JP3352680B2 - 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 an input device such as a word processor and a personal computer, and more particularly to a key switch device used for an input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a key switch device of this kind of keyboard, there is a key switch device described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-5236, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-62017, and the like.

[0003] Here, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-5236 discloses that
A pushbutton switch having an X frame body rotatably supporting an outer rectangular frame body and an inner rectangular frame body in an X-shape is described. In this push button switch, an upper part of the outer rectangular frame body is described. Is rotatably supported between the back surface of the key top and the groove of the upper holder, and the legs are slidably supported by a second lower holder having a downward U-shaped cross section attached to the printed circuit board, and , A first lower holder having a U-shaped cross-section with a downward-facing cross-section, which slidably supports the upper portion of the inner rectangular frame between the back surface of the key top and the flat portion of the upper holder, and has legs attached to the printed circuit board. And a rubber switch that is rotatably supported and performs switching between the key top and the printed circuit board.

Here, the rubber switch is disposed between the first lower holder and the second lower holder attached to the printed circuit board such that the movable contact of the rubber switch faces the fixed contact of the printed circuit board. . At this time, the rubber switch is not positioned and arranged on the printed circuit board, but is positioned and arranged with respect to the key top by mounting the lower end of the projection formed on the key top in the hole of the rubber switch. I have.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-60217 discloses that when one end of a key top such as a space key having a larger planar shape than a contact portion is depressed, the key top is not tilted and vertically moved up and down. In order to move, halfway portions of a pair of link members arranged in an X shape in a side view are rotatably connected to each other, and the pair of link members are disposed between the lower surface of the keytop and the holder member. A pressing key is described.

Here, the non-movable key portion attached to the substrate is provided with four guide pockets for locking the lower end of each link member, and an area defined by each guide pocket. A hole is formed in the substrate at an outer position deviating from the hole, and a switch body is disposed in the hole. A switch tappet formed on a carrier attached to the lower surface of the keytop is opposed to the switch body via a hole of a non-movable key portion.

[0007]

In the push-button switch described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-5236, no through hole for positioning and locating the rubber switch on the printed circuit board is formed. By mounting the lower end of the top projection in the hole of the rubber switch, the positioning and fixing of the rubber switch with respect to the key top are performed, and the positional relationship with respect to the X frame and the printed circuit board is determined. In such a case, it is possible to perform a switching operation by applying a pressing force based on a pressing operation of the key top to a substantially central portion of the rubber switch, but it is not necessary to attach a projection of the key top to a hole of the rubber switch. As a result, the operation of assembling the push-button switch becomes complicated.

Further, since the rubber switch is merely positioned between the key top and the arrangement relation between the rubber switch and the printed circuit board is extremely relative, the movable contact of the rubber switch and the printed contact are printed. The fixed contacts on the board are not always arranged in a proper relationship, and in some cases, the movable contacts and the fixed contacts may not be able to perform proper switching operation when the keytop is pressed. possible.

On the other hand, the pressing key described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-60217 has a structure in which a hole is formed in a substrate and a switch body is disposed in the hole. It is possible to maintain a fixed arrangement relationship between the switch body and the switch portion of the switch foil arranged below the substrate simply by disposing the switch body in the hole of the substrate,
This can solve the problem as in the push button switch of Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-5236.

However, in the press key disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-60217, the hole of the board on which the switch body is disposed is engaged with the lower end of each of the pair of link members.
It is formed at an outer position deviated from the area defined by the two guide pockets, and is located far away from the central portion of the keytop and the rotation support portion of each link member. Moreover, the switch tappet of the carrier and the hole of the non-movable key portion are set in a rather loose insertion relationship with a gap between them, as is clear from the drawing.

In the pressing key, the key top is vertically moved through each link member when pressed, but is pressed at a position distant from the central portion of the key top and the rotation support portion of each link member. In this case, as described above, the hole of the substrate is formed at an outer position outside the area defined by the four guide pockets, and the switch tappet and the hole of the non-movable key portion are set in a loose insertion relationship. There is a possibility that the key top may move in the horizontal direction due to the operation.

In such a case, the positional relationship between the lower end of the switch tappet and the upper surface of the switch body is displaced, whereby the pressing force based on the pressing operation of the keytop properly acts on the switch body. Disappears. As a result, the switch body cannot perform the original elastic deformation, and in some cases, the switch foil cannot be properly switched.

