JP2607493Y2 - Notebook personal computer - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a notebook personal computer provided with a key switch device, and more particularly to a key switch device constituting a keyboard attached to a notebook personal computer. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a notebook personal computer provided with a key switch device capable of restricting a rising position and preventing unnecessary horizontal movement.

[0002]

Hitherto, this kind of key switch any of various has been proposed, for example, as disclosed the same type of key switch devices, Sho 60-62
017 and JP-A-64-7441.

[0003] The key switch devices described in both publications are:
Use large keys such as space key and return key ,
The key switch device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 60-62017 is designed to prevent the key from being pressed in a state where the key is tilted when the key is pressed. The key member is supported by the key member, and the switching member is disposed at a position away from the center of the key member. The sliding member is horizontally guided between the back surface of the substrate and the upper surface of the substrate, and the switching member is pressed by the pressing portion while the pressing portion specially provided on the key member is vertically guided through the holder portion. Things.

The key switch device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-7441 has the same basic configuration as the key switch device described in the former, and the key member is attached to and detached from the scissor-like member. It is characterized in that it is easy to use.

The key switch device described in each of these publications guides the vertical movement of a key while maintaining a horizontal state regardless of the pressed position of a large key such as a space key, regardless of the pressed position. You can do it.

[0006]

However, in the key switch device described in each of the above publications, as is apparent from the drawings attached to each of the publications, each pin formed at each end of the scissor-like member has Although the back surface of the key member and the upper surface of the substrate are configured to be slid and guided in the horizontal direction, the pins on the lower side of the pins are used in the sliding guide portion formed on the upper surface of the substrate. Nothing is provided for positioning.

Therefore, when the key member is not depressed, there is a possibility that the scissor-like member may be unnecessarily moved in the horizontal direction without being positioned.

In particular, when the key member is not depressed, the scissors-like member is unnecessarily moved in the horizontal direction, thereby deteriorating the operability of the key. There has been a problem that there is a possibility that the operation cannot be performed reliably or that there is a possibility that the operation may occur. Also, in the key switch device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-62017, a pin formed on the lower side of each scissor-like member is slidably supported by a non-movable key portion attached to a substrate. The non-movable key portion is slidably supported via the guide pocket. However, such a non-movable key portion is formed separately from the substrate, and in such a configuration in which the non-movable key portion is attached to the substrate, the assembly is complicated. And increase the cost.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and when the key top is not pressed, the link member moves in the horizontal direction unnecessarily by regulating the ascending position of the key top. by preventing that,
With the key operation is good, and an object thereof is to provide a notebook personal computer having a less costly key switch capable of performing reliably switching operation.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a notebook personal computer, which is connected and locked to a back surface of a key top and a holder member below the key top to guide the vertical movement of the key top. comprises a guide support member for supporting, and a switching unit for performing a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top, plan the support member, the first Li
Key switch device in which a link member and a second link member are arranged so as to be mutually movable, and free ends of the first link member and the second link member are connected and locked to the back surface of the key top and the holder member. a notebook personal computer having a key switch device is formed integrally with the holder member locking portion for slidably engaging the lower free end of the first link member and the second link member When formed on the engaging portion, the first link member also <br/> to when not pressed the key top and regulating unit for regulating the raised position of the key top bottom free end abuts the second link member It is characterized by having.

[0011]

In the key switch device of the notebook personal computer according to the first aspect having the above configuration, when the key top is not depressed, the first support member constituting the guide support member is formed.
The lower free end of the link member or the second link member is movably locked by a locking portion formed integrally with the holder member, and abuts on a regulating portion formed on the locking portion. I have. As described above, the rising position of the key top is regulated based on the lower free end of the first link member or the second link member being in contact with the regulating portion of the locking portion, and the guide support member is Can be prevented from moving unnecessarily in the horizontal direction. Thus, the key operability of the key switch device is improved, and the switching operation can be performed reliably.

When the keytop in the state where the ascending position is regulated through the restricting portion of the locking portion as described above is pressed, a switching operation is performed by the switching portion in accordance with the pressing operation.

On the other hand, when the keytop is released from being pressed, the first link member and the second link member return to their original positions together with the keytop.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a key switch device attached to a notebook personal computer according to the present invention will be described.
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of the key switch device showing a state where the key top is slightly pressed down, and FIG. 2 is an exploded explanatory view of the key switch device.

