JPH0675675A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the small-sized, lightweight keyboard which is of physical size providing excellent operability when used, and conveniently stored and carried when not used. CONSTITUTION:A main body 1 and keys 7 are formed of a vinyl material, etc., in an air balloon shape and provided with air openings 6 and 10 through which air is freely taken in and out, and two electrodes 8a and 8b are formed at the upper and lower parts in an air chamber of each key. Consequently, the keyboard can be formed of lightweight materials such as vinyl, so the weight is reduced and air is charged in the main body and keys to obtain physical size providing excellent operability; and the keyboard is folded folded or folded or rolled up when not used by discharging the air, and then size and a shape which are convenient for storage and portage are obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard which is small in size and has a good operability when it is used, and which is convenient for storing and carrying when not in use, and which is lightweight.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a conventional keyboard. In the figure, 1 is a keyboard body, 2 is a printed circuit board fixed to the body, 3 is a switch mounted on the printed circuit board, and 4 is a movable switch. It is a key top attached to the part. The main body and key top are made of a hard material such as plastic.

In the keyboard shown in FIG. 5, when the key top is pushed down by a fingertip, a switch is turned on in response to the depression of the key top and the depression of a certain key is converted into an electric signal. In this case, the size and shape of the keyboard is
It does not change when used or not used.

[0004]

In a portable computer or the like, a small and lightweight keyboard is desirable, but considering the operability of pushing down the key top with a fingertip, the keyboard cannot be made too small. That is, the conventional technology has a problem in that operability deteriorates when the size is reduced so that it is convenient for carrying, and conversely, when the operability is emphasized, the size becomes inconvenient for carrying.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and has a physical size with good operability when a keyboard is used, and is lightweight and compact so that it can be carried easily when not in use. Aim to get a keyboard that becomes.

[0006]

A keyboard according to the present invention comprises a balloon-shaped main body made of a soft material such as vinyl and a key, and a user can freely take in and out internal air from an air vent. It was done like this. Further, instead of the switch of the conventional key, a small air chamber having two electrode plates inside is arranged on the surface of the main body as a key, and the air in the air chamber of this key can also be freely taken in and out from the air inlet / outlet port. It was done like this.

[0007]

In the keyboard according to the present invention, when the air chamber inside the main body and the air chamber inside the key are filled with air, the shapes of the main body and the keys are supported by the air pressure, and the size and shape are such that the data input operation can be comfortably performed. . Further, when the air in the air chamber of the main body and the key is deflated, the shapes of the main body and the key cannot be supported, so that the keyboard can be folded or rolled to make it convenient for carrying or storing.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a keyboard showing an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a main body, 5 is an air chamber inside the main body, 6 is a port for taking in and out air inside the main body, 7
Is a key, 8a and 8b are electrode plates, 9 is an air chamber inside the key,
Reference numeral 10 is a port for taking in and out air inside the key, and 11 is a connection cord for connecting with a computer. The main body 1 and the key 7 are made of a vinyl material, and their shapes are supported by the air pressure of the air chamber 5 inside the main body. FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which air inside the main body and the keys has been removed, and FIG. 3 is a view of the keyboard seen from the front side. . In this figure, A-
FIG. 4 is a view of the cross section taken along line A as seen from above. In FIG. 4, 7 is a key, 8b is a lower electrode plate, and 13 is an air hole opened between air chambers of adjacent keys. The air holes 13 connect the air chambers 9 of all the keys. The wiring of the electrode plate 8b is wired by the flexible conductor wire 14.

The operation of the above embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 shows a keyboard in use, in which the main body and the keys are inflated into a balloon shape by the air pressure of the air chambers inside. In this state, the two electrode plates 8 inside the key 7 are
a and 8b are in a non-contact state. When the user presses one of the keys in this state, the air inside the key moves into the inside of the adjacent key through the air hole 13 shown in FIG. As a result, the outer shape of the pressed key is dented and the two electrode plates inside contact. As a result, the depression of a certain key is converted into an electric signal. When not in use, it is deflated as shown in FIG. 2 and folded or rolled to be stored or carried.

[0010]

As described above, according to the present invention, since it can be made of a lightweight material such as vinyl, it is light in weight, and has a size that is easy to use when in use, but can be folded or rolled when not in use. By doing so, it can be made into a size and shape that is convenient for storage and carrying, and it is extremely convenient to handle.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which air is removed from FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a conventional keyboard.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main body 5 Main body air chamber 6 Main body air port 7 Keys 8a, 8b Electrode plate 9 Key air chamber 10 Key air port 13 Air hole

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A main body made of a soft material having a key on the surface, a main body air chamber inside the main body, and an air port for taking air in and out of the main body air chamber from outside. Keyboard to do. 2. A key made of a soft material, an air chamber inside the key, electrode plates arranged in parallel above and below the air chamber, and an air port for taking air in and out of the air chamber from the outside. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the keyboard is provided.