JP2582317Y2 - Key switch device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key switch device used for a keyboard or the like of an input device of a word processor or a personal computer or the like. The present invention relates to a key switch device suitable for use in a keyboard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a key switch device used for this kind of keyboard, a key member integrally having a key stem is supported by being inserted into a key holder portion formed on a holder plate, and is provided below the key stem. A key switch device provided with a switching member is generally used. In such a key switch device, the key stem of the key member is slid up and down through the key holder, and when the key member is pressed, the switching member is moved by the lower portion of the key stem as the key member moves downward. Is pressed, whereby a switching operation is performed.

A key switch device using a large key such as a space key or a return key is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 60-62017 in order to prevent the key from being pressed in an inclined state when the key is pressed. And Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-7
A key switch device described in Japanese Patent No. 441 is known. In the key switch device described in the former, a guide member disposed below the key member and supporting the key member is provided with two guide members.
And two arms of each scissor-shaped member are rotatably connected to a shaft. Then, when the key member is pressed, a plurality of pins formed at the end of each scissor-like member are configured to slide horizontally between the back surface of the key member and the top surface of the keyboard substrate.
Accordingly, when the key member is pressed, the key member moves downward while maintaining the horizontal state, and accordingly, the pressing portion vertically provided on the key member is slid and guided via the key holder portion, and is moved downward. Is pressed, the switching operation is performed.

Further, the key switch device described in the latter has the same basic configuration as the key switch device described in the former, and is characterized in that the key member can be easily attached to and detached from the scissor-shaped member. Have

In the key switch devices described in these publications, regardless of the pressed position of a large key such as a space key, the key can be moved up and down while maintaining a horizontal state even if any part of the key is pressed. I can guide you. As described above, in any of the above-described conventional key switch devices, the switching member is pressed while the key stem for pressing the switching member or the pressing portion of the key member is slid up and down through the key holder portion. This is common in that

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the invention] However, in recent years,
With the miniaturization and thinning of word processors and personal computers, keyboards attached to these are also becoming smaller and thinner, while improving the operability of key input and ensuring the reliability of key input. Under a situation where a large key stroke is required, there is a problem that a sufficient key stroke cannot be obtained with the conventional key switch device.

In the conventional key switch device, if the keyboard is to be made thinner, the portion of the key stem that is slid and guided by the key holder portion is reduced. The key is twisted between copies. If the portion where the key stem is slid and guided by the key holder portion is increased in order to prevent this, there is a problem that the key stroke is reduced. In addition, kinking that occurs between the key stem and the key holder when the key is pressed causes sliding noise and significantly impairs the operability of key input. The twist occurring between the key stem and the key holder is unlikely to occur when the center of the key is constantly depressed because the key stem is depressed vertically. Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of the twisting, it is conceivable to reduce the operation area of the key so that the key is always pressed at the center of the key. There is no difference from the above in terms of damage.

The key switch devices described in the above publications do not particularly aim at reducing the thickness of the keyboard, and it is necessary to provide a pressing portion for pressing the switching member so as to hang down from the key member. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the thickness. Further, the structure of the key member is complicated due to the necessity of forming the pressing portion, which causes a colt up. In this key switch device, since each pin formed at each end of the scissor-shaped member is configured to be slidably guided in the horizontal direction on the back surface of the key member and the upper surface of the substrate, the key member When the key is pressed, the key member does not have a horizontal positioning action. Therefore, the key member may be displaced in the horizontal direction when the key member is pressed, and the switching member may not operate reliably.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem, and eliminates the need for a configuration in which a key stem is slidably guided by a key holder, thereby increasing the key stroke while supporting the miniaturization and thinning of a keyboard. Can be
Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a key switch device which has good key operability with a simple configuration and can perform key input reliably.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a key switch device according to the present invention is provided so as to be rotatable on a shaft support portion on the lower surface of a key top and a shaft support portion of a holder member below the key top. A guide support member that is pivotally connected to guide and support the vertical movement of the key top, a spring member that urges the key top upward, and a switching unit that performs a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top. A key switch device having two sets of first and second guide support members, each of which is connected to each other so as to be rotatable at their distal ends in the shape of a letter "K" in a side view and arranged side by side at a predetermined interval. A first link and a second link.
The V-shaped linking portions of the link are rotatably connected to each other via a connecting member.

Further, one of a vertical locking groove and a locking pin engaging with the locking groove may be provided on the key top, and the other may be provided on the holder member.

