JP3686835B2 - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a keyboard device, and more particularly to a keyboard device used for computer input.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the conventional keyboard device, a large number of keys are arranged in a narrow area without gaps, and the upper surface on which the keys are arranged is a flat surface, and at most, an inclination is provided so that the rear side is high and the front side is low.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional keyboard device, when the key input is performed for a long time, the input person is considerably tired. In addition, since beginners are unfamiliar with key operations, problems have been pointed out that in addition to feeling tired, there are many mis-inputs, and the work efficiency of computers that input data from the keyboard is poor.
[0004]
Against this background, computer engineers have been demanding keyboard devices with high operability and less fatigue.
[0009]
The keyboard device according to the present invention includes an upper surface on which a plurality of keys are arranged, a lid that is rotatably attached by a hinge and opens and closes the upper surface, and first and second pulleys that are concentric with the hinge and rotate integrally with the lid. A first wire whose one end is wound around the first pulley when the lid is opened, a second wire whose one end is wound around the second pulley when the lid is closed, and the first wire A first cam plate to which the other end of the wire is connected; a second cam plate to which the other end of the second wire is connected; one end connected to the first cam plate; A third wire connected to the second cam plate and an intermediate part hooked on a third pulley and folded, and when the lid is opened, the first cam plate moves upward and closes the lid A third cam plate that opens and the second cam when the lid is opened A fourth cam plate that rises due to the movement of the first cam plate and descends when the lid is closed, and a first side that contacts the upper side of the third cam plate and rotates about a second side that is parallel to the first side The first tilting surface is tilted so that the first side becomes higher when the third cam plate is raised, and the third side is moved to the fourth side when the third cam plate is lowered. The fourth cam plate is tilted so that the fourth side becomes higher when the fourth cam plate is lifted and is rotatable about a fourth side that is in contact with the upper side of the cam plate and parallel to the third side. And a second tilting surface that loses its inclination when descending.
[0010]
The above keyboard device, a numeric keypad for inputting numbers and decimal, and calculation of the sum and difference Multiplicative, possible to include a numeric keypad islands gathered calculated key for instructing the output and erasure of the contents operation result You can also.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0012]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0013]
A plurality of keys 2 are arranged on the upper surface of the keyboard device 1, and these keys 2 mainly collect keys for inputting characters (including kana, alphabets and various symbols), and in addition, a return key, Character key islands 3 that are arranged close to each other by collecting keys for command input such as space key, shift key, etc., and islands 4 of movement keys mainly collecting keys for moving the cursor, mainly numbers, It is divided into a ten-key island 5 that collects keys for inputting a decimal point and keys for calculation instructions. Apart from the character key island 3, the move key island 4 and the numeric keypad island 5, function keys 13 are arranged at a distance from the key islands 3, 4 and 5.
[0014]
Except for the return key 6, the key 2 is formed so that the planar shape when viewed from above is circular or elliptical. Further, as shown in FIG. 2 which is an AA cross-sectional view, the cover 7 of the keyboard device 1 is only provided with holes 8 through which the keys 2 are passed one by one. It covers everything (in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 to be described later, the keys 2 are drawn so as to touch each other, but are actually a little apart from each other).
[0015]
In the conventional keyboard device, the planar shape of the key is square or rectangular. However, when the planar shape of the key 2 is circular or elliptical, the fingertip touches the key 2 adjacent to the target key 2. This is less than in the case of the conventional keyboard device, a smooth key touch is obtained, and mistake input is greatly reduced.
[0016]
Further, in the case of a square key, it is difficult to attach a dustproof cover between the keys, but a relatively large gap is secured between the circular and oval keys 2, so that one hole 8 has one. Only the key 2 is allowed to pass, and a dustproof cover 7 having a sufficient strength can be installed between the keys 2, so that the dustproof effect inside the keyboard device can be enhanced.
[0017]
Palm rests 9 and 10 comprising dust-proof covers 7 where the key 2 is not disposed between the character key island 3 and the moving key island 4 and between the moving key island 4 and the tenkey island 5 are provided. Since the portion opposite to the thumb of the palm can be placed on the palm rest 9 or 10 during the key input, the operability of the key input is improved and the feeling of hand fatigue is reduced.
