JPH04367016A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the faults of a keyboard caused by the discharging even though a charged human body touches the keyboard by directly conducting a key top with the frame ground. CONSTITUTION:A key top 4 is attached to a slider 3 fitted to a housing 2 set in parallel with a panel 1, and a switch member 5 is held between the panel 1 and a support plate 6. Then a link 7 and a link engagement member 8 are added. The key top 4 is made of a conductive resin material and has a bearing groove 4a on its back side. The link 7 has an engagement end part 7a where the both end parts of an inverted U-shaped wire are internally set opposite to each other together with a horizontal axis part 7b supported at the groove 4a in a freely rotatable and conductive way. The member 8 is supported on the panel 1 and has a terminal 8a conductive to the plate 6 and a bent engagement eaves 8b engaged conductively with the part 7a respectively. In such a configuration, the part 7a rubs the eaves 8b to make it conduct when the key top 4 is pushed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard, and more particularly to a keyboard in which key tops are connected directly to frame ground so that electrostatic charge accumulated in the human body leaks from the key tops to frame ground.

[0002] In recent years, with the development of information processing devices, various input/output devices have come to be used to exchange information between humans and machines, and they have become familiar and familiar to the general public. There is. Among them, the keyboard is overwhelmingly used as an input device.

[0003] Keyboards come in a variety of shapes, from large ones called full keyboards with over 100 keys and switches, to small ones with a numeric keypad and even several switches, and are commonly used in the peripherals of high-end large computers. It is used in a wide range of applications, from terminal devices to low-end calculators.

By the way, as the use of ICs in high-end electronic devices progresses, the correlation between various electronic devices and electromagnetic induction noise is becoming a problem. In other words, so-called EMC (electromagnetic compatibility), such as EMS, which protects equipment itself from noise, and EMI, which prevents mutually generated noise from equipment from causing electromagnetic interference to the outside, is becoming more important.

[0005] The human body can also be cited as a source of such noise. In other words, the human body is a large-capacity capacitor, and it stores static electricity when it is insulated from ground (ground), such as when wearing shoes or sitting on a carpet. for that,
In devices such as keyboards that are directly touched by humans, electrical discharge occurs between the human body and the key tops, producing noise, which often causes equipment malfunctions or stoppages. Therefore, countermeasures against static electricity for keyboards are desired.

[0006]

2. Description of the Related Art Keyboards are classified into various types depending on the type of switches used therein, and are used depending on the purpose. For example, switching is performed by making multiple striped conductor patterns provided on each of two dielectric films, facing each other in the X and Y directions and crossing them at right angles, and mechanically contacting each intersection point, which is called a membrane switch. There is a keyboard that does. This keyboard is a type of keyboard that does not require arranging individual switches because a plurality of membrane switches can be arranged on the dielectric film by printing or the like in advance.

On the other hand, keyboards in which so-called key switches, dedicated switches for a single keyboard, are arranged and mounted on a printed circuit board are also frequently used. When any type of keyboard is used for high-end purposes, a key called a key top is placed above each key switch, and the key top is pressed with a finger. It is designed to open and close the switch.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the structure of a conventional keyboard.
FIG. 3(A) is an overall view, and FIG. 3(B) is an enlarged view of main parts. In the figure, 1 is a panel, 2 is a housing, 3 is a slider, 4 is a key top, 5 is a switch member, 6 is a support plate, 9 is an actuator, 10 is a housing, 11 is a circuit board,
12 is a shielding member.

In FIG. 3A, a normal keyboard has a structure in which a panel 1 on which key tops 4 are disposed is supported by a housing 10. As shown in FIG. A circuit board 11 is attached below the panel 1.

In FIG. 3(B), the key top 4 is mounted on a slider 3 that fits into a housing 2 arranged in parallel with the panel 1 and slides up and down. The actuator 9 transmits the pressing force of the key top 4 to the switch member 5, and uses a shaped metal spring or the elasticity of rubber. Here, a rubber actuator is illustrated. The slider 3 is always urged toward the top dead center by the actuator 9, and therefore the key top 4 is also always urged upward.

[0011] Various switches are used as the switch member 5, and a single switch is also used, but here,
A membrane switch sandwiched between a panel 1 and a support plate 6 is used.