[0013] Further, regarding the thickness reduction of the entire switch, in the push-button switch of Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 2-5236, a rubber switch is mounted on a printed circuit board having fixed contacts on the upper surface, and a key top projection is provided. Since the lower end is attached to the hole of the rubber switch, the thickness of the printed circuit board directly contributes to the overall height of the pushbutton switch when considering the overall height of the pushbutton switch.

In other words, there is no structure in which the rubber spring is arranged in the spring through hole formed in the holder member as in the present invention, and the electric contact portion is arranged below the holder member corresponding to the rubber spring. From
The height of the push button switch is increased corresponding to the thickness of the printed circuit board. With such a configuration, it is difficult to reduce the height of the entire push button switch to reduce the thickness.

In the pressing key disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-60217, a hole is formed in a substrate, and a switch is disposed in the hole. It is possible to reduce the overall height of the press key corresponding to the minute. However, in such a pressing key, as shown in FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-60217, the switch body is pressed via a switch tappet formed on a carrier attached to the lower surface of the keytop. The switch tappet has a length several times the thickness of the substrate.

The configuration of such a pressing key is nothing but the key stem structure that has existed conventionally, and the overall height of the pressing key largely depends on the length of the switch tappet. It is difficult to reduce the overall height of the pressing key to reduce the thickness. Further, as described above, the configuration in which the switch body is pressed through the long switch tappet is adopted.
The concept of the press key disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-133873 does not exist at all.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. By restricting the ascending position of the keytop when the keytop is not pressed, the thickness of the keytop can be reduced while reducing the height. It is possible to prevent the link member from moving unnecessarily in the horizontal direction, and it is possible to perform the switching operation with good key operability, and to make effective use of the thickness of the holder member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a key switch device that can be made thinner.

[0018]

In order to achieve the above object, a key switch device according to the present invention is connected and locked to a lower surface of a key top and a holder member disposed below the key top. A first link member and a second link member movably disposed to guide and support the vertical movement of the key top, and a spring member for urging the key top upward and performing a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top. A key locking device having a sliding locking portion provided below the key top and slidably locking an upper free end of the first link member or the second link member. A stopper portion formed on the stop portion and abutting on the upper free end to regulate the ascending position of the key top when not pressed,
A plurality of locking portions provided on the holder member for movably locking the lower free ends of the first link member and the second link member, and provided on a region of the holder member surrounded by the plurality of locking portions. And a through-hole for allowing a part of the spring member to protrude above the holder member. The spring member may be mounted on a support member disposed below the holder member in the through hole.

[0019]

In the key switch device having the above-described structure, when performing a switching operation, a key-top depressing input operation is performed, and a pressing force based on the input operation acts on a spring member disposed in the through hole. . Thereby, the spring member is elastically deformed, and the switching operation is performed based on the elastic deformation. Then, when the keytop press input operation is released, the keytop is urged upward by the elastic force of the spring member, and the sliding of the upper free end of the first link member or the second link member causes the keytop to move downward. Is restricted by the stopper portion of the sliding engagement portion provided at the position, thereby restricting the rise of the key top and returning to the original non-pressed position.

[0020]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a key switch.
A guide support means 3 in which the link 4 and the second link 5 are arranged in an X shape in side view, a cap-shaped rubber spring 6 pressed by the guide support means 3, and a support for supporting the guide support means 3. The switching members 29, 29 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) are stretched on the lower surface of the holder member 7 such that the switching portions 29, 29 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) face the through-hole 7a of the holder member 7 for positioning and disposing the rubber spring. It comprises a flexible printed circuit board 9 and a reinforcing plate 10 stretched on its lower surface.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, the rubber spring 6 is provided in the through hole 7a of the holder member 7 so as to cover the switching portions (electric contact portions) 29, 29 on the printed circuit board 9. To be inserted and arranged. In the state where the rubber spring 6 is inserted and arranged in the through hole 7a as described above, as shown in FIGS.
It exists in the through-hole 7a, and its substantially upper half protrudes above the holder member 7. Therefore, since the substantially lower half of the rubber spring 6 is disposed in the through hole 7a, the thickness of the holder member 7 can be effectively used, and as a result, the overall height of the key switch 1 can be reduced. Becomes possible.

