JP2013218975A - Key switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a difference in switch characteristics between when pressing down a central part of a key top and when pressing down an edge part of the key top.SOLUTION: A key top 4, a base plate, a pantograph part 7 arranged between the key top and the base plate, and an energization mechanism for energizing the key top upward are provided. The pantograph part includes an upper inside shaft member 11 and an upper outside shaft member 12, a lower inside shaft member 13 and a lower outside shaft member 14, a pair of inside link members 15, a pair of outside link members 16, and a pair of coupling pins 17 inserted into an inside through-hole and an outside through-hole arranged adjacently to each other, the upper inside shaft member 11 and the upper outside shaft member 12 extend up to the vicinity of both end parts of the key top, an upper lock part 3 respectively locks both edge parts and intermediate parts of the upper inside shaft member and the upper outside shaft members in a rotatable manner.

Description

  The present invention relates to a key switch device suitable for a keyboard such as a personal computer.

  Various switch mechanisms are used for keyboards used in personal computers, etc., but since they can be thin, pantograph-type key switch devices widely used in notebook personal computers are known. ing.

  For example, Patent Document 1 eliminates the need for a stabilizer such as a substantially U-shaped wire member used to maintain the horizontal state of a key regardless of the depressed position as a support structure for a long key such as a space key. Therefore, a support structure in which a rod-like connecting member is integrally formed between hinge members has been proposed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-36648

However, the following problems remain in the conventional technology.
That is, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the key top is supported by the hinge member that is the link member only by the four locking portions arranged on the back surface. When the end portion of the scale-shaped key top is pushed down, there is a problem that the switch characteristic is largely separated from the case where the center portion is pushed down due to deformation of the key top or the like. As a countermeasure, it is conceivable to use a plurality of link members, stabilizers, etc., but this is not preferable because the number of parts increases and the cost increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and provides a key switch device that can reduce a difference in switch characteristics between when the center portion of the key top is pushed down and when the end portion of the key top is pushed down. The purpose is to provide.

  The present invention employs the following configuration in order to solve the above problems. That is, the key switch device according to the first invention is a long key top having a plurality of upper locking portions on the back surface, a base plate having a plurality of lower locking portions provided below the key top, A pantograph part disposed between the key top and the base plate and supporting the key top so as to be movable up and down; and an urging mechanism for urging the key top upward, the pantograph parts being parallel to each other An upper inner shaft member and an upper outer shaft member that are pivotally locked to the upper locking portion, respectively, and the lower locking portions that are arranged in parallel to the upper inner shaft member and the upper outer shaft member, respectively. A lower inner shaft member and a lower outer shaft member, which are pivotally locked to each other, and one end fixed to both ends of the upper inner shaft member. And a pair of inner link members having the other end fixed to the lower inner shaft member and an inner through hole formed in the middle, and one end fixed to both ends of the upper outer shaft member and the lower outer shaft member A pair of outer link members in which the other end is fixed and an outer through-hole is formed in the middle, and a pair of coupling pins inserted into the inner through-hole and the outer through-hole disposed adjacent to each other, The upper inner shaft member and the upper outer shaft member extend to the vicinity of both end portions of the key top, and the upper locking portion includes both end portions and an intermediate portion of the upper inner shaft member and the upper outer shaft member. Each of these is pivotably locked.

  In this key switch device, the upper inner shaft member and the upper outer shaft member extend to the vicinity of both end portions of the key top, and the upper locking portion includes both end portions and an intermediate portion of the upper inner shaft member and upper outer shaft member. , So that the shaft member and the key top can be deformed by supporting not only both ends of the upper inner shaft member and upper outer shaft member but also the intermediate portion. It is possible to suppress and improve the separation of the switch characteristics due to the difference in the depressed position. As a result, the key top and the shaft member reinforce each other in the entire length direction to improve rigidity, thereby preventing backlash and deformation, reducing the difference in switch characteristics, and improving the operational feeling.

A key switch device according to a second invention is the key switch device according to the first invention, wherein the upper inner shaft member and the upper outer shaft member, and the lower inner shaft member and the lower outer shaft member have diameters from both ends thereof. It has a large middle part.
That is, in this key switch device, the upper inner shaft member and the upper outer shaft member, and the lower inner shaft member and the lower outer shaft member have intermediate portions having a diameter larger than both ends thereof. The rigidity of the intermediate part supported by the part is high, and a higher reinforcing effect can be obtained.

