JPH08180761A - Key board apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent a circuit board from bending at the time of switching from an operation of a key top to a non-operation state by fixing a pressing member, which loosely fitted in an oblong hole formed in one side of a holder member, in a flexible circuit board. CONSTITUTION: In a key board apparatus 31, an oblong hole 32 is formed in one side of a holder member 4 and at the same time a pressing member 34 with smaller size than the oblong hole 32 is fixed in a flexible circuit substrate 6 and the member 34 is fitted in an idle way in the oblong hole 32 while keeping a moving space 35. Consequently, the board 6 can slide smoothly between the member 4 and a supporting plate 7 by the operation of an operational knob 27 of the member 34 without being folded, curved, or corrugated. At that time, while carrying a guiding member 3 corresponding the sliding, a rubber spring 5 fixed in the board 6 slides to a second position where operation of a key top 2 is impossible and which is out of the first position where operation is possible and out of the member 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used in thin electronic devices such as notebook type word processors and personal computers. The present invention guides and supports the vertical movement of a key top through a guide support member, and the guide support member is placed on the guide top member. By arranging the switching member to be slidable together with the flexible circuit board, the key top is held in the operating position when the key operation of the plurality of key switches arranged on the keyboard is performed, and the key top is held when carrying. The present invention relates to a keyboard device capable of maintaining high key operability and improving portability while locking the keyboard to a non-operating position lower than the operating position to achieve thinness, and particularly to a flexible keyboard device when sliding a flexible circuit board. It is possible to reliably prevent the board from bending and waviness, so that the board can be smoothly The reluctance circuit board relates slidable keyboard device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Notebook type word processors and the like have been remarkably popular in recent years because they have excellent portability such that they can be carried and operated anywhere. Further, various attempts have been made to further improve the portability of such word processors. Further, this type of word processor and the like have been strongly aimed at cost reduction in view of mass production and extremely widespread use, and various improvements and the like have been made in order to achieve such an aim. In particular, a flexible circuit board that can be manufactured at low cost is generally used as a circuit board used for a keyboard.

From the above-mentioned viewpoint, the applicant of the present invention proposes a key switch device which can further improve the portability of a word processor or the like and can reduce the cost by using a flexible circuit board. -190991. That is, in the specification and drawings attached to the application of Japanese Patent Application No. 6-190991, the vertical movement of the key top is guided and supported through a guide support member that supports two link members so as to be rotatable relative to each other. In addition, the switching member on which the guide support member is mounted is fixed on the flexible circuit board, and the flexible circuit board is slid by operating the operation knob to slide the switching member. Hold the key top in the operating position by holding the support member on the switching member, and lock the key top in the non-operating position by holding the switching member out of the guide support member when carrying. The key switch device which does so is described.

[0004]

However, according to the key switch device described in the specification and drawings of the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 6-190991, the keyboard can be made thinner while maintaining high key operability. The flexible circuit board is generally made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), although the portability can be improved and the cost of the entire keyboard can be reduced by using a low-cost flexible circuit board. A predetermined circuit pattern is formed on a film formed of (1) or the like.

Therefore, such a flexible circuit board is very flexible and has a characteristic of being easily bent and wavy. In consideration of such characteristics, when the flexible circuit board is used in the key switch device configured as described above, the guide support member is mounted on the switching member fixed to the upper surface by sliding the flexible circuit board. When switching between the operating state of the keytop to be placed and the nonoperating state of the keytop in which the guide support member is detached from the switching member, the flexible circuit board may be bent or the like to smoothly switch between the operating states and the inactive state. It may not be possible.

Further, when the flexible circuit board is once bent, the bent state is likely to remain in the flexible circuit board as it is and becomes habitless. If such a bent state remains in the flexible circuit board, There is a problem that it is no longer possible to switch between the operating state and the non-operating state of the key top, and it cannot be used as a keyboard.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the flexible circuit board is slid to move the first position where the guide support member is placed on the switching member and the switching member is disengaged from the guide support member. It is possible to reliably prevent the flexible circuit board from bending or waviness when switching to the second position.
An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device capable of smoothly sliding a flexible circuit board.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides at least one guide support member for supporting a key top and for vertically moving and guiding, and a holder member to which the guide support member is attached. A flexible circuit board arranged below the holder member and having a predetermined circuit pattern formed by the same number of fixed electrodes as the guide support member, and arranged on the flexible circuit board corresponding to the fixed electrodes. A support member that supports the guide support member, and that supports the flexible circuit board and a switching member that performs a switching operation in cooperation with a fixed electrode when the key top is pressed through the guide support member. A keyboard device having a member, and an elongated hole of a predetermined size formed on one side of the holder member; A pressing member formed to have a size smaller than the size of the hole, loosely fitted in the elongated hole while forming a moving gap in the elongated hole, and fixed to the flexible circuit board, and an operation provided on the pressing member. The flexible circuit board is slid on the support member by moving the holding member by operating the operating member through a moving gap formed in the elongated hole, and each of the switching members is The flexible circuit board is slid between a first position for supporting the guide support member and a second position separated from the guide support member corresponding to the slide of the flexible circuit board.

