JPH04248216A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a keyboard for inputting data or the like to enable favorable touch typing while maintaining sufficient key top sizes of the keys, with reduced fatigue of fingers when adjacent keys are pressed simultaneously. CONSTITUTION:A small sized additional key 12 having a key top 22 of a small touch area for being operated simultaneously with a main key 10 is arranged around and adjacent to the main key 10.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard for inputting data and the like. In recent years, keyboard input requires high-speed and accurate input operations due to the demand for high-speed processing.

[0002] For this reason, when inputting using multiple keys, in order to increase the efficiency of input operations, touch is used to enable all input operations without moving the fingers from a predetermined position (home position) as much as possible. Typing is required. Furthermore, with the miniaturization of electronic devices, there is a demand for a reduction in the number of keys.

0003

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 8, in a conventional keyboard, keys 50-1 and 50-2 of the same size and requiring the same pressing pressure are provided adjacent to each other.

[0004] Here, these two keys 50-1, 50-
There are cases where it is necessary to obtain a predetermined output by pressing 2 keys at the same time, and in such cases, it is necessary to press down the pressure of two keys at a time or more, and therefore the timing of key presses may be affected. There was a problem with inaccuracy.

[0005] Another problem is that the keys take up more space than necessary on the keyboard due to the existence of keys that require the space of two keys even though they have the function of only one key. There was also.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG.
Key tops 54-1, 54- at 0-1, 50-2
Since the touch surfaces of keys 50-1 and 50-2 are formed relatively wide, the distance between the pillars 52-1 and 52-2 of the keys 50-1 and 50-2 is too far apart. 2 at the same time, the unsupported and unstable parts between the pillars 52-1, 52-2 of the two keys 50-1, 50-2 become too large, and the two keys 50-1, 50 -2 tilted inward toward each other, making it difficult to press the keys simultaneously at the same time.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is possible to perform good touch typing while maintaining a sufficient size of the key top of each key. In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard that allows the device to be miniaturized and reduces the fatigue of the hands and fingers when pressing adjacent keys simultaneously.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The first invention is constructed as shown in FIG. 1, the second invention is constructed as shown in FIG. 2, and the third invention is constructed as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first invention is constructed by arranging a small accessory key 12 adjacent to a main key 10 and having a key top 22 with a narrow touch area that can be operated simultaneously with the main key 10. ing.

[0010] The second invention is constructed by tilting the touch surface 14 of the key top 22 of the attached key 12 toward the target main key 10, as shown in FIG.

The third invention, as shown in FIG.
22 is integrally covered with an elastic membrane 16.

0012

[Operation] In the first invention, when the fingertip is slightly shifted from the key top 20 of the main key 10 on the keyboard, the key top touch surface 14 of the adjacent accessory key 12 is pressed.
You can touch the keys by moving it so that it covers the area. Therefore,
The adjacent attached key 12 can be pressed simultaneously with the main key 10 smoothly, and the same operation as when pressing a key having a function different from that of the main key 10 can be obtained.

That is, since the area of the touch surface 14 on the key top 22 of the attached key 12 is smaller than that of the conventional one, the pressure required to press down the key is less, and with only a slight movement of the finger, Both keys 10, 12
The entire touch surface of the key tops 20 and 22 can be covered for keystrokes, and the main key 10 and attached key 12
Since the spacing between the pillars 24 and 26 can be made narrower,
It is possible to eliminate the wobbling of the keys when both keys 10 and 12 are pressed simultaneously (see FIG. 1).

Further, in the second invention, the inclined touch surfaces 1 of the key tops 20 of the main keys 10 and the key tops 22 of the attached keys 12 can be moved by just a slight movement of the fingers.
4. You can press the keys by touching the entire area smoothly, thereby achieving good touch typing.

Furthermore, in the third invention, at least both keys 1
Since the key tops 20 and 22 of keys 0 and 12 are integrally covered with an elastic membrane 16, both keys 1 and 2 are covered with an elastic membrane 16.
The effect of keystrokes is transmitted smoothly to both 0 and 12 keys at the same time, thereby reducing hand and finger fatigue and achieving good touch typing.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 4 and 5 are a plan view and a side view illustrating an embodiment of the first invention, and these figures show a cursor movement key that also serves as a character key on a computer keyboard. Here, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the same parts as those shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are designated by the same symbols.