In the keyboard keystroke operation, when the key top 4 is pressed down, the slider 3 descends and the actuator 9
is recessed, and the switch member 5 is closed. When the press of the key top 4 is stopped, the slider 3 is raised by the elastic force of the actuator 9, the key top 4 returns to its original position, and the switch member 5 opens.

By the way, the key top 4 is generally made by molding a highly insulating thermoplastic resin. Further, in order to make the keyboard light and thin, the panel 1, the housing 2, the slider 3, etc. provided on the panel 1 are often made of thermoplastic resin molding. Therefore, although the support plate 6 is usually made of a metal plate and connected to the frame ground (FG), the key top 4 is completely insulated from the FG.

[0014]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, when a person presses the key top 4 with a finger, electric discharge occurs between the human body and the key top 4 from time to time. In order to prevent failures caused by the noise generated at that time, measures are taken such as covering the circuit board 11 with a shielding member 12 and making the circuit board 11 have a circuit structure that is resistant to noise, as shown in FIG. 3(A). It is being said.

[0015] However, these anti-noise countermeasures are difficult to implement, as keyboards are required to be made lighter, thinner, and more inexpensively. There was a problem that hindered the

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard in which the key tops are directly connected to the FG so that the static charge accumulated in the human body leaks from the key tops to the FG.

[0017]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above-mentioned problems involve a key top mounted on the head of a slider that is vertically movably fitted into a housing arranged in parallel to a panel made of an insulating material, and a key top mounted on the head of a slider, and the housing ( ) A keyboard comprising a support plate made of a metal plate interposed between the panel and the switch members disposed in parallel below, the keyboard having a link and a link engaging member; The top has a bearing groove on one concave side of the back surface, and is made of a resin material imparted with conductivity.The links are bent so that both ends of the wire forming a double letter shape face inward. It has an engaging end, and the horizontal shaft part is rotatable in the bearing groove of the key top.
and is electrically supported, and the link engagement member includes a terminal that penetrates the panel and the switch member and is electrically fixed to the support plate, and a bent engagement eaves, The link is supported on a panel, and when the key top is mounted on the slider, the engaging end portion is electrically engaged under the engaging eaves, and the link is When the key top is pressed down, the engaging end
The problem is solved by a keyboard configured to conduct electricity while slidingly contacting the engaging eaves.

[0018]

[Function] In the keyboard according to the present invention, the key tops that the human body comes into contact with when typing keys are made of a molded product made of a resin material that has conductivity, and the key tops are rotatable and conductive. A link is provided so that it can be moved up and down while being electrically connected to the key top.

Further, a link engaging member is provided on the panel so that electrical conduction can be established with the metal support plate, and the engaging end of the link is engaged with the engaging eaves of the link engaging member so that electrical conduction can be established. I'm trying to match it. When the key top moves up and down, the engaging end portion slides on the engaging eaves so that the key top can be electrically connected to the support plate.

[0020] In this case, the key top is always electrically connected to the support plate regardless of whether it is in the upper or lower position. Therefore,
If the support plate is made of FG, even if a human body that has accumulated static electricity touches the key top, the electric charge will leak to the FG via the key top, making it possible to prevent problems caused by static electricity discharge.

[0021]

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of FIG.
) indicates the key press state. In the figure, 1 is a panel, 2 is a housing, 3 is a slider, 4 is a key top, 4a is a bearing groove, 5 is a switch member, 6 is a support plate, 7 is a link, 7a
7b is a horizontal shaft portion; 8 is a link engagement member; 8
a is a terminal, and 8b is an engaging eaves.

In FIG. 1, a panel 1 and a housing 2 are integrally formed by molding a thermoplastic resin. The housing 2 is provided at a predetermined position where the key tops 4 are arranged side by side.

A slider 3 is fitted into the housing 2 so as to be able to move up and down, and is urged upward by an actuator (not shown) or the like. A key top 4 can be attached to the head of the slider 3.

The key top 4 is formed by molding a conductive resin obtained by kneading, for example, Al or Ag powder, carbon fiber, or rust-proof steel fiber into a thermoplastic resin. A bearing groove 4a is provided on one concave side of the back surface of the key top 4.
is provided.

