JP2012138237A - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard device capable of surely performing key operation with a contact-point pressurizing part that adjoins a point on which a pressurizing operation is made, even if the pressurizing operation is made at the peripheral part of a compound type key top such as a large key top, for improved reliability in key operation.SOLUTION: A key contact-point sheet 11 at a point corresponding to the periphery of a large key top 8 containing a plurality of portions corresponding to a plurality of key displays, is provided with a pressurizing guiding part 15 for, when the peripheral edge of the large key top 8 is pressurized, guiding the pressurizing force to a closest contact-point pressurizing part 11b among a plurality of contact-point pressurizing parts 11b corresponding to the large key top 8, for pressurizing operation on the closest contact-point pressurizing part 11b. Consequently, even if the peripheral edge of the large key top 8 is pressurized, a contact-point pressurizing part 11b which is closest to the point of pressurizing operation is applied with key operation with sure by the pressurizing guiding part 15, resulting in improved reliability in key operation.

Description

  The present invention relates to a keyboard device used in electronic equipment such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, and an electronic dictionary.

  For example, in a keyboard device used in a mobile phone, as described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of single key tops having a portion corresponding to one key display such as a character key, and a cursor A composite key top having a plurality of portions each corresponding to a plurality of key displays such as a key and a center key and larger than the size of a single key top, and the plurality of single key tops and composite key tops Are known to have a key contact sheet that is independently arranged.

JP 2009-296275 A

  The key contact sheet of such a keyboard device is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and a plurality of bulging portions in which a plurality of single key tops and a composite type key top are independently arranged are formed in a dome shape, respectively. Each of the plurality of bulges has a configuration in which contact pressing portions respectively corresponding to the respective key display portions of the plurality of single key tops and composite key tops are provided.

  In such a keyboard device, a plurality of single key tops having a portion corresponding to one key display such as a character key among the plurality of single key tops and composite key tops are pressed. Then, the bulging portion of the key contact sheet disposed on the lower side thereof is elastically deformed, and the contact pressing portion in the elastically deforming bulging portion is pushed down to press the contact portion of the switch board.

  In addition, when a composite key top having a plurality of portions corresponding respectively to a plurality of key displays such as a cursor key and a center key is pressed, the bulged portion of the key contact sheet disposed below the elastic key top is elastically deformed. Of the plurality of contact pressing portions provided in the elastically deformed bulging portion, the contact pressing portion corresponding to the key display portion where the pressing operation is performed is pressed down to press the contact portion of the switch board. .

  However, in such a conventional keyboard device, when a composite key top having a plurality of portions corresponding to a plurality of key displays is pressed, the peripheral portion of the composite large key top is pressed. Since the key contact sheet on which the adjacent single key top is disposed is pulled, the single key top may also be pressed together with the composite key top.

  In such a case, of the plurality of contact pressing portions provided in the bulging portion of the key contact sheet corresponding to the composite key top, only the contact pressing portion that is closest to the pressed portion is reliably pressed. There is a problem that the key operation cannot be performed and the reliability of the key operation is lacking.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that, even if the peripheral portion of the composite type key top is pressed, the contact pressing portion adjacent to the pressed portion can be reliably operated by the key. It is an object to provide a keyboard device that can enhance the performance.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention includes the following components.
The invention according to claim 1 has a plurality of single key tops having a portion corresponding to one key display, and a plurality of portions respectively corresponding to a plurality of key displays. A large composite key top, and a plurality of bulge portions on which the plurality of single key tops and the composite key top are independently arranged, and the plurality of single key tops are disposed in the plurality of bulge portions. A plurality of the single key tops and the composite key, each having a resilient key contact sheet provided with each contact pressing portion corresponding to each part of each key display of the key top and the composite key top. When the top is pressed, each bulge portion of the key contact sheet is elastically deformed, and the contact pressing portion presses the keyboard device,
The contact points corresponding to the composite key top when the peripheral edge portion of the composite key top is pressed on the key contact sheet at a location corresponding to the periphery of the composite key top. It is a keyboard device characterized in that a pressure guiding part is provided for guiding the closest contact pressing part among the pressing parts and pressing the closest contact pressing part.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the keyboard device according to the first aspect, the pressing guide portion is located at a location corresponding to a boundary portion between the composite key top and the single key top adjacent thereto. A buffer portion provided on the key contact sheet, and a guide fulcrum portion provided on the key contact sheet located at a location adjacent to the buffer portion in the bulging portion of the key contact sheet corresponding to the composite key top A keyboard device characterized by comprising:

