JPH07182083A - Keyboard device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To supply appropriate exercise not only to finger tips but also to wrists and the back of hands during an input operation, to reduce the fatigue of an operator and to prevent tenosynovitis by automatically varying the inclined angle of a keyboard substrate. CONSTITUTION:The keyboard substrate 1 is attached rotatably to a keyboard base 2 at the rotation supporting point 3 of the keyboard substrate 1. Also, a motor-driven substrate inclined angle varying device 4 assembled inside the keyboard base 2 is connected to a keyboard substrate tip part by a connection pin 40. Then, by rotating a motor 41, rotary motion is changed to vertical sliding motion through rotation transmission mechanisms 42 and 43 and the connection pin 44 is vertically moved as shown by an arrow 45. Thus, the tip part of the keyboard substrate 1 is operated in a direction indicated by the void arrow 46 in the figure and the inclined angle of the keyboard substrate 1 is automatically varied.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a keyboard device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a keyboard device used as an input device for a computer or the like and capable of reducing the burden on an input person during long-term use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A keyboard device used as an input device for a computer or the like is well known, but keys are arranged in an array on a keyboard substrate, and the operator's front side is deep so that the keyboard substrate can be easily operated. There is an inclination angle slightly lower than the side. Therefore, the operator fixes his / her wrist or the like on the front side of the keyboard board and presses a desired key while swinging his / her fingertip to the left / right to input desired data.

[0003]

The conventional keyboard device as described above is provided with an inclination angle for easy operation, but the inclination angle remains fixed.
Therefore, while inputting, the operator concentrates his / her nerve on the fingertip and continuously presses the desired key while swinging the fingertip left and right, but the wrist and the back of the hand remain almost fixed, and long-time input work is not performed. When the day is repeated, there is a problem that fatigue may be accumulated in the fingertips, arms and the like, which may cause tendinitis.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and not only the fingertips but also the wrist and the back of the hand are appropriately exercised during the inputting work to reduce the fatigue of the operator in the inputting work for a long time. An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device that can be operated.

[0005]

In the keyboard device according to the present invention, the inclination angle of the keyboard board in the lateral direction (the inclination angle with respect to the operator's front side as a fulcrum with respect to the horizontal plane).
It is characterized in that it is provided with an electric substrate tilt angle varying means capable of automatically varying the temperature.

Further, the board tilt angle varying means is means for setting and fixing the keyboard board at a desired tilt angle.

Further, the board tilt angle varying means is means for constantly varying the keyboard board within a predetermined tilt angle range.

Further, the board tilt angle varying means is means for intermittently varying the keyboard board within a predetermined tilt angle range.

Further, the substrate tilt angle varying means is a means for changing the tilt angle by increasing or decreasing the tilt angle around a desired tilt angle.

[0010]

In the keyboard device of the present invention, the tilt angle of the keyboard substrate can be automatically changed, and various tilt angle variable modes can be selected. Therefore, only the fingertips can be used during the inputting work according to the degree of fatigue and individual differences. Not only can the wrist and the back of the hand be given moderate movement. As a prior art capable of changing the inclination angle of the keyboard substrate, there is, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-3228 “keyboard input device”, but the present invention merely sets a plurality of angles manually. The present invention is not intended to automatically set a tilt angle desired by an operator as in the present invention, and is not intended to be capable of continuous variable operation, and is intended for height adjustment to reduce the burden on the operator. is not.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 (A) is a sectional view showing the outline of the configuration of a keyboard device according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a keyboard substrate, 2 is a keyboard base, 3 is a pivotal fulcrum of the keyboard substrate 1, and at this fulcrum. Keyboard board 1 is keyboard base 2
It is rotatably attached to. Reference numeral 4 denotes an electrically-operated board tilt angle varying device incorporated in the keyboard base 2, which is connected to the front end of the keyboard board by a connecting pin 40.

FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of the structure of the substrate tilt angle varying device 4 described above. By rotating the motor 41, the rotary motion is vertically slid through the rotation transmission mechanisms 42 and 43. Change to dynamic movement, and connect pin 44 with arrow 45.
By moving the keyboard board 1 up and down as shown in FIG. 5, the tip end portion of the keyboard board 1 is moved in the direction shown by the arrow 46 in the drawing, and the inclination angle of the keyboard board 1 (the tilt in the lateral direction as shown in FIG. Angle, that is, the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal plane on the back side with the front side of the operator as the fulcrum) can be automatically changed.

FIGS. 2A to 2C are views showing a state in which the tilt angle is variously changed. Generally, in the keyboard device, the inclination angle is set to about 10 ° in consideration of operability, but in the keyboard device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, the inclination angle is automatically set within the range of 5 ° to 15 °. The first advantage is that the inclination angle desired by the operator can be automatically set. That is,
This means that the operator can automatically set the tilt angle that suits his or her hand, and since this tilt angle can be automatically changed, this tilt angle can be set by setting the desired tilt angle for short-time input work. It is sufficient to fix the angle, and when it is necessary to perform input work for a long time or continuously for many days, change the inclination angle every predetermined time or every day and input work By doing
As shown in Fig. 3, the movement direction of the wrist and the back of the hand and the way in which the force is applied can be changed, giving exercise to the wrist and the back of the hand,
This will reduce fatigue.

Further, the keyboard substrate 1 can be operated so as to be constantly variable within a range of a predetermined inclination angle. For example, the motor 41 of the substrate tilt angle varying device shown in FIG. 1B is continuously operated, and as shown in FIG. 2, the tilt angle is constantly changed within the range of 5 ° to 15 ° during use. It may be set as follows.

Further, the motor 41 is operated intermittently,
It is also possible to change the inclination angle intermittently. That is, the cycle for varying the tilt angle should be determined by the degree of fatigue and individual differences. Therefore, the keyboard device of the present invention selects the tilt angle suitable for the operator in the tilt angle variable mode. To automatically fix. After fixing the inclination angle suitable for the operator, when the operator feels fatigue, the operator automatically shifts the inclination angle slightly and fixes it. Always change the tilt angle during use. The inclination angle is changed intermittently during use. It is configured so that four modes can be selected. In addition, when selecting the mode in which the tilt angle is constantly changed during use or in the mode in which the tilt angle is changed intermittently, the desired basic tilt angle is first set, and then the tilt angle is set. It is also possible to operate to increase or decrease the angle from one angle to another. In this case, for example, FIG.
It can be realized by adding a mechanism (not shown) for shifting the moving range 45 of the connecting pin 44 shown in FIG. This mode is called a mode.

FIG. 4 is a switch 10 for turning on / off the substrate tilt angle varying device provided on the keyboard base 2.
And tilt angle setting dial 11. That is, by incorporating a rotation control device (not shown) for the motor 41, the dial 1 is used in the above-mentioned modes and modes.
It is configured such that it can be automatically selected only by the operation of 1, and can be automatically selected only by the operation of the switch 10 in the case of the mode, and can be automatically selected by the operation of the switch 10 and the dial 11 in the case of the mode and the mode. It is a thing. In addition,
Needless to say, in the case of the mode in which the tilt angle is changed during use, it is necessary to slowly change it at a constant speed so as not to hinder the input operation of the operator.

[0017]

As described above, in the keyboard device of the present invention, the inclination angle of the keyboard substrate can be automatically changed, so that not only the fingertip but also the wrist or the back of the hand can be appropriately moved during the input operation. It is possible to reduce the fatigue of the operator in the input work for a long time and prevent the tendonitis. Further, since the variable tilt angle mode can be selected variously, there is an effect that selection can be made according to the degree of fatigue of an individual.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a configuration of a keyboard device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the keyboard device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the keyboard device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the keyboard device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 keyboard board 2 keyboard base 3 fulcrum 4 board tilt angle varying means 10 ON / OFF switch 11 angle setting dial 41 motor

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard substrate is placed on a keyboard base, and the inclination angle of the keyboard substrate in the lateral direction is provided between the keyboard base and the keyboard substrate (with respect to the horizontal plane on the back side with the front side of the operator as a fulcrum). A keyboard device comprising an electric substrate tilt angle varying means for automatically varying the tilt angle). 2. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the board tilt angle varying means is means for automatically setting and fixing the keyboard board at a desired tilt angle. 3. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the board tilt angle varying means is means for automatically varying the keyboard board within a range of a predetermined tilt angle. 4. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the board tilt angle varying means is means for automatically varying the keyboard board intermittently within a predetermined tilt angle range. 5. The substrate tilt angle varying means is means for centering on a desired tilt angle and increasing / decreasing the tilt angle to automatically vary the tilt angle. Keyboard device.