JPH0436011Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Summary] A key sheet consisting of a sheet portion, a block-shaped key top, and a connecting portion thereof, and a key top protruding from a transparent insulating lattice frame that accommodates each switch of the keyboard. The keyboard has dustproof and waterproof properties by mounting a holding plate with holes and sandwiching the peripheral part between the upper surfaces of the case, and each switch is illuminated and provides a click distance.

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a keyboard, and more specifically, to a dustproof, waterproof, and illuminated compact keyboard. The keyboard of the present invention can be used in telephones in vehicles such as automobiles.

[Conventional technology]

A conventional keyboard consists of, for example, a support plate such as a printed circuit board, a transparent insulating lattice frame equipped with light emitting elements such as LEDs, multiple switches arranged within each frame, and a silicone rubber sheet covering the front surface. and a transparent block placed between this sheet and each switch. After the frame and switch were installed on the support plate, a transparent block was placed in the frame, an adhesive was applied onto the frame, and a silicone rubber sheet was placed on top of the frame and fixed with adhesive.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

In the case of the above-mentioned keyboard, adhesive was applied to the top surface of the lattice frame during the assembly process to prevent it from protruding, and the silicone rubber sheet with predetermined characters and signals printed was placed in precise positions. It would be difficult to post them all together. Also, I had to put transparent blocks into individual frames,
There are many assembly processes.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a keyboard that solves the above-mentioned problems, in which the key sheet placed on a transparent insulating lattice frame has a sheet portion on the frame and a key sheet portion inside the frame. It consists of a block-shaped key top necessary for pressing the switch and a connection part between these seat parts and the key top. A transparent holding plate having holes is disposed on the entire surface of the key sheet, and the outer circumferential portion of the insulating grid frame and the upper surface of the case connect the outer circumferential sheet portion of the key sheet and the holding plate. A keyboard is provided which is characterized by being held in place.

[Effect]

The conventional simple sheet has been changed to an integrally molded key sheet consisting of a sheet part, a block-shaped key top, and a connecting part, and a presser plate is placed on top of this key sheet to eliminate adhesion, making assembly easier. .

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail by way of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of the keyboard according to the present invention, and the keyboard includes a case 1, a presser plate 2, a key sheet 3, a transparent insulating grid frame 4, a printed circuit board 5, and conductive rubber contacts. It consists of switch 6.
The case 1 is made of ABS plastic, for example. The key sheet 3 consists of a seat portion 8 on the lattice frame 4, a protruding key top 9, and a connecting portion 10, and a plurality of these are integrally connected.
It constitutes one sheet. The key sheet 3 is preferably a translucent silicone rubber molded product.
In the case of FIG. 1, there is a conductive rubber contact 11 on the lower surface of the block of key top 9, which can be made by two-color molding in this way. In particular, the connection 10 acts as a click spring. Presser plate 2 is key top 9
The entire key sheet 3 is held on the grid frame 4, and is made of, for example, a polycarbonate plastic plate. This presser plate 2 itself is transparent, and it is preferable to print and color other than necessary characters and symbols. Therefore,
The cutout characters can be illuminated by transmitted light from below. The grid frames 4 are also preferably molded from transparent polycarbonate plastic, with one keytop 9 disposed within each frame. A cavity 13 is provided at an appropriate location in this lattice frame 4, and an LED is provided inside the cavity 13.
Light emitting elements 14 such as the following are arranged. Contacts 12A and 12B are provided on the printed circuit board 5, and the switch is turned on when the key top 9 is pressed and the conductive rubber contact 11 comes into contact with these contacts 12A and 12B. Assembly of the keyboard consists of a relatively simple mounting process of placing the lattice frame 4 on the printed circuit board 5, further placing the key sheet 3, and placing the presser plate 2 thereon.

Since the key sheet 3 covers the entire surface, each key on the keyboard has a dustproof and waterproof structure.Furthermore, the seat part 8 of the key sheet 3 and the presser plate 2 are arranged in a grid-like frame around the keyboard. 4
Since it is sandwiched between the keyboard and the upper surface part 15 of the case 1, the keyboard also has a dustproof and waterproof structure. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, there is a small protrusion 16 on the top surface 15 of the case, and a shallow recess 17 is formed in the frame 4, so that the protrusion 16 presses against the seat part 8 to ensure waterproofness. It is desirable because it

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the keyboard when a membrane switch is used instead of the conductive rubber contact switch in FIG. A membrane switch 22 is arranged.
The switch 22 has a flexible upper patterned sheet 24 and a lower sheet 25 separated by a spacer 23, with movable contacts 26 on the upper sheet 24 and fixed contacts 27 on the lower sheet 25.
is formed using a printing method. By pressing the key top 9 of the key sheet 3, the movable contact 26 comes into contact with the fixed contact 26 and the switch is turned on.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of a keyboard using the second membrane switch but with a click spring different from that in FIG. 1. The key sheet 3 consists of a seat portion 8, a key top 9, and a connecting portion 30, and this connecting portion only holds the key top 9 without functioning as a click spring. A sheet (for example, polyester film) 33 having a spherical convex portion (diaphragm portion) 32 is placed above the membrane switch 22, and the spherical convex portion 32 is located below the key top 9, which functions as a click spring.

Furthermore, there is a keyboard as shown in FIG. 4 as another embodiment of the present invention. In this case, a first conductive rubber contact switch is used as the switch, and the key sheet 3 is connected to the seat part 8 and the key top 40.
and a connecting portion 30 that is not a click spring.
A protrusion 41 integrally formed on the bottom edge of the key top 40 functions as a click spring.
This protrusion 41 is similar to a spring.

[Effect of idea]

The keyboard according to the present invention having the above-described structure can be easily assembled by stacking the key sheet, then the presser plate, on the lattice frame. Moreover, since predetermined characters and symbols can be easily printed and appropriately placed when producing each of the key sheet and the presser plate, there is no need to worry about misalignment. A keyboard with excellent dustproof and waterproof properties and an illuminated switch with a click feeling can be manufactured more easily and cheaply than before.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a keyboard according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a membrane switch type keyboard of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a keyboard of another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a keyboard according to another embodiment of the present invention. 1... Case, 2... Holding plate, 3... Key sheet, 4... Grid frame, 5... Printed circuit board, 8...
... Sheet part, 9 ... Key top, 10 ... Connection part, 11 ... Conductive rubber contact, 14 ... LED, 2
2... Membrane switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a keyboard comprising a case 1 having a wiring board 5, a transparent insulating lattice frame 4 disposed inside the case, a plurality of switches 6 arranged one in each frame, and a key sheet 3, the key sheet 3 A sheet part 8 on the frame 4, a block-shaped key top 9 necessary for pressing the switch within the frame, and these key sheet parts 8
and a connecting part 10 between the key top 9 and the key top 9. The connecting part 10 has a flexure that allows the key top 9 to move up and down by the operation of a switch, and a transparent holding plate 2 having a plurality of holes for the key top 9 to protrude. It is arranged on the entire surface of the key sheet 3, and the outer peripheral part of the insulating lattice frame 4 and the upper surface part 15 of the case 1 sandwich the outer peripheral sheet part 8 of the key sheet 3 and the presser plate 2. A keyboard that is characterized by: