JP4161008B1 - New keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a keyboard that does not get tired even when used for a long time.
In one embodiment, the present invention provides a printed circuit board (103), a plurality of keys (101) arranged on the printed circuit board, and a controller that detects a state of the key and outputs a scan code. The keyboard (100) includes: a keyboard in which at least a part of a plurality of keys includes a switch and an upright portion (102) rising from an upper surface of the switch. The keyboard (100) is turned on in response to a force applied to the upright portion (102) in a direction parallel to the surface of the printed circuit board (103) or upward. Composed.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a keyboard of an electronic device such as a computer, a mobile phone, and a calculator, and more particularly to a keyboard that reduces fatigue during operation.

  With the spread of computers, the opportunity to enter data using a keyboard has increased dramatically. As a result, physical abnormalities resulting from fatigue, particularly pain in fingers, hands, arms, etc., and reduced motor function, are now a major problem. One of the causes is the finger movement of “pressing down” a key. From English typewriters first commercialized in 1874 to electronic keyboards and calculators that are currently in widespread use, conventional keyboards have not changed significantly in that they press keys vertically. Patent document 1 is disclosing the conventional keyboard provided with the key pressed vertically like that.

JP 2002-333944 A

  Even if you think back to the era when mankind is a monkey, the action of “pressing down” an object with your finger is inherently poor and unnatural for humans in that it does not contribute much to the survival of mankind. If such an unreasonable movement is performed for a long time, it is natural that the functions of the body, particularly the fingers, hands, arms, etc., will be hindered. Compared to this, the action of “grabbing” (or “grabbing”) an object is an action that leads to life support and is inherently good for humans. For example, since the time of being a monkey, human beings have grabbed branches so as not to fall from trees, and have grabbed animals, insects, plants, etc. to get food. Therefore, the operation of “grabbing” is an instinct operation that does not hinder the function of the body even if it is performed for a long time. The present invention overcomes the fatigue problem that occurs when a keyboard is operated for a long time by providing a keyboard that can be keyed with a "grab" action, ie, horizontal or upward finger movement. To do.

  The present invention, as one embodiment, is a keyboard comprising a printed circuit board, a plurality of keys arranged on the printed circuit board, and a controller that detects a state of the key and generates a scan code, At least a part of the plurality of keys includes a switch and an upright portion that rises from the upper surface of the switch, and is parallel to or above the surface of the printed circuit board with respect to the upright portion. A keyboard is provided that is configured to turn on a key in response to an applied force.

  As another embodiment, the present invention provides a keyboard including a printed circuit board, a plurality of keys arranged on the printed circuit board, and a controller that detects a state of the key and generates a scan code. , At least a part of the plurality of keys includes two support members and a string stretched between them, and a direction parallel to the surface of the printed circuit board with respect to the string, or more In response to an upwardly applied force, the keyboard is configured such that the string contacts the switch and the key is turned on.

  The present invention provides, as yet another embodiment, a method for accommodating a keyboard having a key having an upright portion in a main body of an electronic device. This method includes preventing the key stand from being damaged by mounting the keyboard on the main body in such a manner that the key stand is inserted into the main body of the electronic device.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a keyboard 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard 100 includes a plurality of keys 101, and at least some of the keys 101 (keys in a range A and a range B surrounded by dotted lines) include an upright portion 102. The user puts his finger on the standing part 102 and turns on the key 101 by applying a generally horizontal force or upward force from the side of the standing part 102 by moving the finger as if grasping an object. . When the finger is released, the key 101 returns to its original state by the action of a spring (not shown), and the key 101 is turned off. The keyboard 100 includes a printed circuit board 103, a plurality of keys 101 attached on the printed circuit board 103, and a controller 105 (not shown) that is also arranged on the printed circuit board 103. The controller 105 is wired to the key 101 through a wiring pattern 104 (not shown) on the back surface of the printed circuit board 103, and is a code (scan code) transmitted to the CPU when the key 101 is turned on or turned off. ) To generate. The controller 105 may be any suitable keyboard controller used in a conventional keyboard. For example, a commercially available keyboard controller that generates a scan code for a PS / 2 keyboard or a USB keyboard can be used. As one embodiment, for example, W8397ATTF sold by Winbond is used for the controller 105. In this embodiment, the upright portions 102 are provided only for the keys 101 in the range A and the range B. However, which key 101 is provided with the upright portions 102 can be freely changed as necessary. .

  FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a key 200 according to the first embodiment that can be used as the key 101 of the keyboard 100 according to the present invention. The key 200 includes a hinge-type switch 201 and an upright portion 202 that rises from the upper surface thereof. The standing portion 202 is provided so as to rise from the operator-side end portion of the upper surface of the upper member 204 of the switch 201, and includes a leg portion 203 that extends from the lower end portion along the upper surface of the upper member 204. The leg 203 is firmly joined to the upper surface of the upper member 204 of the switch 201. The upright portion 202 includes a protruding portion 205 having a lubricious surface on the surface on the side receiving the force of the upper end portion. The protruding portion 205 functions to slide a finger at the upper end portion of the upright portion 202. When removing the finger from the key, the finger may be returned in the direction opposite to the direction of the applied force, but the finger is slid on the upper end of the upright portion 202 and the finger is shaken out in the direction of the applied force. The finger fatigue is further reduced by moving it so as to be detached from the upright portion 202. The switch 201 includes a lower member 206 and an upper member 204 supported so as to be pivotable up and down with one end thereof as a fulcrum A. The switch 201 further includes four lead wires. Of the four lead wires, the two front sides depicted in the drawing pass through the lower member 206 from two terminals 207 (connected to each other) on the lower member 206, and are printed circuit boards. 210 is connected to a wiring pattern (not shown) on the back surface. The remaining two lead wires (not shown) are connected from the terminal 208 on the lower member 206 to the wiring pattern on the back surface of the printed circuit board 210 through the lower member 206. Since the wiring pattern is the same as the conventional one, it will not be described in detail in this specification.

  Next, the operation will be described. When a force F is applied from the side surface of the upright portion 202, the upright portion 202 turns around one end of the lower member 206 of the switch 201 as a fulcrum A and is moved downward together with the upper member 204 of the switch 201. A downward force is applied to the center of the dome-shaped conductor spring 209. As a result, the dome-shaped conductor spring 209 is deformed, and its central portion (functioning as the terminal 211) comes into contact with the terminal 208 and conducts between the terminal 207 and the terminal 208. Therefore, the switch 201 is turned on. When the finger F is removed and the force F applied to the upright portion 202 is removed, the upper member 204 and the upright portion 202 return to their original positions due to the force that the conductor spring 209 returns to the original shape, and therefore the switch 201 is turned off. Return to state. A hinge type switch having such a configuration and a similar configuration is already on the market, and such a commercially available switch may be used as the switch 201. One example of a hinged switch that can be used is the hinged tactile switch model B3J sold by OMRON.

  Note that the height and posture (angle) of the upright portion 202 affect the operability of the key 200. As a preferable range in which the effect of reducing fatigue is obtained, the upright portion 202 forms an angle of about 45 degrees to 100 degrees with respect to the surface of the printed circuit board 210. As a more preferable range, the upright portion 202 forms an angle of about 45 degrees to 90 degrees with respect to the surface of the printed circuit board 210. As a more preferable range, the upright portion 202 forms an angle of about 60 degrees to 90 degrees with respect to the surface of the printed circuit board 210. As a more preferable range, the upright portion 202 forms an angle of about 75 degrees to 90 degrees with respect to the surface of the printed circuit board 210. Similarly, as a preferable range, the upright portion 202 has a height of about 2.0 mm to 16.0 mm from the upper surface of the switch 200. As a more preferable range, the upright portion 202 has a height of about 3.0 mm to 10.0 mm from the upper surface of the switch 200. As a more preferable range, the upright portion 202 has a height of about 4.0 mm to 8.0 mm from the upper surface of the switch 200. If the height of the upright portion 202 is lowered, it can also be applied to a use such as a notebook computer that requires space saving. Of course, the key 200 can be turned on by “pressing down” the upper member 204 of the switch 201 and the upper end of the upright portion 202 as in the prior art. However, the advantage of the keyboard of the present invention is that, in particular, the key 200 can be turned on by applying a force in a direction parallel to or higher than the printed circuit board 210 to the upright portion 202. Since the keyboard according to the present invention can operate the key with a force in the horizontal direction or upward by the action of the upright portion 202, the key is turned on by a hand movement very close to a “grabbing” operation that is inherently good for humans. Therefore, the burden on hands and fingers can be greatly reduced.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the upright portion 202 is joined to the upper member 204 via the leg portion 203, but in other embodiments, the leg portion 203 is omitted and the upright portion 202 is connected to the upper member 204. It may be formed integrally. In the illustrated embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the protrusion 205 is semicircular, but the cross-sectional shape of the protrusion 205 is not necessarily semicircular, and it is possible to slide a finger on the protrusion 205. Any shape can be used as long as it is a simple shape. Further, the protrusion 205 is not essential and may be omitted depending on the embodiment. Further, in some embodiments, the upper end portion of the upright portion 202 may be processed smoothly instead of omitting the protruding portion 205.