Further, according to the present invention, a plurality of recesses are formed at one end of the elongated hole, and a plurality of protrusions are formed in the holding member so as to be fitted into the respective recesses when the holding member is moved. In addition, a first locking groove corresponding to the first position and a second locking groove corresponding to the second position are formed on the side edge of the elongated hole. Locking protrusions that are locked in the first locking grooves and the second locking grooves may be formed in the pressing member.

[0010]

In the keyboard device according to the present invention having the above-described structure, when the key top is pressed during the switching operation, the guide support member attached to the holder member is moved downward with the pressing of the key top. . As a result, the switching member arranged on the flexible circuit board and supporting the guide support member is pressed down, and the switching operation is performed in cooperation with the fixed electrode provided on the flexible circuit board. When the depression of the key top is released, the reverse operation is performed, and the key top is urged upward by the elastic force of the switching member. As a result, the key top is returned to its original position.

Further, when the keyboard device is carried, the operating member of the pressing member fixed to the flexible circuit board is operated to form a slot having a predetermined size formed on one side of the holder member and a size smaller than the size of the slot. The pressing member is moved within the elongated hole through the movement gap formed between the pressing member and the pressing member formed on the. As a result, the flexible circuit board is slid on the support member, and the switching member is moved from the first position supporting the guide support member to the second position separated from the guide support member in response to the sliding of the flexible circuit board. To be slid. When the flexible circuit board is slid in this manner, a pressing member that is loosely fitted in a long hole formed on one side of the holder member is fixed on the flexible circuit board. It is smoothly slid on the support member while maintaining its flatness without being bent or wavy due to the pressing action of the member.

As a result, the height of the key top is lowered by the height of the switching member because the guide support member is separated from the switching member, and as a result, the portability of the keyboard device is improved. .

Further, when the keyboard device is made operable, the pressing member is moved through the operation member in the slot in the opposite direction. As a result, the flexible circuit board is slid on the support member, and the switching member is moved from the second position deviated from the guide support member to the first position supporting the guide support member in correspondence with the sliding of the flexible circuit board. To be slid. Even in such a case, the flexible circuit board can be smoothly slid on the support member while maintaining its flatness without bending or waviness due to the holding action of the holding portion, as described above. is there.

As a result, the height of the key top becomes an operable height because the guide supporting member is supported by the switching member, and as a result, the keyboard device can be operated. is there.

When a plurality of recesses are formed at one end of the elongated hole and a plurality of protrusions that fit into the recesses are formed in the holding member, the holding member is a flexible circuit board. In addition to the pressing action of the flexible circuit board that the pressing member itself has, the pressing action of each protrusion is added, and therefore, when the keyboard is carried and when the keyboard is made operable. In any case, the flexible circuit board moves smoothly over the support member while maintaining its flatness without bending or waviness due to the holding action of the holding member itself and the holding action of each protrusion. It can be slid.

Further, a first locking groove corresponding to the first position and a second locking groove corresponding to the second position are formed on the side edge of the elongated hole, and further, each first locking is provided on the pressing member. When the locking projections that lock the groove and the second locking groove are formed, the guide support member and the switching member can be reliably positioned at the first position and the second position.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A keyboard device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings based on an embodiment embodying the present invention. First, the schematic configuration of the keyboard device will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a keyboard device with a part thereof omitted.

In FIG. 1, the keyboard device main body 31
Has a large number of key switches 1 arranged on the holder member 4 (detailed configuration will be described later). A long hole 32 having a predetermined size is formed along the longitudinal direction of the holder member 4 on one side (upper side in FIG. 1) of the holder member 4, and one end of the long hole 32 (lower side in FIG. 1). A plurality of recesses 33 are provided on the side edge).

Further, in the elongated hole 32, a pressing member 34, which is fixed on the flexible circuit board 6 which will be described later, and which presses the flexible circuit board 6 along the elongated hole 32, is loosely fitted. The holding member 34 is formed to have a size slightly smaller than that of the long hole 32, so that the holding member 34 can move in the long hole 32 between the long hole 32 and the holding member 34. Moving gap 35
Is formed. Further, in the pressing member 34, the long hole 32
A plurality of protrusions 36 are formed so as to correspond to the respective recesses 33 provided in the.