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the keyboard device according to the second aspect, the buffer portion is located at a boundary portion between the composite key top and the single key top adjacent thereto. It is formed in the shape which isolate | separates by slack.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the keyboard device according to the second aspect, the guide fulcrum receives the pressing force when a peripheral edge of the composite key top is pressed, and the composite type The key top is formed in a shape that is tilted by rotating the composite key top toward the direction in which the nearest contact pressing portion located in the bulging portion of the corresponding key contact sheet is pressed down. This is a keyboard device.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the keyboard device according to any of the first to fourth aspects, the upper surface of the key contact sheet corresponds to the plurality of single key tops and the composite key top, respectively. The keyboard device is characterized in that a reinforcing plate provided with a plurality of openings for inserting each of the bulging portions to be exposed and exposed upward is disposed.

  According to the present invention, when the peripheral portion of the composite key top is pressed, the plurality of contacts corresponding to the composite key top with the pressing force operated by the pressing guide provided on the key contact sheet. It is possible to guide the closest contact pressing portion of the pressing portions and perform a pressing operation on the closest contact pressing portion. For this reason, even if the peripheral part of the composite key top is pressed, only the contact pressing part close to the pressed part can be reliably operated by the key, thereby improving the reliability of the key operation. Can do.

It is the front view which showed one Embodiment which applied this invention to the portable information terminal. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the portable information terminal shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the portable information terminal shown in FIG. 1 with an upper case and a keyboard device disassembled. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of the keyboard device shown in FIG. 3 in an exploded manner. It is the expansion perspective view which looked at the key contact sheet | seat shown by FIG. 4 from the back surface side. It is the expanded sectional view which showed the principal part in the BB arrow of the keyboard apparatus shown by FIG. 6 shows an operation state in the keyboard device shown in FIG. 6, (a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which the large key top is tilted when the peripheral portion of the large key top is pressed, and (b) is a pressing state. It is the expanded sectional view which showed the state in which the operated large keytop inclined and the contact press part of the key contact sheet pushed down the dome part of the dome plate. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which the keyboard device illustrated in FIG. 3 is assembled to the upper case with a positioning jig.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a portable information terminal will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the portable information terminal includes a device case 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the device case 1 includes an upper case 2 and a lower case 3, and an input display unit 4 and a keyboard device 5 are provided in an exposed state on the upper side of the upper case 1. It is configured.

  The input display unit 4 includes a transparent touch panel and a display panel. The transparent touch panel is configured to input information by touching the surface. The display panel is a flat display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel or an EL (electroluminescence) display panel, and is configured to display various information associated with information processing electro-optically.

  The input display unit 4 has a display panel disposed below the transparent touch panel, and is incorporated in the upper case 2 in this state. Thereby, in this input display unit 4, the transparent touch panel is exposed from the display opening 2a of the upper case 2 to the upper side, and the information displayed on the display panel is seen from above through the transparent touch panel and displayed on the display panel. A transparent touch panel is touch-operated while viewing information.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the keyboard device 5 includes various keys necessary for information processing such as character keys, cursor keys, function keys, and center keys. As shown in FIG. The upper surface of the upper case 2 is exposed upward from the key opening 2b.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, the keyboard device 5 includes various key tops 6 to 8, a reinforcing plate 10, a key contact sheet 11, a dome plate 12, and a switch substrate 13 that are stacked in that order. Combined configuration. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the various key tops 6 to 8 are a plurality of single key tops 6 such as character keys, a medium key top 7 such as cursor keys, and a large key top 8 such as a center key. The medium key top 7 and the large key top 8 are collectively referred to as a composite key top.