A key switch device according to a third invention is the key switch device according to the second invention, wherein a step portion is formed between the both end portions and the intermediate portion, and the upper locking portion is in contact with the step portion. Features.
That is, in this key switch device, a stepped portion is formed between the both end portions and the intermediate portion, and the upper locking portion or the lower locking portion is in contact with the stepped portion. A lower latching | locking part is positioned by a level | step-difference part, and it can further suppress backlash.

A key switch device according to a fourth invention is the key switch device according to any one of the first to third inventions, wherein the upper inner shaft member, the upper outer shaft member, the lower inner shaft member, the lower outer shaft member, and the inner link. The member, the outer link member, and the base plate are all made of metal.
That is, in this key switch device, the shaft member, the link member and the base plate that form the link mechanism are all made of metal, so that the entire pantograph portion and the base plate are highly rigid, and the key top is pushed down. The bending at the time of hitting is suppressed. In particular, the pair of inner link members are connected by a metal inner shaft member and the pair of outer link members are also connected by a metal outer shaft member, so that bending occurs in the extending direction of the shaft member. It is difficult to push down the key top diagonally.

The present invention has the following effects.
According to the key switch device of the present invention, the upper locking portion includes the both ends and the middle portion of the upper inner shaft member and the upper outer shaft member, and the upper inner shaft member and the upper outer shaft member include the both ends of the key top. Since it extends to the vicinity and locks in a rotatable manner, the key top and the shaft member reinforce each other in the longitudinal direction to improve rigidity, thereby preventing backlash and deformation, The difference in switch characteristics is reduced and the operational feeling is improved.

In one Embodiment of the key switch apparatus which concerns on this invention, it is a perspective view which shows the pantograph part and rubber dome switch which were installed in the back surface of the key top. In this embodiment, it is a perspective view which shows the pantograph part and rubber dome switch which were installed on the baseplate. In this embodiment, it is a top view which shows a key switch apparatus. In this embodiment, it is a disassembled perspective view which shows a pantograph part. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. 3, (a), and BB sectional drawing (b). In this embodiment, it is a disassembled perspective view which shows a key switch apparatus.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a key switch device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the key switch device 1 according to the present embodiment has a long key top 4 having a plurality of upper locking portions 3 on the back surface, and a plurality of key switches 4 provided below the key top 4. A base plate 6 having a lower locking portion 5, a pantograph portion 7 that is disposed between the key top 4 and the base plate 6 and supports the key top 4 so as to be movable up and down, and an urging force that urges the key top 4 upward. A rubber dome switch 8 that functions as a mechanism is provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the key switch device 1 includes a membrane 9 that is a membrane switch that is installed on a base plate 6 and has a built-in switch wiring, and a rubber key sheet 10 that is installed on the membrane 9. I have. The rubber dome switch 8 is installed on the rubber key sheet 10 and its upper end is in contact with the back surface of the key top 4.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the pantograph portion 7 includes an upper inner shaft member 11 and an upper outer shaft member 12 that are arranged in parallel to each other and are rotatably locked to the upper locking portion 3, and an upper inner shaft member. 11 and the upper outer shaft member 12, and the lower inner shaft member 13 and the lower outer shaft member 14 that are pivotally locked to the lower locking portion 5, respectively, and one end at each end of the upper inner shaft member 11. Is fixed to the lower inner shaft member 13 and the other end is fixed to the lower inner shaft member 13 and the inner through hole 15a is formed in the middle. A pair of outer link members 16 having the other end fixed to the lower outer shaft member 14 and having an outer through hole 16a formed in the middle are adjacent to each other. And a pair of coupling pins 17 inserted through the inner through-hole 15a disposed in the outer through-hole 16a.

The upper inner shaft member 11 and the upper outer shaft member 12 are formed in a round bar shape and extend to the vicinity of both ends of the key top 4.
Further, the upper inner shaft member 11 and the upper outer shaft member 12, and the lower inner shaft member 13 and the lower outer shaft member 14 have an intermediate portion having a diameter larger than both ends thereof. Further, a step portion D is formed between the both end portions and the intermediate portion, and the upper locking portion 3 or the lower locking portion 5 is in contact with the step portion D.

