JP2723026B2 - keyboard - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard widely used as an input device in an information processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 4, a conventional step sculpture type keyboard has rows A, B, C, D, and E along a curvature (4) of a sculpture arrangement.
In general, each row is composed of key tops having four types of shapes 1, 2, 3, and 4. As another conventional example, as shown in FIG. 5, there is a keyboard in which a sculpture shape is obtained by using a key top having the same shape by bending a key housing.
-27026, JP-A-63-37525, JP-A-60-
17819, JP-A-60-143529, JP-A-61-1986
62117, Shokai Sho 62-94520, Shokai Sho 58-1
75944). For example, according to Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-62117, as shown in FIG. Using key tops of various basic shapes, key touch surface (14)
Has a certain curvature (4).

[0003]

In the step sculpture type keyboard of the conventional type shown in FIG. 4, there are four basic types of key tops, and the cost for the die for molding the keyboard is high. There was a problem. In the step sculpture type keyboard shown in FIG. 5, the key top (14) is one type, but the key housing (13), the membrane sheet (15), and the reinforcing plate (16) are fixed to a certain curvature. In particular, in the case of a key housing, a line perpendicular to the curvature with respect to the curved line (4) at the position where the key tops are arranged (rows A to E). In (17), it is necessary to provide a guide portion for moving the key top vertically, and there is a problem that a slide mechanism is used or a very expensive mold is used in manufacturing a key housing mold.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the key tops are mounted by rotating the arrangement of the key tops with reference to the middle in the mounting of the key tops, for example, by rotating the key tops by 180 degrees, and having different heights with key tops having the same shape. A keyboard having a key stem storage portion, wherein an upper surface of a key top is arranged in a pseudo step sculpture type.

[0005]

In the present invention, in order to simulate the arrangement of the step sculpture, first, in FIG. 1, the mounting of the key top is rotated by 180 degrees with respect to the middle between the rows C and D and the top and bottom are reversed. Next, in the key top portion, the key stem storage portion is fitted with the key stem storage portion of the key top by using two types of different heights, and is lifted upward by an appropriate amount. It is.

[0006]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a keyboard employing the key top arrangement of the present invention. In order to obtain the arrangement of the pseudo-step sculpture of the present invention, the row A, the row B, the row C, and the row A, the row B, the row C, and the key top 2 are mounted on the basis of the middle of the row C and the row D of the keyboard 1. Row D, E
The row is turned 180 degrees and turned upside down. When assembling the key top (2), row A, row B, C
Column key tops (2) and D and E column key tops (2)
Is assembled by rotating it 180 degrees so that it is upside down.

FIG. 2 shows the details of the keyboard unit of the keyboard shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows the keyboard unit attached to the keyboard (1). A key stem storage part (5) and a key stem storage part (6) having different heights are installed, and are fitted with the key top (2) and lifted upward by an appropriate amount. That is, the key tops of the rows A and B (2)
In the key tops (2) of the rows C and D, the key tops (2) are fitted together by making the key stem housings (5) and (6) two different heights. Lifting up.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the key top fitting portion and the key stem portion of FIG. (9) is a rubber switch,
(10) is a membrane sheet, (11) is a reinforcing plate, and shows key stems (7) and (8) and key stem storage portions (5) and (6) having two kinds of heights. By depressing the key top (2), the key stem (7) and the key stem (8) fitted with the key top (2) move downward, and the membrane sheet (10) moves through the rubber (9).
A circuit is formed by closing the contact provided above. The stiffening plate below the membrane sheet (10) merely serves to push the membrane sheet (10) up from the opposite side.

[0009]

As described above, according to the present invention, the key arrangement of the pseudo step sculpture can be realized basically with one kind of key top shape without bending the key housing, and the mold cost is reduced. This has the effect of reducing and shortening the development period.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a keyboard employing a key top arrangement according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows details of a keyboard unit of the keyboard shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of a key top fitting portion and a key stem portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a conventional key top arrangement diagram.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a conventional keyboard and key top arrangement.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,12 keyboard 2,14 key top 3 flat key housing 4 curvature of sculpture arrangement 5,6 key stem storing part 7,8 key stem 9 rubber switch 10,15 membrane sheet 11,16 reinforcing plate 13 curved housing 17 to curvature Vertical line

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] In mounting a key top, the arrangement of the key tops is rotated with respect to an intermediate position, and the key tops have the same shape and have key stem storage portions having different heights. A keyboard with a step sculpture type arrangement.