JP2003331694A - Key structure of electronic device using momentary switch - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a key structure that can reduce the space for mounting momentary switches and operation components on a circuit board and is highly dust-proof by preventing dust from entering through the opening of the operation panel. <P>SOLUTION: The key structure comprises a cursor block having a plurality of function parts on the upper side, a support shaft extending down from the lower center of the cursor block through the opening of the operation panel, a plurality of momentary switches disposed around under the support shaft near or in contact with the shaft to horizontally operate, and an elastic component to elastically support the upper part of the support and to seal the operation panel opening. By operating the function parts of the cursor block, the support shaft oscillates as desired and its lower ends turns on/off the desired momentary switches disposed around it. <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 an improvement of a key structure of an electronic device in which a plurality of tact switches are turned on and off.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-5790.
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3, as shown in FIG. 13, a frame 131, a plate-shaped elastic portion 132 extending from the frame 131 toward the inside of the frame 131, and the frame 131 to the inside of the frame 131. Toward the main block 103, which is formed to extend toward the upper side and further upwardly to form a columnar shape, and the top end of the column portion 135 has a protrusion 136 shape. The key top 121 tiltably supported by the main block 103 and the elastic portion 1 of the main block 103.
A key structure of an electronic device is shown, which includes a key block 102 including an engaging portion 124 that engages with the tip bottom surface 133 of 32 and a pressing portion 125 formed on the bottom surface of the engaging portion 124. ing. In the figure, reference numeral 142 is a tact switch.

In the present invention, the four tact switches 142 are such that the switch parts are the bottom surface 1 of the tip of the elastic part 132.
It is arranged on the printed wiring board so as to be turned on and off in the vertical direction by 33. Further, in this configuration, the main block 103 forming the elastic portion 132 is required.

Therefore, a considerable space is required for the operation portion such as the tact switch arrangement portion of the printed wiring board and the main block.

Further, since the key block insertion hole of the front panel is not hermetically sealed, dust easily enters the main block or the printed wiring board, which is inferior in dustproofness. Furthermore, the structure is complicated because a main block and the like are required.

[0006]

In the present invention,
The key structure for electronic devices that uses a tact switch, which has a simple structure, can reduce the space for the tact switch installation part of the printed wiring board and the operating part, and has no dust from the opening of the operation panel. It is a technical subject to obtain it.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cursor structure having a plurality of operation parts at an upper part in a key structure of an electronic device for turning on and off a plurality of tact switches. A support shaft extending downward from the lower center of the cursor block through the opening of the operation panel, a recess formed on the printed wiring board and rotatably holding the lower end of the support shaft, and the support. A flange that is fixed below the shaft, a plurality of tact switches that arrange a switch part that turns on and off horizontally around this flange in the proximity or contact state, and elastically holds and operates the upper part of the support shaft. An elastic member that closes the opening of the panel in a hermetically closed state, and an elastic member that is fixed above the support shaft and abuts the lower surface of the elastic member to hold the support shaft so that it does not slip out above the operation panel. Consists of a support piece, the support shaft by operating the operating portion of the cursor block is swung in any direction starting from the recess of the printed wiring board,
The present invention provides a key structure of an electronic device using a tact switch in which an arbitrary tact switch provided around the flange is turned on and off in the horizontal direction.

According to the present invention, by operating the operation portion of the cursor block, the support shaft swings in an arbitrary direction from the concave portion of the printed wiring board as a starting point, and each tact switch provided with the flange of the support shaft around it. Can be turned on and off horizontally. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the space for the tact switch arrangement portion and the operation portion of the printed wiring board.

Further, since the elastic member for closing the opening portion of the operation panel in a hermetically closed state is provided, dust is prevented from entering through the opening portion, and the dustproof property is excellent.

Further, the structure is extremely simple, the number of parts is small, the manufacturing cost is low, and the assembling is easy.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a key structure of an electronic device using the tact switch according to the first and second aspects, wherein the cursor block is an operating lever.

In the present invention, each tact switch can be turned on and off by the operation feeling of the operating lever.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a key structure of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line BB of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, four operation units 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are formed on the cursor block 1. As shown in FIG. 1, a support shaft 5 extends downward from the center of the lower part of the cursor block 1 through an opening 4 of the operation panel 3. The printed wiring board 6 is provided with a recess 7 for rotatably holding the lower end of the support shaft 5. A flange 8 is fixed below the support shaft 5.

Four tact switches T1, T2, T3, T4 are arranged around the flange 8, and these switch parts are brought into contact with or in contact with the contact parts 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d of the flange 8. Switch on horizontally,
I'm trying to work off.

Further, an elastic member 9 for elastically holding the upper side of the support shaft is provided, and this elastic member 9 closes the lower surface of the opening 4 of the operation panel 3 in a hermetically closed state. further,
A support piece 10 is fixed above the support shaft 5, and the support piece 1
The lower surface of the elastic member is brought into contact with the upper surface of the support member so that the support shaft does not come out above the operation panel.

By operating the operating portions 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D of the cursor block 1, the supporting shaft 5
Swings in any direction from the concave portion 7 of the printed wiring board 6 as a starting point, and contacts the contact portions 8a, 8b, 8c of the flange 8,
8d has arbitrary tact switches T1 and T provided around it.
2, T3 and T4 are turned on and off in the horizontal direction.