  The upper inner shaft member 11, the upper outer shaft member 12, the lower inner shaft member 13, the lower outer shaft member 14, the inner link member 15, the outer link member 16, and the base plate 6 are all made of metal. For example, the upper inner shaft member 11, the upper outer shaft member 12, the lower inner shaft member 13, and the lower outer shaft member 14 are formed of, for example, an aluminum alloy, and the inner link member 15 and the outer link member 16 are formed of an Fe-based metal. Has been. The base plate 6 is formed of a metal plate.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the rubber dome switch 8 is integrally formed with a connecting pin 8a on the central axis. When the upper part of the rubber dome switch 8 is pushed down together with the key top 4, the lower end of the connecting pin 8a pushes down the center of the membrane 9 through the center hole of the lower rubber key sheet 10, and the contact formed at the center is electrically connected. It comes to connect.

The upper locking portion 3 locks both end portions and an intermediate portion of the upper inner shaft member 11 and the upper outer shaft member 12 in a rotatable manner.
That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper locking portion 3 is a pair of first openings that are open to the side and are formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section and rotatably support both ends of the upper outer shaft member 12. 1 locking portion 3a, a pair of second locking portions 3b that open to the side and support the middle portion of the upper outer shaft member 12 so as to be pivotable at two locations, and have a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens downward The upper inner shaft member 11 is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross-section with a pair of third locking portions 3c that are formed in a shape and support the both ends of the upper inner shaft member 11 so as to be rotatably fitted. A pair of fourth locking portions 3 d that support the intermediate portion of the key top 4 so as to be pivotable at two locations are formed on the back surface of the key top 4.
The upper outer shaft member 12 is supported by a pair of first locking portions 3a and second locking portions 3b that are open in the direction perpendicular to the extending direction and slidable in the plane direction of the key top 4. Has been.

The lower locking portion 5 includes a pair of fifth locking portions 5a that are open to the side and are formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section and rotatably support both end portions of the lower inner shaft member 13. A pair of sixth locking portions 5b that are formed in a substantially U-shaped cross-section and rotatably support the middle portion of the lower inner shaft member 13 at two locations, and are formed in an arc-shaped cross-section that opens upward. A pair of seventh locking portions 5c that support both ends of the lower outer shaft member 14 and a pair of seventh engaging portions 5c that open upward and support an intermediate portion of the lower outer shaft member 14 at two locations. Eight locking portions 5 d are formed on the upper surface of the base plate 6.
The lower inner shaft member 13 is supported by a fifth locking portion 5a and a sixth locking portion 5b that open in the direction perpendicular to the extending direction and is slidable in the plane direction of the key top 4. Yes.

  Inner end holes 15b into which the ends of the upper inner shaft member 11 or the lower inner shaft member 13 are fitted are formed at both ends of the inner link member 15, and the upper outer shaft is formed at both ends of the outer link member 16. An outer end hole 16b into which the end of the member 12 or the lower outer shaft member 14 is fitted is formed.

  The portion of the inner link member 15 in which the inner through hole 15a is formed (center portion) and the portion in which the inner end hole 15b is formed (both ends) are formed to be wider than other portions in the axial direction and are rigid. Is set not to drop. Similarly, the portion of the outer link member 16 in which the outer through hole 16a is formed (center portion) and the portion in which the outer end hole 16b is formed (both ends) are wider than other portions in the axial direction. The rigidity is set so as not to decrease.

The base plate 6 includes a pair of intermediate relief holes 6c formed immediately below the pair of coupling pins 17 and a pair of pin pressing portions provided outside the pair of coupling pins 17 and at the edges of the intermediate relief holes 6c. 6d.
Each of the lower locking portions 5 and the pin pressing portions 6d is formed by bending a metal plate base plate 6.

  Further, the base plate 6 has four end clearance holes 6 e formed immediately below both ends of the inner link member 15 and the outer link member 16. The end clearance holes 6 e are formed so that both end portions of the inner link member 15 and the outer link member 16 do not contact the base plate 6.