[0018]
FIG. 3 is a front view of the keyboard device 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the character key island 3 is tilted so that the left half is lowered on the left, the right half is tilted so that the right side is lowered, and the moving key island 4, the palm rest 10 and the numeric keypad island 5 are The palm rest 9 is horizontal, on one inclined surface that is inclined so that the right side is lowered. In accordance with these inclinations, the dust cover 7 is also formed so as to be inclined or horizontal at each portion.
[0019]
By providing a slope on the upper surface of the keyboard that corresponds to the part touched by the left and right hands, a left-hand or right-hand slope is created to match the natural movement of the hand. There is no need to adjust the angle, and the feeling of hand fatigue can be greatly reduced.
[0020]
Further, the key 11 (the key 2 with a slanting right-down diagonal line in FIG. 1) arranged in the back of the island 3 of the character key shown in FIG. 1 has a large size from the dustproof cover 7 to the upper end, and the character key The left and right keys 12 in front of the island 3 (key 2 with a slanting left slanted line in FIG. 1) are small in size from the dust cover 7 to the upper end.
[0021]
In this way, the key 2 near the palm of the hand placed on the keyboard device at the time of key entry is lowered and the part far away is raised, so that the palm part is not conscious during key entry. Key input is possible. That is, it is possible to prevent the palm from unintentionally touching the key 2 and making a mistake. In addition, since it is not necessary to take care that the palm does not touch the key 2, the feeling of fatigue is also reduced.
[0022]
As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the island 5 of the numeric keypad is composed of a key 2 for inputting numbers and decimal points, and a key 2 for instructing calculation of sum / difference / multiplication, output of calculation results, and erasure of contents. It is arranged in the same way. By arranging the portion of the island 5 of the numeric keypad in the same manner as the calculator, the numeric keypad can be used without any sense of incongruity even by a computer beginner who is unfamiliar with the keyboard operation, and is particularly effective in accounting system operation and the like. .
[0023]
5 to 7 are a perspective view, a BB cross-sectional view, and a CC cross-sectional view, respectively, in which a notebook type personal computer according to another embodiment of the present invention is partially broken so that the inside can be seen.
[0024]
In FIG. 5, a lid 23 having a liquid crystal panel 22 is rotatably attached to a hinge 24 at the rear part of the personal computer main body 21, and a keyboard device 25 (FIG. 5 shows a character key island 3 in FIG. The upper surface of the main body 21 provided with only a portion corresponding to half is opened and closed.
[0025]
The pulleys 26 and 27 are fixed to the shaft of the hinge 24 and rotate integrally with the lid 23. The wire 28, the cam plate 29, the wire 30, the cam plate 31, and the wire 32 are connected in series. The ends of the wires 28 and 32 are fixed to the pulleys 26 and 27, respectively, and a part thereof is wound. The wire 30 is stretched over pulleys 33 and 34 that are pivotally supported with respect to the main body 21 and stretched in a different direction. The wire 32 is wound around the pulley 27 from below, and the wire 28 is wound around the pulley 26 from above via a pulley 35 that is pivotally supported by the main body 21. The cam plates 29 and 31 can be moved in the front-rear direction with respect to the main body 21 by a guide mechanism (not shown). Therefore, when the lid 23 is opened, the cam plate 29 moves toward the back by the rotation of the pulleys 26 and 27, and the cam plate 31 moves toward the front.
[0026]
An inclined surface 36 provided on the upper side of the cam plate 29 on the lower side and a inclined surface 37 provided on the lower side of the cam plate 38 on which the lower side is lowered are slidably in contact with each other. Further, a slope 40 that rises on the back side provided on the upper side of the cam plate 31 and a slope 41 that rises on the bottom side provided on the lower side of the cam plate 39 are in slidable contact. The cam plates 38 and 39 can be moved only in the vertical direction with respect to the main body 21 by a guide mechanism (not shown).
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 7, the dustproof cover that covers the upper surface of the main body 21 constituting the keyboard device is divided into covers 42, 43, 44, and 45 from the left side. The covers 42 and 43 are connected by a connecting portion 46 that can be bent by elasticity. The left end of the cover 42 is connected to the fixed left side plate 47 so that it can be bent elastically, and the right end of the cover 43 is connected to the left end of the fixed cover 44 so as to be bent elastically to the main body 21. The right end of the cover 45 is connected to the fixed right side plate 48 so as to be bent by elasticity, and the left end has an edge portion 50 bent downward. The cover 45 and the cover 45 are not connected. The upper side of the cam plate 38 is in contact with the lower surface of the connecting portion 46, and the upper side of the cam plate 39 is in contact with the lower surface of the left end portion of the cover 45.
