3, left side in FIG. 4) and the other side (left side in FIG. 3, right side in FIG. 4).
A pair of slide locking portions 10 are integrally formed in the. A sliding groove 11 is formed in each sliding locking portion 9, and each locking pin 18A, 18B of the first link member 4, which will be described later, is slidably locked in the sliding groove 11. It The sliding groove 1
1 has a closed end surface 11A. In addition, a sliding groove 12 is also formed in each sliding engagement portion 10,
Respective locking pins 24A and 24B of the second link member 5 described later are slidably locked in the sliding groove 12. A closed end face 12A is formed in the sliding groove 12.

The holder member 3 disposed below the key top 2 is made of synthetic resin such as ABS resin.
In the holder member 3, a key station portion 13 is formed for each key switch 1, and the key station portion 13 is provided with a rectangular through hole. One side of the key station section 13 (left side in FIGS. 1 and 2)
A pair of holding walls 14 are formed at the two corners of the. Locking pins 25A and 25B of the second link member 5, which will be described later, are rotatably locked between the sandwiching walls 14.
Further, a pair of sandwiching walls 15 are formed at the two corners on the other side (right side in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the key station section 13. Locking pins 19A and 19B of the first link member 4, which will be described later, are rotatably locked to the sandwiching walls 15.

The first link member 4, as shown in FIG.
It is formed in a substantially "B" shape in a plan view, and has a pair of plate-shaped portions 16A, 16B and connecting portions 17A, 17B that connect both end portions of the plate-shaped portions 16A, 16B, respectively. Also, one connecting portion 17A (the connecting portion on the left side in FIG. 5)
Locking pins 18A and 18B extend outward from the corners of the locking pins 19A and 19B, and locking pins 19A and 19B extend from the corners of the other connecting part 17B (the right connecting part in FIG. 5).
Is extended to the outside. Each locking pin 18A, 18B
Is a slide groove 11 in each slide lock portion 9 of the key top 2.
Is slidably locked to each of the locking pins 19A and 19A.
B is rotatably locked to the pair of holding walls 15 of the holder member 3. Further, shaft portions 20A and 20B are formed so as to extend from the substantially central portions of the plate-shaped portions 16A and 16B.
In addition, on the inner side (left side in FIG. 5) of the connecting portion 17B,
The spring holding portion 21 is integrally bent. The spring holding portion 21 is loosely fitted and held in a holding hole 29 formed in the spring member 6 described later.

The second link member 5, like the first link member 4, is formed in a substantially "b" shape in plan view, as shown in FIG. 7, and has a pair of plate-shaped portions 22A, 22B and each. A connecting portion 23 that connects both ends of the plate-shaped portions 22A and 22B, respectively.
A and 23B. In addition, one of the connecting portions 23A (see FIG.
From the corner of the right side connection part in), the locking pin 24A
And 24B extend outward, and from the corner of the other connecting portion 23B (the connecting portion on the left side in FIG. 7),
Locking pins 25A and 25B are extended outward. The locking pins 24A, 24B are slidably locked in the sliding grooves 12 of the sliding locking portions 10 of the key top 2, and the locking pins 25A, 25B are held by the holder member 3 respectively. It is rotatably locked to the wall 14. Further, curved elongated hole-shaped shaft holes 26A and 26B are formed in substantially central portions of the plate-shaped portions 22A and 22B (see FIG. 8), and the shaft link holes 26A and 26B respectively have a first link member. The four shaft portions 20A and 20B are pivotally and slidably supported. As a result, the first link member 4 and the second link member 5 are rotatably and movably connected to each other based on the axial support relationship between the shaft portions 20A, 20B and the shaft holes 26A, 26B. is there. Also, the connecting portion 2
Inside the 3B (right side in FIG. 7), a spring holding portion 27 is integrally formed by bending. The spring holding portion 27 is loosely fitted and held in a holding hole 30 formed in the spring member 6 described later.