  Thus, in the key switch device 1 of the present embodiment, the upper inner shaft member 11 and the upper outer shaft member 12 extend to the vicinity of both ends of the key top 4, and the upper locking portion 3 is the upper inner shaft member 11. Since both end portions and the intermediate portion of the upper outer shaft member 12 are pivotably locked, the intermediate portion is not supported only at both end portions of the upper inner shaft member 11 and the upper outer shaft member 12. Also, the deformation of the shaft member and the key top 4 can be suppressed, and the separation of the switch characteristics due to the difference in the pressed-down position can be improved. Thereby, the key top 4 and the shaft member reinforce each other in the longitudinal direction to improve rigidity, thereby preventing rattling and deformation, reducing the difference in switch characteristics and improving the operational feeling.

Further, since the upper inner shaft member 11 and the upper outer shaft member 12, and the lower inner shaft member 13 and the lower outer shaft member 14 have intermediate portions whose diameters are larger than both end portions, the upper locking portion 3 The rigidity of the intermediate part supported by is high, and a higher reinforcing effect can be obtained.
Further, a stepped portion D is formed between the both end portions and the intermediate portion, and the upper locking portion 3 or the lower locking portion 5 is in contact with the stepped portion D. The latching | locking part 5 is positioned by the level | step-difference part D, and backlash etc. can be suppressed further.

  Further, since each of the shaft member, each link member and the base plate 6 serving as a link mechanism are all made of metal, the entire pantograph portion 7 and the base plate 6 become highly rigid, and the key top 4 is pushed down. Is suppressed. In particular, since the pair of inner link members 15 are connected by a metal inner shaft member and the pair of outer link members 16 are also connected by a metal outer shaft member, the shaft member is bent in the extending direction of the shaft member. It is difficult for the key top 4 to be pushed obliquely.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various change can be added in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Key switch apparatus, 3 ... Upper latch part, 3a-3d ... 1st-4th latch part, 4 ... Key top, 5 ... Lower latch part, 5a-5d ... 5th-8th latch part , 6 ... Base plate, 7 ... Pantograph section, 8 ... Rubber dome switch (biasing mechanism), 11 ... Upper inner shaft member, 12 ... Upper outer shaft member, 13 ... Lower inner shaft member, 14 ... Lower outer shaft member, 15 ... Inner link member, 16 ... Outer link member, 17 ... Connecting pin, D ... Stepped portion

Claims (4)

An elongated key top having a plurality of upper locking portions on the back surface;
A base plate provided below the key top and having a plurality of lower locking portions;
A pantograph portion that is arranged between the key top and the base plate and supports the key top so as to be movable up and down;
An urging mechanism for urging the key top upward;
An upper inner shaft member and an upper outer shaft member, wherein the pantograph portions are arranged in parallel with each other and are rotatably locked to the upper locking portions;
A lower inner shaft member and a lower outer shaft member, which are arranged in parallel to the upper inner shaft member and the upper outer shaft member and are respectively rotatably locked to the lower locking portion;
A pair of inner link members each having one end fixed to both ends of the upper inner shaft member and the other end fixed to the lower inner shaft member and having an inner through hole formed in the middle;
A pair of outer link members each having one end fixed to both ends of the upper outer shaft member and the other end fixed to the lower outer shaft member and having an outer through-hole formed in the middle;
A pair of coupling pins inserted through the inner through hole and the outer through hole disposed adjacent to each other;
The upper inner shaft member and the upper outer shaft member extend to the vicinity of both ends of the key top,
The key switch device, wherein the upper locking portion rotatably locks both end portions and an intermediate portion of the upper inner shaft member and the upper outer shaft member. The key switch device according to claim 1,
The key switch device, wherein the upper inner shaft member and the upper outer shaft member, and the lower inner shaft member and the lower outer shaft member have an intermediate portion having a diameter larger than both ends thereof. The key switch device according to claim 2,
A key switch device, wherein a step portion is formed between the both end portions and the intermediate portion, and the upper locking portion or the lower locking portion is in contact with the step portion. In the key switch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The upper inner shaft member, the upper outer shaft member, the lower inner shaft member, the lower outer shaft member, the inner link member, the outer link member, and the base plate are all formed of metal. Key switch device.

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