Rubber spring 6 used in this embodiment
Is composed of an electrically insulating silicone rubber or EPDM (ethylene propylene diene methylene) or the like, and has a substantially disk-shaped thick head in plan view and a frusto-conical dome extending downward from the periphery of the head. And a thick-walled flange portion extending substantially horizontally and radially outward on the outer periphery of the dome portion.

When the key top is depressed, switching portions 29 and 2 are provided on the lower surface of the head of the rubber spring 6 which is pressed at the lower surface of the connection intersection between the first link 4 and the second link 5.
Both switching parts are electrically turned on by contacting the contact part of No. 9.
The movable contact portion 30 made of conductive rubber having conductivity for turning off 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, letters and the like by engraving or printing on the upper surface (front surface). 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, which are longitudinally and longitudinally formed, are integrally formed or adhered with an adhesive or the like to protrude (see FIG. 5).

Referring to 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 upper and lower free ends 19, 20.
And a substantially H-shape integrally molded in a plan view.
The base 18 has a support hole 21 penetrating in a horizontal direction in
Is provided. Pin portions 12a, 1b are provided on the side surfaces of the arm portions 20a, 20b extending from both left and right ends of the lower free end portion 20, respectively.
2b is protruded sideways, and pin portions 11a and 11b are protruded sideways on the side surface of the upper free end 19.

The second link 5 is also integrally formed substantially in an H-shape in plan view by the base portion 22 and the upper and lower free ends 23, 24. A support shaft 25 is protruded laterally on one side surface of the base 22, the support shaft 25 is inserted into the support hole 21 of the first link 4, and the first link 4 and the second link 5 are rotated around the support shaft 25. Rotatably connected to Arm 24 extending from both left and right ends of lower free end 24 of second link 5
Pin portions 14a and 14b are laterally protruded from the side surfaces of the upper and lower free ends 23, respectively.
a, 13b are protruded sideways.

Here, the first link 4 and the second link 5
1 and 3, and the halfway intersection formed by the support hole 21 and the support shaft 25 are arranged in a straight line in a side view, as shown in FIGS. Also, the first link 4 and the second link
Both ends of the link 5 are formed thinner than the center of each of the links 4 and 5 in a side view.

In this embodiment, the pin portions 11 above and below the center line of the support hole 21 in the first link 4 are viewed from the side.
a, distance to the center line of 12a, and second link 5
From the center line of the support shaft 25 at the pin portions 13a, 14a
Are formed so that the distances to each other are equal. 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.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views showing a part of the holder member 7 made of a synthetic resin made of glass fiber reinforced synthetic resin or the like (preferably separate from the two links 4 and 5). A substantially rectangular through-hole 7 into which a flange at the lower end of a cap-shaped rubber spring 6 can be inserted without displacement is inserted into the member 7.
a pair of left and right rotation locking parts 27 and a sliding locking part 28 in the shape of a longitudinal groove in front and rear are provided on both left and right side edges of the through hole 7a. Are integrally formed so as to open downward.

The lower locking pin portions 12a, 1 of the first link 4 are connected to the rotation locking portions 27, 27.
2b is rotatably fitted, and pin portions 14a, 14 on the lower end side of the second link 5 are inserted into the sliding locking portions 28, 28.
b is inserted so as to slide back and forth.

As shown in FIG. 8, the through hole 7a is formed in the holder member 7 over an area defined by the pair of rotation locking portions 27 and the pair of sliding locking portions 28. The switching portions 29 of the printed circuit board 9 disposed below the holder member 7 are disposed at substantially the center of the through hole 7a. As a result, the movable contact portion 30 of the rubber spring 6 disposed in the through hole 7a and the switching portions 29, 29 are spaced apart from each other, and the intermediate crossing portion of the first link 4 and the second link 5 is connected to the rubber spring. 1 and 2, the pressing force generated when the key top 2 is pressed acts on the approximate center of the upper surface of the rubber spring 6 from the halfway intersection. I do.

As a result, the key top 2 and the guide support means 3
A reliable switching operation can be performed via the movable contact portion 30 and the switching portions 29, 29 while always appropriately maintaining the arrangement relationship between the movable spring and the rubber spring 6.

At this time, the pin portions 11a, 11b and 1
The shape and dimensions of the sliding links 4a, 14b and the sliding locking portions 16, 28 are such that the first link 4 and the second link 5 are substantially immobile in the left-right direction in FIG. 6, and the pin portions 11a, 14a are left and right in FIG. It is determined so as not to hinder sliding in the 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. For this reason, the support shaft 2 is
5 is prevented from coming off.