[0012]

According to the key switch device of the present invention having the above-described structure, the key switch device operates normally, that is, when the key top is not pressed.
Two pairs of first and second links, which are arranged in front and rear or left and right of the key top lower surface and the holder member upper surface constituting the guide support member, are connected to each other with their connection portions as the center. The key top is expanded in the direction in which the key tops are separated from each other by the urging force of the spring member, and holds the key top at the highest position. In this state, when the key top is pressed down against the spring member, the two sets of the first link and the second link are synchronized via the connecting member, and are mutually moved around the "-"-shaped connecting portion. Since the key tops are bent in synchronization with the approaching directions, the key tops descend in the vertical direction without being displaced in the horizontal direction. Then, a switching operation is performed in the switching unit in accordance with the lowering of the keytop.

On the other hand, when the pressing operation of the key top is stopped, the key top is pushed up by the urging force of the spring member.
Since the first link and the second link of the set expand in synchronization with each other in the direction away from each other by the biasing force of the spring member about the connecting portion, the key top is not displaced in the horizontal direction, Ascends vertically and returns to its original position.

Further, in the key switch device according to the second aspect, in addition to the above operation, when the key top moves up and down,
The movement of the locking pin guided by the locking groove produces an effect that the horizontal displacement of the key top is more reliably prevented.

[0015]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the key switch device with the key top removed, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a cross section corresponding to FIG. 2 with the key top depressed. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

As shown in these figures, the key switch device 1 is arranged in front and back of the key top 2 at a fixed interval, and is connected to the key top 2 so as to be rotatable with each other at a tip end so as to be viewed from the side. A guide support member 3 including two sets of a first link 4 and a second link 5, a spring member including an inverted cup-shaped rubber spring 6 and a coil spring 6 a for urging the key top 2 upward; A holder plate 7 made of synthetic resin as a holder member for supporting the guide support member 3, and a connecting member 9 for connecting two sets of the first link 4 and the second link 5 are provided.

The key top 2 is formed from a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin, and letters such as alphabets are printed on the upper surface thereof by printing or the like. In addition, key top 2
As shown in FIG. 1, a pair (a total of four) of shaft support portions 21 are vertically provided on the front portion and the rear portion at intervals in the left and right (width) direction as shown in FIG. Recess 2a
Are formed. The upper end of the coil spring 6a is locked in the concave portion 2a at the center of the lower surface of the key top 2, and does not fall off.

The holder plate 7 is disposed on a support plate 8 with a flexible circuit board 80 on which a predetermined circuit pattern (not shown) including switch electrodes is formed.
The rubber spring 6 is placed at a position corresponding to the switch electrode on the circuit board 80, and a known movable electrode is loaded inside the rubber spring 6. A shaft support 71 is provided on the holder plate 7 so as to be slightly shifted in the left-right direction from a position directly below the shaft support 21 as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the first link 4 has a substantially portal shape and has a pivot shaft 42 pivotally connected to the pair of shaft support portions 21 so as to be rotatable. Arm portions 43 extend in the right-angle direction from both sides of the support shaft 42, respectively. A drum-shaped hinge 44 is integrally formed at the tip of each arm 43, and a locking hole 45 is formed at the center of the hinge 44.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the second link 5 also has a substantially portal shape and has a pivot shaft 52 pivotally connected to the pair of shaft supports 71 so as to be rotatable. Arm portions 53 extend from right and left sides of the shaft 52 at right angles to each other. A drum-shaped hinge 54 is integrally formed at the tip of each arm 53, and a locking hole 55 is formed at the center of the hinge 54.

As shown in FIG. 2, two sets of first links 4 are separated from each other by a pivot shaft 42 at a certain interval in the front-rear direction.
And pivotally connected to the shaft support 21 of the
The two sets of second links 5 are also pivotally connected to the shaft support 71 of the holder plate 7 by the pivot 52 at predetermined intervals. In this state, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the hinge portion 44 of the first link 4 and the hinge portion 54 of the second link 5 are all adjacent to each other. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, two sets of the first link 4 and the second link 5 are connected to each other by the connecting member 9.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the connecting member 9 has a substantially quadrilateral shape when viewed from above, and has pivot pins 91 at both ends of one end thereof and pivots at substantially intermediate positions on both sides thereof. Each of the pins 92 is integrally provided outward. And
The pair of pivot pins 91 of the connecting member 9 are rotatable in series to both the locking hole 45 of the hinge portion 44 of the first link 4 and the locking hole 55 of the hinge portion 54 of the second link 5 on the rear side. And a pair of upper and lower opposing first and second links 4 and 5 are connected in a "-" shape when viewed from the side, and the pivot pins 92 on both sides of the connecting member 9 are connected to the front side. Of the first link 4 and the locking hole 55 of the hinge portion 54 of the second link 5 are pivotally connected to each other so as to be freely rotatable in series. The link 4 and the second link 5 are connected in a "-" shape in a side view.

