JP2012022793A - Sheet switch and input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sheet switch which has a simple structure and allows thickness reduction, and which is also capable of ensuring appropriate key strokes by using the repulsive force of a magnet when key input is required.SOLUTION: A sheet switch comprises: a plurality of key switches 13; a key top sheet 19 which is arranged above the key switches 13, and is so formed as to press portions facing the key switches 13; a magnet holding sheet 16 on which movable magnets 17 corresponding to an alignment of the key switches 13 are arranged; and stationary magnets 14 which are provided on the side of the key switches 13 or on the side of the key top sheet 19 such that a magnetic pole of the stationary magnet faces to the same magnetic pole of the movable magnet 17.

Description

  The present invention relates to a seat switch composed of a thin key switch and an input device including the seat switch.

  Conventionally, various types of pushbutton switches have been used for input devices of electronic devices. Since these pushbutton switches are configured to include mechanical contacts and spring members, they have a structure in which a pressing feeling (click feeling) is easily obtained. However, with the recent thinning of electronic devices, input devices such as pushbutton switches and keyboards are also required to be thin, and switches having a structure suitable for such thinning are being used. .

  As a switch structure suitable for thinning, a thin sheet-like substrate, a switch electrode pattern and a fixed contact printed on the substrate, and a dome-shaped metal member disposed on the fixed contact can be pressed and deformed. There is a seat switch with a movable contact. This seat switch performs a click operation by utilizing the spring property of the movable contact.

  However, in an input device provided with a thin key switch, a click feeling may not be sufficiently obtained due to a small stroke amount when pressed. For this reason, it is unclear whether the target switch is turned on or off, and there is a drawback that an erroneous operation may occur. For this reason, conventional electronic devices equipped with input devices such as pushbutton switches and keyboards have a structure that can secure a certain degree of pressing stroke in order to obtain an appropriate click feeling in switch operation and key input operation. The key switch is used.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an input device having a structure in which a certain weight is given when a switch is clicked using a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. In this input device, the stroke amount at the time of pressing can be adjusted by mechanical parts such as a motor and a gear.

  Patent Document 2 discloses a foldable electronic device including an input unit that applies a certain stroke to a key switch by the pressure of a liquid. In this electronic apparatus, a liquid is pre-injected into a folding hinge part, and the liquid flows to the key switch side every time the input unit is opened and closed. As a result, when the input unit is opened and the key input operation is performed, the liquid that becomes the buffer material of the key switch is accumulated to ensure a certain pressing stroke, and when the input unit is closed, the liquid is hinged from the key switch. Return to the department.

JP-A-2-37627 JP 2009-284022 A JP 2009-279825 A

  In an input device such as a switch or keyboard using a mechanical part such as a magnet or a motor or a liquid as disclosed in the above-mentioned patent document, the mechanism is complicated, and the manufacturing man-hour and cost increase. For telephones and other general electronic devices, it is difficult to adopt them in terms of space and cost. In particular, in the case where it is composed of mechanical parts, there are disadvantages such as failure is likely to occur and power consumption is increased. On the other hand, in an input device having a structure using a liquid, the liquid may leak into the electronic apparatus and cause an electrical failure such as a short circuit.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a seat switch that can secure an appropriate key stroke when a key input is required and can be thinned and a seat switch using the repulsive force of a magnet. An input device is provided.

  In order to solve the above problems, a seat switch of the present invention includes a plurality of key switches, a key top sheet that is arranged above the key switches and configured to press a portion facing the key switches, A magnet holding sheet provided with movable magnets corresponding to the arrangement of the key switches, and a fixed magnet provided on the key switch side or key top sheet side and arranged so that the same magnetic poles as the movable magnets face each other. It is characterized by having.

  The input device according to the present invention includes a lower case, a board accommodated in the lower case, a key switch arranged on the board and having a fixed magnet disposed on the upper surface, and an upper side of the key switch. A key top sheet arranged to press a portion facing the key switch, and slidably disposed between the key switch and the key top sheet so that the same magnetic pole as the fixed magnet faces A magnet holding sheet having a movable magnet disposed on the key top sheet, and an upper case slidably disposed above the key top sheet so as to be interlocked with the magnet holding sheet. As a result, the movable magnet slides to a position facing the fixed magnet, and the repulsive force of both magnets raises the portion facing the key switch of the key top sheet. Characterized in that it.