In these figures, key top 1 is AB
It is molded from a synthetic resin such as S resin, and letters such as alphabets are formed on the upper surface thereof by printing or the like. Further, from the back surface of the key top 1, a holding member B formed by vertically suspending the two locking portions 2, 3 is provided integrally with the key top 1 main body.

Each of the locking portions 2 is composed of two locking grooves 4 (only one near side is shown in FIG. 1 ) arranged in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. In addition , locking part 3
Are each composed of two locking grooves 5 (only one near side is shown in FIG. 1 ) arranged in a direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG.

The locking portion 2 has two link members to be described later.
( Hinge member ) One of the link members 7 and 8 (the
Locking pins 13, 14 formed at one end of one link member)
Are provided in the horizontal direction and a locking groove 4 is provided which can abut against the outer end wall 4A, and the locking portion 3 has the other link member 8 (second link member). A locking groove 5 is formed which can slide horizontally on locking pins 23 and 24 formed at one end and can abut and lock the outer end wall 5A. The length of the locking groove 4 and the length of the locking groove 5 are equal.

Below the key top 1, a guide support member 6 for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key top 1 is provided. The guide support member 6 is composed of the link members 7 and 8.

As shown in FIG. 3, one link member 7 is formed by integrally forming two base ends 10 and 11 at both ends of a base 9. A shaft 12 extends from one side surface of the central portion of the base 9, and the shaft 12 is supported by a shaft hole 20 formed in the other link member 8, which will be described later.

The locking pins 13, 14 of the link member 7
The locking pins 15 and 16 are arranged in a straight line about the shaft 12, and the distances from the shaft 12 are equal. The locking pins 21 and 22 and the locking pins 23 and 24 of the link member 8 are arranged in a straight line with the shaft hole 20 as a center, and the distances from the shaft hole 20 are equal.

[0021] Then, these two link members 7 and 8, in a state where the connecting shaft 12 and the shaft hole 20 rotatably, are bent to be convex upward in the position of the base end portion 11 and 18 . Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the rubber spring 31 is configured to have a large space below the shaft supporting portion A, and a substantially trapezoidal rubber spring 31 in a side view described later is efficiently placed below the shaft supporting portion A. It can be stored.

Locking pins 13 and 14 extend from the side surfaces of the both end extending portions 10A of the base end portion 10. The locking pins 13 and 14 are connected to the locking portions 2 of the key top 1 described above. Is locked in the locking groove 4 provided in the first groove. Further, the base end portion 11 is formed in a U-shape in a plan view, and the locking pin 1 similar to the above is formed from the side surface of the U-shaped extended end portion 11A.
5, 16 are extended. Such locking pins 15, 16
Is a locking portion 26 formed on a holder plate 25 described later.
Is locked.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the link member 8 is formed by integrally forming two base ends 18 and 19 at both ends of a base 17. The shaft hole 2 is provided at the center of the base 17.
0 is drilled, and the shaft hole 20 has a link as described above.
A shaft 12 provided on the base 9 of the member 7 is inserted therethrough . Further, the base end portion 18 is formed in a U-shape in plan view, and locking pins 21 and 22 extend from the U-shaped both end extending portions 18A. The locking pins 21 and 22 are locked by locking portions 27 formed on a holder plate 25 described later.

Lock pins 23 and 24 similar to the above are extended from both end extending portions 19A of the base end 19, and the lock pins 23 and 24 are the lock portions 3 of the key top 1 described above. Is slidably locked in the locking groove 5 formed in the groove.

[0025] As described above, the guide supporting member 6, other re shaft 12 formed in the base 9 of one link member 7
And those composed by inserting the shaft hole 20 bored in the base portion 17 of the link member 8, the link members 7 and 8 mutually rotated through more becomes shaft support A and the shaft 12 and the shaft hole 17 It becomes possible. The shaft support A is provided with a rubber spring 3 as described later.
It is arranged to face almost the center of the top of the first member.

[0026] In the key top 1 in the state of attaching the link members 7 and 8, the locking pin 13,14,23,24
Are in contact with the inner end walls 4B, 5B, thereby preventing vertical play.

