JP3732930B2 - keyboard - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a keyboard used as an input terminal in various information processing apparatuses such as a personal computer and a word processor, and more particularly to a keyboard having a structure that can easily cope with a change in key top arrangement in a keyboard of the same series.
[0002]
The keyboards used for personal computers are not only the characters and symbols displayed on the key tops for Japan and abroad, but also the keys corresponding to the number of key switches and the space key even for the same series of keyboards. The top length is different.
[0003]
However, when manufacturing keyboards with different key top arrangements, preparing a panel suitable for each key top arrangement requires a dedicated molding die, which increases the cost of parts and increases the inventory of parts. Impedes cost reduction.
[0004]
Therefore, there is a demand for the development of a keyboard that can easily cope with the change of the key top arrangement in the same series of keyboards.
[0005]
[Prior art]
3 is a schematic diagram showing a key top arrangement of a keyboard, FIG. 4 is a divided perspective view showing a gear link type key switch, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a structure of a conventional space key key top.
[0006]
The DOS-V keyboard used in Japan has a space key 11 at the center of the front row as shown in Fig. 3 (a), and is pressed on both sides of the space key 11 when converting Kana characters into Kanji. A conversion key 12 and a non-conversion key 13 are arranged.
[0007]
Similarly, in the case of a keyboard used in the United States and the like, the space key 14 is arranged at the center of the front row as shown in FIG. 3B, but in this case, the conversion key 12, the non-conversion key 13 and the like are unnecessary. Space key 14 longer than space key 11 is used.
[0008]
The length of the key top is generally expressed as 2u if it is twice as long as the standard key top, and 3u if it is 3 times longer. In the case of a DOS-V keyboard used in Japan, The space key 11 uses a 2.5u to 3u key top.
[0009]
On the other hand, keyboards used in the United States and the like omit the key switches corresponding to the conversion key 12 and the non-conversion key 13, and include an area corresponding to the conversion key 12 and the non-conversion key 13 as the space key 14 4.5u to 5u. The long key top is used.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 4, the gear link type key switch has a key top 31 and a support portion 32 connected by a pair of gear link members 21, and a membrane switch 34 supported by a support panel 33 on the lower surface of the support portion 32. And a rubber sheet 35 are mounted.
[0011]
Each gear link member 21 has a sliding shaft 22 and a pair of gear portions 24 connected to the vicinity of the tip of the sliding shaft 22 via an intermediate arm 23, and the gear portions 24 are arranged in the circumferential direction. It has at least one tooth 25 and a rotation shaft 26 parallel to the sliding shaft 22 provided in the center.
[0012]
The key top 31 is formed with a pair of bearing portions 37 each having two bearing holes 36 on the lower surface so that the bearing holes 36 oppose each other, and the adjacent gear portions 24 are engaged with the teeth 25 engaged with each other. The rotating shafts 26 are respectively inserted into the bearing holes 36 and held rotatably.
[0013]
On the other hand, the support portion 32 includes a concave portion 38 into which a pair of sliding shafts 22 can be respectively fitted, and a guide claw 39 formed on the upper portion of the concave portion 38, and at least the sliding shafts 22 respectively attached to the concave portions 38. Both ends are slidably held by the bottom surface of the recess 38 and the guide claw 39.
[0014]
The membrane switch 34 has two flexible printed boards 42 whose conductor pattern forming surfaces are opposed to each other with a spacer 41 interposed therebetween. Although not shown, a switch element made of a conductor electrode that opposes through a gap is the key top 31. It is arranged directly below.
[0015]
The rubber sheet 35 placed on the membrane switch 34 has a dome-shaped actuator 43 formed on the switch element, and the convex portion 44 formed on the actuator 43 abuts on the lower surface of the key top 31 to make the key top. 31 is pushed up into place.
[0016]
When the key top 31 is pressed, the gear link member 21 rotates around the rotary shaft 26 and the distance between the slide shafts 22 is widened to the left and right. At the same time, the actuator 43 in contact with the lower surface of the key top is reversed and the membrane is reversed. The conductor electrodes (not shown) of the switch 34 are closed.
[0017]
When the force depressing the key top 31 is removed, the actuator 43 that has been reversed is restored and the key top 31 is pushed up, and the pair of gear link members 21 rotate in the opposite direction and the left and right until then. The interval between the sliding shafts 22 that has spread out is reduced.
[0018]
In a keyboard using a gear link type key switch, a long key top 45 such as a space key is formed on both ends of a link 46 which is rotatably mounted so as to operate smoothly regardless of the pressed position, as shown in FIG. A guide shaft 47 is provided.
[0019]
5A shows a 5u key top used as a space key, and FIG. 5B shows a 3u key top mounting method. Each of the key tops 45 has guide shafts 47 formed at both ends, respectively. A gear link member 21 is rotatably mounted on the.