In other words, numeral 10 indicates a main key,
Reference numeral 20 indicates the key top.

[0018] Also, symbols 12-1, 12-2, 12-3
, 12-4 are around the key top 20 of the main key 10 (
It shows four attached keys formed so as to be adjacent to each other (top, bottom, left and right) and surrounding it.

Furthermore, the reference numeral 24 is a support for the main key 10, and the reference numerals 26... are the supporting keys 12-1, 1, respectively.
The columns 2-2, 12-3, and 12-4 are shown.

Here, each attached key 12-1, 12-2,
Regarding the distance between the pillars 26 of 12-3, 12-4 and the pillars 24 of the character keys 10, please refer to the attached keys 12-1, 12.
Since the touch surfaces of the key tops 22 . . . -2, 12-3, 12-4 are narrow, the intervals are narrower than in the past. Therefore, the structure is such that simultaneous pressing of both keys 10 and 12 can be performed smoothly.

In this embodiment, in addition to the main key 10, these additional keys 12-1, 12-2, 12-3,
The touch screen 12-4 is configured to move the cursor vertically and horizontally by pressing or touching each touch surface with a fingertip with a relatively weak force.

Although not shown in the drawings, the accessory keys 12 do not have to be adjacent to each other in four directions around the main key 10; for example, they may be adjacent to one location in the upper direction.

Furthermore, by pressing the attached key 12 while pressing down another remote key such as the CTRL key, an input operation corresponding to, for example, up/down/left/right cursor movement can be performed.
Alternatively, the configuration may be such that a predetermined input can be made by pressing the attached key 12 alone.

Next, FIGS. 6 and 7 regarding the embodiment of the second invention.
Explain with reference to.

In the figure, when main key 10 is pressed alone, the hiragana character "ka" is output, and main key 1 is pressed.
If you press 0 and attached key 12 at the same time, the hiragana character “
is configured so that "is" is output.

Here, the touch surface 14 of the key top 22 of the attached key 12 is configured as an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the main key 10 side, as shown in FIG. 7 which is a left side view of FIG. There is.

Further, the touch surface 14 of this attached key 12 is a narrow surface similar to the first invention.

Therefore, from the above configuration, in this embodiment, if you shift your fingers slightly upward and press the keys at the same time, the hiragana character "
It is assumed that ``can be outputted quickly.''

Furthermore, in the third aspect of the invention, as shown in FIG.
It is integrally coated across both keys 10, 22.
12 keys at the same time, the effect of the keystrokes quickly spreads to the other party's keys. That is,
The elastic membrane 16 is attached to the key tops 20, 22 of both keys 10, 12.
This is because by integrally covering the keys 10 and 12, the touch surfaces of both keys 10 and 12 are more integrated, and even weak simultaneous key presses can be sensitively responded to.

[0030]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention,
On the keyboard, while maintaining the size of the key top of the main key, by providing adjacent small attached keys around the main key, you can place your fingertips slightly on the key top of the main key on the side of the small attached key. By simply moving the main key and pressing the auxiliary key at the same time, the same effect as pressing several separate keys can be obtained.

[0031] Therefore, this greatly contributes to reducing fatigue by reducing hand and finger movements, downsizing the device by reducing the key distribution area, and realizing good touch typing.

[0032]

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the first invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram explaining the principle of the second invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the third invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating an embodiment of the first invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view illustrating an embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating an embodiment of the second invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Main key 12 Attached key 14 Touch surface 16 on the key top of the attached key
Elastic membrane 20 Key top of main key 22 Key top of attached key 24 Support of main key 26 Support of attached key

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A small accessory key (12) having a narrow key top (22) with a narrow touch area and which is operated simultaneously with the main key (10) is arranged adjacent to the main key (10). keyboard. 2. A keyboard characterized in that a touch surface (14) of a key top (22) of an accessory key (12) is inclined toward a target main key (10). 3. At least the key tops (22, 24) of the main key (10) and the attached key (12) are covered with an elastic membrane (1).
6) A keyboard characterized by being integrally covered with.