The spring member 6 is, as shown in FIG.
It is formed of a metal elastic thin plate such as steel or stainless steel into a substantially circular shape in a plan view. The spring member 6 has a pressing portion 50 at its substantially central portion, and the periphery of the pressing portion 50 is a peripheral edge portion 51. Holding holes 29, 30 are formed on both sides of the spring member 6, the spring holding portion 21 of the first link member 4 is loosely fitted in the holding hole 29, and the holding hole 30 has a second holding hole. The spring holding portion 27 of the link member 5 is loosely fitted. Such spring member 6
In the state in which the spring holding portion 21 is loosely fitted in the holding hole 29 and the spring holding portion 27 is loosely fitted in the holding hole 30, as shown in FIG. 10, the spring bends slightly downward due to its elastic force. In this state, the key top 2 is urged upward. Here, the spring member 6 is formed in a substantially circular shape, but may be formed in any shape as long as it is gradually widened from the holding holes 29, 30 toward the central portion. . As described above, in the spring member 6, the width gradually increases from each of the holding holes 29 and 30 toward the central portion, so that the stress generated in the spring member 6 due to the depression of the key top 2 will be described later. This is to prevent the pressing stress from being concentrated in the central portion of the spring member 6 by being dispersed in the wide central portion. Thereby, the durability of the spring member 6 can be improved. When the spring member 6 is formed in a substantially circular shape as described above, the stress generated in the spring member 6 due to the depression of the key top 2 can be dispersed most uniformly over the entire spring member 6. This makes it possible to further improve the durability of the spring member 6.

As shown in FIG. 1, the membrane switch 7 disposed below the holder member 3 basically has a lower membrane sheet 31, an upper membrane sheet 32, a lower membrane sheet 31 and an upper membrane sheet 32. It is composed of a spacer sheet 33 which is inserted between and.

Here, the lower membrane sheet 31 is a film sheet formed of polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter abbreviated as PET), and its upper surface has
A lower switch electrode 35 connected to the circuit pattern 34 is formed. The upper membrane sheet 32 is
Similar to the lower membrane sheet 31, it is formed of a PET film sheet, and an upper switch electrode 37 connected to the circuit pattern 36 is formed on the lower surface thereof so as to correspond to the lower switch electrode 35 of the lower membrane sheet 31. Has been done.

The circuit pattern 34 and the lower switch electrode 35 on the lower membrane sheet 31, and the circuit pattern 36 and the upper switch electrode 37 on the upper membrane sheet 32 can be formed by a known method. The conductive coating material containing particles, silver particles and the like may be applied and formed in a predetermined pattern, or may be formed by etching the copper foil adhered to the PET film sheet into a predetermined pattern.

The spacer sheet 33, like the lower membrane sheet 31 and the upper membrane sheet 32, is made of PET.
A switching hole 38 is formed at a position corresponding to the lower switch electrode 35 and the upper switch electrode 37, which is formed of a film sheet. Such switching hole 3
8 separates the lower switch electrode 35 and the upper switch electrode 37 from each other during the non-switching operation, and when the upper surface of the upper membrane sheet 32 corresponding to the upper switch electrode 37 is pressed during the switching operation, The lower switch electrode 35 is moved by moving the switch electrode 37.
It is possible to contact the.

The operation of the key switch 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. Figure 1
Reference numeral 0 is a side sectional view of the key switch when the key top is not pressed, and FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of the key switch showing a state where the key top is pressed.

When the key top 2 is not depressed, as shown in FIG. 10, the key top 2 is biased upward by the elastic force of the spring member 6 and is held in the non-depressed position. In the non-depressed position, the locking pins 18A and 18B of the first link member 4 locked in the sliding grooves 11 of the sliding locking portions 9 of the key top 2 are held.
Respectively come into contact with the closed end surface 11A of the sliding groove 11, and the locking pins 24A, 24B of the second link member 5 locked by the sliding groove 12 of the sliding locking portion 10. Is
Each is in contact with the closed end 12A of the sliding groove 12.
As a result, the upward movement of the key top 2 is restricted. The spring member 6 is in a state of being slightly bent downward as shown in FIG.
1 is held in a concave shape.

