JPH0329222A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a keyboard excellent in sensitivity in a key pushing operation and return responsiveness despite of a short pushing stroke of a key by using a cap-type elastic member. CONSTITUTION:A cap-type elastic member 19 engaged with a strut 11 is mounted on the upper wall 8 of a support portion 6. The elastic member 19 is formed into a cap shape of material excellent in elasticity such as rubber, and the lower end 20 thereof having a small diameter is fitted into a flange 9. The upper end 221 of the elastic member 19, having a large diameter, is abutted against the lower surface of a key top 17. A tapered portion 22 in the middle, the diameter of which becomes smaller downward, is bent outward in a key pushing operation. With this constitution, an initial pushing pressure becomes slightly higher so that sensitivity in the key pushing operation becomes excellent despite of a short pushing stroke of the key, thereby obtaining a keyboard excellent in return responsiveness.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a keyboard for a personal computer, a word processor, etc.

(Prior Art) A personal computer that is configured to be portable by providing a handle on its main body is required to be lightweight and thin. Therefore, in keyboards provided in the main body, keyboards whose switches are turned on by lightly pressing the keys with fingers and which shorten the pressing stroke of the keys to reduce the thickness of the keys are becoming popular. The keys of this keyboard are arranged on a board with a large number of supporting parts arranged in an array, and supports and pillars are supported by these supporting parts so as to be vertically movable. A switch is provided at the lower end of the column, and a key top is provided at the upper end. Then, by pressing the key top with your finger, the column lowers and the switch is turned on. Furthermore, the return of the key is usually achieved by a leaf spring, coil spring, or spiral spring, and the spring flexes when the key is pressed.
At the time of return, the key is pushed up by the restoring force of the spring.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, if the key stroke of the keyboard configured as described above is shortened, there is a risk that the key may be pressed even if a finger lightly touches the key top, and the leaf spring for returning the key may be pressed. Coil springs or spiral springs tend to deteriorate, resulting in poor key return response. In addition, it is difficult to manufacture these springs with a constant elastic force, and there is a problem that unevenness occurs in keya-sochi.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a keyboard that provides an excellent feel for key press operations and excellent return responsiveness even if the key press stroke is shortened. It's about doing.

[Structure of the invention] (Means and effects for solving the problem) This invention has the following features:
In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a keyboard equipped with a key provided with a switch at the lower end of a column that is vertically movably supported on the support part of the board, and a key knob at the upper end.
A bowl-shaped elastic member is fitted so as to surround the pillar, and the lower end of the block-like elastic member is brought into contact with the support part, and the upper end is brought into contact with the lower surface of the key top. .

Then, the initial pressure when pressing the key is increased, and then the middle part of the bowl-shaped elastic member deforms outward and is pushed in with a light force, and the key is pressed by the elastic restoring force of the bowl-shaped elastic member. The reason is that it is biased in the return direction.

(Example) Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

Figure 3 shows the entire personal computer.
Body 1 has a handle. 2, a keyboard 3 and a display section 4 are provided. The keyboard 3 is constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

That is, 5 is a board made of synthetic resin, and this board 5 has a large number of supporting parts 6 arranged in an array. The support part 6 is provided with a space part 7 that constitutes a switch storage part, and the upper wall 8 of this space part 7 is provided with a flange part 9.
A through hole 10 having a diameter is provided. A support 11 is inserted into the through hole 10 so as to be vertically movable.

In other words, the through hole 10 serves as a bearing so that the support column 11 can move up and down smoothly, and the lower end of this support column 11 projects into the space 7 . The lower end of the support 11 has a support 11
A stopper 12 for regulating the upward stroke is provided, and a movable contact 14 constituting a switch 13 is attached to the lower surface of the stopper 12. This movable contact 1
A fixed contact 15 is provided at the lower part facing the board 4, and this fixed contact 15 is provided on a printed circuit board 16 laid down under the board 5. The printed circuit board 16 has a structure in which a film-like circuit pattern is superimposed on an aluminum plate, and is lightweight and has a sound insulation effect.

