JPH0619597A - Keyboard inputting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve an inputting operability at the time of carrying or installing a portable information processor by easily exchanging a key top unit whose stroke length is different only by a mechanical operation without considering an electric connectability. CONSTITUTION:One independent key top unit is constituted of a key top 13, rubber spring 12, and key top impulse sliding member 11, and mechanically assembled without electric connection with a switching sheet 9 electrically connected through a main body main substrate 7 and a harness 6. A keyboard base member 8 is fixed to a case 16 with a screw. Plural key shapes 19 are arranged on the key board base member 8 so that the key top impulse sliding member 11 can be fixed so as to be bonded on the switching sheet 9. On the other hand, a hole for inserting the key shape 19 is formed on the key board impulse sliding member 11. And also, a protecting sheet 10 is overlapped on the switching sheet 9.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device of an information processing device, and more particularly to a keyboard input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A laptop or notebook type personal computer or word processor having portability has been widely adopted. This is an information processing unit main body and a keyboard input unit integrated with the main body. The device is composed of a display unit that is engaged with the main body by a hinge mechanism and can be opened and closed.

Particularly for notebook type devices, in order to take advantage of their small size and light weight, portability that can be easily carried and used anywhere has been sought, and the device is one of the major factors for improving portability. The challenge is to reduce the thickness.

In order to make the device thinner, studies have been made on thinning the housing mold, surface mounting on the board, thinning the keyboard, and the like.

However, among these, in order to reduce the thickness of the keyboard, flattening of the key top shape and shortening of the key stroke have been attempted, but this greatly affects the operation feeling at the time of key input, and the operation feeling is reduced. The current situation is that deterioration cannot be avoided.

In a standard keyboard, the keystroke is generally 3.5 mm, and regarding the key top shape, the contact surface with which the finger touches is about 1 mm so as to fit to the finger shape when pressed. It is formed in a dent shape and is given a forward tilt angle. Further, the operability is improved by changing the key top height from the front row to the rear row of the key top row according to the movement of the wrist during operation.

On the other hand, in the case of a thin keyboard, the keystroke is generally shortened. However, the stroke length has a great influence on the input operation feeling. When shortening the stroke, consider the load characteristics of the rubber spring that gives the restoring force to the original position of the key top, and consider the feel of the click feeling. Countermeasures are being taken.

With regard to the key top shape, the depth of the dent shape of the surface that comes into contact with the finger is made shallow, and the inclination angle is suppressed more than that of the 3.5 mm stroke type.

Further, since the inclination of the key tops from the front row to the rear row of the key row increases the keyboard height as a whole, the height of the key tops is set to the same height to achieve a thin profile.

Although the device has been made thinner by conducting such a study, it is unavoidable that the operability is sacrificed by making the device thinner.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems, which are contradictory to each other, that is, the keyboard device is made thinner and the key input operability is deteriorated.

[0012]

An object of the present invention is to separate a switching sheet electrically connected to a main board of an information processing apparatus and a key top unit for supporting a pressing pressure at a switch contact portion of the switching sheet. It is achieved by the configuration.

[0013]

[Function] The switching sheet is connected to the main board of the main body. On the other hand, the keytop unit, which is embodied as an independent unit, is mounted on it without electrical connection and is fixed on the switching seat by mechanical means. For this reason, it is possible to easily replace and use the key top unit, such as setting a thin type key top unit when carrying, and setting a thick type key top unit when inputting documents for a long time. The usage pattern becomes possible.

[0014]

EXAMPLES Details of the present invention will be described with reference to examples.

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a notebook type information processing apparatus equipped with a keyboard according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the keyboard device.
Shows the details of the front part structure of the keyboard part. FIG. 4 shows details of the upper side structure of the key top portion.

In the drawings, 1 is a display unit of an information processing device, 2 is a main body unit, 3 is a keyboard device unit, 4 is a key top unit, 5 is a keyboard base, 6 is a switching sheet and a main body main board electrically. The harness to be connected, 7 is the main board of the main body. 8 is a keyboard base member, 9 is a switching sheet, 10 is a switching sheet protection member, 11 is a key top sliding support member, 12 is a rubber spring for returning the key top to its original position after being pressed, 13 is a key top, and 14 is a A stopper for fixing the position after setting the key top unit to the main body portion, 15 is a spring that gives a vertical driving force to the stopper 14, 16 is a main body housing case, and 17 is a thick type key top unit. A protective member for protecting the display unit when the display unit is closed by mistake, 18 is a front end portion of the keyboard base member, and 19 is a key provided on the keyboard base member for holding the key top sliding support member. 20 shows a shape, 20 is a hole provided in the keyboard base member 8 for fixing the upper side of the key top unit, 2 It indicates the insertion hole of the stopper 14 for fixing the key top unit. Reference numeral 22 denotes a cutout portion provided in the keytop sliding member 11 for fixing the position of the keytop unit 4 by the stopper 14.

Now, the key top 13 and the rubber spring 1
2. The key top sliding support member 11 constitutes one independent key top unit 4, and the main body main board 7
And the switching sheet 9 electrically connected through the harness 6 are mechanically assembled without electrical connection.