[0025] The link 7 is made of a double-shaped rust-free steel wire or Ni.
It is made of a wire such as plated Cu wire, and both ends are bent inwardly to form an engaging end 7a. Also,
The horizontal shaft portion 7b is fitted into the bearing groove 4a of the key top 4 to rotate, and is also electrically connected to the key top 4.

The link engaging member 8 is made of Ni-plated Fe.
It is made by processing a plate or the like, so that the terminal 8a passes through the panel 1 and the switch member 5 to establish continuity with the support plate 6.
It is provided on the panel 1. The support plate 6 is made of a plated steel plate or the like and is FG. The link engaging member 8 is provided with an engaging eave 8b bent in the shape of an eave, and when the key top 4 is attached to the slider 3, the link 7 is engaged under the engaging eave 8b. The mating end portions 7a are engaged to establish electrical continuity.

When the key top 4 is at rest, the key top 4 is urged upward as shown in FIG. It is located toward the back (right side in the figure) of the engaging eaves 8b.

When the key top 4 is pressed down, the horizontal shaft portion 7b of the link 7 is pressed as shown in FIG. 2(B).
rotates in the bearing groove 4a, and the engagement end 7a slides into contact with the engagement eaves 8b of the link engagement member 8 toward the front (left side in the figure) in a state where conduction is established.

By the way, in general, a keyboard has several dozen keys, and it is not necessary to use all of these keys as the key top 4 according to the present invention. It has been confirmed that it is effective.

Thus, in the keyboard of the present invention, the key top 4 is always electrically connected to the support plate 6 via the link 7 and the link engaging member 8, even when the keyboard is not in use and when keys are being pressed. . Even if a charged human body touches the key tops, problems caused by static electricity discharge can be prevented.

[0031]

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the key top is always electrically connected to the support plate connected to the FG, and it is possible to prevent problems caused by discharge that occurs when a charged human body presses a key. . Moreover, it is effective if such key tops are scattered in several places.

[0032] Therefore, by covering the circuit board with a shielding member,
It is no longer necessary to take measures against static electricity in the keyboard, such as making sure that the control circuit is resistant to noise, and the present invention greatly contributes to improving productivity in the manufacture of keyboards.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[Fig. 2] In the operation explanatory diagram of Fig. 1, (A) is a rest state;
(B) shows the keying state.

[Figure 3] (A) is a cross-sectional view of the configuration of a conventional keyboard.
is an overall view, and (B) is an enlarged view of the main parts.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Panel 2 Housing 3 Slider 4 Key top 4a Bearing groove 5 Switch member 6 Support plate 7 Link 7a Engaging end 7b Horizontal shaft portion 8 Link engaging member 8a Terminal
8b Engagement eaves

Claims (4)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A key top (4) mounted on the head of a slider (3) that is vertically movably fitted into a housing (2) arranged in parallel to a panel (1) made of an insulating material.
and a support plate (6) made of a metal plate that holds the switch members (5) arranged below the housing (2) in parallel with the panel (1). The key top (4) has a bearing groove (4a) on one concave side of the back surface, and has a conductive material. The link (7) is made of resin material.
has an engaging end portion (7a) bent such that both ends of the wire forming a double letter shape face each other inwardly, and a horizontal shaft portion (7a).
b) is rotatably and electrically supported in the bearing groove (4a) of the key top (4), and the link engaging member (8) is connected to the panel (1) and the switch. The member (5) is provided with a terminal (8a) that is electrically fixed to the support plate (6) through the member (5), and a bent engagement eaves (8b), and is supported on the panel (1). When the key top (4) is attached to the slider (3), the engaging end (7a) of the link (7) is electrically connected under the engaging eaves (8b). When the key top (4) is pressed, the link (7) engages with the engaging end (7a).
) is configured to conduct electrically while slidingly contacting the engaging eaves (8b). [Claim 2] A plurality of the key tops (4) include:
2. The keyboard of claim 1, wherein the keyboard is scattered at predetermined locations on the keyboard. 3. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the key top (4) is made of a molded product of a resin material kneaded with conductive powder. 4. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the key top (4) is made of a molded product of a resin material kneaded with conductive fibers.