JP3286299B2 - 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 applied to a keyboard device used as an input device of a word processor, a personal computer or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a keyboard device of this type, a stem protruding downward from the lower surface of a key top is formed in a holder portion as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-147037. In general, the key top is configured to be guided up and down so as to be vertically movable by being inserted through the stem guide portion.

A key switch device which uses a large key such as a space key or a return key is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 60 (1994) to prevent the key top from being pressed in an inclined state when the key is pressed. There are known key switch devices described in JP-A-6-2017 and JP-A-64-7441.

In the key switch device described in the former,
The guide support member disposed below the key member and supporting the key member is constituted by two scissor-like members, and the two arms of each scissor-like 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

[0006] The key switch devices described in these publications disclose the horizontal position of the key top regardless of the pressed position of a large key such as a space key, while maintaining a horizontal state regardless of which part of the key top is pressed. It can guide the movement. 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, keyboard devices attached to these are also being miniaturized and thinning, while improving the operability of key input and ensuring the reliability of key input. Large keystrokes are required as much as possible. Under such circumstances, there is a problem that a sufficient key stroke cannot be obtained with the conventional key switch device.

For example, in the configuration disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 60-147037, if the vertical length of the stem guide portion is reduced in order to increase the vertical stroke of the key top, the vertical sliding length with the stem is reduced. Insufficiently, when the key top is depressed, twisting occurs and the key touch cannot be performed smoothly. Therefore, the vertical length of the stem guide portion must be increased, and the keyboard device cannot be reduced in thickness.

As described above, if it is attempted to reduce the thickness of the keyboard device in the conventional key switch device,
The portion of the key stem that is slidably guided by the holder portion is reduced, and accordingly, the key is twisted between the key stem and the holder portion due to the tilt of the key. In order to prevent this, if the portion where the key stem is slid and guided by the holder portion is enlarged, there is a dilemma that the key stroke is reduced.

[0010] In addition, when the key is depressed, the twist generated between the key stem and the holder causes the occurrence of sliding noise, which significantly impairs the operability of key input. The twist occurring between the key stem and the holder is unlikely to occur when the center of the key is always pressed, because the key stem is pressed vertically. Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of this twist, it is conceivable to reduce the key operation area so that the key is always pressed at the center of the key top. There is no difference from the above in terms of damage.

In particular, when the apparatus using the stem guide is applied to a slope sculpture type keyboard apparatus, a large number of hollow cylindrical stem guides are erected in different directions. Therefore, when molding the holder member with a resin, it is necessary to use a large number of slide dies or to perform a step of bending the holder member formed into a planar shape after the molding, and thus the manufacturing cost is increased. there were.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and does not require a configuration in which a key stem is slid up and down by means of a holder portion, and can cope with miniaturization and thinning of a keyboard device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a key switch device which is capable of ensuring a sufficient keystroke, has good operability for key input, and enables secure key input without twisting. And

[0013]

Key switch according to claim 1 to achieve the above object, according order to achieve the above, a key Toppu, while being disposed below the key top, Suridogakari stop portion
A holder member rotating locking portion is formed and, key Toppu
Along with connecting the lower surface and the holder member, the guide support member comprising a first link member and second link members to guide and support the vertical movement of the key top, is disposed below the Holder member, an electrical contact portion a circuit board having, by pressing a key Toppu, actuates the electrical contacts, and a biasing to Lula bar spring key top upward, the holder member, La bar springs, key Toppu or The upper end of the rubber spring to abut the guide support
Part placement holes for protruding upward is provided than the holder member, Suridogakari stop portion, the lower free end of the first link member or the second link member seals slidably engaged, and the downwardly open It is formed so as to be performed.

According to the key switch device having the above configuration, when performing a switching operation, the key top is pressed down against the urging force of the rubber spring. When the keytop is pressed, the keytop is guided downward by the first link member and the second link member with the pressing. The electric contact portion of the circuit board is operated based on the key top pressing operation. When the pressing of the keytop is released, the keytop is returned to the original non-pressed position by the urging force of the rubber spring.