  3a and 3b schematically show an alternative embodiment of the key 200. FIG. The example of FIG. 3a is an example in which the fulcrum A of the hinge-type switch 201 is placed on the side far from the operator and the upright portion 202 is placed on the side near the operator, as in the embodiment of FIG. On the other hand, the example of FIG. 3B is an example in which the fulcrum A of the hinge-type switch 201 is placed on the side far from the operator and the upright portion 202 is placed on the side far from the operator. Thus, if the position of the fulcrum A is changed, the upright portion 202 can be arranged on the side far from the operator. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3a and 3b, the upright portion 202 is disposed at the end portion of the switch 201, but it is not always necessary to dispose it at the end portion.

  FIG. 4a schematically shows a key 400 according to a second embodiment that can be used as the key 101 of the keyboard 100 according to the invention. The key 400 includes a rotary switch 401 having a standing portion 402. When the operator applies a force from the side surface to the standing portion 402 and rotates the rotary switch 401 to a certain angle, the switch 401 is turned on. When the applied force is removed, the switch 401 returns to its original state by the action of a spring (not shown) and turns off. The rotary switch 401 is arranged in a direction in which the upright portion 402 turns back and forth when viewed from the operator in a posture in which the rotation axis is horizontal. FIG. 4 b schematically shows yet another embodiment of the key 400. In this embodiment, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 4a, the rotary switch 401 is arranged in a posture in which the rotation axis is vertical. The embodiment of FIGS. 4a and 4b may have a protrusion 405 that functions similarly to the protrusion 205 of FIG. However, the protrusion 405 is not essential. If the height of the upright portion 402 is lowered, it can also be applied to uses such as a notebook computer that require space saving. The embodiment of FIGS. 4a and 4b is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 2 in that the keys can be operated with a force parallel to or higher than the surface of the printed circuit board. It is advantageous compared to A rotary switch having the above functions is already on the market. For the rotary switch 401, such a commercially available rotary switch may be used. An example of a usable rotary switch is MXS01430MLB0 sold by Mick Electronics.

  FIG. 5 schematically shows a key 500 according to a third embodiment that can be used as the key 101 of the keyboard 100 according to the invention. The key 500 includes a slide switch 501 and an upright portion 502. When force is applied to the upright portion 502 from the side surface, the movable portion 503 of the switch 501 is slid in the horizontal direction, and the terminal 506 is brought into contact with the terminal 504 and the terminal 505, the switch 501 is turned on. When the applied force is removed, the movable portion 503 returns to the original position by the action of the spring 507, and the switch 501 returns to the off state. If the height of the upright portion 502 is lowered, it can also be applied to uses such as a notebook computer that require space saving. If a commercially available micro switch (for example, SS-01E manufactured by OMRON) is used for the switch part (504, 505, 506), and a movable part and a spring are added, the slide switch 501 can be configured easily. is there.

  FIG. 6 shows an upright 602 according to an alternative embodiment that can be used as the upright 202 of the key 200 according to the first embodiment described above. As shown in FIG. 6A, the upright portion 602 includes a leg portion 603 that is pivotably attached to one end thereof. When the keyboard is not used, the standing part 602 is folded as shown in FIG. 6C, and when the keyboard is used, the standing part 602 is raised as shown in FIG. 6B. Similar to the standing portion 202 shown in FIG. 2, the leg portion 603 of the standing portion 602 may be formed integrally with the upper member 202 of the switch 201. A keyboard having a key having the upright portion 602 is particularly useful for an application that requires space saving, such as a keyboard of a notebook computer.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of a method for accommodating a keyboard having a key having an upright portion as in the embodiment of FIG. 2 in the main body of an electronic device such as a notebook computer. When using a keyboard with a key having an upright portion according to the present invention for an electronic device such as a notebook computer, the keyboard can be configured to be detachable from the main body and can be used with the keyboard removed from the main body as shown in the figure. It may be. When the keyboard is not used, the entire keyboard is turned over, and the keyboard is attached to the main body so that the upright portion is inserted into the main body of the electronic device, thereby preventing the upright portion from being damaged.