  In this case, the key tops 6 to 8 are independently formed of synthetic resins such as polycarbonate (PC), ABS resin, and vinyl chloride. A plurality of single key tops 6 such as character keys have a portion corresponding to one key display on the upper surface thereof. The part corresponding to the key display in this embodiment is the key display part when the key display is displayed, and the key display is originally displayed when the key display is not displayed. It is a part to be done.

  Further, the medium-sized key top 7 such as a cursor key has a plurality of portions corresponding to 2 to 5 key displays on the upper surface, and the number of portions corresponding to the key display is larger than that of the single key top 6. Largely formed. The large key top 8 such as a center key has a plurality of portions corresponding to six or more key displays on the upper surface thereof, and is larger than the single key top 6 by the number of portions corresponding to the key display, and It is formed larger than the medium key top 7.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the large key top 8 is formed in an almost elliptical shape as a whole. In this case, an embankment-shaped outer bulge portion 8a is formed around the large key top 8, and an approximately elliptic plate-shaped inner bulge portion 8b is formed at the center thereof. Further, a valley portion 8c is formed between the inner rising portion 8b and the outer rising portion 8a. The large key top 8 has a plurality of portions corresponding to three key displays on the upper surface of the inner rising portion 8b, and a plurality of portions corresponding to four key displays on the upper surface of the outer rising portion 8a. It is the composition which has.

  On the other hand, the key contact sheet 11 is made of an elastic synthetic resin such as silicone rubber or elastomer, and a plurality of single key tops 6, medium key tops 7, and large key tops 8 are independent of each other as shown in FIG. A plurality of bulged portions 11a are provided so as to protrude upward in a dome shape, and a plurality of single key tops 6 and a middle size are formed in the plurality of bulged portions 11a as shown in FIG. Each of the key presses 7 and the large key tops 8 is provided with contact pressing portions 11b corresponding to the respective key display portions.

  In this case, among the bulging portions 11 a of the key contact sheet 11, a partition portion 11 d is provided on the inner surface of the large key top 8 on the inner surface of the bulging portion 11 a where the large key top 8 is disposed, as shown in FIG. It is provided along the outer periphery of the rising part 8b. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, the groove part 11e is provided in the upper surface of the bulging part 11a in which this large sized keytop 8 is arrange | positioned corresponding to the partition part 11d.

  A plurality of single key tops 6, medium key tops 7, and large key tops 8 are attached to the upper surface of each bulging portion 11 a of the key contact sheet 11 with an adhesive in an independent state. Yes. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 2-5, the thick contact part 11c is provided in the peripheral part of this key contact sheet | seat 11 along the perimeter continuously. As shown in FIG. 2, the attachment portion 11 c is configured such that the upper surface thereof is adhered to the lower surface of the inner peripheral edge of the key opening 2 b of the upper case 2 with an adhesive tape 14.

  Thereby, the key contact sheet 11 is configured to be attached to the upper case 2 in a state where the upper surface of each bulging portion 11 a is disposed in the key opening 2 b of the upper case 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of support legs 11f are provided at predetermined positions on the lower surface of the key contact sheet 11 at the same height as the lower surface of the attachment portion 11c.

  The reinforcing plate 10 is made of a thin metal plate such as stainless steel. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of openings 10 a that are inserted into the bulged portions 11 a of the key contact sheet 11 and protrude upward are provided. The single key top 6, the medium key top 7, and the large key top 8 are provided in different sizes.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the reinforcing plate 10 is formed so that its outer shape is slightly smaller than the inner periphery of the attachment portion 11 c of the key contact sheet 11, and its thickness is the attachment portion of the key contact sheet 11. The thickness is approximately the same as the thickness corresponding to the step between 11c and the upper surface of the key contact sheet 11 (about 0.3 mm).