Next, a holder plate 25 is disposed below the guide support member 6, and the holder plate 2
Locking pins 15, 16 extending from the base end 11 of the link member 7 and locking pins 21, 22 extending from the base end 18 of the link member 8 are respectively locked on 5. Locking portions 26 and 27 are provided.

The locking portion 26 is formed integrally with the holder plate 25 in a convex shape, and is provided with a long hole-shaped locking groove 28 having a cutout portion 28C partially cut away.
The locking pin 1 of the link member 7 is
5, 16 are slidably engaged in the horizontal direction. The locking pins 15 and 16 are inserted into the locking grooves 2 through the cutouts 28C.
8 is inserted.

Here, at both ends of the locking groove 28, a first edge portion 28A (left side in FIG. 1) and a second edge portion 28B
(Right side in FIG. 1). Each of these edges 28A, among 28B, first edge 28A has contact in Figure 1 of the locking pin 15, 16 in the link member 7 in a non-depressed state of the key top 1 as described below
Kicking is intended to restrict the raised position to regulate the sliding key top 1 to the left, also in Figure 1 of the locking pin 15, 16 at the second edge portion 28B is of the key top 1 presses < This controls the rightward sliding.

The locking portion 27 is formed integrally with the holder plate 25 in a convex shape like the locking portion 26, and is provided with a locking groove 29 having a cutout portion 29C partially cut out. In the locking groove 29, the locking pins 21 and 22 of the link member 8 are provided with the locking pins 15 of the link member 7,
Like, it is slidably locked. This notch 2
The locking pins 21 and 22 are inserted into the locking grooves 29 via 9C.

At both ends of the locking groove 29, like the locking groove 28, a first edge 29A (right side in FIG. 1) and a second edge 29B (left side in FIG. 1). 2) with
One edge is formed. Each of these edges 29
A, among 29B, the first edge portion 29A restricts the sliding rightward in FIG. 1 of the locking pin 21 in the link member 8 in a non-depressed state of the key top 1 as described later key It regulates the ascending position of the top 1 and
When the key top 1 is pressed, the second edge portion 29B is
It is to regulate the sliding leftward in FIG. 1 1, 22.

When the key top 1 is not depressed, the locking pins 13, 14 and 23, 24 are in contact with the inner end walls 4B, 5B of the locking grooves 4, 5, and the key top 1
Is prevented.

Thus , when the key top 1 is not depressed, the locking pins 15 of the link member 7 are connected to the first edge 28A of the locking groove 28 and the first edge 29A of the locking groove 29.
16 and the locking pins 21 and 22 of the link member 8 abut against each other and cooperate with each other to regulate the sliding of the link members 7 and 8 in the left and right directions in FIG. is intended to perform, as a result, the elastic force coupled with the key top 1 upward rubber spring 31 to be described later are those its raised position is held in a non-depressed state it is restricted.

When the key top 1 is depressed, the second edge 28 B of the locking groove 28 and the second edge 29
B, each locking pin 15, 16 of the link member 7 and the link
The locking pins 21 and 22 of the member 8 abut against each other and cooperate with each other to perform an operation of restricting the sliding of the link members 7 and 8 in the right and left directions in FIG. As a result, after the key top 1 performs the switching operation by depressing the rubber spring 31 via the shaft support A as described later,
This prevents the key top 1 from further sliding in the horizontal direction.

When the key top 1 is pressed, the locking pins 13 and 14 and the locking pins 23 and 24 are
Are in contact with the outer end walls 4A, 5A of the key top 1 to prevent backlash of the key top 1.

Further, below the holder plate 25, a flexible circuit board 30 on which a predetermined circuit pattern (not shown) including a switch electrode is formed, and a switching member is provided at a position corresponding to the switch electrode. An inverted cup-shaped rubber spring 31 is placed. The rubber spring 31 has a known movable electrode therein, also, two phosphorus described above in the central portion of the upper surface
A shaft support portion A that supports the lock members 7 and 8 so as to be rotatable with each other is disposed to face each other. The top of the rubber spring 31 is formed to a thickness that does not deform even when pressed by the shaft support A.