  FIG. 8 shows a key 800 according to a fourth embodiment that can be used as the key 101 of the keyboard 100 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 8A, the key 800 includes two support members 801 and a conductive string 802 stretched between them. As shown in FIG. 8B, both ends of the string 802 are inserted into cavities 803 formed at the respective tips of the two support members 801, and springs 804 extending from the upper surface of the cavities 803 respectively. Combined and pressed against the lower surface of the cavity 803 by the spring 804. When the operator applies force to the string 802 and brings the string 802 into contact with the switch 805 as shown in FIG. 8C, the key 800 is turned on. When the finger is released, the string 802 returns to the original position by the action of the spring 804, and the key 800 returns to the off state. When a minute current flows in the string 802 and the string 802 contacts the switch 805, the key 800 is turned on. As an alternative embodiment, the switch 805 may be configured as a proximity switch 805. In this case, the fact that the string 802 has approached the switch 805 is detected by a change in capacitance between them or a change in magnetic field, and this is recognized as a key on / off. An example of a usable switch is E2S-Q11 manufactured by OMRON.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating a keyboard 900 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard 900 includes a keyboard portion 901 and a support member 902 for maintaining the keyboard portion 901 in a posture that is raised to the near side when viewed from the operator. The keyboard portion 901 has the same configuration as that of the keyboard 101 shown in FIG. 1, and therefore will not be described in detail here. In the illustrated embodiment, the support member 902 is composed of two pieces of plate-like members that respectively extend from the upper end portion and the lower end portion of the keyboard portion 901. In a preferred embodiment, the angle caused is about 30-80 degrees. By maintaining the posture in which the keyboard portion 901 is raised, the installation area of the entire keyboard 900 can be reduced even during use. For easy understanding of the concept of the invention, only 4 × 8 = 32 keys are shown in the drawing. However, the number and arrangement of keys depicted in the drawings are merely examples and, of course, they can be changed according to the application. In this embodiment, the support member 902 is composed of two plate-like members. However, the support member 902 may be any one that can maintain the posture that caused the keyboard portion 901. It may be a form.

  FIG. 10a is a schematic diagram illustrating a keyboard 1000 according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard 1000 includes a first keyboard portion 1001 and a second keyboard portion 1002 that are respectively disposed on both sides of the screen 1003. The first keyboard portion 1001 and the second keyboard portion 1002 collectively function as one keyboard. The structure of the keyboard part 1001 and the keyboard part 1002 is basically the same as that of the keyboard 100 shown in FIG. 1 except that the printed circuit board 103 is separated into two parts. do not do. The keyboard 1000 according to this embodiment is useful for downsizing and space saving of electronic devices such as computers. FIG. 10b shows a calculator 1004 with a keyboard 1005 according to the present invention. The calculator 1004 includes a keyboard 1005 according to the present invention beside the screen 1006. The calculator 1004 is the same as the conventional one except that the calculator 1004 employs the keyboard 1005 according to the present invention in the keyboard portion. Other components are prior art and will not be described here. FIG. 10c shows a calculator 1007 according to another embodiment with a keyboard 1009 according to the present invention. The calculator 1007 includes a support member 1010 similar to the support member 902 in FIG. 9 in order to maintain the keyboard 1009 in a posture that is raised to the operator side. The calculator 1007 further includes a screen 1008 above the keyboard 1009. Other components are prior art and will not be described here. Similarly to the keyboard 900 shown in FIG. 9, the calculator 1007 can reduce the installation area and can save space.

  All the keys according to the first to fourth embodiments are operated with a force in the horizontal direction or upward, unlike a vertically pressed key generally used for a conventional keyboard. Is possible. Therefore, according to the keyboard according to the present invention, it is possible to operate the keys with hand movements that are very close to the “grabbing” operation, which is an operation that is inherently good for mankind, and therefore, it places an excessive burden on the fingers and hands. Without any key operation. Moreover, since all the keys according to the first to third embodiments include the standing part, they can be operated with a fingertip. Therefore, the operability of the keyboard according to the present invention having such keys is not impaired even if the width or interval (pitch) of the keys is reduced. For example, the keyboard of the present invention can be operated even when the key interval is shorter than the finger width. As a result, the entire keyboard can be reduced in size.

