JP7496382B2 - Keyboard Device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a keyboard device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a keyboard device that includes keys, a membrane sheet, and a metal dome. When a key is pressed, the metal dome elastically deforms and presses the membrane sheet. This allows the membrane sheet to detect the user pressing the key.

JP 2021-99960 A

In some keyboard devices with metal domes (e.g., Patent Document 1), a sheet-like fixing member (fixing sheet) is placed between the metal dome and the key to prevent the metal dome from falling off the membrane sheet. In such a configuration, there is a possibility that the fixing sheet and the metal dome may slide when the user presses the key. In this case, the elastic deformation of the metal dome may not be efficiently performed when the user presses the key, which may reduce the comfort of the key pressing operation.

The present invention has been made in consideration of these circumstances, and aims to provide a keyboard device that can improve the comfort of key pressing operations.

In order to solve the above problem, a keyboard device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a housing, a membrane sheet housed in the housing and generating an electric signal when pressed in the thickness direction, a key exposed on the surface of the housing and supported movably in the thickness direction relative to the housing, a metal dome made of metal arranged on the membrane sheet and elastically deforming when the key is pressed to press the membrane sheet in the thickness direction, and a fixing sheet including an adhesive layer having adhesiveness, arranged between the key and the metal dome in the thickness direction and fixed to the membrane sheet, and the metal dome is fixed to the membrane sheet by the adhesive layer being adhered to the metal dome in the thickness direction.

According to the above aspect of the present invention, since the fixing sheet and the metal dome are fixed to each other, the metal dome can be reliably deformed when the user presses the key. This improves the comfort of the key pressing operation.

Here, the keyboard device according to one aspect of the present invention may further include a spacer that is fixed onto the membrane sheet and is located between the fixed sheet and the membrane sheet in the thickness direction, and the adhesive layer may be adhered to the spacer, thereby fixing the fixed sheet to the membrane sheet.

In this case, the adhesive layer is prevented from adhering to the side of the metal dome and impeding the elastic deformation of the metal dome. This makes it possible to more reliably improve the comfort of key depression operations.

The keyboard device according to one aspect of the present invention may further include a light-emitting element disposed on the membrane sheet, and the membrane sheet may include a current supply layer that supplies a current to the light-emitting element.

In this case, the configuration for supplying current to the light-emitting element can be simplified, contributing to the miniaturization of the keyboard device.

The above aspect of the present invention provides a keyboard device that can improve the comfort of key pressing operations.

1 is a perspective view showing a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II shown in FIG.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a keyboard device 1 according to the present embodiment. The keyboard device 1 shown in the example of Fig. 1 is a keyboard provided separately from a PC or a tablet terminal, but the example of the keyboard device 1 is not limited to this. The keyboard device 1 may be a keyboard built into a notebook PC or the like.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the keyboard device 1 according to this embodiment includes a housing 10, a membrane sheet 20, a plurality of keys 30, a plurality of metal domes 40, a fixing sheet 50, a spacer 60, a plurality of light-emitting elements 70, and a support member 80. The membrane sheet 20, the plurality of keys 30, the plurality of metal domes 40, the fixing sheet 50, the spacer 60, the plurality of light-emitting elements 70, and the support member 80 are housed in the housing 10. The keys 30 are exposed on the surface of the housing 10.

(Direction definition)
Here, in this embodiment, the thickness direction of the membrane sheet 20 (the direction perpendicular to the membrane sheet 20) is simply referred to as the thickness direction Z. Viewing from the thickness direction Z is referred to as a planar view. One direction perpendicular to the thickness direction Z is referred to as the first direction X. A direction perpendicular to both the thickness direction Z and the first direction X is referred to as the second direction Y. A direction from the membrane sheet 20 toward the multiple keys 30 along the thickness direction Z is referred to as the +Z direction or upward. A direction opposite to the +Z direction is referred to as the -Z direction or downward. A direction along the first direction X is referred to as the +X direction or rightward. A direction opposite to the +X direction is referred to as the -X direction or leftward. A direction along the second direction Y is referred to as the +Y direction or the back side. A direction opposite to the +Y direction is referred to as the -Y direction or the front side.