The keyboard base member 8 is fixed to the housing case 16 by screws. The keyboard base member 8 is provided with a large number of key shapes 19 for closely fixing the key top sliding support member 11 on the switching sheet 9, while the keyboard sliding support member 11 is A hole for inserting the key shape 19 is formed. Further, on the switching sheet 9, a mylar sheet or a protective sheet 10 made of a thin steel plate is laid in order to protect the switching sheet 9 from friction when the key top unit 4 is attached, and this is also the key top. It also functions to improve the appearance when the unit 4 is removed. The protective sheet 10 has holes formed in the switch portions of the switching sheet 9,
When the key top 13 is pressed, the switching sheet 9
It does not hinder the pressing operation of.

When the key top unit 4 is attached to the main body, first, the upper side of the key top unit 4 is inserted into the insertion hole 20 of the keyboard base member 8, and then the notch 22 on the lower side of the key top unit 4 is used for the keyboard. It is lowered according to the front end portion 18 of the base member 8. At this time, due to the key shape 19 of the keyboard base member 8, the key top unit 4 is stopped while being placed on the key shape 19. In this state, when the key top unit 4 is moved so as to slide toward the front, the edge of the notch 22 of the key top unit 4 contacts the front end 18 of the key top base member 8 and is stopped. At this position, the key shape 8 of the keyboard base member 8 is positioned so that it can be inserted into the receiving hole of the key top unit 4.

Next, the front end of the key top unit 4 is pushed down and moved forward so as to rub against the protective sheet 10 while being in close contact with the keyboard base member 8.

By this operation, the key shape 19 is inserted into the receiving hole of the key top unit 4 to hold the key top unit 4 and, at the same time, after the predetermined distance is moved, the stopper 14 is inserted through the insertion hole 21 formed in the keyboard base member 8. The key top unit 4 is inserted into the notch 22 by the repulsive force of the spring 45.

As a result, the key top unit 4 is fixedly held on the keyboard base 5. On the other hand, when removing the key top unit 4, the stopper 14 is pushed downward, and the keyboard unit 4 is moved toward the front until it is stopped by the front end 18 of the keyboard base member 8,
When the keyboard unit 4 comes into contact with the front end 18 and is released from the stopper 14, the keyboard unit 4 is pushed upward by the repulsive force of the spring 15 of the stopper, so that it can be easily removed.

In the keyboard device of this embodiment, as the replacement key top unit 4, a thin type having a keystroke length of 2.0 mm and a keystroke length of 3.5 are used.
The thick type of mm is set, and the thin type is attached when using it for carrying. The housing structure is such that the display unit can be completely closed when a thin type is mounted. Therefore, when the thick type key top unit 4 is attached, the display portion cannot be closed completely.

In the case of the present embodiment, when the thick type key top unit 4 is mounted, it is assumed that the key top unit 4 is switched to the stationary type for use in a stationary state in an office or the like. When portability of the thick type key top unit 4 is required, the thick type key top unit 4 is carried separately from the main body. However, since it is possible that the display unit is closed by mistake when the thick type key top unit 4 is mounted, the thick type key top unit 4 is provided with the buffer member 17 for protecting the display unit.

As described above, by mounting the keyboard device according to the present invention, when the thin type key top unit 4 is mounted, it is possible to secure the convenience of carrying around anywhere, which is a characteristic of the notebook type, without sacrificing convenience. On the other hand, when mounting a thick type key top unit,
It is possible to provide a device that solves the disadvantage of the notebook type, which is the deterioration of input workability, and is particularly unsuitable for long-time input work.

[0026]

According to the keyboard input device of the present invention,
Since it is possible to easily replace key top units with different keystroke lengths only by mechanical operation without considering electrical connectivity, 1. In a portable type thin information processing device, it is possible to have a device configuration that simultaneously has good portability and good input operability.

2. Since the replacement of the key top unit does not involve electrical connectivity, the replacement work is extremely easy.

3. Since the replacement part is only the key top unit, it can be implemented at low cost. 4. High reliability due to simple structure.

A keyboard input device having effects such as the above can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a notebook type information processing device equipped with a keyboard input device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a keyboard device unit of a notebook type information processing device equipped with the keyboard input device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a key top portion of the keyboard input device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view of a keyboard input device of the present invention when a thick type key top unit is mounted.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Display unit, 2 ... Main body unit, 3 ... Keyboard device unit, 4 ...
Key top unit, 5 ... Keyboard base, 6 ... Harness that connects the switching sheet and the main board of the main unit,
7 ... Main body main board, 8 ... Keyboard base member, 9 ...
Switching sheet, 10 ... Switching sheet protection member, 11 ... Key top sliding support member, 12 ... Rubber spring, 13 ... Key top, 14 ... Stopper, 15 ... Stopper spring, 16 ... Main body case lower case, 17 ... Display Part opening / closing protection member, 18 ... Keyboard base front end part, 19
… Keyboard base key shape, 20… Key top unit upper fixing hole, 21… Stopper insertion hole (keyboard base), 22… Stopper insertion hole (keytop unit).

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A key top, an elastic member that gives a restoring force to the original position when the key top is pressed, a sliding support member that supports vertical sliding of the key top, and an ON / OFF signal is generated by pressing pressure. In a keyboard input device composed of a switching sheet to be used, a supporting member for the switching sheet, and a base member that supports the pressing pressure of the key top,
A keyboard input device, characterized in that the key top, elastic member, and sliding support member are formed as one independent key top unit, which is separable from the switching sheet and the base member. 2. The keyboard input device according to claim 1, wherein
A keyboard input device characterized in that a short key stroke (2.5 mm or less) and a long key stroke (2.5 mm or more) are replaced and used.