[0028]
When the lid 23 is opened, the pulleys 26 and 27 are rotated in the direction 51, the cam plate 29 is moved in the direction 53, the cam plate 38 is raised, the connecting portion 46 is lifted, and the covers 42 and 43 are inclined. Further, the cam plate 31 moves in the direction 54, the cam plate 39 rises, and the cover 45 is inclined with the left end raised.
[0029]
When the lid 23 is closed, the pulleys 26 and 27 are rotated in the direction 52, the cam plate 29 is moved in the direction 54, the cam plate 38 is lowered, the connecting portion 46 is lowered, and the covers 42 and 43 are horizontal by elasticity. Return. Further, the cam plate 31 moves in the direction 53, the cam plate 39 descends, and the cover 45 returns to the horizontal with the left end portion lowered by elasticity.
[0030]
Here, the inclination and level of the covers 42, 43 and 45 are in the left-right direction, and in the front-rear direction, the covers 42, 43 and 45 are always horizontal or the back side is high. In such a state, it may be inclined.
[0031]
Keys 2 are attached to the covers 42, 43 and 45, and necessary circuits are connected to form the keyboard device 25, and the plurality of keys 2 are inclined together with the inclination of the covers 42, 43 and 45.
[0032]
In addition, the operation of inclining the covers 42, 43 and 45 and using the motor to return to the horizontal state can be electrically driven, and the motor can be driven when the lid 23 is opened and closed to perform the above-described operation.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
The keyboard device of the present invention has an effect of improving operability and reducing fatigue due to long-time key input, regardless of whether the keyboard is a beginner or an expert.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along AA shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the keyboard device shown in FIG. 1;
4 is a plan view showing in detail a portion of a numeric keypad island 5 in FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a keyboard device according to another embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB shown in FIG.
7 is a CC cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 5. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Keyboard apparatus 2 Key 3 Island of character key 4 Island of movement key 5 Island of ten key 6 Return key 7 Cover 8 Hole 9 Palm rest 10 Palm rest 11 Key 12 Key 13 Function key 21 Main body 22 Liquid crystal panel 23 Lid 24 Hinge 25 Keyboard apparatus 26 Pulley 27 pulley 28 wire 29 cam plate 30 wire 31 cam plate 32 wire 33 pulley 34 pulley 35 pulley 36 slope 37 slope 38 cam plate 39 cam plate 40 slope 41 slope 42 cover 43 cover 44 cover 45 cover 46 connecting portion 47 left side plate 48 Right side plate 50 edge

Claims (2)

An upper surface on which a plurality of keys are arranged; a lid that is rotatably attached by a hinge; opens and closes the upper surface; first and second pulleys that are concentric with the hinge and rotate integrally with the lid; and opening the lid The first wire is wound on the first pulley at one end, the second wire is wound on the second pulley when the lid is closed, and the other end of the first wire is connected. A first cam plate, a second cam plate to which the other end of the second wire is connected, one end connected to the first cam plate, and the other end connected to the second cam plate. A third wire that is folded back with an intermediate portion hooked on a third pulley, and a third cam plate that rises by movement of the first cam plate when the lid is opened and descends when the lid is closed When the lid is opened, the lid is moved up by the movement of the second cam plate. A fourth cam plate that descends when closed; and a third cam plate that is rotatable about a second side that is in contact with the upper side of the third cam plate and parallel to the first side. When the third cam plate is tilted so that the first side becomes higher when the second cam plate is lowered, the first tilting surface disappears when the third cam plate is lowered, and the third side is in contact with the upper side of the fourth cam plate, The second cam plate is rotatable about a fourth side parallel to the third side, and tilts so that the fourth side becomes higher when the fourth cam plate rises. And a tilting surface of the keyboard device. 2. A numeric keypad for inputting numbers and a decimal point; and a numeric keypad island for collecting calculation keys for sum / multiplication / division calculation, outputting calculation results and instructing deletion of contents. Keyboard device.

Images