The housing 10 according to this embodiment has a generally rectangular shape in a plan view (see FIG. 1). The term "generally rectangular shape" also includes cases where the shape can be considered rectangular if corners, chamfers, manufacturing errors, etc. are removed. In this embodiment, the long sides of the housing 10 extend parallel to the first direction X, and the short sides of the housing 10 extend parallel to the second direction Y. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a number of key holes 11 are opened on the top surface of the housing 10. Each key hole 11 is connected to the space inside the housing 10.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the multiple keys 30 are respectively arranged inside the multiple key holes 11 and are respectively exposed on the upper surface of the housing 10. Furthermore, each key 30 is supported so as to be movable in the thickness direction Z relative to the housing 10. Note that the configuration (not shown) for supporting the keys 30 so as to be movable in the thickness direction Z is appropriately selected from known configurations (cylinder, pantograph, etc.).

Here, the multiple keys 30 provided in the keyboard device 1 according to this embodiment include multiple mode switching keys 30A and multiple input keys 30B, as shown in FIG. 1. The mode switching keys 30A are keys used to switch between various modes (Num lock, Caps lock, etc.) provided in the keyboard device 1. The input keys 30B are keys used for character input, etc. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, when describing the keys 30, the mode switching key 30A will be described. Also, the "mode switching key 30A" may be simply referred to as the "key 30".

As shown in FIG. 2, the key 30 according to this embodiment has a base 32 exposed on the upper surface of the housing 10, and a protrusion 31 protruding downward from the base 32. The base 32 according to this embodiment also has a light-transmitting portion 33 formed from a material that transmits light. The light-transmitting portion 33 extends from the lower surface of the base 32 to the upper surface of the base 32.

The membrane sheet 20 according to this embodiment is placed on a support member 80 fixed to the housing 10. The membrane sheet 20 according to this embodiment includes a detection layer 21 and a current supply layer 22.

The detection layer 21 is a layer that generates an electrical signal when pressed in the thickness direction Z. More specifically, the detection layer 21 includes a pair of contact layers 21a and a sheet spacer 21c. The pair of contact layers 21a are arranged at a distance in the thickness direction Z. The sheet spacer 21c is located between the pair of contact layers 21a in the thickness direction Z and maintains the distance between the contact layers 21a. A plurality of holes 21ca are formed in the sheet spacer 21c. Each hole 21ca penetrates the sheet spacer 21c in the thickness direction Z. A pair of contacts (electrodes) 21b is disposed inside each hole 21ca. The pair of contacts 21b are fixed to the pair of contact layers 21a so as to face each other in the thickness direction Z. When the detection layer 21 is pressed in the thickness direction Z, the contact layers 21a are curved at each hole 21ca and the contacts 21b come into contact with each other. When the contacts 21b come into contact with each other, an electrical signal is generated.

The current supply layer 22 is a layer that supplies current to the light-emitting element 70 arranged on the membrane sheet 20 (on the upper surface of the membrane sheet 20). In this embodiment, the current supply layer 22 is arranged on the upper surface of the detection layer 21.

The light-emitting element 70 is an element that converts electricity into light. For example, an LED or the like can be used as the light-emitting element 70. The light-emitting element 70 according to this embodiment is arranged so as to overlap with the light-transmitting portion 33 of the key 30 in the thickness direction Z. With this configuration, the user can visually recognize the light emitted by the light-emitting element 70 through the light-transmitting portion 33. The light-emitting element 70 may be configured to switch between lighting and extinguishing depending on whether the various modes of the keyboard device 1 corresponding to each mode switching key 30A are on or off, for example.

The metal dome 40 is an elastically deformable member having a dome-like shape. Each metal dome 40 is arranged on the membrane sheet 20. More specifically, the metal dome 40 is arranged so that the inner peripheral surface 40b faces the membrane sheet 20 and the outer peripheral surface 40a faces the fixed sheet 50. Each metal dome 40 is also arranged on the membrane sheet 20 so as to overlap the protrusion 31 of the key 30 and the pair of contacts 21b in the thickness direction Z.

When a user presses a key 30, the protrusion 31 of the key 30 presses the metal dome 40 downward through the fixing sheet 50. This causes the metal dome 40 to elastically deform (bend), and the inner circumferential surface 40b of the metal dome 40 comes into contact with the membrane sheet 20. When the key 30 is further pressed, the membrane sheet 20 is pressed in the thickness direction Z by the inner circumferential surface 40b of the metal dome 40. This causes the contacts 21b corresponding to the key 30 pressed by the user (which overlap in the thickness direction Z) to come into contact with each other, generating an electrical signal. In other words, the metal dome 40 transmits the pressing force applied to the key 30 to the membrane sheet 20, and the membrane sheet 20 detects the pressing operation of each key 30 by the user. In addition, when the user stops pressing the key 30, the shape of the metal dome 40 returns to a dome shape due to the elastic restoring force of the metal dome 40. This causes the contacts 21b to separate from each other again.

