JPH0192823A - Flexible surface sheet for keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect the position of a key by tactual sense by forming plural different kinds of shapes/sizes for projected parts formed on a depression area. CONSTITUTION:The surface of the sheet B1 corresponding to respective depres sion areas F1'-F6, 2A', 2B' for keys F1-F6, 2A, 2B has the 1st-level projected parts a2 slightly projected from a reference face B2 like squares and 2nd-level projected parts b2 projected on the centers of the projected parts a2 like longitu dinal ellipse. Although the head of the 1st-level projected part a2 is flat, the head of the 2nd-level projected part b2 is gradually swollen at its center part. Thus, plural different kinds of shapes/sizes are formed on the projected parts a2-a9, b2-b9d to execute depressing operation. The depressed depression areas F1, F6, 2A, 2B can be detected by tactual sensation.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention is provided with a plurality of pressing areas, and by selectively pressing the pressing areas, contacts are provided correspondingly behind the pressing areas. This invention relates to a flexible surface sheet for a keyboard used to operate a keyboard.

[Prior Art] Providing raised portions in each pressing area in a flexible surface sheet for a keyboard is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-5
It is described in Japanese Patent No. 1405 and is well known.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Keyboards are used in many fields, including computers, teaching robot movements, and bank terminals.

Among these, it is desirable to take measures such as bank terminals so that even visually impaired people can operate them.

Furthermore, when teaching the robot's movements, the user must operate the keyboard while paying attention to the surroundings of the robot, and especially to the tip of the robot's wrist. Therefore, you cannot see much on the keyboard.

In order for visually impaired people to be able to operate the keyboard, or to be able to operate it without looking at the keyboard, it is desirable to be able to sense the keys being operated by touch, but this has not been proposed in the past. However, this point has not been given much consideration.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and its purpose is to provide a flexible surface sheet for a keyboard that can tactilely sense the position of the key being operated or the key to be operated. It's about doing.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In other words, (1) the flexible surface sheet for a keyboard of the present invention is provided with a raised portion in at least a part of the pressing area, and the raised portion has a plurality of different shapes and/or sizes. It is closed.

In a further preferred embodiment, at least some of the pressing areas display functions to be achieved by pressing the pressing areas, and the pressing areas displaying mutually opposed functions are adjacent to each other. It is arranged. The slopes of the raised portions in both of these pressing areas are different in the slope between the side portions facing each other and the side portions facing outward from each other.

As for the gentleness of the slope, it is desirable that the side portions facing each other have a smaller elliptical shape than the side portions facing outward.

In different embodiments, at least on the side where the pressure areas are arranged in clusters, elevations and/or depressions are provided which differ in height from the reference plane of the sheet.

The protrusions and/or depressions may have different shapes and/or sizes, or may have the same shape and size but are arranged in different numbers.

[Function] In the present invention, a raised portion is provided in at least a part of the pressing area, and the shape and/or size of the raised portion is made to be different in a plurality of types. The area can be sensed by touch.

The pressing area displays the function to be achieved by pressing the pressing area, the pressing areas displaying mutually opposed functions are arranged adjacent to each other, and the slope of the ridge of the pressing area is If the smoothness of the side parts facing each other is made different from the side parts facing each other outward, it is possible to move the finger from one pressing area to the other pressing area without error. It is possible to detect the transfer with a sense of touch.

The gentler the slope, the smaller the side parts that face each other than the side parts that face outward, the easier it will be for the pressure area to flow from one opposing pressing area to the other. You can move your fingers without any mistakes,
Furthermore, the transfer can be more reliably sensed by touch.

When using it for teaching a robot, etc. 1. For example, if the robot's working tip position has been moved to the right, in order to compensate for overshooting, move it slightly to the left for positioning, and use that point as the teaching point. As shown in FIG. 1, the user often selects one function in opposition to the other, so it is necessary to be able to move the finger from one pressing area in opposition to the other without making a mistake. is really convenient.

