JP3066024B2 - 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, and more particularly to a key switch device used for a thin keyboard attached to a notebook type word processor or a notebook type personal computer.

[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,
The guide member provided below the key member and supporting the key member is constituted by two scissor-shaped members, and the 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-shaped member slide horizontally between the back surface of the key member and the upper 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

[0007]

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 slidably guided by the key holder portion is reduced, and accordingly, the key stem and the key holder caused by tilting of the key are reduced. The key is twisted between copies. In order to prevent this, if the portion where the key stem is slid and guided by the key holder is enlarged, there is a dilemma 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 twist, it is conceivable to reduce the operation area of the key so that the key is always pressed at the center of the key, but also in this case, the operability of key input is significantly impaired. There is no difference in the point from the above.

Further, 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 down from the key member. Therefore, it is difficult to reduce the thickness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and eliminates the need for a configuration in which a key stem is slid up and down by a holder portion. It is an object of the present invention to provide a key switch device which can be maintained large, has good operability of key input with a simple configuration, and enables reliable key input without twisting.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a key switch device comprising: a key top having a first locking portion formed on a back surface; and a key top provided below the key top. And a holder member having a second locking portion formed corresponding to the first locking portion, the holder member being connected to the first locking portion and the second locking portion, and a vertical movement of the key top. A key switch device comprising: a guide supporting member for guiding and supporting the key top; and a switching member for urging the key top upward and performing a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top, wherein the guide supporting member Comprises a pair of link members having a gear portion formed in a gear shape, meshing with each other at the gear portion, rotating in synchronization with each other, and guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key top, 1 locking part One of the second locking portions is provided with a locking groove for slidably locking the ends of the pair of link members. Of the locking grooves, in the sliding direction of the end of the link member. Is characterized in that a limiting wall for limiting the sliding position is provided upright.

According to the key switch device of the present invention having the above configuration, when the key top is not pressed down, the key top is urged upward by the switching member and is held upward. When the keytop is pressed from such a state, the keytop descends against the urging force of the switching member. With the downward movement of the key top, the pair of link members rotate synchronously while meshing with each other in the gear portion while the engagement in the gear portion is maintained by the rotation locking portion, and each end of the link member is rotated. The portions rotate or slide in the respective locking portions of the keytop and the holder member, respectively, to guide the descending operation of the keytop.

Along with the lowering operation of the keytop, the switching member is pressed to perform a switching operation. On the other hand, when the pressing of the keytop is released, the keytop is urged upward by the switching member, and is pushed upward by the urging force while being supported by the link member, and returns to the original position. I do.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a top perspective view of the key switch device according to the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a link member of the key switch device, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a holder plate portion of the key switch device.

The key top 1 is molded from a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin, and letters such as alphabets are formed on the upper surface thereof by printing or the like. From the back surface of the key top 1, four first locking portions 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b
Are vertically provided integrally with the key top 1 main body. The first locking portions 2a and 2b rotatably lock locking shafts 13a and 13b formed on one link member (hinge member) 7 of two link members 7 and 8 described later. Locking holes 4a and 4b are formed, and the first locking portion 3
Locking holes 5a, 5b for rotatably locking locking shafts 23a, 23b formed on the other link member 8 are provided in a, 3b.
Are drilled.

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 has a mechanism for preventing the key top 1 from tilting when the key is pressed, and has two link members 7 and 8.
It is composed of As shown in FIG. 1, one link member 7 has two base ends 10 a and 10 b at both ends of the base 9.
Are formed integrally with each other, and gears 12a and 12b are formed at the base ends 10a and 10b, respectively.
The gears a and 12b are meshed with gears 22a and 22b formed on the other link member 8 described later at the action points A and B, so that they can rotate in synchronization with each other. Further, two locking shafts 13a and 13b are formed on the base 9, and the locking shafts 13a and 13b are rotatably locked in the locking holes 4a and 4b. In addition, the base end 1
Engagement pins 14a, 14b extend from the side surfaces of both end extending portions 11a, 11b of Oa, 10b. The locking pins 14a and 14b are locked by second locking portions 28a and 28b formed on a holder plate 26 described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the other link member 8 has two base ends 20a and 20b integrally formed at both ends of a base 19, and the base ends 20a and 20b have gears 22a and 22a, respectively. 22b, and the gears 22a, 2b
2b is a gear 12a, 1 formed on the other link member 7.
2b is engaged with the action points A and B so that both can rotate in synchronization with each other. Also, the base 1
9, two locking shafts 23a and 23b are formed,
The locking shafts 23a and 23b are rotatably locked in the locking holes 5a and 5b. Furthermore, the locking pins 24a,
24b is extended. These locking pins 24a, 24b
Are locked by second locking portions 27a and 27b formed on a holder plate 26 described later. Each of the link members 7 and 8 is formed in a rectangular shape in a top view, thereby having a large space in the center. In this space, a rubber spring 32 and a coil spring 33, which will be described later, are efficiently placed under the keytop 1. It can be stored in.