When the key top 2 is pushed down against the urging force of the spring member 6, the locking pins 18A and 18B of the first link member 4 move in the sliding groove 11 of the sliding locking portion 9. Sliding to the right gradually, each locking pin 19A, 1
9B rotates counterclockwise in the holding walls 15, 15. At the same time, the locking pins 24A, 24B of the second link member 5 gradually slide to the right in the sliding groove 12 of the sliding locking portion 10, and the locking pins 25A, 25B Holding wall 1
It rotates clockwise in 4 and 14. Accordingly, the spring member 6 gradually moves downward, and the curved state of the spring member 6 gradually increases.

As the key top 2 is further depressed, the bending state of the spring member 6 increases, and the pressing portion 50 at the lowermost end of the bent spring member 6 is locked to the holding walls 15 and 15. The rotation center of each locking pin 19A, 19B of the first link member 4 and the rotation center of each locking pin 25A, 25B of the second link member 5 locked by the sandwiching walls 14, 14 are connected. The pressing portion 50 located at the lowermost end of the curved spring member 6 at the time when it crosses the sagittal line downward.
Presses the upper electrode 37 of the upper membrane sheet 32 of the membrane switch 7 from its upper surface with a clear click feeling. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11, the upper electrode 37 of the upper membrane sheet 32 and the lower electrode 35 of the lower membrane sheet 31 are brought into contact with each other via the switching holes 38 of the spacer sheet 33, and the switching operation is performed.

When the depression of the key top 2 is released, the operation opposite to the above-described operation is performed based on the urging force of the spring member 6, and the key top 2 returns to the non-depressed position shown in FIG.

As described above, in the key switch 1 according to the first embodiment, at least the pressing portion 50 and the peripheral edge portion 51 are included in the spring member 6 formed of the metal elastic thin plate that biases the key top 2 upward. Are arranged in a concave shape in a side view, the direction of deformation of the spring member 6 can be ensured, and the first link member 4 and the second link member 5 can cross each other in a side view. Since spring holding portions 21 and 27 functioning as deformation acting portions are respectively provided on the portions of the holder member 3 closer to the holding walls 14 and 15 than the above portions, the spring member 6 is pressed when the key top 2 is pressed.
Is deformed into a U shape by the spring holding portions 21 and 27 of the link members 4 and 5, and the pressing portion 50 of the spring member 6 is lowered so that the switching operation can be reliably performed.

Further, between the spring holding portion 21 formed on the first link member 4 and the spring holding portion 27 formed on the second link member 5 for guiding the vertical movement of the key top 2, a metal elastic thin plate is used. The formed spring member 6 is hooked, and the key top 2 is inserted through the spring member 6.
Since the metal plate is biased upward, it is possible to maintain stable key operability and other characteristics for a long period of time without being affected by the operating environment due to the high durability of the metal elastic thin plate.

Further, since the circular spring member 6 is formed so as to be wider from the spring holding holes 29 and 30 toward the central portion, the stress generated in the spring member 6 when the key top 2 is pressed is: It is possible to surely prevent the pressing stress from being concentrated in the central portion by being dispersed in the central portion formed with the wide width. Thereby, the durability of the spring member 6 can be improved.

Here, since the spring member 6 is formed in a substantially circular shape in plan view, the stress generated in the spring member 6 due to the depression of the key top 2 is evenly distributed over the entire spring member 6. It becomes possible to do.
As a result, the durability of the spring member 6 can be further improved.

Further, since the membrane switch 7 is operated via the spring member 6 which bends downward as the key top 2 is depressed, a depression protrusion for pressing the membrane switch 7 is formed on the key top. There is no need at all, which allows the key switch 1 to be easily thinned.

Next, the key switch according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 is a perspective view of the key switch according to the second embodiment shown with the key top removed, FIG. 13 is a plan view of the key switch shown with the key top removed, and FIG. 14 is the side of the key switch when the key top is not pressed. A sectional view, FIG. 15 is a side sectional view of the key switch showing a state where the key top is pressed.