  According to the seat switch of the present invention, the magnet holding sheet provided with the movable magnet corresponding to the arrangement of the key switch is disposed between the key switch and the key top sheet, and the key switch side or the key top sheet side is arranged. By arranging a fixed magnet facing the same magnetic pole as the movable magnet in any of the above, it is possible to secure a key stroke amount by adding the repulsive force of the movable magnet and the fixed magnet to the spring property of the key switch itself. It becomes possible. Accordingly, an appropriate click feeling can be obtained while the sheet switch configuration is thin and simple.

  The magnet holding sheet is slidably disposed between the key switch and the key top sheet so that the key stroke amount is set high by the repulsive force between the movable magnet and the fixed magnet, and the spring property of the key switch. Only when the keystroke amount is set to a low value can be switched.

  Further, according to the input device of the present invention, the magnet holding sheet having the movable magnet slides by the sliding opening / closing operation of the upper case. Therefore, when the key input operation is performed, the key top is caused by the repulsive force of the fixed magnet. When the seat is pushed up from the bottom to increase the stroke amount and the key input operation is not performed, the key top seat is made flat by avoiding the repulsive force of the fixed magnet, thereby facilitating storage.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a seat switch according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the open slide operation | movement of the magnet holding sheet in the said sheet switch. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the closing slide operation | movement of the magnet holding sheet in the said sheet switch. It is sectional drawing of the sheet switch of 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the sheet switch of 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the sheet switch of 3rd Embodiment.

  Embodiments of a seat switch and an input device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a seat switch according to a first embodiment incorporated in the input device, FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of main parts of the input device, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the seat switch according to the first embodiment. 5 is a sectional view of the seat switch of the second embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the seat switch of the third embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet switch 11 provided in the input device 10 of the present invention includes a board 12 on which a plurality of key switches 13 having fixed magnets 14 are arranged on the top, and is slidable on the board 12. The magnet holding sheet 16 is arranged and the movable magnet 17 and the holding magnet 18 are arranged, and the key top sheet 19 is arranged on the magnet holding sheet 16.

  As the substrate 12, a thinly molded epoxy resin plate or flexible (FPC) plate is used. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each key switch 13 includes a fixed contact 13a patterned on the substrate 12, and a movable contact 13b made of a tact spring disposed on the fixed contact 13a. A disk-shaped fixed magnet 14 is disposed on the top of the movable contact 13b. The fixed magnet 14 is fixed by covering the movable contact 13b with a thin holding sheet 15 having an adhesive surface on the back side.

  For example, when the substrate 12 is formed as a seat switch of an operation panel of a mobile phone, it is formed in a shape and size substantially the same as the operation panel, and numeric keys, alphabet keys, other function keys, and the like are arranged. A plurality of the fixed contacts 13a are provided in accordance with the locations. The movable contact 13b is a tact spring formed in a dome shape by a thin metal material having a spring property, and is arranged so that each fixed contact 13a is at the center.

  The holding sheet 15 is a flexible pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet having a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on one side, and the fixed magnet 14 is bonded and fixed in advance at a predetermined position of the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, and the surface on which the fixed magnet 14 is provided faces downward. Then, it is attached so as to be placed on the top of each key switch 13. The fixed magnet 14 is a permanent magnet whose opposing surfaces are composed of an S pole and an N pole.

  The magnet holding sheet 16 is formed of a flat resin material, and a circular through hole 20 is provided at a location corresponding to the fixed magnet 14, and a movable magnet 17 is fitted and disposed in the through hole 20. The movable magnet 17 is a disk-like permanent magnet having an S-pole surface and an N-pole surface, similar to the fixed magnet 14, and is arranged so that the same magnetic pole as the fixed magnet 14 faces each other so as to repel each other. Is done. For example, if the S pole surface of the fixed magnet 14 is up, the movable magnet 17 is arranged so that the same S pole surface is down. If the N pole surface of the fixed magnet 14 is up, the same N pole surface is placed. The movable magnet 17 is arranged so as to be below.