If a raised area and/or recessed area with a different height than the seat reference surface is provided on the side where the pressed area is clustered, the raised and/or recessed area will be removed when the pressed area is taken off the finger and rested. By touching the recess with your finger, you can know the position of the pressing area you are about to press without seeing it with your eyes.

[Example] An example in which the present invention is implemented in a teaching box of a robot will be described below with reference to FIG.

Keyboard part B has a flexible surface sheet B1 for the keyboard on the front of the teaching box shown as A as a whole.
, a display section C with a liquid crystal arranged thereon, and an emergency stop push button switch D are provided.

Of these, the display section C uses the keyboard section B to display the content being taught in the form of symbols and sentences.

Further, the emergency stop push button switch D is operated to bring the robot (not shown) to an emergency stop.

Keyboard section B has various keys necessary for teaching the robot.

To explain the role of the keys, F1 to F6 are menu selection keys, and 2A cancels the contents that have already been displayed on display section C by key operation but have not yet been transferred to user RAM (not shown). The key 2B is pressed to turn on or off the backlight of the C display section.

These keys F1 to F6 and 2 people, 2B press area F
The surfaces of sheet B1, 1' to F6', 2A', and 2B', are shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b).

As shown in detail in the plan view, cross-sectional view, and longitudinal cross-sectional view in (c), it has a first stage raised part a2 slightly protruding from the reference plane B2 in a rectangular shape, and further has a horizontally oblong elliptical shape in the center. It has a second raised portion b2. - The top of the second raised portion a2 is flat, but the top of the second raised portion b2 is gradually raised such that the center portion is the highest.

3A to 3D are scroll keys, which are operated when moving a cursor (not shown) in the display section C in the directions of arrows 3A to 3D. The surface of sheet B1 is shown in FIG. 3(a).

As shown in detail in the plan view, cross-sectional view, and vertical cross-sectional view in (b) and (c), it has a first stage raised part a3 that slightly protrudes from the reference plane B2 in a rectangular shape, and furthermore, in the center thereof. , each has an arrow-shaped second-stage raised portion b3 aligned with the direction of the scroll.

In FIG. 3, only the arrow pointing in the direction of the scroll key 3C is representatively shown. - The top of the second raised part a3 is flat, but the central part of the second raised part b3 in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the arrow extends is the highest.

4A is a key used to select the teaching coordinate system of the robot, 4B is a key used to select the operating speed of the robot during teaching, 4C is a key used to select teaching mode or automatic operation mode, 4D is a key used to select the robot's teaching coordinate system. 4E is a key to be operated when display section C and menu selection keys F1 to F'6 are used for display operations, and 4E is a key to be operated when display section C and menu selection keys F1 to F'6 are used for utility operations. 4F is a key to be operated when transferring teaching points to user RAM in teaching and utility operations, 4G is a key to be operated when you want to add information in teaching and utility operations, 4H is a key operated when it is desired to change information in a teaching operation or a utility operation, and 4H is a key operated when it is desired to delete information in a teaching operation or a utility operation.

The surface of the sheet B1 of each of the pressing areas 4A' to 4I' of these keys 4A to 4 is shown in FIGS. 4(a) and (b).
As shown in detail in the plan view and cross-sectional view, respectively, it has a first raised part a4 slightly protruding from the reference plane B2 in a substantially rectangular shape, and further has a circular second raised part b4 in the center thereof. have. - The top of the second raised portion a4 is flat, but the top of the second raised portion b4 is gradually raised such that the center portion is the highest.

5A is a manual welding control start key, 5B is a manual output control start key, and 5C is an auxiliary axis operation interlock key.

The surface of the sheet B1 of each of the pressing areas 5A' to 5C' of these keys 5A to 5C is shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b).
As shown in detail in the plan view and cross-sectional view, respectively, it has a first raised part a5 slightly protruding from the reference plane B2 in a substantially rectangular shape, and further has a circular second raised part b5 in the center thereof. have. - The tops of the first raised part a5 and the second raised part b5 are both flat.