The key switch according to the second embodiment is
It is basically the same as the key switch 1 according to the first embodiment, and in the key switch 1 of the first embodiment, the spring holding portion 21 of the first link member 3 and the spring holding portion 27 of the second link member 5 are Although the spring member 6 formed in a substantially circular shape is used as the spring member that is hung between the two, the key switch according to the second embodiment is different in that a rectangular spring member is used. Only. Therefore, in the following description, the same elements and members as those in the key switch 1 of the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted, and the configuration unique to the key switch of the second embodiment will be omitted. Will be explained only.

The spring member 40 used in the key switch 1 of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment.
It is formed of a metal elastic thin plate such as steel or stainless steel into a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. The spring member 40 is
As shown in FIG. 13, the pressing portion 60 is provided at the substantially central portion thereof, and the periphery of the pressing portion 60 is a peripheral portion 61.
Holding holes 41, 42 are formed on both sides of the spring member 40. The spring holding portion 21 of the first link member 4 is loosely fitted in the holding hole 41, and the holding hole 42 has a second holding member. The spring holding portion 27 of the link member 5 is loosely fitted. In such a state that the spring holding portion 21 is loosely fitted in the holding hole 41 and the spring holding portion 27 is loosely fitted in the holding hole 41, the spring member 40 is based on its elastic force as shown in FIG. The key top 2 is urged upward in a state of being slightly curved downward.

The operation of the key switch 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. When the key top 2 is not depressed, as shown in FIG. The member 40 is biased upward by the elastic force of the member 40 and is held in the non-depressed position. In such a non-depressed position, the locking pins 18A and 18B of the first link member 4 which are locked in the sliding grooves 11 of the sliding locking portions 9 of the key top 2 are located in the sliding grooves 11 respectively. The locking pins 24A and 24B of the second link member 5, which are in contact with the closed end surface 11A and are locked in the sliding grooves 12 of the sliding locking portions 10, respectively, are formed in the sliding grooves 12 respectively. It is in contact with the closed end 12A. As a result, the upward movement of the key top 2 is restricted. The spring member 40 is slightly bent downward as shown in FIG. 14, and the pressing portion 60 and the peripheral edge portion 61 are held in a concave shape.

When the key top 2 is pushed down against the urging force of the spring member 40, the locking pins 18A and 18B of the first link member 4 move in the sliding groove 11 of the sliding locking portion 9. Sliding to the right gradually, each locking pin 19A,
19B rotates counterclockwise in the sandwiching walls 15, 15.
At the same time, each locking pin 24A, 24B of the second link member 5
Gradually slides to the right in the slide groove 12 of the slide lock portion 10, and the lock pins 25A and 25B are held by the holding wall 1
It rotates clockwise in 4 and 14. Accordingly, the spring member 40 gradually moves downward, and the curved state of the spring member 40 gradually increases.

As the key top 2 is further depressed, the bending state of the spring member 40 increases, and the pressing portion 60 at the lowermost end of the bent spring member 40 is
The rotation centers of the locking pins 19A and 19B of the first link member 4 locked to the holding walls 15 and 15 and the locking pins 25A of the second link member 5 locked to the holding walls 14 and 14, 25
When the line segment connecting the rotation center of B is crossed downward, the pressing portion 60 located at the lowermost end of the curved spring member 40 has an upper membrane sheet of the membrane switch 7 with a clear click feeling. The upper electrode 37 of 32 is pressed from its upper surface. As a result, as shown in FIG. 15, the upper electrode 37 of the upper membrane sheet 32 and the lower electrode 35 of the lower membrane sheet 31 are replaced by the spacer sheet 33.
And the switching operation is performed.

When the depression of the key top 2 is released, the operation opposite to the above-described operation is performed based on the urging force of the spring member 40, and the key top 2 returns to the non-depressed position shown in FIG.

As described above, in the key switch 1 according to the second embodiment, as in the case of the first embodiment, the spring member 40 formed of a metal elastic thin plate that biases the key top 2 upward. In the above, since at least the pressing portion 60 and the peripheral portion 61 are arranged in a concave shape in a side view, the deformation direction of the spring member 40 can be ensured, and the first link member 4 and the second link member 5 have a side view. Since spring holding portions 21 and 27 functioning as deformation acting portions are provided on the portions of the holder member 3 closer to the sandwiching walls 14 and 15 than the crossing portions of the link members 4 and 5, respectively, when the key top 2 is pressed, The spring member 40 is deformed into a U shape by the spring holding portions 21 and 27 of the link members 4 and 5, and the pressing portion 60 of the spring member 6 descends to reliably switch. It is possible to perform the grayed behavior.

Further, between the spring holding portion 21 formed on the first link member 4 and the spring holding portion 27 formed on the second link member 5 for guiding the vertical movement of the key top 2, a metal elastic thin plate is used. Formed spring member 40
Since the key top 2 is urged upward through the spring member 40, it is stable for a long period of time without being affected by the use environment due to the high durability of the metal elastic thin plate. It is possible to maintain characteristics such as key operability.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, in the membrane switch 1 according to the above-described embodiment, both the membrane sheets 3 are provided between the upper membrane sheet 32 and the lower membrane sheet 31.
Although the spacer sheet 33 formed of a PET film sheet similar to that of Nos. 1 and 32 is inserted,
Instead of the spacer sheet 33, an adhesive layer may be formed between the upper membrane sheet 32 and the lower membrane sheet 31 for laminating and adhering the both membrane sheets 31, 32. At this time, the adhesive layer does not have to be formed on the entire adhesive surface of the upper membrane sheet 32 or the lower membrane sheet 31, and may be formed of dot spacers in which the adhesive layer is dispersed and formed in a dot shape.

[0052]

As described above, in the key switch according to the first aspect of the invention, in the spring member formed of the metal elastic thin plate for urging the key top upward, at least the pressing portion and the peripheral portion are concave in side view. Since it is arranged, the deformation direction of the spring member can be ensured, and in the first link member and the second link member, the portion of the holder member closer to the rotation locking portion than the intersection of both link members in side view. Since the deformation action portion is provided in the spring, when the key top is pressed, the spring member is deformed into a U shape by the deformation action portion of the link member, and the pressing portion of the spring member descends to reliably perform the switching operation. You can In addition, the spring member is made of a metal elastic thin plate, and due to the high durability of the metal elastic thin plate, it is possible to maintain stable key operability and other characteristics without being affected by the operating environment. Becomes

Further, in the key switch according to claim 2,
A first holding portion and a second holding portion for hanging the spring member,
Since the spring member is also used as the deformation acting portion for deforming, it is not necessary to specially provide the deformation acting portion of the spring member, and the configurations of the first link member and the second link member can be simplified.

Further, in the key switch according to claim 3,
Since the spring member is formed so as to become wider from the first holding hole and the second holding hole toward the central portion, the stress generated in the spring member due to the depression of the key top is the central portion formed at the wider portion. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the pressing stress from being concentrated in the central portion. Thereby, the durability of the spring member can be improved.

Further, in the key switch according to claim 4,
Since the spring member is formed in a substantially circular shape in a plan view, the stress generated in the spring member due to the depression of the key top can be uniformly dispersed over the entire spring member. Thereby, the durability of the spring member can be further improved.

Further, in the key switch according to claim 5,
Since the membrane switch is actuated via the spring member that bends downward as the key top is pushed down, there is no need to form a pushing protrusion for pushing the membrane switch on the key top at all. The thickness can be easily reduced.

Further, since the keyboard according to claim 6 is provided with at least one key switch according to claim 1, it is possible to obtain the same effect as in the case of claim 1 described above.

Further, in the personal computer according to the seventh aspect, when various data such as characters and symbols are input from the key switches of the keyboard, the characters and symbols are displayed on the display means through the control of the control means, At this time,
Since the personal computer according to the seventh aspect includes the keyboard provided with the key switch according to the first aspect, the same effect as that of the first aspect can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a key switch according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the key switch with the key top removed.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the key top.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a key top.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a first link member.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a first link member.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a second link member.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a second link member.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a spring member.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the key switch when the key top is not pressed.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of the key switch showing a state where the key top is pressed down.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the key switch according to the second embodiment with the key top removed.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the key switch shown with the key top removed.

