JP3200975B2 - 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 effective for a thin keyboard attached to a notebook type word processor, a notebook type personal computer or the like.

[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 the 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. is, the a first locking portion holder second locking portion corresponds is formed in member, vertical movement of the key top while being respectively engaged with the first engaging portion and the second locking portion A guide support member for guiding and supporting the key top, and a switching member for urging the key top upward and performing a switching operation according to the vertical movement of the key top,
Further, the guide support member has a gear portion formed on the gear-shaped, are engaged with each other at the gear part, e Bei the pair of link members to rotate in synchronization with each other, the pair of Li <br Holding means for maintaining engagement of the link member with the gear portion, and the maintaining means includes a first locking portion.
Alternatively, provided on the second locking portion, the pair of link members
The end on which the gear portion is formed is rotatably locked.
It is.

[0012]

According to the key switch device of the present invention, 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 lowering operation of the key top, the pair of link members of the guide support member rotate synchronously while meshing with each other in the gear portion while maintaining the meshing in the gear portion by the maintaining means, and each of the link members The ends pivot or slide within the 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 the 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 guide support member, and returns to the original position. Return.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 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.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the key switch device when pressed down, 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. FIG.

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 have locking holes 4a for rotatably locking locking shafts 13a and 13b formed on one of the two link members 7 and 8 described later. , 4b
And the first locking portions 3a and 3b have
Locking shafts 23a, 23b formed on the other link member 8
Lock holes 5a and 5b are provided for rotatably locking.

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 in 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 is formed by integrally forming two base ends 20a and 20b at both ends of a base 19, and the base ends 20a and 20b are provided with 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. Further, the locking pins 24a, 24b are provided from the side surfaces of the both end extending portions 21a, 21b of the base ends 20a, 20b.
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 U-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 a switch electrode is formed, and a reverse cup as a switching member is provided at a position corresponding to the switch electrode. 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 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. Also, the link members 7, 8 of the guide support member 6 are connected to the action points A, B
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 apparatus is lowered 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
The gear 2b and the gears 22a and 22b of the link member 8 rotate synchronously while meshing with each other at 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
Since the keys a, 13b, 23, and 23b are rotatably locked to the first locking portions 2a, 2b, 3a, and 3b formed on the key top 1, during the descending operation of the key top 1, 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.
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 from being pressed, 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 has a substantially trapezoidal shape when 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 in detail above, 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 configuration 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.

[0033]

According to the key switch device of the present invention, the up and down movement of the key top is guided and supported by a pair of link members which mesh with each other and rotate synchronously with each other by a gear portion formed in a gear shape. By using the configuration, the configuration in which the key stem is slid up and down by the holder portion is not required. 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 guide support member, it is possible to improve the operability of key input and to enable a reliable key input without twisting.

Further , the holding means provided on the first locking portion or the second locking portion rotatably locks the end of the pair of link members on which the gear portion is formed, so that the key is provided. Even if the top moves up and down, the distance between the ends can be kept constant. Therefore, even if the key top moves up and down, there is an effect that the connection of the pair of link members meshed with each other by 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 (maintenance means) 6 Guide support member 7, 8 Link member 12a, 12b, 22a, 22b Gear (gear part) 13a, 13b, 23a, 23b Locking shaft (End of the link member on the gear portion side) 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b Locking pin (end of the link member on the non-gear portion side) 26 Holder plate (Holder member) 27a, 27b, 28a, 28b Stop portions 27a1, 27b1, 28a1, 28b1 Restriction walls 29a, 29b, 30a, 30b Locking groove 31 Flexible circuit board (part of switching member) 32 Rubber spring (part of switching member) 33 Coil spring (part of switching member) Part)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A key top having a first locking portion formed on a back surface.
And the first locking member disposed below the key top.
A holder member having a second locking portion corresponding to the portion;
The first locking portion and the second locking portion respectivelyLockingWhen done
Guide support for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key top
While urging the member and the key top upward,
Performs switching operation in accordance with vertical movement of key top
Key switch device with switching member
The guide support member has a gear portion formed in a gear shape.
Gears are engaged with each other at their gears,
Equipped with a pair of link memberse,  ThatPair ofEngagement of the link member in the gear section
Maintenance means to maintainThe maintenance means is provided at the first locking portion or the second locking portion.
And the gear portion of the pair of link members is formed.
The pivoted end is rotatably locked.
Key switch device.