  The movable magnet 17 is formed with a certain thickness, and is arranged and fixed so that the upper part (pressing part) 17 a protrudes from the magnet holding sheet 16. Since the pressing portion 17a is disposed in contact with the key top sheet 19, it is preferable to form a curved surface in a dome shape so that sliding and pressing are easy. In addition, when it is desired to perform a key input operation softly, the pressing portion 17a of the movable magnet 17 can be covered with a resinous sheet, or the pressing portion 17a can be formed of a resin member.

  Further, on the lower surface of the magnet holding sheet 16, holding magnets 18 are arranged at positions spaced apart from the movable magnets 17 at regular intervals. The holding magnet 18 is arranged so that different magnetic poles face each other so as to be attracted to the fixed magnet 14. For example, if the S pole face of the fixed magnet 14 is up, the holding magnet 18 is arranged so that the N pole face is down, and if the N pole face of the fixed magnet 14 is up, the S pole face is down. The holding magnet 18 is arranged so as to be. The holding magnet 18 is provided to fix the magnet holding sheet 16 at a position where the pressing operation of the key switch 13 can be performed with only the spring amount of the movable contact 13b. As shown in FIG. 2A, when the key top sheet 19 is covered with an upper case 32 such as a mobile phone, key input is prohibited.

  The key top sheet 19 is disposed above the magnet holding sheet 16, and a portion facing the key switch 13 is a pressing point that can be bent and deformed. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the key top holding sheet 22 is provided on the lower surface of the key top sheet 19 integrally or by bonding. The key top holding sheet 22 holds the thin and flexible key top sheet 19 so as not to bend, and the movable magnet 17 is positioned on the key switch 13 when the magnet holding sheet 16 is slid. It is provided for guiding. For this reason, a hole 21 into which the pressing portion 17a of the movable magnet 17 enters is formed at a position facing the key switch 13 of the key top holding sheet 22. The key top sheet 19 is placed so as to close the hole portion 21, and numbers, symbols, and the like are printed on portions corresponding to the key switch 13. The key top sheet 19 is formed of a flexible resin material. In particular, the portion that closes the hole 21 is bent and deformed so as to protrude upward by being pushed up from below the pressing portion 17a. It is possible. One inner peripheral edge of the hole 21 has an inclined surface 21a (FIGS. 2 (a), 2 (b) and 3 (b)) so that the pressing portion 17a of the movable magnet 17 can easily enter by sliding the magnet holding sheet 16. , (C)), and the other inner peripheral surface is a vertical surface 21b (FIG. 2 (c), FIG. 3 (a)) that prevents the sliding movement of the pressing portion 17a engaged therewith. It is preferable to form it.

  The seat switch 11 having the above configuration can be mounted on various input devices. The input device 10 shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 is assumed to be a slide-open mobile phone. This type of mobile phone incorporates a sheet switch module in which the substrate 12, the magnet holding sheet 16 and the key top sheet 19 are integrated into a lower case 31 of the mobile phone so as to cover the top of the key top sheet 19. An upper case 32 on which a liquid crystal screen is mounted is arranged.

  FIG. 2 shows the movement of the magnet holding sheet 16 in the operation of opening the upper case 32 so that a key input operation can be performed, and FIG. 3 shows the movement of the magnet holding sheet 16 in the operation of closing the upper case 32. The magnet holding sheet 16 is provided with engaging projections 33 on both sides in the longitudinal direction that are interlocked with the sliding opening and closing of the upper case 32. On the other hand, an engagement long hole 34 for hooking the engagement protrusion 33 is provided on the upper case 32 side.

  FIG. 2A shows a state in which the magnet holding sheet 16 is fixed at a position where the fixed magnet 14 and the holding magnet 18 are attracted to each other on the key switch 13 and the key switch 13 is covered with the upper case 32 so that the key switch 13 is hidden. Indicates the state. As shown in FIG. 2B, when the upper case 32 is slid to the left in the figure from this state, the holding magnet 18 is detached from the fixed magnet 14, and the magnet holding sheet is inserted into the engagement long hole 34 of the upper case 32. 16 engaging protrusions 33 are caught. Thereby, the magnet holding sheet 16 slides to the left in the drawing. As shown in FIG. 2C, when the movable magnet 17 slides on the fixed magnet 14, the magnet holding sheet 16 is lifted by the magnetic repulsive force, and the pressing portion 17 a of the movable magnet 17 becomes the hole of the key top sheet 19. The slide of the magnet holding sheet 16 is stopped at the position where it is fitted in the portion 21.

