JP4581971B2 - Key input device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an input device used for a keyboard that is an input unit of a computer, a medical device, or the like. In particular, the present invention relates to a key input device configured to include an illumination unit intended to be used in a dark place.

Conventional key input devices are provided with an illuminating unit for lighting the keyboard when used in a dark place such as at night. For example, it is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The illumination input device includes a base member, a printed board, a light source body, a light guide body, a reflection member, a pressure sensing member, a light reduction member, and an input member. In this illumination input device, the light from the light source disposed on the printed board is reflected by the dot pattern of the light guide to illuminate the input key.
JP 2005-32703 A

  However, in the conventional configuration described above, all of the printed circuit board, the light source body, the light guide body, the reflecting member, and the pressure sensing member that are configured inside are vulnerable to water. As a countermeasure, when a waterproof structure is applied, it is necessary to completely stop water between the upper rubber-based input member and the lower base member to protect the internal components from water. Furthermore, when the input member is formed of a resin system, the input member is not integrally formed, and thus there is a problem that a waterproof structure cannot be applied.

  The key input device of the present invention has the following configuration.

  A key input unit having a key cap unit, a movable mechanism unit, a press sensing unit, and a frame unit for storing them, and illuminates the key cap unit through the movable mechanism unit and the press sensing unit from the bottom surface of the key input unit. And an illuminating part. Here, the key input device is configured such that the key input unit and the illumination unit can be waterproofed independently.

  With this configuration, the key input device according to the present invention is configured such that the key input unit and the illumination unit are independent of each other, so that each can be waterproofed independently.

  According to the above configuration, the key input unit 100 fixes the constituent members by the frame unit 3 and the key input unit plate member 1. As a result, the key input unit 100 can be used independently without the illumination function. In this case, only the pressure sensing unit 2 needs a waterproof structure.

  A key input device including an illuminating unit can be easily obtained by adding an illuminating unit 200 to the key input unit plate member 1 disposed on the bottom surface of the key input unit 100 to the key input unit 100 that can be used independently. Can be configured.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the key input device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the key input device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  1 and 2, a key input unit 100 includes a key input unit plate member 1, a press sensing unit 2, a resin-based frame unit 3, a key cap unit 4, and a movable mechanism unit 5 that moves the key cap unit 4 up and down. The key cap portion 4 is always pushed up to form an elastic pressing rubber 6 that forms an operating force. The key input portion plate member 1 is provided with an opening 1a. The keycap portion 4 has a character portion that is substantially transparent and has a color arrangement that does not allow light to pass through, or a whole that is substantially transparent and has a color portion that does not pass light. The movable mechanism 5 and the pressing rubber 6 are also made almost transparent. With this configuration, light from the light source entering from the bottom surface of the key input unit 100 is transmitted through the opening 1 a of the key input unit plate member 1, the substantially transparent pressing rubber 6, and the substantially transparent movable mechanism unit 5. The cap part 4 is illuminated. The pressing rubber 6 is fixed by being bonded to the pressing sensing unit 2.

  FIG. 3 shows a detailed cross-sectional view of the press sensing unit 2. In FIG. 3, the press sensing unit 2 includes a substantially transparent upper sheet 21, a substantially transparent lower sheet 22, and contact points 23 and 24 printed on the upper and lower sheets, respectively. Are connected to printed copper foil patterns (not shown), respectively, and are drawn out from the press sensing unit 2 as signal lines. Further, a substantially transparent insulating sheet 25 is disposed between the upper and lower sheets. When the pressing rubber 6 is pushed down by pressing, the contact 23 and the contact 24 come into contact with each other and key input is performed. Therefore, the press sensing unit 2 is made of a light transmissive material except for the contact points 23 and 24 and the copper foil patterns printed on the upper and lower sheets (not shown).

  Further, the frame portion 3 and the key input portion plate member 1 are coupled by welding or the like, and the movable mechanism portion 5 and the press sensing portion 2 are fixed. Moreover, the movable mechanism part 5 is fixing the keycap part 4 by nail fitting etc.

  Here, in the configuration of the key input unit 100, only the press sensing unit 2 is required to be waterproof. A waterproof seal 26 is disposed between the upper sheet 21 and the lower sheet 22 over the entire outer periphery, and is adhered with an adhesive or the like. In addition, all the openings (not shown) arranged in the upper sheet 21 and the lower sheet 22 are also sealed with an adhesive or the like around the openings so that water does not enter from the openings. Yes. Thus, the pressure sensing unit 2 has a reliable waterproof structure.

  Further, the key input unit 100 is provided with a drainage groove (not shown) in the structure of each key of the frame unit 3. In addition, the key input unit 100 is provided with a plurality of drain ports 3 c on the outer periphery of the frame unit 3. The groove of each key communicates with the drainage port 3c on the outer periphery. With this structure, water that has entered the inside of the key input unit 100 by spilling a drink from the upper surface of the key is easily drained from the plurality of drain ports 3c. The predetermined key is provided with an erroneous operation prevention frame 3d.

  In FIG. 1, the illumination unit 200 includes an illumination unit plate 7, a printed board 8, a reflection sheet 9, and a light guide 10. Among them, the printed circuit board 8 handles electrical signals, so it is not easily wetted and dewed. The printed circuit board 8, the reflection sheet 9 and the light guide body 10 are put together to be sandwiched between the key input unit plate member 1 and the illumination unit plate 7. Further, a waterproof sealing material 11 is applied to the entire outer periphery of both to prevent water from entering.

  Since the key input unit plate member 1 that is a component of the key input unit 100 and the illumination unit plate 7 that is a component of the illumination unit 200 are coupled, the key input unit 100 and the illumination unit 200 are coupled together. It will be.