The metal dome 40 is formed, for example, from a thin plate of a metal material such as stainless steel. Because the metal dome 40 is made of metal, it gives the user a clicking sensation when the user presses the key 30.

Note that metal domes 40 do not necessarily have to be provided for all the keys 30 of the keyboard device 1. In other words, instead of the metal domes 40, some of the keys 30 of the keyboard device 1 may be provided with other mechanisms (rubber domes, etc.) that transmit the pressing force applied to the keys 30 to the membrane sheet 20. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a metal dome 40 is provided for the mode switching key 30A and a rubber dome or the like is provided for the input key 30B.

The fixing sheet 50 is a sheet that covers the metal dome 40 from above and fixes the metal dome 40 to the membrane sheet 20. The fixing sheet 50 according to this embodiment includes a base layer 52 and an adhesive layer 51. The adhesive layer 51 has adhesiveness. The adhesive layer 51 is located below the base layer 52. The adhesive layer 51 is adhered to the metal dome 40 in the thickness direction Z. In other words, the adhesive layer 51 is adhered to the outer peripheral surface 40a (top surface, upper surface) of the metal dome 40. The fixing sheet 50 has a plurality of holes 53 formed therein to avoid interference between the fixing sheet 50 and each light emitting element 70.

The fixing sheet 50 may also be made of a black material. Alternatively, the fixing sheet 50 may be dyed black. In these cases, the fixing sheet 50 can absorb the light emitted by the light-emitting element 70 that does not enter the light-transmitting portion 33 of the key 30 and is reflected inside the housing 10. This can prevent the reflected light from leaking out of the housing 10 from between the key 30 and the key hole 11.

In addition, it is preferable that a low-friction material is used for the fixing sheet 50 (base layer 52). This makes it possible to suppress abnormal noises that occur when the convex portion 31 rubs against the base layer 52 when the key 30 is pressed. It is preferable that the coefficient of friction between the convex portion 31 and the base layer 52 is, for example, about 0.15 or less. The material that can be used to form the fixing sheet 50 is, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

The spacer 60 is a member located between the membrane sheet 20 and the fixed sheet 50 in the thickness direction Z. For example, PET can be used as a material constituting the spacer 60. The spacer 60 is fixed to the membrane sheet 20. More specifically, the spacer 60 according to this embodiment includes an adhesive layer 61 and a base 62. The adhesive layer 61 is adhered to the membrane sheet 20. The adhesive layer 51 of the fixed sheet 50 described above is also adhered to the adhesive layer 61. As a result, the fixed sheet 50 is fixed to the metal dome 40, and the fixed sheet 50 fixes the metal dome 40 to the membrane sheet 20. The spacer 60 has a plurality of holes 63 formed therein to avoid interference between the spacer 60 and each metal dome 40 and each light emitting element 70.

The keyboard device 1 may not include the spacer 60. In this case, the adhesive layer 51 of the fixing sheet 50 may be adhered to the membrane sheet 20. The spacer 60 has a role of suppressing the adhesive layer 51 from adhering to the metal dome 40 in the first direction X or the second direction Y. In other words, the spacer 60 has a role of suppressing the adhesive layer 51 from adhering to the side of the metal dome 40. Here, if the adhesive layer 51 adheres to the side of the metal dome 40, the above-mentioned elastic deformation of the metal dome 40 may be hindered, and the comfort of the operation of pressing the key 30 may decrease. Therefore, it is preferable that the keyboard device 1 includes the spacer 60.

Next, we will explain the operation of the keyboard device 1 configured as above.

Conventionally, keyboard devices equipped with metal domes are known. In such keyboard devices, a sheet-shaped fixing member (fixing sheet) may be placed between the metal dome and the key to prevent the metal dome from falling off the membrane sheet. In such a configuration, when a user presses a key, there is a possibility that the fixing sheet and the metal dome may slide. In this case, the elastic deformation of the metal dome may not be efficiently performed when the user presses the key, and the comfort of the key pressing operation may be impaired.