  FIG. 3A shows a state in which the upper case 32 is opened and a key input is possible while maintaining the stroke amount due to the repulsive force between the fixed magnet 14 and the movable magnet 17. 3B, when the upper case 32 is slid to the right side in the drawing, the movable magnet 17 is detached from the fixed magnet 14, and the magnet holding sheet is inserted into the engagement long hole 34 of the upper case 32. 16 engaging protrusions 33 are caught. Thereby, the magnet holding sheet 16 slides to the right side in the drawing. As shown in FIG. 3C, when the holding magnet 18 slides on and is attracted to the fixed magnet 14, the stroke amount at the time of key input becomes the minimum amount of only the spring property of the movable contact 13b. At this time point, the upper case 32 and the magnet holding sheet 16 are disengaged, so that the upper case 32 is further slid to the right side in the drawing as shown in FIG. The sheet switch 11 is closed and the seat switch 11 is stored.

  Next, the operation of the seat switch 11 of the first embodiment will be described. In addition, the slide mechanism of the magnet holding sheet 16 is omitted. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the sheet switch in a state where the key stroke amount is minimum, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the sheet switch in a state where the key stroke amount is maximum.

  In the state of FIG. 4A, the movable magnet 17 is retracted to a position away from the key switch 13, and the holding magnet 18 is attracted to the fixed magnet 14 to fix the magnet holding sheet 16. In this state, the key stroke amount is minimized because it depends only on the spring property of the movable contact 13b. In the state of FIG. 4B, the holding magnet 18 is detached from the fixed magnet 14, and the magnet holding sheet 16 slides to the left in the drawing from the state of FIG. As a result, the movable magnet 17 moves on the fixed magnet 14, the movable magnet 17 is lifted by the magnetic repulsive force, and the pressing portion 17 a pushes up the key top sheet 19 through the hole 21 of the key top holding sheet 22. Thus, a stroke amount corresponding to the magnetic repulsion force between the fixed magnet 14 and the movable magnet 17 is ensured, and a key input operation with an appropriate click feeling can be performed.

  FIGS. 5A and 5B show the configuration and operation of the seat switch 41 of the second embodiment. In addition, the part which is common in the sheet switch 11 of 1st Embodiment attaches | subjects and demonstrates the same code | symbol. The key top sheet 42 of this embodiment does not use the key top holding sheet 22 used in the first embodiment, but is made of a single resin material that can maintain a planar shape while having a pressable flexibility. A dent 43 is formed on the lower surface to allow the pressing portion 17a of the movable magnet 17 to enter. Thus, it becomes possible to suppress the whole thickness by making the key top sheet 42 into a single configuration. Further, by providing the recess 43, the movable magnet 17 can be easily guided to a position corresponding to the key switch 13, and when the pressing portion 17a of the movable magnet enters the recess 43, the key of that portion is provided. The top sheet 42 can be raised so as to be easily pressed. In addition, about the board | substrate which is another component, the key switch in which a fixed magnet is arrange | positioned, the magnet holding sheet | seat in which a movable magnet and a holding magnet are arrange | positioned, it is the same as that of the sheet switch 11 of 1st Embodiment.

  In the state of FIG. 5A, the movable magnet 17 is retracted to a position away from the key switch 13, and the holding magnet 18 is attracted to the fixed magnet 14 to fix the magnet holding sheet 16. In the state of FIG. 5B, the holding magnet 18 is detached from the fixed magnet 14, and the magnet holding sheet 16 slides to the left in the drawing from the state of FIG. When the movable magnet 17 moves on the fixed magnet 14, the movable magnet 17 is lifted by the magnetic repulsive force, and the pressing portion 17 a pushes up the lower surface of the key top sheet 42. As a result, a stroke corresponding to the repulsive force between the fixed magnet 14 and the movable magnet 17 is secured, and a key input operation with an appropriate click feeling can be performed.