[0037] Thus, the shaft support A is moved downward in association with the depression of the key top 1, the shaft support A depresses the rubber spring 31, when the depression amount exceeds a certain limit, the rubber spring 31 is挫The movable electrode in the rubber spring 31 is bent and the switch electrode is short-circuited. At this time, the locking pins 13, 14 and the like are slid in the locking grooves 4 and the like in the horizontal direction. The vertical movement is performed while being brought into contact with the rubber spring 31. As a result, the rubber spring 31 can be pressed vertically.

Further, a switch support plate 32 is provided below the flexible circuit board 30, and the switch support plate 32 is a guide support member that supports the flexible circuit boards 30, the rubber springs 31, and the key tops 1 described above. Supports 6.

Next, the operation of the key switch device having the above configuration will be described. First, when the key top 1 is not depressed, the locking pins 15 and 16 of the link member 7 abut and lock on the first edge 28 A of the locking groove 28 in combination with the upward elastic force of the rubber spring 31. The locking pins 21 and 22 of the link member 8 are
9, the key top 1 is held in the non-pressed state without being moved in the horizontal direction and the ascending position of the key top is regulated. The locking pins 13 and 14 and the locking pins 23 and 24 are in contact with the inner end walls 4B and 5B of the locking grooves 4 and 5, respectively.

When the key top 1 is pressed down, the locking pins 13 and 14 of the link member 7 are moved horizontally (in the locking groove 4 of the locking portion 2) as the key top 1 moves downward. with slides in the left direction) in FIG. 1, phosphorus
Engaging pins 23, 24 of the click member 8 slides in the horizontal direction in the engaging groove 5 of the engaging portion 3 (the right direction in FIG. 1). At the same time, with slides link locking pin 21, 22 of the member 8 is horizontal in the locking groove 29 of the locking portion 27 of the holder plate 25 (left direction in FIG. 1), the link
The locking pins 15 and 16 of the member 7 are engaged with the locking grooves 28 of the locking portion 26.
In the horizontal direction (right direction in FIG. 1).

[0041] As a result, the link member 7 and the link member 8
Are moved downward and gradually depress the rubber spring 31, and when the amount of depression exceeds a certain limit, the rubber spring 31 is buckled. Thereby, the movable electrode in the rubber spring 31 short-circuits the switch electrode on the flexible circuit board 30, and a predetermined switching operation is performed.

[0042] Such After switching operation, the key top 1 is further on the key operation will be depressed, at this time, Li
The locking pins 13 and 14 of the link member 7 slide in the locking groove 4 to be abutted and locked on the outer end wall 4A, and the locking pins 23 and 24 of the link member 8 are locked in the locking groove 5. And is abutted and locked to the outer end wall 5A. At the same time, phosphorus
The locking pins 15 and 16 of the locking member 7 slide in the locking groove 28 so as to abut and lock on the second edge portion 28B, and the link portion.
The locking pins 21 and 22 of the material 8 slide in the locking groove 29 and abut and lock on the second edge portion 29B.

As a result , the key top 1 performs a switching operation with the movable electrode in the rubber spring 31 and the fixed electrode on the flexible circuit board 30 by pressing the rubber spring 31 through the shaft support A. After that, the respective locking pins 13 and the like and the respective outer end walls 4A, 5A,
Positioning is performed at the pressed position by cooperation with each of the second end portions 28B and 29B, so that there is no unnecessary movement in the horizontal direction.

[0044] When you release the pressing of the key top 1, both phosphorus
The shaft supports A of the locking members 7 and 8 are pushed upward by the elastic restoring force of the rubber spring 31. Accordingly, the locking pins 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, and 22 perform the reverse operation to the above, and as a result, the key top 1 is returned to the original non-pressed state.

The above As described in detail, the key switch device which is attached to the notebook personal computer according to this embodiment, phosphorus in the non-depressed state of the key top 1
The locking pins 15 and 16 of the locking member 7 are abutted and locked at the first edge 28A of the locking groove 28, and the locking pins 21 and 22 of the link member 8 are locked to the first edge of the locking groove 29. As the key top 1 is not depressed, the upward position of the key top 1 is restricted by the elastic force of the rubber spring 31 when the key top 1 is not pressed down, so that the key top 1 is restricted.
Is prevented from moving in the horizontal direction.