6A to 6J are ten keys, and 6K and 6L are spare keys.

The surface of the sheet B1 of each of the pressing areas 6A' to 6L' of these keys 6A to 6L is shown in FIG. 6(a),
As shown in detail in a plan view and a cross-sectional view in FIG. 9B, it has a circular first-stage raised portion a6 extending from the reference plane B2 and having a flat top. The diameter of the second raised portion a6 is much smaller than the diameter of the second raised portion b5 shown in FIG.

7A is a key used to instruct the robot to move to a taught position in teaching or utility operations, 7B is a key used to start a test run in teaching mode, and 7G is a key used to return the robot to its standby origin. key, 7D is a servo operation key, 7E is a key operated to intentionally ignore abnormal conditions and continue operation, 7F is an interlock key to prevent automatic operation mode from entering depending on external signals, 7G and 7H are spare keys to be used when adding special functions.

The surface of the sheet B1 of each of the pressing areas 7A' to 7H' of these keys 7A to 7H is shown in FIGS. 7(a) and (b).
As shown in detail in the plan view and cross-sectional view in FIG. have.

- The tops of the first raised part a7 and the second raised part b7 are both flat.

8A is a key for numerical input setting.

The surface of the sheet B1 at 8A' in the pressing area of the second key 8A is slightly rectangular from the reference plane B2, as shown in detail in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), respectively. It has a first stage raised part a8 that comes out, and further has an elliptical second stage raised part b8 in the center thereof. - Step raised part a
8. The tops of the second raised portions b8 are both flat. This-
Step raised part a8. The width in the lateral direction of the second raised part is much larger than that of the first raised part a79 and the second raised part b7 shown in FIG.

9A is a right rotation direction twist command key that commands the twisting direction of the robot's wrist, 9B is a left rotation direction twist command key, 9
G is an upward bend command key that commands the direction of wrist bending, 9
D is a downward bending command key, 8E is a rightward rotation command key that commands the rotation direction of the wrist, 9F is a leftward rotation command key,
9G is an upward movement command key that commands the robot's forearm to move in the vertical direction, 9H is a downward movement command key, 9I is a forward movement command key that commands the robot's upper arm to move in the front and back direction, and 9J is a forward movement command key. Backward movement command key.

Numeral 9 is a rightward rotation command key for commanding the rotation direction of the base of the robot, and 9L is a leftward rotation command key.

As is clear from the above explanation, keys 9A, 9B, and 9C
and 9D, 9E and 9F, 9G and 9H, 9I and 9J, and 9 and 9L, the functions commanded by these are opposed to each other.

The surface of the sheet B1 of each of the pressing areas 9A' to 9L' of these keys 9A to 9L is shown in FIG.
b) As shown in detail in the plan view, cross-sectional view, and vertical cross-sectional view of a pair of opposing functions in (c), it has a first raised portion a9 slightly protruding from the reference plane B2. Ori,
Furthermore, it has a second raised portion b97 at its center.

The planar shape of the first stage raised portion a9 is approximately claw-shaped,
For example, in the pressing areas 9A' and 9B'' of keys that command mutually opposing functions, such as 9A and 9B, the adjacent sides 9c of both areas are straight sides 9 that are separated by 1M.
d is an oval arc. Both 9c and 9d have substantially the same rising angle from the reference plane B1, which is approximately 90 degrees. - The top of the stepped raised portion a9 is flat.

The planar shape of the second raised portion b9 is also approximately claw-shaped,
For example, as in 9A and 9B, the adjacent sides 9e of the pressing areas of keys that command mutually opposing functions are straight lines, and the distant sides 9f are configured in an arc shape. . 9e is far from 9C, 9f and 9d are 9
It is far from c. The rising angle of 9e from the first raised portion 9a is approximately 90 degrees, but 9f rises gently.