  The reinforcing plate 10 is bonded to the key contact sheet 11 with an adhesive in a state where the bulged portions 11a of the key contact sheet 11 are inserted into the plurality of openings 10a and protrude upward. It is configured. In this case, the reinforcing plate 10 is arranged with a gap between the outer peripheral surface thereof and the inner peripheral surface of the mounting portion 11 c of the key contact sheet 11.

  On the other hand, the dome plate 12 is made of a thin metal plate such as stainless steel, and each of the elastic dome portions 12a is provided corresponding to each contact pressing portion 11b of the key contact sheet 11 as shown in FIGS. It has been configured. The dome plate 12 is disposed on the switch board 13 below the key contact sheet 11, and in this state, when each dome portion 12a is pressed by each contact pressing portion 11b, it is elastically deformed. It is configured.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the switch board 13 is provided with fixed contacts 13 a on the upper surface thereof corresponding to the dome portions 12 a of the dome plate 12, and the upper surface of the dome plate 12 is the key contact sheet 11. It is comprised so that it may assemble | attach in the upper case 2 in the state arrange | positioned in contact with each lower surface of the attaching part 11c and the several support leg 11f.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the switch board 13 is elastically deformed when each dome portion 12a is pressed by each contact pressing portion 11b of the key contact sheet 11 and elastically deformed. Is configured to be able to obtain a key signal by making contact with each fixed contact 13a so as to be able to contact and separate.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the dome plate 12 is placed in the upper case 2 in a state where it is arranged in contact with the lower surface of the mounting portion 11c of the key contact sheet 11 and the plurality of support legs 11f together with the switch substrate 13. When assembled, the upper end portion of each dome portion 12 a is configured to approach or contact the lower surface of each contact pressing portion 11 b of the key contact sheet 11.

  By the way, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the peripheral portion of the large key top 8 is pressed on the key contact sheet 11 at a location corresponding to the periphery of the large key top 8, Of the plurality of contact pressing portions 11b provided in the bulging portion 11a of the key contact sheet 11 corresponding to the large key top 8, the closest contact pressing portion 11b is guided to the nearest contact pressing portion 11b. A pressure guiding portion 15 is provided for the purpose.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pressing guide portion 15 is formed on the key contact sheet 11 at a location corresponding to a boundary portion between the large key top 8 and the single key top 6 or the middle key top 7 adjacent thereto. A buffer portion 16 provided and a guide fulcrum portion 17 provided on the key contact sheet 11 located at a location adjacent to the buffer portion 16 in the bulged portion 11 a of the key contact sheet 11 corresponding to the large key top 8. I have.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the buffer 16 has a shape that separates the key contact sheet 11 located at the boundary between the large key top 8 and the single key top 6 adjacent to the large key top 8 by loosening, for example, a V-shape. It is formed into a shape. The guide fulcrum portion 17 receives the pressing force when the peripheral portion of the large key top 8 is pressed, and the closest contact located in the bulging portion 11a of the key contact sheet 11 corresponding to the large key top 8. The large-sized keytop 8 is formed in a protruding shape that is tilted by rotating in the direction in which the pressing portion 11b is pushed down.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the guide fulcrum part 17 is formed such that its vertical length (height) is slightly longer than the vertical length (height) of the buffer part 16. As a result, even if the guiding fulcrum portion 17 is deformed so that the buffer portion 16 extends when the large key top 8 is pressed, as shown in FIGS. The buffer portion 16 is configured to come into contact with the dome plate 12 in a floating state without reaching the dome plate 12.

  Moreover, in order to make it easy to incline the large key top 8, it is desirable that the lower end portion of the guide fulcrum portion 17 is formed in an arc shape. Furthermore, it is desirable that the buffer portion 16 and the guide fulcrum portion 17 of the pressing guide portion 15 are continuously formed along the periphery of the bulging portion 11 a of the key contact sheet 11 corresponding to the large key top 8. It is not always necessary to be formed continuously along the periphery of the bulging portion 11a.