A pair of locking grooves 10 are formed in the front part of the lower surface of the key top 2 at right and left intervals in the vertical direction. Each groove 10 is formed by a pair of groove members 11 which are vertically provided at regular intervals as shown in FIG. on the other hand,
A pair of support plates 12 are provided upright on the upper surface of the holder plate 7 in correspondence with the locking grooves 10, and locking pins 13 project outward from upper ends of the support plates 12. Each locking pin 13 is loosely inserted into the corresponding locking groove 10 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. Note that these members are usually formed integrally with the key top 2 or the holder plate 7.

Next, the operation of the key switch device of the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described. First, in the non-pressed state (normal state) of the key top 2, the key top 2 is pushed up to the uppermost position by the upward elastic force of the rubber spring 6 and the coil spring 6a as shown in FIG. The first
The second links 4 and 5 are each expanded. Even in this state, the two sets of the first link 4 and the second link 5 are synchronized, and the key top 2 is held at a fixed position without being displaced in the horizontal direction.

Here, when the key top 2 is pressed down against the urging force of the rubber spring 6 and the coil spring 6a, two sets of front and rear are connected via the connecting member 9 as the key top 2 is lowered. The first link 4 and the second link 5 are connected to each other as shown in FIG.
5 and the pivot pins 91 and 92) are bent close to each other so as to hold them at an intermediate position in the height direction. These two
Since the first link 4 and the second link 5 of the set are bent around the pivot pins 91 and 92 in synchronization with each other by the connecting member 9, the key top 2 is lowered in the vertical direction. Also,
When the key top 2 is lowered, the key top 2 relatively slides with the locking pin 13 on the holder plate 7 engaged with the locking groove 10 on the key top 2 side. Accordingly, the key top 2 is restrained by the displacement of the key top 2 in the horizontal direction by the locking pin 13 and the locking groove 10 and the synchronized operation of the two sets of the first link 4 and the second link 5. It descends in the vertical direction without displacing in the horizontal direction during the entire process of pushing down. Then, the rubber spring 6 is gradually depressed as the key top 2 is lowered. When the depressed amount exceeds a certain limit, the rubber spring 6 is buckled. Thereby, the movable electrode in the rubber spring 6 short-circuits the switch electrode on the flexible circuit board 80, and a predetermined switching operation is performed.

On the other hand, when the pressing operation of the key top 2 is stopped, the key top 2 is pushed up by the urging force of the rubber spring 6 and the coil spring 6a. 2
The first link 4 and the second link 5 of the set are connected to each other as shown in FIG. 2 (locking holes 45 and 55 and pivot pins 91 and 92).
Are extended apart from each other so as to be held at an intermediate position in the height direction, and are rotated in synchronization with each other.
0 relatively slides in the engaged state. By these operations, the key top 2 rises in the vertical direction and returns to the original position without being displaced in the horizontal direction.

As described above, in the key switch device 1 according to the present embodiment, the key top 2 is prevented from being accidentally displaced in the horizontal direction both when the key top 2 is not pressed and when it is pressed. Further, it is possible to realize a key switch device which has good key operability and enables a reliable switching operation. The locking groove 10 of the above embodiment can be provided on the holder plate 7 side, and the locking pin 13 can be provided on the key top 2 side. The locking groove 10 and the locking pin 1
3 can also be omitted.

[0029]

[Effect of the invention] As is clear from the above explanation,
In the key switch device of the present invention, both when the key top is pressed and when the key top is not pressed, the key top is inadvertently displaced in the horizontal direction by the cooperation of the guide support member and the synchronization mechanism. , And the key operation is smooth and stable, and the switching operation can be reliably performed. According to the device described in claim 2,
The displacement of the key top in the horizontal direction is more reliably prevented by the engagement relationship between the locking pin and the locking groove.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a key switch device of the present invention, with a key top removed.

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

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 in a state where a key top is pressed down.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key switch device 2 Key top 4 1st link 5 2nd link 6 Rubber spring 6a Coil spring 7 Holder plate 9 Connecting member

Claims (2)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] A guide support member rotatably connected to a shaft support portion on a lower surface of the key top and a shaft support portion of a holder member below the key top for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key top; A key switch device comprising: a spring member for urging the key top upward, and a switching unit for performing a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top, wherein each of the guide support members is viewed from a side. The first link and the second link are composed of two sets of first link and second link which are rotatably connected to each other at the distal end portion in a shape of "" and are juxtaposed at a predetermined interval. A key switch device, wherein the character-shaped connecting portions are connected to each other via a connecting member so as to be rotatable with each other. 2. The key switch device according to claim 1, wherein one of a vertical locking groove and a locking pin engaged with the locking groove is provided on the key top, and the other is provided on the holder member.