Therefore, by operating the operation portions 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D of the cursor block 1, the support shaft 5
The upper part oscillates in an arbitrary direction from the concave portion 7 of the printed wiring board 6 as a starting point, and the contact portion 8a of the flange 8 of the support shaft 5,
8b, 8c and 8d horizontally turn on and off the respective tact switches T1, T2, T3 and T4. In this way, the space S where the tact switch mounting portion and the operating portion of the printed wiring board are formed can be made extremely narrow. Further, since the elastic member for closing the opening of the operation panel in a hermetically closed state is provided, dust does not enter through the opening.

Further, the structure is extremely simple, the number of parts is small, the manufacturing cost is low, and the assembling is easy.

4 to 11, the contact portions 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d of the flange 8 are respectively tact switches T1 and T.
It shows a state in which 2, T3 and T4 are turned on or off.
FIG. 4 shows a state in which the contact portion 8a of the flange 8 turns on or off the tact switch T1. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the contact portion 8b of the flange 8 turns on or off the tact switch T2. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the contact portion 8c of the flange 8 turns on or off the tact switch T3. Figure 7
Is a state in which the contact portion 8d of the flange 8 turns on or off the tact switch T4.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the contact portions 8a and 8d of the flange 8 turn on or off the tact switches T1 and T4. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the contact portions 8a and 8b of the flange 8 turn on or off the tact switches T1 and T2.
FIG. 10 shows a state in which the contact portions 8b and 8c of the flange 8 turn on or off the tact switches T2 and T3. Figure 1
1, the contact portions 8c and 8b of the flange 8 are tact switches T
3 and T4 are turned on or off. In this way, a total of eight switching operations can be obtained.

The number of tact switches can be increased by changing the shape of the flange 8 and increasing the number of contact portions. In that case, more switching operations can be obtained.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment, in which the operation lever L is used instead of the cursor block 1.
It is what In this case, each tact switch can be turned on and off by the operation feeling of the operation lever L. In this embodiment, the same structures as those of the embodiment of FIG.

[0023]

According to the present invention, by operating the operation portion of the cursor block, the support shaft swings in any direction from the recess of the printed wiring board as a starting point, and the flanges of the support shaft are provided around the support shaft. The tact switch can be turned on and off horizontally. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the space for the tact switch arrangement portion and the operation portion of the printed wiring board. Further, since the elastic member that closes the opening of the operation panel is provided, dust does not enter through the opening, and the dustproof property is excellent. Furthermore, the structure is extremely simple, the number of parts is small, the manufacturing cost is low, and the assembly is easy.

[0024]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a key structure of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line BB of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a state diagram in which a contact portion 8a turns on and off a tact switch T1.

FIG. 5 is a state diagram in which a contact portion 8b turns on and off a tact switch T2.

FIG. 6 is a state diagram in which a contact portion 8c turns on and off a tact switch T3.

FIG. 7 is a state diagram in which a contact portion 8d turns on and off a tact switch T4.

FIG. 8 shows tact switches T1 and T4 with contact portions 8a and 8d.
State diagram of turning on and off

FIG. 9 shows tact switches T1 and T2 with contact portions 8a and 8b.
State diagram of turning on and off

FIG. 10: Contact parts 8b, 8c are tact switches T2, T
State diagram with 3 turned on and off

FIG. 11 shows tact switches T3, T with contact portions 8c, 8b.
State diagram where 4 is turned on and off

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a key structure showing another embodiment.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a key structure showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 cursor block 1 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D operation unit 3 Operation panel 4 openings 5 Support shaft 6 printed wiring board 7 recess 8 flange T1, T2, T3, T4 tact switch 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d Contact part 9 Elastic member 10 Support pieces L control lever

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A key structure of an electronic device in which a plurality of tact switches are turned on and off, and a cursor block having a plurality of operation parts at an upper part and an opening part of an operation panel from a center of a lower part of the cursor block. Via a support shaft extending downwardly, a recess formed on the printed wiring board to rotatably hold the lower end of the support shaft, a flange fixed below the support shaft, and the periphery of the flange. A plurality of tact switches for arranging switch parts that are turned on and off in the horizontal direction in proximity to or in contact with each other; The cursor block, which is fixed to the upper side of the support shaft and abuts against the lower surface of the elastic member to hold the support shaft so that the support shaft does not come out above the operation panel. By operating the operating portion, the supporting shaft swings in an arbitrary direction from the concave portion of the printed wiring board as a starting point, and the flange operates to turn on and off any tact switch provided around the flange in the horizontal direction. A key structure for electronic devices that uses a tact switch. 2. In a key structure of an electronic device for turning on and off a plurality of tact switches, a cursor block having a plurality of operation parts at an upper part and an opening part of an operation panel from the lower center of the cursor block. Via a support shaft extending downwardly, a plurality of tact switches arranged in proximity to or in contact with each other so as to horizontally operate the switch section around the support shaft, and an upper part of the support shaft is elastically held. And an elastic member that closes the opening of the operation panel in a hermetically closed state. By operating the operation part of the cursor block, the support shaft swings in any direction, and the lower part of the support shaft is provided around it. Turn on any tact switch,
A key structure for electronic devices that uses a tact switch that can be turned off. 3. The key structure of an electronic device using a tact switch according to claim 1, wherein the cursor block is an operation lever.