Next, a case where such a keyboard device 5 is assembled in the upper case 2 will be described.
In this case, first, the reinforcing plate 10 is attached on the key contact sheet 11. At this time, each bulging portion 11 a of the key contact sheet 11 is inserted into each opening 10 a of the reinforcing plate 10 from below, and an attachment portion 11 c formed on the outer peripheral surface of the reinforcing plate 10 and the outer periphery of the key contact sheet 11. Correspond with a gap between the inner peripheral surface. In this state, a plurality of locations on the lower surface of the reinforcing plate 10 and the upper surface of the key contact sheet 11 are bonded with an adhesive.

  Thereby, the reinforcing plate 10 is attached onto the key contact sheet 11 in a state where the bulging portions 11 a of the key contact sheet 11 protrude above the reinforcing plate 10. In this state, even if the key contact sheet 11 is formed of an elastic synthetic resin, the rigidity of the key contact sheet 11 is ensured by the reinforcing plate 10. Thereafter, the plurality of single key tops 6, the medium key tops 7, and the large key tops 8 are made independent from each other on the upper surface of each bulging portion 11 a of the key contact sheet 11 protruding above the reinforcing plate 10. Glue by.

  Next, the key contact sheet 11 to which the reinforcing plate 10, the plurality of single key tops 6, the middle key top 7, and the large key top 8 are attached is assembled in the upper case 2. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the positioning jig 18 is inserted into the key opening 2b of the upper case 2 from above and arranged. In this case, the positioning jig 18 is formed in a thin frame shape in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the key opening 2 b of the upper case 2.

  With the positioning jig 18 inserted into the key opening 2 b of the upper case 2, the key contact sheet 11 is positioned by the positioning jig 18 from the lower side of the upper case 2. At this time, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, the lower end portion of the positioning jig 18 is inserted into the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the attachment portion 11 c of the key contact sheet 11 and the outer peripheral surface of the reinforcing plate 10.

  In this state, the key contact sheet 11 is pushed up, and the upper surface of the mounting portion 11 c of the key contact sheet 11 is adhered to the lower surface of the edge portion of the key opening 2 b of the upper case 2 by the adhesive tape 14. Even at this time, even if the key contact sheet 11 is made of an elastic synthetic resin, the rigidity of the key contact sheet 11 is ensured by the reinforcing plate 10, so that the positioning operation of the key contact sheet 11 by the positioning jig 18 is performed. The key contact sheet 11 is easily attached to the upper case 2 as well.

  Thereafter, the positioning jig 18 is pulled upward from the key opening 2 b of the upper case 2, and the switch board 13 on which the dome plate 12 is mounted is disposed on the lower surface of the key contact sheet 11. At this time, the dome plate 12 is arranged on the switch substrate 13 in advance, and each fixed contact 13a of the switch substrate 13 and the dome portion 12a of the dome plate 12 are associated with each other.

  In this state, the switch substrate 13 is fixed in the upper case 2 together with the dome plate 12. At this time, the upper surface of the dome plate 12 is brought into contact with the lower surfaces of the mounting portion 11c provided on the outer periphery of the key contact sheet 11 and the plurality of support legs 11f, so that as shown in FIGS. A gap is provided between 11 and the dome plate 12.

  As a result, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the upper case 2 in a state in which each dome portion 12 a of the dome plate 12 and each fixed contact 13 a of the switch substrate 13 correspond to each contact pressing b 11 b of the key contact sheet 11. Inside, the dome plate 12 and the switch board 13 are assembled.

Next, the operation of the keyboard device 5 of such a portable information terminal will be described.
When a plurality of single key tops 6 having a portion corresponding to one key display such as a character key among the plurality of single key tops 6, medium-sized key tops 7, and large key tops 8 are pressed. The bulging portion 11a of the key contact sheet 11 on which the single key top 6 that has been pressed is disposed is elastically deformed.