  In the above description, some specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, for the purpose of easily understanding the present invention, illustrations and descriptions may be omitted for matters that are obvious to those skilled in the art. . For example, adding an enclosure for protecting a circuit board, exposing only the key from the opening, or providing an indicator such as an LED is a known technique, and is a matter of course to those skilled in the art. Therefore, illustration description is abbreviate | omitted in this specification. Embodiments to which such members are added are, of course, within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

1 is a perspective view showing a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a side sectional view showing a key 200 according to a first embodiment that can be used in a keyboard according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a modified embodiment of the key 200. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a modified embodiment of the key 200. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a key 400 according to a second embodiment that can be used in a keyboard according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a modified embodiment of the key 400. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a key 500 according to a third embodiment that can be used in a keyboard according to the present invention. FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the upstanding portion 202 of the key 200. It is a figure which shows the method of mounting | wearing the electronic device main body with the keyboard provided with the standing part by this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a key 800 according to a fourth embodiment that can be used in a keyboard according to the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a keyboard 900 according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a keyboard 1000 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows the calculator 1004 provided with the keyboard by this invention. It is the schematic which shows the calculator 1007 by other embodiment provided with the keyboard by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 Keyboard 101, 200, 400, 500, 800 Key 102, 202, 402, 502, 602 Standing part 103 Printed circuit board 104 Wiring pattern 105 Keyboard controller 201, 401, 501 Switch

Claims (17)

A printed circuit board (103), a plurality of keys (101) disposed on the printed circuit board (103), and a controller (105) that detects a state of the key (101) and generates a scan code. A keyboard (100) comprising at least a part of the plurality of keys (101),
A hinge-type switch (201) including a lower member (206) and an upper member (204) supported so as to be pivotable up and down with one end of the lower member (206) as a fulcrum;
Standing portions (102, 202, 602) rising from the end of the upper surface of the upper member (204) of the hinge type switch (201) opposite to the fulcrum
With
The key (101) is turned on in response to a force applied to the upright portion (102, 202, 602) in a direction parallel to or upward from the surface of the printed circuit board (103). A keyboard that is configured to switch . The keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising a protrusion (205) having a lubricious surface at an upper end portion of a surface far from the operator of the upright portion (202, 602). The keyboard according to claim 2, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the protruding portion is a semicircular shape. The upright portions (202, 602) have a height of 2.0 mm to 16.0 mm from the upper surface of the upper member (204) of the hinge-type switch, and are 45 to the surface of the printed circuit board (103). The keyboard according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is provided at an angle of from 90 degrees to 90 degrees . The upright portion (202, 602) includes a leg portion (203, 604), and is joined to the upper surface of the upper member (204) of the hinge-type switch (201) via the leg portion (203, 604). The keyboard as described in any one of Claims 1-4 . The keyboard according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the upright portion (202) is formed integrally with an upper member (204) of the hinge-type switch (201) . The hinge-type switch (201) further includes a spring (209) for returning the hinge-type switch (201) to an off state when a force applied to the upright portion (202) is released. keyboard according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The keyboard according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the upright portion (602) is configured to be foldable. A printed circuit board (103), a plurality of keys (101) disposed on the printed circuit board (103), and a controller (105) that detects a state of the key (101) and generates a scan code. A keyboard (100) comprising at least a part of the plurality of keys (101),
Two strut members (801),
A conductive string (802) stretched between the two strut members, and a switch (805) provided close to the string (802);
Including keyboard. The string (802) contacts the switch (805) in response to a force applied to the string (802) in a direction parallel to or above the surface of the printed circuit board (103). The keyboard according to claim 9 , wherein the key (101) is configured to switch on. In response to a force applied to the string (802) in a direction parallel to or above the surface of the printed circuit board (103), the string (802) approaches the switch (805). The keyboard of claim 9 , wherein the keyboard is configured to detect a change in capacitance between the string (805) and the switch (805) as a key on / off. The keyboard according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , further comprising support means (902) for maintaining the keyboard in a posture caused by a predetermined angle when viewed from the operator. The keyboard according to claim 12 , wherein the predetermined angle is an angle of 30 degrees to 90 degrees. The keyboard is divided into a first portion (1001) and the second part (1002), wherein the screen is disposed between the first portion and the second portion, of the claims 1 to 13 The keyboard according to any one of the above.   The keyboard according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the keyboard is attached to the main body in such a manner that the rising portion of the key of the keyboard is inserted into the main body of the electronic device, and the rising portion of the key is prevented from being damaged. A method of housing a keyboard in the main body of an electronic device. Calculator with keyboard according to any one of claims 1 to 11. The keyboard according to claim 16 , further comprising support means (1010) for maintaining the keyboard in a posture that is raised by a predetermined angle toward the near side when viewed from the operator, and further comprising a screen (1008) on the upper part of the keyboard. calculator.

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