Below the guide support member 6, a holder plate 26 having an opening 25 as shown in FIG. 6 is provided, and the holder plate 26 is provided on the link members 7, 8. Locking pins 14a, 14b, 24
a and 24b for locking the second locking portions 27a and 27b, respectively.
7b, 28a and 28b are provided. Each of the second locking portions 27a, 27b, 28a, 28b is integrally formed in a convex shape with two sides forming each corner of the inner peripheral edge of the holder plate 26, and the locking grooves 29a, 29 are formed in the opening 25.
b, 30a and 30b are formed. Then, each locking pin 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b is
a, 29b, 30a, and 30b are slidably engaged in the horizontal direction.

Each of the second locking portions 27a, 27b, 28
a, 28b, the holder plate 26
Walls 27a1, 27b1, 28a1, 2
8b1 is each locking pin 1 when the key top 1 is raised in each locking groove 29a, 29b, 30a, 30b.
4a, 14b, 24a, and 24b are formed at the ends in the sliding direction. These restriction walls 27a1, 27b1, 28a
1, 28b1, each locking pin 14 of the guide support member 6
a, 14b, 24a, and 24b are restricted, and the ascending position of the key top 1 is regulated.

Below the holder plate 26, there is provided a flexible circuit board 31 on which a predetermined circuit pattern (not shown) including switch electrodes is formed, and an inverted cup as a switching member is provided at a position corresponding to the switch electrodes. A rubber spring 32 is mounted. The rubber spring 32 has a movable electrode inside. When the amount of pressing from above exceeds a certain limit, the rubber spring 32 buckles, and the switch electrode is short-circuited by the movable electrode. A coil spring 33 is disposed as an elastic member on the upper surface of the rubber spring 32, and the upper end thereof is attached to the concave portion 1 a on the back surface of the key top 1. Since the upper end of the coil spring 33 is locked in the recess 1a, the position of the coil spring 33 does not shift. Further, a switch support plate 34 is provided below the flexible circuit board 31. That is, the switch support plate 34 supports the flexible circuit board 31, the rubber spring 32, the guide support member 6, and the holder plate 26.

Also, two positioning pins 36a, 36b
Are erected on the holder plate 26 in proximity to the second locking portions 28a and 28b, and the positioning grooves 35
a, 35b guide the positioning pins 36a, 36b as the key top 1 moves up and down.
It is erected from the back side. This positioning pin 36a,
The engagement portion 36b with the positioning grooves 35a, 35b is formed into a spherical shape so that when the key top 1 is pressed down, the key top 1 is smoothly guided along the positioning grooves 35a, 35b without causing twisting. A through hole 26a is provided in the holder plate 26 at a position directly below the positioning pins 36a, 36b, so that the positioning pins 36a, 36b can be formed by resin molding without using a slide die.

A positioning member 37 is formed by the engagement of the positioning pins 36a, 36b and the positioning grooves 35a, 35b. The positioning member 37 prevents the key top 1 from moving in the horizontal direction. Has a mechanism. Further, since the guide support member 6 has a mechanism for preventing the key top 1 from being tilted, it is not necessary to have the mechanism, so that the engagement portion between the positioning pins 36a, 36b and the positioning grooves 35a, 35b is formed. The amount of overlap may be small. As described above, the positioning is performed in one direction by the guide support member 6 and the positioning in the direction of 90 degrees is performed by the positioning member 37 with respect to this positioning, so that the key top 1 does not move in the horizontal direction. Further, the link members 7, 8 of the guide support member 6 are connected to the action points A, B with each other.
By interlocking and acting, it is moved up and down while maintaining a horizontal state.

