JP2887853B2 - 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 switch device, and more particularly to a switch device suitable for use as a keyboard input device.

A keyboard switch device is generally operated by a housing, a switch element incorporated in the housing, a stem guided to the housing so as to be able to move up and down, a return spring for returning the stem, and a raising and lowering of the stem. And a click mechanism.

In use, when the stem is pressed down with a finger or the like against the return spring and lowered, a click mechanism including an inverting spring or the like is operated in the moving process to generate a click (moderation) feeling. The movable contact of the switch element comes into contact with the fixed contact to be turned on. Also,
When the pressing force on the stem is removed, the stem is raised by the return spring, and in this movement, the movable contact separates from the fixed contact and returns to the switch-off state.

[0004]

In recent years, with the spread of laptop-type input devices and the like, a thin switch device has been demanded. In the above-described conventional switch device, a click mechanism is operated. Due to the large amount of movement of the stem required to make it thin, there is a limit to the reduction in thickness even when the thickness of the components such as the stem and the housing is reduced.

A switch device called a membrane switch using a flexible film is also known as a switch device for the purpose of thinning. However, this switch device has a small variation amount of the film. There is a disadvantage that the click feeling is weak and the switching operation of the switch cannot be clearly fed back.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances of the prior art, and has as its object to provide a switch device which is thin but can generate a clear click feeling.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a key top, switching means operated by pressing the key top, and a piezoelectric element for applying vibration to the key top. The switching means is operated by an output signal generated from the piezoelectric element when the key top is pressed, and the piezoelectric element is configured to vibrate based on an ON signal of the switching means. I have.

[0008]

When the keytop is pressed, the piezoelectric element is distorted by the pressing force, and a voltage corresponding to the pressing force is generated from the piezoelectric element. Therefore, the switching means is operated by the output voltage from the piezoelectric element, and the specific keytop is operated. Pressing can be detected. Further, when a predetermined voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element based on the ON signal of the switching means, the piezoelectric element vibrates and a vibration corresponding to a click feeling is applied to the keytop. Can be confirmed by the vibration transmitted to the fingers.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is a keytop, 3 is a piezoelectric element, 4 is a controller, and 5 is a host computer.

The key top 1 is made of a relatively thin member such as a synthetic resin molded product or a synthetic resin film as shown in the figure, and constitutes a surface which receives a pressing force from an operator's finger. A piezoelectric element 3 is provided on the lower surface of the keytop 1, and the piezoelectric element 3 is mounted on a base such as a housing (not shown).

A controller 4 is connected to the piezoelectric element 3. The controller 4 outputs an ON signal of the switching means to the host computer 5 based on a voltage generated from the piezoelectric element 3, and outputs an ON signal of the switching means. , A pulse-like voltage is generated, and this voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 3.

When the operator presses the top surface of the key top 1 with his / her finger, the piezoelectric element 3 is distorted by the pressing force, and the piezoelectric element 3
Generates a voltage corresponding to the pressing force. This voltage is sent to the controller 4, and the controller 4 sends an ON signal of the switching means to the host computer 5 based on this voltage, and the host computer 5 detects that a specific keytop 1 is pressed. On the other hand, the controller 4 generates a pulse-like voltage corresponding to the output voltage from the piezoelectric element 3 and applies the voltage to the piezoelectric element 3. As a result, the piezoelectric element 3 vibrates, and this vibration is fed back to the finger via the upper key top 1, so that the operator can confirm the switching operation of the key top 1 by the vibration transmitted to the finger.

In the above embodiment, the switching operation is performed by a slight movement of the key top 1, and a vibration similar to a click feeling is generated, so that the switch device can be made thin. . In addition, key top 1
Is determined by the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 3, so that the click feeling can be set according to the purpose of use. Further, since the piezoelectric element 3 also serves as a vibration applying means and a switching means, the switch device can be composed of two parts, the key top 1 and the piezoelectric element 3, and the assembling workability can be improved.

In the above embodiment, the key top 1
When the weight is provided, the vibration of the piezoelectric element 3 is amplified by the weight, so that a larger vibration can be applied to the key top 1.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the key top is pressed, the piezoelectric element is distorted, the switching means is operated by the output voltage from the piezoelectric element, and vibration is applied to the key top from the piezoelectric element based on the ON signal of the switching means. Can be provided as small as possible, and it is possible to provide a switch device which is thin and produces a clear click feeling.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key top 3 Piezoelectric element 4 Controller 5 Host computer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H01H 13/00-13/76 H01H 9/54

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A key top, switching means operated by pressing the key top, and a piezoelectric element for applying vibration to the key top.
The output signal generated from the piezoelectric element when pressed
Operating the switching means, and
Vibrates the piezoelectric element based on the ON signal of the switching means
A switch device characterized in that the switch device is configured to perform the following.