FIG. 14 is a side sectional view of the key switch when the key top is not pressed.

FIG. 15 is a side sectional view of the key switch showing a state where the key top is pressed down.

16A and 16B are explanatory diagrams for explaining the laptop personal computer, FIG. 16A is a perspective view of the laptop personal computer, and FIG. 16B is a block diagram illustrating an electrical structure of the laptop personal computer. Is.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 key switch 2 key tops 3 Holder member 4 First link member 5 Second link member 6 Spring member 7 Membrane switch 8 Support plate 9 Sliding locking part 10 Sliding locking part 11 sliding groove 12 Sliding groove 14 sandwiching wall 15 sandwiching wall 18A, 18B Locking pin 19A, 19B Locking pin 21, 27 Spring holder 24A, 24B Locking pin 25A, 25B Locking pin 29, 30 holding hole 40 Spring member 41, 42 holding hole 50, 60 Pressing part 51, 61 peripheral part 101 notebook personal computer 105 keyboard

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A key top having a plurality of sliding locking portions formed on a lower surface thereof, a holder member disposed below the key top and having a plurality of rotation locking portions, and sliding of the key top. A first link member and a second link member that are respectively locked to the locking portion and the rotation locking portion of the holder member, intersect with each other in an X shape in a side view, and guide vertical movement of the key top; A switch section that performs a switching operation based on the pressing operation of the key top, and a metal elastic thin plate that urges the key top upward and acts on the switch section when the key top is pressed to perform the switching operation. A key switch comprising a spring member having a pressing portion in the center thereof for performing, wherein at least the pressing portion of the spring member and its peripheral portion are arranged in a concave shape in a side view, In the link member and the second link member, a deformation that deforms the spring member into a U-shape when the key top is pressed to a portion closer to the rotation locking portion than the intersecting portion of both link members in a side view. A key switch characterized by having an action part. 2. A first holding portion is formed on the first link member, and a second holding portion is formed on the second link member,
The key according to claim 1, wherein the spring member is mounted between the first holding portion and the second holding portion, and the first holding portion and the second holding portion serve as the deformation acting portion. switch. 3. The spring member is formed with a first holding hole that is loosely fitted in the first holding portion and a second holding hole that is loosely fitted in the second holding portion. The key switch according to claim 2, wherein the key switch is formed so that the width gradually increases from the first holding hole and the second holding hole toward the central portion. 4. The key switch according to claim 1, wherein the spring member is formed in a substantially circular shape in a plan view. 5. The switch portion is composed of a membrane switch arranged below a holder member, and the spring member bends downward as the key top is pushed down to activate the membrane switch. The key switch according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is characterized. 6. A keyboard comprising at least one key switch according to claim 1. 7. A key top having a plurality of sliding locking portions formed on a lower surface thereof, a holder member arranged below the key top and having a plurality of rotation locking portions, and sliding of the key top. A first link member and a second link member that are respectively locked to the locking portion and the rotation locking portion of the holder member, intersect with each other in an X shape in a side view, and guide vertical movement of the key top; A switch section that performs a switching operation based on the pressing operation of the key top, and a metal elastic thin plate that urges the key top upward and acts on the switch section when the key top is pressed to perform the switching operation. A key switch comprising a spring member having a pressing portion in the center thereof for performing, wherein at least the pressing portion of the spring member and its peripheral portion are arranged in a concave shape in a side view, In the link member and the second link member, a deformation that deforms the spring member into a U-shape when the key top is pressed to a portion closer to the rotation locking portion than the intersecting portion of both link members in a side view. A keyboard having a key switch provided with an action part, for inputting various data such as characters and symbols, a display means for displaying characters and symbols, and a display for displaying characters and symbols based on the input data from the keyboard. A personal computer, comprising: a control means for displaying the means.