[0015]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of one of a plurality of key switches 1 arranged on a keyboard, and the key switch 1 includes a key top 2, a first link 4 and a second link 5 as viewed from the side. Guide support means 3 arranged in a letter shape, a cap-shaped rubber spring 6 pressed by the guide support means 3, a synthetic resin holder member 7 for supporting the guide support means 3, and the holder switching portions 29 and 29 into the mounting hole 7a of element 7 (see FIG. 7) is facing so that the flexible printed board is stretched to the lower surface of the holder member 7 9
And a reinforcing plate 10 stretched on the lower surface side.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the rubber spring 6 is provided with a mounting hole for the holder member 7 so as to cover above the switching portions (electric contact portions) 29, 29 (see FIG. 7) on the printed circuit board 9. 7a. The rubber spring 6 is made of electrically insulating silicone rubber or EP.
DM (ethylene propylene diene methylene) or the like, a substantially disk-shaped thick head in plan view, a frusto-conical dome extending downward from the periphery of the head, and a substantially horizontal outer periphery of the dome. And a thick open flange extending outward in a radial direction. When the keytop is depressed, contact portions of the switching portions 29, 29 are provided on the lower surface of the head of the rubber spring 6 pressed by the pressing portion 26 on the lower surface of the connection crossing portion between the first link 4 and the second link 5. ON and OFF of both switching parts electrically
The movable contact portion 30 made of conductive rubber having conductivity is fixed. The entire rubber spring 6 may be formed to have conductivity by dispersing and filling conductive particles such as carbon black in silicone rubber.

The key top 2 formed of a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin is provided with characters such as numerals and letters on the upper surface (surface) by engraving or printing. Key top 2
A longitudinal groove-shaped slide for locking the pin portions 11a, 11b on the upper free end side of the first link 4 to be described later in a substantially horizontal direction so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction of the key top 2. The locking portions 16, 16 and the hole-shaped rotation locking portions 15, 15 for locking the pin portions 13 a, 13 b at the upper free end of the second link 5 only for rotation are integrally provided. The pair of left and right locking members 17, 17 having the front and rear lengths are integrally formed or bonded to each other with an adhesive or the like to protrude (see FIG. 5).

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b),
The first link 4 and the second link 5 made of a synthetic resin such as a glass fiber reinforced synthetic resin will be described in detail. FIG. 4A is a plan view of the first link 4, and FIG. 4B is a plan view of the second link 5. The first link 4 has a base 18 and an upper and lower free end 1
9 and 20, which are integrally formed in a substantially H-shape in plan view. A support hole 21 is formed in the side surface of the base 18 in a lateral direction, and an arm portion extending from both left and right ends of the lower free end 20. Pin portions 12a, 12b are provided on the side surfaces of 20a, 20b, respectively.
Is projected sideways, and a pin 1 is provided on the side of the upper free end 19.
1a and 11b are protruded sideways.

The second link 5 also has a base 22 and an upper and lower free end 2.
3 and 24 to form a substantially H-shape integrally in plan view. A pivot shaft 25 is protruded laterally from one side surface of the base 22, and the pivot shaft 25 is rotatably fitted into the support hole 21 of the first link 4.

On the side surfaces of the arms 24a and 24b extending from the left and right ends of the lower free end 24 of the second link 5, pin portions 14a and 14b are provided to project sideways, respectively. Project the pin portions 13a and 13b laterally. In this embodiment, the pin portions 1 above and below the center line of the support hole 21 in the first link 4 in side view.
The distance from the center line of the pivot shaft 25 in the second link 5 to the pin portions 13a and 14a is equal to the distance to the center line of the first link 12a. With this configuration, as described below, the key top 2 is displaced around the pin portions 12a and 12b on the lower free end side of the first link 4 so that the key top 2 is held by the holder member 7. Can be moved up and down in parallel with the upper surface of the.