  FIGS. 6A and 6B show the configuration and operation of the seat switch 51 of the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the key top sheet 52 is formed of a single resin material, the fixed magnet 14 is arranged on the lower surface corresponding to the key switch 13, and the magnet repels the fixed magnet 14 on the upper surface of the magnet holding sheet 16. A movable magnet 17 having a surface is disposed. Except for the point that the fixed magnet 14 is provided on the key top sheet 52 side, the substrate and the key switch are the same as the sheet switch in the first and second embodiments, and thus description thereof is omitted. As shown in FIG. 6A, the seat switch 51 in this embodiment is retracted to a position away from the fixed magnet 14 when the key input operation is not performed, and FIG. As shown, when the key input operation is performed, the magnet holding sheet 16 is slid to a position where the movable magnet 17 faces the fixed magnet 14. As a result, the key top sheet 52 in the portion where the fixed magnet 14 is disposed is pushed up, and a certain stroke amount is secured. The present embodiment has the simplest and thinest configuration in which the key input stroke amount is variable only by the magnetic repulsive force of the fixed magnet 14 and the movable magnet 17. Further, since it is not necessary to dispose the fixed magnet 14 on the key switch 13, a module made up of the magnet holding sheet 16 and the key top sheet 52 may be mounted on another type of key switch having different spring characteristics. Is possible.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the seat switch of the present invention is applied to a slide opening / closing type mobile phone has been shown. However, a folding type mobile phone can be incorporated by providing a slide mechanism on a hinge portion or the like. It becomes. Moreover, it can mount not only in a mobile telephone but in the electronic device provided with the keyboard of the portable terminal, and other key input devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Input device 11 Sheet switch 12 Board | substrate 13 Key switch 13a Fixed contact 13b Movable contact 14 Fixed magnet 15 Holding sheet 16 Magnet holding sheet 17 Movable magnet 17a Press part 18 Holding magnet 19 Key top sheet 20 Through-hole 21 Hole 21a Inclined surface 21b Vertical surface 22 Key top holding sheet 31 Lower case 32 Upper case 33 Engaging protrusion 34 Engaging slot 41 Sheet switch 42 Key top sheet 43 Recessed portion 51 Sheet switch 52 Key top sheet

Claims (9)

Multiple key switches,
A key top sheet disposed above the key switch and configured to press a portion facing the key switch;
A magnet holding sheet provided with movable magnets corresponding to the arrangement of the key switches;
A sheet switch, comprising: a fixed magnet provided on the key switch side or the key top sheet side and arranged so that the same magnetic pole as the movable magnet faces.   2. The sheet switch according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the key top sheet that faces the key switch is raised by a repulsive force of both magnets at a position where the movable magnet faces the fixed magnet.   2. The sheet according to claim 1, wherein a key top holding sheet is provided on a lower surface of the key top sheet, and a hole portion into which the upper portion of the movable magnet enters is formed at a position facing the key switch of the key top holding sheet. switch.   The seat switch according to claim 3, wherein an inner peripheral edge of the hole portion on a side where the movable magnet enters is inclined.   The sheet switch according to claim 1, wherein a recess is formed on a lower surface of the key top sheet so that an upper portion of the movable magnet enters at a position facing the key switch.   The sheet switch according to claim 1, wherein the magnet holding sheet includes a holding magnet disposed at a position away from the movable magnet so that a magnetic pole different from the fixed magnet faces.   The magnet holding sheet is disposed between the key switch and the key top sheet, and is slidable along the key top sheet at least while the movable magnet and the holding magnet move to a position facing the fixed magnet. The seat switch according to claim 1.   The sheet switch according to claim 1, wherein the movable magnet protrudes from an upper surface of the magnet holding sheet, and an upper portion thereof is curved in a dome shape. The lower case,
A substrate housed in the lower case;
A plurality of key switches arranged on the substrate and having fixed magnets disposed on the upper surface;
A key top sheet disposed above the key switch and configured to press a portion facing the key switch;
A magnet holding sheet having a movable magnet, which is slidably disposed between the key switch and the key top sheet, and is disposed such that the same magnetic pole as the fixed magnet is opposed to the key switch;
An upper case slidably disposed above the key top sheet so as to interlock with the magnet holding sheet;
When the upper case is slid open, the movable magnet slides to a position facing the fixed magnet, and a portion facing the key switch of the key top sheet is raised by the repulsive force of both magnets. Input device.

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