  Then, the contact pressing part 11b provided in the bulging part 11a of this elastically deformed key contact sheet 11 is pushed down. The pressed contact pressing portion 11 b presses the dome portion 12 a of the dome plate 12 to be elastically deformed, and the elastically deformed dome portion 12 a contacts the fixed contact 13 a of the switch substrate 13. Thereby, the key signal of the single key top 6 is obtained.

  Also, a medium key top 7 having a plurality of portions corresponding respectively to a plurality of key displays such as cursor keys, and a large key top 8 having a plurality of portions respectively corresponding to a plurality of key displays such as a center key. When the pressing operation is performed, the bulging portion 11a of the key contact sheet 11 on which the pressed middle key top 7 and the large key top 8 are arranged is elastically deformed, and a plurality of contact pressing portions 11b inside thereof are elastically deformed. Of these, only the contact pressing part 11b corresponding to the pressed part is pushed down.

  As a result, only the contact pressing portion 11b corresponding to the key display portion where the pressing operation has been performed, elastically deforms the dome portion 12a of the dome plate 12 as in the case of the single key top 6, and this elastically deformed dome. The part 12 a contacts the fixed contact 13 a of the switch substrate 13. As a result, a key signal corresponding to the pressed key display portion of the medium key top 7 and the large key top 8 is obtained.

  By the way, when the peripheral portion of such a large key top 8 is pressed, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the pressing guide portion 15 provided on the key contact sheet 11 The pressed pressure is guided to the nearest contact pressing portion 11b among the plurality of contact pressing portions 11b of the key contact sheet 11 corresponding to the large key top 8, and the nearest contact pressing portion 11b is pressed. Let

  At this time, the buffer portion 16 of the pressing guide portion 15 provided on the key contact sheet 11 at a location corresponding to the boundary between the large key top 8 and the single key top 6 or the middle key top 7 adjacent thereto is the key Since the contact sheet 11 is formed in a shape that allows the contact sheet 11 to be separated by slack, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, even if the peripheral edge of the large key top 8 is pressed, The key contact sheet 11 corresponding to the one key top 6 or the middle key top 7 is not pulled down and pushed down, but only the peripheral portion of the large key top 8 that has been pressed is pushed down.

  Further, at this time, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the key located at a location adjacent to the buffer portion 16 in the bulging portion 11 a of the key contact sheet 11 corresponding to the large key top 8. The guide fulcrum portion 17 of the pressing guide portion 15 provided on the contact sheet 11 is slightly pushed down and comes into contact with the dome plate 12 on the switch substrate 13 in accordance with the pressing operation of the peripheral portion of the large key top 8. Thereby, the pressing force accompanying the pressing operation of the peripheral portion of the large key top 8 is received by the guiding fulcrum portion 17.

  Then, with the guide fulcrum part 17 as a fulcrum, as shown in FIG. 7B, the large key top 8 is directed in the direction of pushing down the nearest contact pressing part 11b among the plurality of contact pressing parts 11b corresponding thereto. The closest contact pressing part 11b is pushed down by the inclination of the large key top 8 by rotating and tilting. As a result, the contact pressing portion 11b closest to the peripheral portion of the large key top 8 that has been pressed causes the dome portion 12a of the dome plate 12 to elastically deform, and this elastically deformed dome portion 12a becomes the fixed contact 13a of the switch substrate 13. Contact.

  For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7B, the single key top 6 or the middle key top 7 adjacent to the pressed large key top 8 is not affected, and a plurality of keys on the large key top 8 are not affected. Of the plurality of portions corresponding to the respective displays, a key signal corresponding to only the portion of the key display closest to the peripheral portion of the large key top 8 that has been pressed is obtained.

  As described above, according to the keyboard device 5 of the portable information terminal, the large key top 8 is attached to the key contact sheet 11 at a location corresponding to the periphery of the large key top 8 having portions corresponding to a plurality of key displays. When the peripheral portion is pressed, the pressing force is guided to the nearest contact pressing portion 11b among the plurality of contact pressing portions 11b corresponding to the large key top 8, and the nearest contact pressing portion 11b is pressed. Therefore, even if the peripheral part of the large key top 8 is pressed, the contact pressing part 11b close to the pressed part can be reliably operated by the key. This can increase the reliability of the key operation.