On the other hand, a thin key top 17 is provided at the upper end of the pillar 11.
is fitted. The key top 17 is made of a synthetic resin molded product, and a fitting tube portion l8 is provided on the lower surface of the central portion to be fitted into the upper end portion of the support column 11. Furthermore, the upper HI of the support part 6! 8 is provided with a bowl-shaped elastic member 19 that is fitted into the support column 11. This bowl-shaped elastic member 19 is formed into a bowl shape from a highly elastic material such as rubber, and a lower end portion 20 of a small diameter is fitted into the flange portion 9 . Further, the large-diameter upper end 21 of the bowl-shaped elastic member 19 is in contact with the lower surface of the key top 17, and the intermediate tapered portion 22, which gradually becomes smaller in diameter toward the bottom, curves outward when the key is pressed. It looks like this.

The keyboard 5 configured in this way includes a bowl-shaped elastic member 1
The tapered portion 22 is expanded by the elastic restoring force of 9.
The key top 17 is pushed up together with the pillar 11. Therefore, the movable contact 14 is in the upper position, separated from the fixed contact 15, and the switch 13 is in the OFF state. At this time, even if a finger lightly touches the key top 17, the bowl-shaped elastic member 1
The support 11 is not pushed down by the restoring force of the switch 9, and the switch 13 is maintained in the OFF state.

When the key tip 17 is pushed down with fingers and pushed down against the elastic restoring force of the bowl-shaped elastic member 19, the tapered portion 22 of the bowl-shaped elastic member 19 curves in the direction of protruding outward,
Due to this curvature, the support column 11 is lowered, the movable contact 14 contacts the fixed contact 15, and the switch 13 is turned on. After that, when you release your finger from the key top 17, the bowl-shaped elastic member 1
9 expands and pushes up the key top 17, the column 11 rises and the movable contact 14 moves to the fixed contact 1.
5, the switch 13 is turned off.

By fitting the bowl-shaped elastic member 19 to the support column 11 in this way and pushing up the key top 17 in the return direction, there is resistance when the key is initially pushed in, but as the key is pushed further, the tapered portion 22 buckles. It is curved in a shape that allows you to key in with a light key touch. Moreover, the bowl-shaped elastic member 1
Since one surrounds the pillar 11, it serves as a dust force bar, and one bowl-shaped elastic member can be mass-produced and can be manufactured with constant quality.
This can eliminate variations in key touch.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, the bowl-shaped elastic member is fitted to surround the pillar supporting the key top,
The lower end of this bowl-shaped elastic member is brought into contact with the support part, and the upper end is brought into contact with the lower surface of the key top, so that the middle part of the bowl-shaped elastic member is elastically deformed outward when the key is pressed. Because of this, the initial pressure for pressing the key is somewhat higher, and even if the key pressing stroke is shortened,
It is possible to provide a keyboard that has an excellent feel when pressing keys and has excellent return responsiveness. Furthermore, since the bowl-shaped elastic member can be mass-produced and manufactured with constant quality, it has the effect of eliminating variations in key touch.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view of the key in its returned state, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal side view of the key in its depressed state, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the personal computer. . 5... Board, 6... Support part, 11... Support column, 1
3...Switch, 17...Key top, 19...
Bowl-shaped elastic member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A support part is provided on the board, and a switch is provided at the lower end of a pillar supported by the support part so as to be able to move up and down, and a key is provided at the upper end, and the switch is closed by pressing the key. In the keyboard, the keyboard is fitted so as to surround the pillar, the lower end is in contact with the support part, and the upper end is in contact with the lower surface of the key top, and the key is pushed in the return direction by elastic restoring force. 1. A keyboard comprising a bowl-shaped elastic member whose intermediate portion elastically deforms outward when a key is pressed.