[0020]
Further, the rotation shaft 48 of the link 46 having the parallel rotation shaft 48 and the sliding shaft 49 is rotatably mounted inside the key top 45, and the gear link is attached to the panel 15 to which the key top 45 is mounted. A recess 38 for holding the sliding shaft 22 of the member 21 and a guide claw 39 are provided.
[0021]
The panel 15 includes a guide shaft support portion 16 that slidably holds the guide shaft 47 at a position facing the guide shaft 47 of the key top 45, and slides the link 46 that moves in the horizontal direction next to the guide shaft support portion. A link support portion 17 that slidably supports the moving shaft 49 is provided.
[0022]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even if the same series is used for keyboards with different numbers of key switches and space key lengths for domestic and foreign use, the gear link member support and guide shaft support are formed directly on the panel. It will be necessary to prepare the panel.
[0023]
There is a demand for cost reduction of keyboards as a means to reduce the price of personal computers, etc., but dedicated metal molds are required to form panels, and it is necessary to prepare dedicated panels for domestic and foreign keyboards. The number of forming dies increases.
[0024]
In addition, preparing dedicated panels for domestic and foreign use increases the number of parts, leading to an increase in manufacturing and management costs, and the cost of manufacturing and managing parts is added to the cost related to molds. There was a problem that cost reduction was hindered.
[0025]
An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard that can easily cope with a change in the arrangement of key tops in a keyboard of the same series.
[0026]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a keyboard according to the present invention. Throughout the drawings, the same object is represented by the same symbol.
[0027]
The above problem is that a key top 45 having a guide shaft 47 at both ends and a gear link member 21 in the middle, a parallel rotating shaft 48 and a sliding shaft 49 are mounted inside the key top 45. The panel 46 includes a link 46 and a panel completion 5 to which the key top 45 and the link 46 are attached. The panel completion 5 includes at least two guide holders 52 and a gear link holder 53 disposed between the guide holders 52. And a panel 51 having a square hole 54 in which a plurality of gear link holders 53 or guide holders 52 can be mounted at arbitrary setting positions, and the guide holder 52 is a guide that slidably supports the guide shaft 47. A shaft support portion 56, a link support portion 57 that slidably supports the slide shaft 49 of the link 46, and a pedestal portion 58 that is integrally formed with the guide shaft support portion 56 and the link support portion 57 and is attached to the square hole 54. And the gear link holder 53 moves along with the depression of the key top 45. This is achieved by the keyboard of the present invention having the guide claw 39 that slidably supports the sliding shaft 22 that moves to the left and right, and the pedestal portion 55 that is integrally formed with the guide claw 39 and is attached to the square hole 54.
[0028]
Thus, the panel completion includes a guide holder, a gear link holder disposed in the middle of the guide holder, and a panel having a square hole in which a plurality of gear link holders or guide holders can be mounted at arbitrary setting positions. The keyboard of the present invention has the same number of key switches and the length of the space key by using the same panel, the gear link holder and the guide holder by attaching the guide holder to the square hole of the panel corresponding to the length of the key top. It is possible to form a plurality of types of keyboards that differ from each other.
[0029]
For example, by attaching one gear link holder in the center and attaching guide holders on both sides with a space for one, attaching a 5u long key top, which is often used for foreign keyboards, as a space key Is possible.
[0030]
In addition, by mounting guide holders on both sides adjacent to one gear link holder mounted in the center, it becomes possible to mount 3u key tops, which are common on domestic keyboards, as space keys. By mounting the gear link holder in an empty space outside the guide holder, for example, it is possible to mount a conversion key, a non-conversion key, or the like outside the space key.
[0031]
That is, it is possible to realize a keyboard that can easily cope with a change in the arrangement of key tops in the same series of keyboards.
[0032]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 shows details of the guide holder and the gear link holder.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 1, the keyboard according to the present invention is equipped with the same key top 45 and link 46 as the conventional keyboard on the panel completion 5 as shown in FIG. 1, and the key top 45 is formed with guide shafts 47 for steadying at both ends. A gear link member 21 is rotatably mounted.
[0034]
In addition, the link 46 having the parallel rotation shaft 48 and the slide shaft 49 is rotatably mounted inside the key top 45, and slides on the slide shaft 49 that moves in the horizontal direction. By holding freely, the key top 45 can be smoothly pressed regardless of the pressed position.
[0035]
The panel completion 5 has a panel 51, two guide holders 52, and a gear link holder 53 disposed between the guide holders 52. At least five gear link holders 53 or guide holders 52 can be attached to the panel 51. A rectangular hole 54 is provided.
[0036]
As shown in FIG. 2 (a), the gear link holder 53 is integrally formed with a recess 38 and a guide claw 39, and a recess 38 and a guide claw 39 for slidably holding the slide shaft 22 of the gear link member 21. A rectangular pedestal 55 is provided in 51 square holes 54.