In the above configuration, the first locking portions 2a, 2 on the left side with respect to the perpendicular L passing through the action points A, B in FIG.
b, locking holes 4a, 4b for rotatably locking the locking shafts 13a, 13b are provided, and the second locking portions 27a, 27b are provided.
Are provided with locking grooves 29a and 29b for locking the locking pins 24a and 24b in the horizontal direction. Further, locking holes 5a, 5b for rotatably locking the locking shafts 23a, 23b are formed in the first locking portions 3a, 3b on the right side of FIG.
Lock grooves 30a, 3 for locking the lock pins 14a, 14b in the horizontal direction are provided in the second lock portions 28a, 28b.
0b is provided.

Normally, a keyboard in a word processor or a personal computer is formed with a slope so that the front side of the device is low so that keys can be easily input, whereas the upper surface of each key top 1 is disposed horizontally.
For this reason, in each key switch device, the front side of the device is thicker, that is, the height dimension from the switch support plate 34 to the key top 1 is longer. By disposing the positioning member 37 at a position where the height dimension is long, the positioning grooves 35a and 35b and the positioning pins 36a and
Combined with the fact that the amount of overlap of the engaging portion with 36b may be small, it is possible to reduce the overall height when trying to secure a predetermined stroke of the key. Further, in the present embodiment, since the thickness around the key top 1 rises upward and rises, by providing the positioning member 37 in this portion, the overall height is reduced as much as possible. I have. In FIG. 2, the right side is the front side of the apparatus.

Next, the operation of the key switch device configured as described above will be described. When the keytop 1 is depressed, the link member 7 is moved as the keytop 1 moves downward.
Are respectively provided with first locking portions 2a, 2b.
Are rotated counterclockwise in the locking holes 4a, 4b, and the locking shafts 23, 24 of the link member 8 are moved to the first locking portions 3a, 3b.
In the locking holes 5a, 5b. At the same time, each of the locking pins 14a, 14b of the link member 7 slides horizontally (rightward in FIG. 2) in the locking grooves 30a, 30b of the second locking portions 28a, 28b. 8 are connected to the second locking portions 27a, 27b.
b slides horizontally (leftward in FIG. 2) in the locking grooves 29a and 29b.

As a result, the gears 12a, 1
2b and the gears 22a and 22b of the link member 8 rotate synchronously while meshing with each other at the action points A and B, whereby the key top 1 moves downward while maintaining a horizontal state. As described above, the locking shaft 13 of the link members 7, 8
a, 13b, 23, and 23b are rotatably locked to the first locking portions 2a, 2b, 3a, and 3b formed on the key top 1, so that the key top 1 is lowered during the lowering operation. Also,
The distance between the locking shafts 13a, 13b of one link member 7 and the locking shafts 23a, 23b of the other link member 8 is kept constant, and the gears 12a, 12b, 22 of both link members 7, 8 are kept constant.
The engagement between a and 22b is maintained. In addition, the positioning pins 36a and 36b are smoothly guided into the positioning grooves 35a and 35b without causing twisting, so that the key top 1 does not move in the horizontal direction.

The downward movement of the key top 1 compresses the coil spring 33 attached to the back of the key top 1, and the rubber spring 32 is gradually depressed. When the pressing amount exceeds a certain limit, the rubber spring 32 buckles, whereby the movable electrode in the rubber spring 32 short-circuits the switch electrode on the flexible circuit board 31 and a predetermined switching operation is performed. Will be

When the key top 1 is released, the key top 1 is released from the coil spring 33 and the rubber spring 32.
It is pushed upward by the elastic restoring force of. Along with this, the locking shafts 13a, 13b, 23a, 23b and the locking pins 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b perform an operation reverse to the above-described operation, and as a result, the key top 1 is returned to the original position. You.

The rubber spring 32 is substantially trapezoidal as viewed from the side as described above, and the angle of the side surface resulting from the length and height of the upper base and the lower base is determined according to the desired key touch. . Further, the height of the trapezoid, that is, the height of the rubber spring 32 is determined according to the keystroke and the coil spring 33, and a higher one is preferred. However, considering the thickness of the entire device, the rubber spring 32 cannot be so large. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the two link members 7, 8 are assembled in a rectangular shape when viewed from above, so that a large space can be taken at the center thereof. The coil spring 33 was provided. As a result, in this embodiment, both link members are substantially straight when viewed from the side, and a large space cannot be provided in the central portion of the apparatus, as disclosed in JP-A-60-62017 or JP-A-64-7441.
As compared with the device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-209, a thinner and larger stroke can be obtained.