With this configuration, when the key top 2 is pressed down, the first link 4 rotates downward around the rotation locking portion 27 of the holder member 7, so that the first link 4 and the second link 5 are rotated. The halfway intersection, which is pivotally connected in an X-shape in side view, presses the head of the rubber spring 6 obliquely downward. When the amount of depression exceeds a certain limit, the rubber spring 6 is buckled, and the switching portions 29, 29 of the printed circuit board 9 are moved via the movable contact portion 30.
Are short-circuited, and a predetermined switching operation is performed.

At this time, since both end portions of the first link 4 and the second link 5 are formed thinner than the thickness of the central portion in side view, the key top 2 is depressed to perform the switching operation. When performing, even if the respective ends of the links 4 and 5 approach each other with the descending operation of the key top 2, the respective ends are formed in a thin shape, and thus the key top 2 is in the middle of descending. Contact of each end is prevented. Therefore, the lowering operation of the key top 2 is not hindered, and good key operability can be realized while maintaining a large key stroke.

In the state where the key top 2 is not pressed downward (free state), the elastic force of the rubber spring 6 causes the lower end of the second link 5 when the key top 2 is at the highest position. Pin part 14
The a and b are configured to abut against the front stopper 31 on one side surface (the side surface closer to the rotation locking portion 27) of the sliding locking portions. In this case, by changing the horizontal distance (L1) from the rotation locking portion 27 to the front stopper portion 31, the height dimension (H1) from the upper surface of the holder member 7 when the key top 2 is at the highest position. Can be regulated. And the front and rear length (L2) of the long groove of the sliding engagement portion 28
Is changed, the elevation distance (H2) of the guide support means 3 itself can be regulated.

The stroke of the key top 2 from the highest position until the rubber spring 6 is pressed downward by the guide support means 3 as much as possible (referred to as a push-off state) is called a stroke. Before (in a higher position) than the state, the pin portions 14a, 14b on the lower end side of the second link 5 are the rear stoppers of the other side surfaces of the sliding locking portions 28, 28 (the side surfaces farther than the rotation locking portion 27). By contacting the portion 32, the lowermost position of the key top 2 can be substantially regulated.

As a result, even if the lengths of the sliding grooves are the same, only the position of the front stopper 31 can be changed to simultaneously change the highest position of the key top 2 and the substantial stroke. And a key having a short stroke and a low maximum position of the key top.

As described above, the distance (L1) from the rotation locking portion 27 of the holder member 7 to the front stopper portion 31 of the sliding locking portion 28 can be changed.
8 by changing the distance (L2) between the front stopper portion 31 and the rear stopper portion 32, in other words, by changing the length of the sliding groove, the distance between the support shaft 25 of the two links 4 and 5 of the guide and support means 3 is increased. The maximum position and stroke of the key top 2 can be arbitrarily changed without changing the dimensions up to the pin portion and the vertical dimensions of the rubber spring.

In order to change the distances (L1) and (L2), the position of the sliding engagement portion 28 and / or the groove length of the sliding groove in one of the injection molding dies of the holder member 7 can be changed. May be changed, or after forming the slide locking portion 28 with a relatively large thickness by injection molding, by cutting the sliding groove of the slide locking portion 28 at the position where the stroke is to be changed,
It may be adjusted so that the front stopper 31 and / or the rear stopper 32 are determined.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, in a single keyboard, the stroke amount is increased for a key for outputting a character code, a line feed code, and the like, and a half key (generally, a half key arranged in the back of the character code) is used. , And function keys), the stroke amount is reduced. In this way, the key touches are changed, and when the user uses the touch by the blind touch, the difference between the keys can be confirmed without visual observation, thereby improving the use efficiency.

At this time, since the holder members 7 of all the keys are integrally formed into a single plate, even if there are two types of positions of the stopper portions 31 and 32 formed on the holder member 7, Its manufacturing cost is not different from the conventional one. Also,
Since the first link 4 and the second link 5 use the same key even if the keys have different strokes, the first link 4 and the second link 5 are different from the conventional one in which the shape of the guide support means 3 is changed according to the stroke amount. It is possible to significantly reduce manufacturing costs.