[0037]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the guide holder 52 moves in the horizontal direction along with the vertical movement of the key top 45 and the guide shaft support portion 56 that can slidably support the guide shaft 47 of the key top 45. A link support portion 57 that slidably supports the slide shaft 49 of the link 46 is provided.
[0038]
The guide shaft support part 56 and the link support part 57 are integrally formed with a rectangular pedestal part 58 attached to the square hole 54 of the panel 51, and the pair of guide holders 52 are attached to the square holes 54 of the panel 51. At this time, each is mounted at a position facing the guide shaft 47 of the square hole 54.
[0039]
As shown in the figure, the pedestal portion 55 of the gear link holder 53 and the pedestal portion 58 of the guide holder 52 have projections 59 on one of the opposite side surfaces, and the square holes 54 are equidistantly spaced along one edge as shown in FIG. The projection 59 formed in the at least five has at least five notches 60 into which the projections 59 can be fitted.
[0040]
When the gear link holder 53 and the guide holder 52 are mounted, the projections 59 are inserted into the notches 60 of the square holes 54, so that the gear link holder 53 and the guide holder 52 are positioned at predetermined positions on the panel 51, and the key top 45 Can be easily installed.
[0041]
Further, the pedestal of the gear link holder 53 and the guide holder 52 is formed with an elastic support 61 on the other of the opposite side surfaces as shown in FIG. 2, and a convex provided on the elastic support 61 when mounted in the square hole 54. The strip 62 comes into contact with the edge of the square hole 54 and is prevented from falling off the panel 51.
[0042]
For example, as shown in FIG. 1, it is possible to attach a 5u long key top 45 as a space key by providing a gap between them and attaching the gear link holder 53 and the guide holder 52 to the panel 51. Can be formed.
[0043]
Although not shown, the gear link holder 53 and the guide holder 52 are closely attached to the panel 51, so that a 3u short key top 45 can be attached as a space key to form a keyboard for use in Japan. can do.
[0044]
In addition, in a keyboard for use in Japan, the square hole 54 can be fitted with a gear link holder 53 arranged outside the guide holder 52. By attaching another key top to the gear link holder 53, for example, a conversion / non-conversion key Can be used as
[0045]
Thus, the panel completion has two guide holders, a gear link holder disposed in the middle of the guide holder, and a panel having a square hole to which the five gear link holders or the guide holder can be attached. In the keyboard of the present invention, the number and space of key switches can be obtained using the same panel, gear link holder and guide holder by mounting two guide holders in the square holes of the panel corresponding to the length of the key top. Multiple types of keyboards with different key lengths and the like can be formed.
[0046]
That is, it is possible to realize a keyboard that can easily cope with a change in the arrangement of the key tops in the same series of keyboards.
[0047]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a keyboard that can easily cope with a change in the arrangement of key tops in the same series of keyboards.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main part of a keyboard according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a view showing details of a guide holder and a gear link holder.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a key top arrangement of a keyboard.
FIG. 4 is a divided perspective view showing a gear link type key switch.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of a conventional space key top.
[Explanation of symbols]
5 Panel completed 21 Gear link member
22 Slide shaft 38 Recess
39 Guide claw 45 Key top
46 Link 47 Guide shaft
48 Rotating shaft 49 Sliding shaft
51 Panel 52 Guide holder
53 Gear link holder 54 Square hole
55 Base 56 Guide shaft support
57 Link support 58 Base
59 Protrusion 60 Notch
61 Elastic support 62 Projection

Claims (3)

A key top having a guide shaft at both ends and a gear link member in the middle; a link having a parallel rotation shaft and a sliding shaft; the rotation shaft being mounted inside the key top; the key top; A panel completed with a link attached,
The panel completion includes at least two guide holders, a gear link holder disposed in the middle of the guide holder, and a plurality of gear link holders or holes in which the guide holders can be mounted at arbitrary setting positions. Panel with
The guide holder includes a guide shaft support portion that slidably supports the guide shaft, a link support portion that slidably supports the slide shaft of the link, the guide shaft support portion, and the link support portion. A pedestal that is integrally formed and mounted in the hole;
The gear link holder includes a guide claw that slidably supports the sliding shaft that moves to the left and right as the key top is pressed, and a pedestal that is integrally formed with the guide claw and is mounted in the hole. A keyboard characterized by having. The pedestal portion of the guide holder or the gear link holder has a protrusion on one of the opposing side surfaces and an elastic support portion on the other, and the panels are formed at equal intervals along one edge of the hole, The keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of notches into which the protrusions can be fitted. When the hole has a vacant space outside the guide holder, the panel can be fitted with a second gear link holder in the vacant space, and the second gear link member is interposed via the second gear link member. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the second key top can be attached to the holder.

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