Although not shown, downwardly convex polygon-shaped pressing portions are formed on the lower surfaces of the base portion 18 of the first link 4 and the base portion 22 of the second link 5, respectively. The upper surface of the head may be pressed.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a part of a holder member 7 made of a synthetic resin such as a glass fiber reinforced synthetic resin. In this embodiment, the holder member 7 is flat. The holder member 7
A substantially rectangular mounting hole 7a into which a flange at the lower end of the cap-shaped rubber spring 6 can be fitted without being displaced is formed. The locking portion 27 and the sliding locking portion 28 having a longitudinally longitudinal groove shape are integrally formed by injection so that the locking portions 27 and 28 are opened downward. In this case, the rotation locking portion 27
The downward U-shaped locking groove 27a and the longitudinally extending U-shaped locking groove 28 in the sliding locking portion 28 are formed so as to open in the normal direction to the back surface of the holder member 7. If this is the case, the die-cutting operation after injection molding of the synthetic resin becomes extremely easy, and there is no need to use a slide die. Also rotating
The lower portions of the locking portion 27 and the sliding locking portion 28 are open.
Therefore, when molding the holder member 7, the upper mold and the lower mold are used.
Machining, which makes it extremely simple
In addition, it is possible to form the holder member 7 with low cost.
it can.

Then, the links 4 and 5 are connected to the pivot shaft 25 in advance.
And, it is assembled in an X shape in a side view at the position of the support hole 21. As a result, the first link 4 and the second link 5 are movably connected to each other. In the assembled state, the first link 4 and the second link 5 can be handled as an integral member, and the handling is easier than when each is handled alone. Next, the upper pin portions 11a, 11b, 13a, 1 of both links 4, 5
3b is inserted into the rotation locking portions 15, 15 and the sliding locking portions 16, 16 of the key top 2, and then the gap between the lower end free ends 20, 24 of both links 4, 5 is reduced. Then, the pins 12a, 12b, 14a, and 14b are inserted so as to protrude from the mounting holes 7a to the back side of the holder member 7, and then,
The distance between the lower free ends 20 and 24 of the links 4 and 5 is increased, and the lower end pins 12 a and 12 b of the first link 4 are inserted into the rotation locking portions 27 and 27 from below. ,
The pins 14a, 14b on the lower end side of the second link 5 are inserted into the sliding locking portions 28, 28 so as to slide back and forth from below, and then the printed circuit board 9 is mounted on the lower surface of the holder member 7.
If the reinforcing plate 10 is stretched and fixed, the links 4 and 5 do not fall off the holder member 7.

The pin portions 14a, 14 of the first link 4
b is locked to the sliding locking portions 28, 28 of the holder member 7, and the pin portions 12a, 12b of the second link 5 are locked to the rotation locking portion 27 of the holder member 7. 9 and the reinforcing plate 10 are fixed to the lower surface of the holder member 7, so that each pin portion 14 of the first link 4 and the second link 5
a, 14b, 12a, and 12b, respectively,
8, when locking to the rotation locking portion 27, the sliding locking portion 28,
The lower portion of the rotation locking portion 27 is open, and accordingly, the sliding locking portion 28, each pin portion 14a with respect to the rotation locking portion 27,
Nothing interferes with the locking operation of 14b, 12a, 12b. More this, the pin portion 14 of each link 4,5
a, 14b, 12a, and 12b can be extremely easily locked to the sliding locking portion 28 and the rotation locking portion 27 of the holder member 7, and the assembly of the links 4, 5 and the holder member 7 can be performed. It can be done easily. At this time, if the work is performed with the back surface of the holder member 7 facing upward, the work becomes easier.