In contrast, in the keyboard device 1 according to this embodiment, an adhesive layer 51 is provided on the fixing sheet 50, and the adhesive layer 51 adheres to the metal dome 40 in the thickness direction Z. With this configuration, the fixing sheet 50 and the metal dome 40 are fixed to each other, and when the user presses the key 30, the metal dome 40 can be deformed more reliably. This improves the comfort of the key 30 pressing operation. Furthermore, by fixing the fixing sheet 50 to the metal dome 40, the fixing sheet 50 and the key 30 are less likely to slide against each other. This makes it possible to suppress abnormal noises caused by the fixing sheet 50 rubbing against the key 30.

As described above, the keyboard device 1 according to this embodiment includes a housing 10, a membrane sheet 20 housed in the housing 10 and generating an electrical signal when pressed in the thickness direction Z, keys 30 exposed on the surface of the housing 10 and supported movably in the thickness direction Z relative to the housing 10, metal domes 40 made of metal arranged on the membrane sheet 20 and elastically deforming when the keys 30 are pressed to press the membrane sheet 20 in the thickness direction Z, and a fixing sheet 50 including an adhesive layer 51 having adhesiveness and arranged between the keys 30 and the metal dome 40 in the thickness direction Z and fixed to the membrane sheet 20, and the adhesive layer 51 is adhered to the metal dome 40 in the thickness direction Z, so that the metal dome 40 is fixed to the membrane sheet 20.

This configuration fixes the fixing sheet 50 and the metal dome 40 to each other, and allows the metal dome 40 to deform more reliably when the user presses the key 30. This improves the comfort of pressing the key 30.

The keyboard device 1 according to this embodiment further includes a spacer 60 that is fixed onto the membrane sheet 20 and is located between the fixed sheet 50 and the membrane sheet 20 in the thickness direction Z, and the adhesive layer 51 is adhered to the spacer 60, thereby fixing the fixed sheet 50 to the metal dome 40. This configuration prevents the adhesive layer 51 from adhering to the side surface of the metal dome 40 and inhibiting the elastic deformation of the metal dome 40. Therefore, the comfort of the operation of pressing the keys 30 can be more reliably improved.

The keyboard device 1 according to this embodiment further includes light-emitting elements 70 arranged on the membrane sheet 20, and the membrane sheet 20 includes a current supply layer 22 that supplies current to the light-emitting elements 70. This configuration simplifies the configuration for supplying current to the light-emitting elements, and contributes to the miniaturization of the keyboard device 1. In particular, when multiple light-emitting elements 70 are provided throughout the keyboard device 1, it is not necessary to provide wiring members for each light-emitting element 70, and therefore the configuration of supplying current to the light-emitting elements 70 using the current supply layer 22 can be preferably used.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, a part of the key 30 is the light-transmitting portion 33, but the configuration of the key 30 is not limited to this. The entire key 30 may be made of a material that transmits light.

In addition, the light-emitting element 70 does not have to be arranged so as to overlap the key 30 in the thickness direction Z. In this case, a translucent portion may be provided in the housing 10. Alternatively, the keyboard device 1 may not have a light-emitting element 70. In these cases, the key 30 may not have a translucent portion 33.

In addition, the number of keys 30 (mode switching keys 30A, input keys 30B) and the number of light-emitting elements 70 are not limited to the illustrated example and can be changed as appropriate.

In addition, the components in the above-described embodiments may be replaced with well-known components as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and the above-described embodiments and variations may be combined as appropriate.

1...Keyboard device 10...Housing 20...Membrane sheet 22...Current supply layer 30...Keys 40...Metal dome 50...Fixing sheet 51...Adhesive layer 60...Spacer 70...Light emitting element

Claims (2)

A housing and
a membrane sheet that is housed in the housing and generates an electrical signal when pressed in a thickness direction;
a key exposed on a surface of the housing and supported movably in the thickness direction relative to the housing;
a metal dome that is disposed on the membrane sheet and elastically deforms when the key is pressed to press the membrane sheet in the thickness direction;
a fixing sheet including an adhesive layer having adhesiveness, the fixing sheet being disposed between the key and the metal dome in the thickness direction and fixed to the membrane sheet;
a spacer fixed on the membrane sheet and positioned between the fixed sheet and the membrane sheet in the thickness direction;
The adhesive layer is adhered to the metal dome in the thickness direction, so that the metal dome is fixed to the membrane sheet ,
The adhesive layer is adhered to the spacer, thereby fixing the fixing sheet to the membrane sheet . Further comprising a light emitting element disposed on the membrane sheet,
The keyboard device according to claim 1 , wherein the membrane sheet includes a current supply layer that supplies a current to the light emitting element.

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