  That is, in the keyboard device 5, when the peripheral portion of the large key top 8 is pressed, the pressing force provided by the key contact sheet 11 corresponds to the pressing force applied to the large key top 8. It is possible to guide the closest contact pressing portion 11b among the plurality of contact pressing portions 11b of the key contact sheet 11 to perform the pressing operation on the closest contact pressing portion 11b. For this reason, even if the peripheral portion of the large key top 8 is pressed, the contact pressing portion 11b that is closest to the pressed portion can be reliably and satisfactorily operated by the key, thereby ensuring the reliability of the key operation. In addition to improving the performance, the large key top 8 can be further increased in size.

  In this case, the pressing guide 15 includes a buffer 16 provided on the key contact sheet 11 at a location corresponding to the boundary between the large key top 8 and the single key top 6 or the middle key top 7 adjacent thereto, By providing a guide fulcrum portion 17 provided on the key contact sheet 11 located at a location adjacent to the buffer portion 6 in the bulging portion 11a of the key contact sheet 11 corresponding to the large key top 8, a large key When the peripheral portion of the top 8 is pressed, the key contact closest to the peripheral portion of the large key top 8 that has been pressed without affecting the single key top 6 or the middle key top 7 adjacent thereto. Only the contact pressing portion 11b of the sheet 11 can be reliably operated by the key, and this also increases the reliability of the key operation.

  That is, the buffer portion 16 of the press guide portion 15 is formed in a shape that separates the key contact sheet 11 located at the boundary between the large key top 8 and the adjacent single key top 6 or the middle key top 7 by loosening. As a result, when the peripheral edge of the large key top 8 is pressed, the key contact sheet 11 corresponding to the adjacent single key top 6 or the middle key top 7 is not pulled down and pushed down. Without affecting the single key top 6 or the medium key top 7, it is possible to reliably and satisfactorily press down only the peripheral edge of the large key top 8 that has been pressed.

  Further, the guide fulcrum portion 17 of the pressing guide portion 15 receives the pressing force when the peripheral portion of the large key top 8 is pressed, and the closest contact of the key contact sheet 11 corresponding to the large key top 8. By forming the large key top 8 to be tilted in the direction in which the pressing portion 11b is pushed down, when the peripheral portion of the large key top 8 is pressed, the guide fulcrum portion 17 is pushed down slightly. The large key top 8 is supported by the dome plate 12 on the switch board 13 and the contact pressing part 11b closest to the guiding fulcrum part 17 is pushed down with the guiding fulcrum part 17 as a fulcrum in this state. The contact pressing part 11b closest to the guiding fulcrum part 17 as a fulcrum can be reliably and satisfactorily pushed down.

  In addition, according to the keyboard device 5 of the portable information terminal, each bulging portion 11 a corresponding to each of the plurality of single key tops 6, the middle key top 7, and the large key top 8 is provided on the upper surface of the key contact sheet 11. Since the reinforcing plate 10 is provided with a plurality of openings 10a for inserting and exposing upward, the rigidity of the key contact sheet 11 can be secured by the reinforcing plate 10, thereby The contact sheet 11 can be easily assembled to the upper case 2.

  In this case, the reinforcing plate 10 is made of a thin metal plate such as stainless steel, and the reinforcing plate 10 can be easily attached to the key contact sheet 11 by simply bonding the plurality of portions to the key contact sheet 11 with an adhesive. Further, since the outer shape of the reinforcing plate 10 is formed slightly smaller than the inner periphery of the mounting portion 11c of the key contact sheet 11, the periphery of the reinforcing plate 10 can be positioned by the positioning jig 18. In this state, the key contact sheet 11 can be assembled to the upper case 2.