The pin portions 11a, 11b and 14a,
14b and the shape and dimensions of the sliding engagement portions 16 and 28
Contact link 4, the second link 5 is substantially immovable with respect to the left-right direction in FIG. 3, and the pin portion 11a, in Figure 1 of 14a
Is determined so as not to hinder sliding in the left-right direction. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the tip of each pin portion slides substantially in contact with the outer side surface of the corresponding sliding engagement portion. Therefore, the pivot shaft 25 is prevented from coming out of the support hole 21.

With this configuration, when the key top 2 is pressed, the first link 4 rotates downward (clockwise in FIG. 1) around the rotation locking portion 27 of the holder member 7.
On the other hand, the second link 5 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 around the pivot shaft 25. Then, the head of the rubber spring 6 is pressed downward by the pressing portion 26 near the cross connection portion of the two links 4 and 5, and the movable contact 30 on the lower surface thereof contacts the switching portions 29 and 29 to perform a switching operation. It is.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 shows the pivot 2 of the second link 5.
5, a large-diameter head 25 a is formed at the distal end, and a substantially C-shaped holding member 31 is formed on the intermediate lower surface of the base portion 18 of the first link 4 and opened downward and viewed from the side. By fitting the support shaft 25 in a direction crossing the axis thereof, it is possible to prevent the pair of links 4 and 5 from coming off after assembling them in an X-shape and to prevent a lateral displacement (an increase in the interval between the links 4 and 5). In this case, the holder member 7
Link 4 to the rotation locking portion 27 and the sliding locking portion 28
The work of mounting the pin portion 5 is further facilitated.

FIGS. 9 to 12 show a case where the holder member 7 'is formed in a downwardly convex curved shape, and the upper surface of the key tops 2 of the key switches 1 arranged in a large number on the keyboard has an envelope surface 35 having a downwardly convex curved shape.
In this embodiment, a downwardly curved holder member 7 ′ similar to the envelope surface 35 is attached to the operation portion hole 33 of the synthetic resin upper case 32 of the keyboard with screws 34.

Since the shapes and structures of the key top 2, the first link 4, the second link 5, and the rubber spring 6 in this embodiment are the same as those in the above-described embodiments, detailed description will be omitted.

Conventionally, a stem protruding downward from the lower surface of the key top is inserted into a stem guide formed on the holder member to guide and support the key top so as to be vertically movable. In order to make the moving direction the normal direction of the envelope curved surface, when injection molding integrally with the holder member so as to insert the guide hole of the stem guide portion in the normal direction, a pair of upper and lower molding dies is used. Of these, a large number of slide dies corresponding to the guide holes are radially mounted on one of the molding dies in a slidable manner. Then, the operation of injecting the molten synthetic resin into the cavity formed by the pair of upper and lower molding dies and solidifying the resin, and extracting the slide dies in the normal direction must be performed.

In order to form the guide hole of the stem guide portion so as to be inserted in the normal direction as described above, a molding die becomes complicated, and a process of mounting and extracting a slide die is required. The problem is that the production cost of the keyboard rises.

In this embodiment, the rotation locking portion 27 'and the sliding locking portion 28' formed integrally on the left and right side edges of the mounting hole 7'a in the synthetic resin holder member 7 'are shown in FIG. 10
As shown in FIG. 12, all the locking portions 27 ', 28'
Are formed so that the opening directions of the downward U-shaped rotation locking groove 27a 'and the sliding locking groove 28'a are parallel.

As described above, the opening directions of the downwardly U-shaped rotary locking grooves 27a 'and sliding locking grooves 28'a in all the locking portions 27' and 28 'are formed to be parallel. However, the pin portions 12a, which fit into the locking grooves 27a ', 28'a,
The height positions of 12b, 14a, and 14b are located on an envelope surface similar to the envelope surface 35. Therefore, the upper surfaces of all the key tops 2 arranged on the holder member 7 'are also located on the envelope surface 35. And the vertical movement direction of each key top 2 is the normal direction of the envelope surface 35. Also in this embodiment, is stretched to cover the lower surface (back surface) side of the holder member 7 'at the flexible printed board 9, it is stretched a reinforcement plate 1 0 on its lower surface.