As described above in detail, the key switch device according to the present embodiment has a large space at the center thereof by forming the two link members 7 and 8 in a rectangular shape below the key top 1. The rubber spring 32 and the coil spring 33 are arranged in this space, and when the key top 1 is pressed, the rubber spring 32 is pressed via the coil spring 33. This eliminates the need for a configuration for slidingly guiding the key stem by the key holder and a special configuration for pressing down the switching member, unlike the conventional key switch device. As a result, it is possible to increase the keystroke while responding to the thinning of the keyboard, and therefore, the key operability is good, the key input can be reliably performed, and a low-cost key switch device with a simple configuration is provided. Can be provided.

In particular, since it is not necessary to provide a structure in which the key stem is slidably guided by the key holder, sliding noise does not occur between the key stem and the key holder when the key is depressed unlike a conventional key switch device. Therefore, there is no need to reduce the key operation area in order to press the center of the key.

A guide support member 6 having a positioning function
And the positioning member 37, the key top 1
When the key is pressed down, the link members 7, 8 of the guide support member 6 are engaged with each other at the action points A, B to act on each other, so that only a downward force is applied, and the key top 1 does not move in the horizontal direction. . Moreover, the positioning pins 36a, 36b
Since the engaging portions with the positioning grooves 35a, 35b are formed in a spherical shape, the positioning pins 36a, 36b can be smoothly slid along the positioning grooves 35a, 35b without causing twisting. No noise is generated. Therefore, in combination with the above, it is possible to provide a key switch device which has good operability of key input from this point and can reliably perform key input.

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, the number of the link members 7 and 8 in the present embodiment may be increased to form an I-shape, and the cylinders with the gears may be combined so as to act on each other. In this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained. As a result, the positioning member 37 including the positioning groove and the positioning pin can be omitted. Also,
In the above embodiment, the concave portion 1a is provided on the key top 1 and the coil spring 33 is locked, but the hemispherical convex portion substantially the same as the inner diameter of the coil spring 33 is provided on the lower surface of the key top 1 and locked. Is also good.

[0034]

As described above in detail, according to the key switch device of the first aspect, the key top is formed by a pair of link members which are meshed with each other by the gears formed in a gear shape and are rotated synchronously. By using a configuration for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key stem, a configuration for slidingly guiding the key stem up and down by the holder portion is unnecessary. Therefore, there is an effect that the keyboard can be made thinner while maintaining the size of the key stroke.

Further, by using such a link member, it is possible to improve the operability of key input and to enable the key input without any distortion.

Further, a locking groove formed in one of the first locking portion and the second locking portion has a limiting wall for limiting the sliding position of the pair of link members in the sliding direction of the ends. , The vertical movement of the key top can be determined. The sliding position (sliding amount) of the pair of link members
, The amount of rotation in the gear portion can be limited, so that the coupling of the pair of link members meshed with each other in the gear portion can be maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a key switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view when the key switch device according to the embodiment is pressed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a link member of the key switch device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a holder plate portion of the key switch device according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key top 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b 1st locking part (rotation locking part) 6 Guide support member 7, 8 Link member 12a, 12b, 22a, 22b Gear 13a, 13b, 23a, 23b Locking shaft 14a , 14b, 24a, 24b Locking pin 26 Holder plate 27a, 27b, 28a, 28b Second locking portion (sliding locking portion) 27a1, 27b1, 28a1, 28b1 Limiting wall 29a, 29b, 30a, 30b Locking groove 31 Flexible circuit board 32 Rubber spring 33 Coil spring

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A key top having a first locking portion formed on a back surface thereof; and a holder disposed below the key top and having a second locking portion corresponding to the first locking portion. A member, a guide support member connected to the first locking portion and the second locking portion, respectively, for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key top; A key switch device comprising: a switching member that performs a switching operation in accordance with vertical movement of a top, wherein the guide support member has a gear portion formed in a gear shape, and is meshed with each other by the gear portion. A pair of link members that rotate in synchronization with each other to guide and support the vertical movement of the key top, and one of the first locking portion or the second locking portion includes an end of the pair of link members. That locks the section so that it can slide Grooves are provided, of its locking groove, the sliding direction of the end portion of the link member, the key switch device characterized by limiting wall to limit its sliding position is erected.