  For this reason, the key contact sheet 11 having elasticity can be accurately positioned and attached to the upper case 2 by the reinforcing plate 10, and the rigidity of the key contact sheet 11 is secured by the reinforcing plate 10, The key contact sheet 11 can be easily and easily attached to the upper case 2 with the adhesive tape 14, thereby improving the assembly workability, and the key contact sheet 11 is attached to the upper case 2 with the adhesive tape 14. By being affixed by, waterproofness can be secured.

  Further, in the keyboard device 5 of the portable information terminal, the single key top 6, the medium key top 7, and the large key top 8 are arranged on the upper surface of the bulging portion 11 a of the key contact sheet 11 corresponding to the large key top 8. Since the groove portion 11e for dividing the outer peripheral side and the inner peripheral side is provided, and the partition portion 11d is provided on the inner surface of the bulged portion 11a, the large key top 8 is placed on the bulged portion 11a of the key contact sheet 11. Even when the bulging portion 11a has a large bonding area, the large key top 8 can be reliably and satisfactorily bonded to the upper surface of the bulging portion 11a.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the pressing guide portion 15 is provided on the key contact sheet 11 corresponding to the boundary portion between the large key top 8 and a plurality of single key tops or the middle key tops 7 adjacent thereto is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the pressing guide portion 15 may be provided on the key contact sheet 11 corresponding to the boundary portion between the medium-sized key top 7 and a plurality of single key tops or large key tops 8 adjacent thereto. .

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a portable information terminal is described. However, the portable information terminal is not necessarily required. For example, various types of devices such as a cellular phone, an electronic dictionary, and a small electronic calculator (calculator) are used. It can be widely applied to electronic devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Device case 2 Upper case 2a Key opening part 4 Input display part 5 Keyboard apparatus 6 Single key top 7 Medium-sized key top 8 Large key top 10 Reinforcement board 10a Opening part 11 Key contact sheet 11a Expansion part 11b Contact pressing part 11c Installation Part 12 Dome plate 12a Dome part 13 Switch board 13a Fixed contact 14 Adhesive tape 15 Press guide part 16 Buffer part 17 Guide fulcrum part 18 Positioning jig

Claims (5)

A plurality of single key tops having a portion corresponding to one key display; a composite key top having a plurality of portions each corresponding to a plurality of key displays and larger than the size of the single key top; The plurality of single key tops and the composite type key top each have a plurality of bulges arranged independently, and the plurality of single key tops and the composite type key tops are disposed in the plurality of bulges. A key contact sheet having elasticity provided with each contact pressing portion corresponding to each part of each key display, when the plurality of single key tops and the composite key top are pressed, The keyboard device in which each bulging portion of the key contact sheet is elastically deformed and the respective contact pressing portions are pressed.
The contact points corresponding to the composite key top when the peripheral edge portion of the composite key top is pressed on the key contact sheet at a location corresponding to the periphery of the composite key top. A keyboard device, characterized in that a pressure guiding part is provided for guiding the closest contact pressing part among the pressing parts and pressing the closest contact pressing part.   2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing guide portion is provided on the key contact sheet at a location corresponding to a boundary portion between the composite key top and the single key top adjacent to the composite key top. And a guide fulcrum provided on the key contact sheet located at a location adjacent to the buffer portion in the bulging portion of the key contact sheet corresponding to the composite key top. Keyboard device.   3. The keyboard device according to claim 2, wherein the buffer portion is formed in a shape for separating the key contact sheet located at a boundary portion between the composite key top and the single key top adjacent thereto by slack. A keyboard device characterized by that.   3. The keyboard device according to claim 2, wherein the guide fulcrum portion receives the pressing force when the peripheral portion of the composite key top is pressed, and the key contact sheet to which the composite key top corresponds. A keyboard device characterized in that the composite key top is rotated and tilted in a direction in which the nearest contact pressing portion located in the bulging portion is pushed down. 5. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the bulging portions respectively corresponding to the plurality of single key tops and the composite key top are inserted into an upper surface of the key contact sheet. And a reinforcing plate provided with a plurality of openings for exposing upward.

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