With the above configuration, it is possible to tactilely recognize the pressed areas of keys that command mutually opposing functions.

In each of the pressing areas described above, the functions to be achieved by pressing the pressing area are displayed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in FIG. 2(B), a movable contact C1 and a fixed contact C2 are provided behind each pressing area, and by pressing each pressing area, the movable contact C1
is contacted by fixed contact C2.

Reference numeral 10a denotes a protuberance provided at different heights from the reference plane B2 of the sheet B1 on the side where the pressing areas are arranged in a cluster. As shown in Figure 2, they are arranged in different numbers, from 1 to 3, and the plan view and cross-sectional view of one of them are shown in Figures 1Q (a) and (b). be. As is clear from the figure, this is a small protrusion extending from the reference plane B2. Of course, instead of a small protrusion, it may be recessed from the reference surface. In addition, if it is possible to tell which small protrusion or recess the worker is currently touching by the hand placement when holding the teaching box, it is not necessary to change the number of small protrusions or recesses provided at each position. Good too.

It is also possible to change the shape of the protrusions in all pressing areas.

[Effects of invention According to the present invention, as is clear from the above description.

This has the effect of allowing you to tactilely sense the position of the key you are operating or attempting to operate.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the sheet of the present invention. Figures 2 to 9 each represent the different shapes of the pressing area shown in Figure 1, with (a) being a plan view and (b) being a top view of each figure. Its cross-sectional view, (c) is its longitudinal cross-sectional view, and FIG. 10 shows only one representative shape of the protrusion shown in FIG.
(a) is its plan view, (b) is its cross-sectional view,
The figure shows an embodiment of the teaching box equipped with the sheet shown in FIG. 1. B1 is the sheet F1' to F6', 2A' to 9L' are the pressing areas, a2 to a9 are the first stage protrusions, b2 to b9 are the second stage protrusions, alo is the raised spear) Diagram sheet: Bl # to Eri 7: F'~T4',
2A',2B'---qA'-9L'-1 History huge upheaval # σ2~L? = again 108 points b2~b
9 Rare occurrence αlσ 2nd ZtO-r '$21 (C
) 3 v2ya+ 3432<,c>multi44
4' Child 5 figure (2) Figure 6 (4) b, - # Sheep 6 figure (b) $8 Eiil (Toshin #lOth (α) B2\O''-/61: L $ to Q co ( b) Half 70 (α) Kaya 90 (phantom, etc. q concave (Cri)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of pressing areas are provided on the sheet, and by selectively pressing this pressing area, it is used to operate contacts provided in correspondence with each other behind the pressing areas. A flexible surface sheet for a keyboard 2, characterized in that in the sheet, at least a part of the pressing area is provided with a raised part, and the raised part has a plurality of different shapes and/or sizes. , at least some of the pressing areas display functions to be achieved by pressing the pressing areas, and the pressing areas displaying mutually opposing functions are arranged adjacent to each other. and the gentleness of the inclination of the raised portions of both pressing areas is different between side portions facing each other and side portions facing outward from each other. The flexible surface sheet 3 for a keyboard according to item 1 is characterized in that the gentleness of the slope is such that the side portions facing each other are smaller than the side portions facing outward. A flexible surface sheet 4 for a keyboard according to claim 2, wherein the sheet is provided with a plurality of pressing areas, and by selectively pressing the pressing areas, the pressing areas are made to correspond to the rear of the pressing areas, respectively. In the sheet used for operating the contact points provided, a protuberance and/or a recess having a height different from a reference surface of the sheet is provided on the side where the pressing area is arranged in a cluster. The flexible surface sheet 5 for a keyboard is characterized in that the protuberances and/or depressions located beside the different pressing areas have different shapes and/or sizes. Claims: In the flexible surface sheet 6 for a keyboard, the protuberances and/or depressions located beside the different pressing areas have the same shape and size, but are different in number. Flexible surface sheet for keyboard as described in item 4