When the key top 1 is pressed,
The locking pins 13 and 14 of the link member 7 and the locking pins 23 and 24 of the link member 8 are respectively connected to the outer end wall 4 of the locking groove 4.
A, causes locked contact engaged with the outer end wall 5A of the locking groove 5, the locking pins 21, 22 of the locking pins 15, 16 and the link member 8 of the link member 7 of each locking grooves 28 2 The edge 28B and the second edge 29B of the locking groove 29 are abutted and locked. Therefore, when the key top 1 is pressed, the movable electrode of the rubber spring 31 and the flexible circuit board 3 are pressed.
The <br/> after performing a switching operation between 0 fixed electrode which key top 1 is prevented from being moved in the horizontal direction, the key top 1 is positioned at its pressed position It is.

As described above, in the key switch device attached to the notebook personal computer according to the present embodiment, the key top 1 is unnecessarily moved in the horizontal direction both when the key top 1 is not pressed and when it is pressed. Since the key switch device is prevented from being moved, a key switch device having good key operability and enabling a reliable switching operation can be realized.

As described above, in this embodiment, the position of the key top is restricted when the key top is not pressed and at the lowest position of the key top, so that there is almost no play of the key top and a comfortable key touch can be performed. realizable. In the key switch device according to the present embodiment, the link unit
Since the locking portions 26 and 27 for locking the locking pins 15 and 16 of the material 7 and the locking pins 21 and 22 of the link member 8 are formed integrally with the holder plate 25, the respective locking portions 26 and
The key switch device can be easily and easily assembled compared to a case where the key switch device 27 is formed separately and attached to the holder plate 25.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, when the key top 1 is not pressed, the locking pins 15 and 16 are
The key top 1 is held in a non-pressed state by abutting and locking the first edge 28A of the key top and the locking pins 21 and 22 with the first edge 29A of the locking groove 29. However, in addition to this, the locking pins 13 and 14 are abutted and locked on the inner end wall 4B opposite to the outer end wall 4A of the locking groove 4 and the locking pins 23 and 24 are fixed on the locking groove 5. Outer end wall 5A
It is needless to say that the inner end wall 5B may be abutted and locked.

In this embodiment, the key top 1
While the key is pressed, the key top 1 can be moved in the left-right direction in FIG. 1, so that the usability (key touch) is slightly impaired. In order to prevent this, a groove-shaped concave portion is provided at the top of the rubber spring 31 to engage with the shaft support portion A, and the elasticity of the rubber spring 31 restricts the key top 1 from moving in the left-right direction during the pressing. You can also.

Further, the link members 7, 8 in this embodiment are used.
As a matter of course, the same effect can be obtained by the same kind of members combined in a pantograph shape.

[0052]

[Effect of the Invention] As described above , the notebook type par of the present invention is used.
According to the Sonal Computer, when the key top is not pressed , the key operability is good by restricting the ascending position of the key top to prevent the link member from moving unnecessarily in the horizontal direction, can reliably and obtain benzalkonium performs switching operation, the effect of that industry Emperor is very large.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a key switch device showing a state in which a key top is slightly pressed down.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the key switch device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one link member .

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the other link member .

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key top 2, 3, 26, 27 Lock part 4, 5, 28, 29 Lock groove 4A, 5A Outer end wall 4B, 5B Inner end wall 6 Guide support member 7, 8 Link member (hinge part)
Materials) 13, 14, 15, 16 21, 22, 23, 24 the locking pin 25 the holder plate 28A, 29A first edge portion 28B, 29B second edge portion 30 the flexible circuit board 31 rubber spring A shaft support

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01H 13/14 H01H 13/70

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A guide support member for connecting and locking to a back surface of a key top and a holder member therebelow to guide and support the vertical movement of the key top, and performs a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top. and a switching unit, wherein the guide support member are mutually becomes arranged so as to be movable and the first link member and the second link member <br/>, first phosphorus
A notebook personal computer having a click member and the key switch device in which sealed coupling engaged with the rear surface and the holder member of the key top of each free end of the second link member, said key switch is integral with the holder member It is formed, and the locking portion for slidably engaging the lower free end of the first link member or the second link member, is formed on the engagement portion, the first Li to when not pressed the key top
And a restricting portion for restricting the ascending position of the key top by contacting the lower free end of the link member or the second link member .