One embodiment of a method of forming the holder member 7 'is, for example, a pair of upper and lower molding dies 36, 3 shown in FIG.
When the synthetic resin is injected into the cavity 38 between the mating surfaces of the holder 7 and the holder member 7 ′ and the rotation locking portion 27 ′ and the sliding locking portion 28 ′ are integrally formed, Projection 3 corresponding to dynamic locking groove 27a 'and sliding locking groove 28'a
The direction in which the lower mold 36 having the components 9 and 40 is removed is set so that the side surfaces of all the projections 39 and 40 are parallel to each other.

In this manner, the projections 39 and 40 can be integrally formed on the lower mold 36, and the operation can be performed at a time because the mold can be removed in one direction.
The work of molding the holder member 7 'becomes extremely easy, and the cost for manufacturing the mold is reduced. The upper case 32 of the keyboard
Needless to say, the present embodiment can also be applied to the case where the and the holder member 7 'are integrally formed.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment in which the holder member is formed in a flat shape or a downwardly convex curved shape, the material of the holder member of the present invention is a thin metal plate such as aluminum, steel plate, etc. Even when the holes 7a, 7a 'and the rotary locking portions 27, 27' and the sliding locking portions 28, 28 'are formed at once, the same molding die as described above can be used. The example invention can be applied.

As described above, by forming the holder member of the present invention from a thin metal plate such as aluminum or steel plate, the holder member can be made of a synthetic resin as in the above-described embodiments. The thickness can be considerably reduced, and as a result, the key switch device itself can be reduced in thickness.

Further, a substrate such as a membrane switch circuit board may be used instead of the flexible printed circuit board 9 forming the switching section 29, and the present invention can be applied to a variable capacity keyboard.

[0040]

As described above, according to the key switch device of the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a structure in which the key stem is slid up and down by the holder portion, so that the keyboard device can be made smaller and thinner. In addition, a sufficient key stroke can be ensured, and operability of key input is good, and reliable key input without twisting can be performed . Also, since the lower part of the sliding locking part is opened,
Holder members can be processed only with the specified upper and lower molds
Very simple and low cost
can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a key switch.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a pressed state of a key top.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1;

4A is a plan view of a first link, and FIG. 4B is a plan view of a second link.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the key top.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a rubber spring and a mounting hole.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mounting hole portion of the holder member.

FIG. 8 is a side view of another embodiment of the connecting means of the pair of links.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of another embodiment of the keyboard.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side sectional view of a main part of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a downwardly convex curved holder member.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a molding die.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 key switch 2 keytop 3 guide support means 4 first link 5 second link 6 rubber spring 7,7 'holder member 7a, 7'a mounting hole 9 printed board 1 0 reinforcing plate 15,27,27' rotation Locking portions 16, 28, 28 'Sliding locking portions 27a, 27'a Rotating locking grooves 28a, 28'a Sliding locking grooves

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Isao Mochizuki 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya-shi Inside Brother Industries, Ltd. (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01H 13/14

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] And 1. A key Toppu, while being disposed below the key top, Suridogakaritome
A holder member parts and pivoting locking portion is formed, the <br/> also to connect the lower surface and the holder member of the key top, the first link guide and support the vertical movement of the key top member and the 2 and the link member or Ranaru guide support member is disposed below the holder member, is operated and a circuit board having an electrical contact portion, the pressing of the key top, the electrical contact portion
Causes, and a biasing to Lula bar spring key top upward, to the holder member, the rubber spring, in order to contact with the key top or the guide support member, the upper end portion of the rubber spring placement hole for protruding upward is provided than the holder member, the sliding engagement portion is engaged slidably with the lower free end of the first link member or the second link member, and having a downwardly open A key switch device characterized by being formed as follows.