In order to regulate the highest position of the key top 2 and to adjust the stroke size, the shape of a pair of locking members 17 provided on the lower surface of the key top 2 instead of the holder member 7 may be changed. . That is, one of the stopper portions (rotational rotation) of the sliding locking portions 16, 16 for locking the pin portions 11 a, 11 b on the upper free end side of the first link 4 slidably in the front-rear direction in a substantially horizontal direction. The position near the locking portion 15) and / or the length of the sliding groove of the sliding locking portion 16 may be changed.

Specifically, when the key top 2 is not pressed down, the pin portions 11a and 11b of the first link 4 abut against the stopper portion, and the ascending position of the key top 2 is regulated. Further, the rotation locking portion 15 and the sliding locking portion 16 may be separately provided on the lower surface of the key top 2.

As described above, the rubber spring 6
When the position and the sliding length of the sliding locking portion 28 are set such that the lower end side pin portions 14a and 14b of the second link 5 abut against the rear stopper portion 32 just before the pushing-off of the rubber spring 6, the rubber spring 6 is moved to the limit. Can be prevented, and the rubber spring 6 can be protected without applying excessive force to the rubber spring 6.

Further, just before the push-off state, the pins of the first link 4 and / or the second link 5 of the guide and support means 3 are slidably engaged by the rear stoppers 3 and 28.
2, the first link 4 and the second link 5 are elastically bent when the key top 2 is further depressed, so that the impact of the key touch up to the full press can be reduced. it can.

Further, in this embodiment, an example having two types of strokes on a single keyboard has been described.
For example, a keyboard such as a portable computer that requires a thinner keystroke than a keystroke and a keyboard such as a stationary type that requires a larger keystroke can be configured with the same guide and support means. Even in such a case, since the guide support means conventionally manufactured as a separate part can be made common, the total manufacturing cost is greatly reduced.

It is to be noted that a substrate such as a membrane switch circuit board may be used in place of the flexible printed board 9 forming the switching section 29, and the present invention is also applicable to a variable capacity keyboard.

[0049]

As described above, according to the key switch device of the present invention, the key switch device is provided below the key top,
A sliding locking portion for slidably locking the upper free end of the link member or the second link member includes a stopper portion which abuts on the upper free end and regulates a rising position of the key top when not pressed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the height of the key top while reducing the height thereof, and it is possible to prevent the first link member and the second link member from moving unnecessarily in the horizontal direction. Thereby, the key operability is improved, and the switching operation can be reliably performed.

Further, a part of the spring member is made to protrude above the holder member by a through hole formed in a region surrounded by the plurality of locking portions of the holder member. It is possible to achieve a further reduction in the thickness by effectively utilizing the.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the key switch when a position of a stopper portion is changed.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view in a case where a key switch is pushed down to a full cut-off state;

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 sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a rubber spring and a through hole.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a through-hole portion of the holder member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key switch 2 Key top 3 Guide support means 4 1st link 5 2nd link 6 Rubber spring 7 Holder member 7a Through hole 9 Printed circuit board 10 Reinforcement board 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b Pin part 13a, 13b, 14a, 14b Pin Parts 15, 27 Rotation locking part 16, 28 Sliding locking part 29 Switching part 30 Movable contact part 31 Stopper part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued from the front page (72) Inventor Isao Mochizuki 15-1 Naeshiro-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya-shi Inside Brother Industries, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-60-62017 (JP, A) JP-A-64 −7441 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model 2-5236 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01H 13/14 H01H 13/20 H01H 13/70

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A first link member and a second link member movably disposed to be coupled and locked to a lower surface of a keytop and a holder member disposed below the keytop, to guide and support the vertical movement of the keytop. A key switch device having a link member and a spring member for urging the key top upward and performing a switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top, wherein the key switch device is provided below the key top, A sliding locking portion for slidably locking an upper free end of the first link member or the second link member; and a sliding locking portion formed on the sliding locking portion, and abutting on the upper free end to be in a non-pressed state. A stopper portion for regulating a rising position of the key top; a plurality of locking portions provided on the holder member for movably locking the lower free ends of the first link member and the second link member; Provided in a region surrounded by a plurality of locking portions in the member, the key switch device characterized by comprising a through hole to protrude upward from the holder member a portion of said spring member. 2. The key switch device according to claim 1, wherein the spring member is mounted on a support member disposed below the holder member in the through hole.