  4A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the illumination unit 200, and FIG. 4B is a top view of the printed circuit board 8. FIG. As shown in both figures, a plurality of light source bodies 31 are arranged on the printed circuit board 8. As indicated by the arrows in the figure, the light source body 31 is configured such that outgoing light emitted therefrom is emitted in the lateral direction. The reflection sheet 9 prevents the emitted light from leaking downward. Light emitted from the light source body 31 passes through the opening 1 a of the plate member 1 while being reflected by the light guide body 10, and illuminates the keycap portion 4. Note that the opening 1a of the plate member 1 is transparent and allows light to pass therethrough, but has no physical hole, so that water does not pass therethrough.

  According to the above configuration, the key input unit 100 fixes the constituent members by the frame unit 3 and the key input unit plate member 1. As a result, the key input unit 100 can be used independently without the illumination function. In this case, only the pressure sensing unit 2 needs a waterproof structure.

  A key input device including an illuminating unit can be easily obtained by adding an illuminating unit 200 to the key input unit plate member 1 disposed on the bottom surface of the key input unit 100 to the key input unit 100 that can be used independently. Can be configured.

  In this embodiment, the key input unit 100 is provided with the frame unit 3, but the movable mechanism unit 5 may be fixed to the key input unit plate member 1.

  The illumination unit 200 uses LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes) as the plurality of light source bodies 31. EL (Electro Luminescence) may be used instead of the LED. Moreover, the structure which abbreviate | omits a part of the printed circuit board 8, the reflective sheet 9, and the light guide 10 by the structure which provides LED for every key is also possible.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a key input device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the resin-based frame portion 53 included in the key input portion 150 is provided with a frame 53 a all around the plurality of key cap portions 54. The height of the frame 53a is the same as or slightly higher than the end face 54a of the keycap portion 54.

  Further, the key input unit 150 has a groove 53 b in the structure of each key of the frame unit 53. In addition, the key input unit 150 includes a plurality of drain ports 53 c on the outer periphery of the frame unit 53. The key groove 53b communicates with the outer drain 53c. Further, the resin-based frame portion 53 provided with the frame 53a around the plurality of key cap portions 54 is provided with an erroneous operation preventing frame 53d for a predetermined key. The frame 53d extends to the vicinity of the top surface 54b of the keycap portion 54 and has substantially the same height.

  According to the above configuration, the resin-based frame portion 53 is provided with the frame 53a around all of the plurality of keycap portions 54, and is easily raised to the same height as the end surface 54a of the keycap portion 54. A finger or an object cannot touch the end surface of the part, and it can be protected from damage such as the keycap part coming off.

  Furthermore, by providing an operation error prevention frame 53d on a predetermined key of the frame portion 53 and extending it to almost the same height as the top surface 54b of the key cap portion 54, it becomes difficult for a finger or an object to touch the key cap portion easily. Thus, if the key provided with the erroneous operation prevention frame 53d is used as a special key that is operated only in an emergency, it is possible to prevent erroneous operation of a key that is not normally used.

  Further, since a groove 53b is provided in the structure of each key of the frame portion 53, and a plurality of drainage ports 53c are provided on the outer periphery of the frame portion 53, this allows the drink to be spilled from the upper surface of the key to enter the key input portion 150. The entered water is easily drained from the plurality of drain ports 53c.

  The key input device according to the present invention includes a key input unit that can also be used independently, and a key input unit that also includes an illumination unit by adding a separate illumination unit to the key input unit plate member disposed on the bottom surface of the key input unit. The keyboard can be easily configured, and the key input unit and the illumination unit can be configured to be waterproof independently of each other. The keyboard is an input unit for computers, medical devices, and the like. It is useful as an input device used for such as a key input device configured with an illumination unit intended for use in a dark place.

The perspective view which shows the structure of the key input device in Embodiment 1 of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the key input device in Embodiment 1 of this invention Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the press detection part in the key input device of FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an illumination unit in the key input device of FIG. 2, and FIG. Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the key input device in Embodiment 2 of invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Key input part plate member 2 Press detection part 3 Frame part 4 Key cap part 5 Movable mechanism part 6 Press rubber 7 Illumination part plate 8 Printed circuit board 9 Reflection sheet 10 Light guide 11 Seal material 100 Key input part 200 Illumination part

Claims (3)

A key input device including a key input unit and an illumination unit,
The key input section includes a plurality of key cap sections having a transparent section, a movable mechanism section of the key cap section made of a transparent body, and contacts provided on the upper sheet and the lower sheet by pressing the key cap section. A plate member having a pressure sensing portion made of a light transmissive material disposed so as to come into contact, a frame portion for accommodating the key cap portion, the movable mechanism portion, and the pressure sensing portion from above and below, and an opening;
The illumination unit has an illumination unit plate, and a light source body disposed between the illumination unit plate and the light guide,
Between the upper sheet and the lower sheet of the press sensing unit of the key input unit is waterproof and sealed with a waterproof material,
An illumination unit is coupled to the plate member of the key input unit, and the light from the light source body of the illumination unit passes through the opening of the plate member of the key input unit, the pressure sensing unit, and the movable mechanism unit from the light guide to the key cap unit. A key input device configured to illuminate . The key input device according to claim 1, wherein a groove for draining water that has entered the key cap portion and a drain port that communicates with the groove are provided in the frame portion of the key input portion . 2. The frame according to claim 1, wherein a frame surrounding each of the plurality of key cap portions is provided in the frame portion, and the height of each frame is configured to be equal to or higher than the height of the end face of the key cap portion. Key input device.

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