Here, the pressing member 34 is used when the flexible circuit board 6 is slid between the holder member 4 and the support plate 7 via the operation knob 27 when the keyboard device is carried, as will be described later. The flexible circuit board 6 is pressed against the upper surface of the flexible circuit board 6 so as not to be bent or wavy. In addition, each protrusion 36 formed on the pressing member 34 cooperates with the pressing action of the pressing member 34 itself to further reliably press the flexible circuit board 6. As a result, the flexible circuit board 6 can be smoothly slid between the holder member 4 and the support plate 7 without being bent or wavy when it is slid.

Two operation knobs 27 are formed integrally with the pressing member 34 at two positions on the upper surface of the pressing member 34. Each of these operation knobs 27 is used when the pressing member 34 is moved in the elongated hole 32 through the movement gap 35 while being pinched by fingers when sliding the flexible circuit board 6.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a guide pin 34A is formed at a position corresponding to at least each operation knob 27 on the lower surface of the pressing member 34, and a guide pin 34A is formed at the lower end of the guide pin 34A. A head portion 34B having a diameter larger than that of 34A is provided. Such guide pin 34A
Is inserted into the opening 6A formed in the flexible circuit board 6 and the long hole 7A (having the same length as the moving gap 35) formed in the support plate 7, and its head 34
B is a guide pin 34A from the long hole 7A on the back surface of the support plate 34.
Acts as a retainer. Each of these guide pins 34A
The long hole 7A guides the holding member 34 so that the holding member 34 is moved while maintaining the parallel state with the long hole 32 without being tilted, whereby the flexible circuit board 6 slides while tilting at the time of sliding. Can be reliably prevented.

Next, the configuration of the key switch 1 used in the keyboard device according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 is a side sectional view of the key switch device in which the key top is in the operating position, FIG. 3 is a plan view of one link member, FIG. 4 is a plan view of the other link member, and FIG. 5 is a rubber spring slide. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view schematically showing the relationship between the holder member and the rubber spring in the operating position of the key top before the operation, and FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the locking structure of the operation knob.

In FIG. 2, the key switch device 1 basically comprises a key top 2, a guide member 3 as a guide support member for guiding the vertical movement while maintaining the horizontal state of the key top 2, and the key top 2. A holder member 4 for holding the guide member 3 between them, a rubber spring 5 fixed below the guide member 3 and a circuit board 6 arranged below the holder member 4, and a support for supporting the lower surface of the circuit board 6. It is composed of a plate 7.

The key top 2 is formed of ABS resin or the like, and characters, symbols or the like for identifying the key top 2 are printed on the upper surface thereof. Further, the key top 2 is a guide member 3
The front portion 2A with respect to a perpendicular line L passing through a pivot shaft 16 (described later) provided in the first link member 10 for movably supporting the first link member 10 and the second link member 11 constituting the (Left part in FIG. 2) and rear part 2B
The length A of the front portion 2A is longer than the length B of the rear portion 2B. A pair of long groove-shaped first locking portions 8 (only one of the first locking portions 8 is shown in FIG. 2) is formed on the back surface of the front portion 2A of the key top 2, and each first engaging member is formed. As will be described later, the stopper 8 holds each first sliding pin 14 formed on the first link member 10 so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction. A pair of circular hole-shaped second locking portions 9 (only one of the second locking portions 9 is shown in FIG. 2) is formed on the back surface of the rear portion 2B. As will be described later, the portion 9 rotatably holds the second locking pin 20 formed on the second link member 11.

Further, the guide member 3 is the first link member 10
And the second link member 11 are rotatably supported with respect to each other. Here, each of the first link member 10 and the second link member 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

First, the structure of the first link member 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The first link member 10 is molded from polyacetal resin or the like and has a substantially "H" shape in plan view. The first link member 10 includes a base portion 12 and a pair of plate portions 13 formed on both sides of the base portion 12, and the first sliding pin 14 is provided at one end (the left end in FIG. 3) of each plate portion 13.
Is provided outward, and the first locking pin 15 is provided outward at the other end (the right end in FIG. 3) of each plate portion 13. Here, each first sliding pin 14 is slidably held by the first locking portion 8 formed on the front portion 2A of the key top 2 as described above, and each second locking pin 15 is As will be described later, the fourth locking portion 24 formed on the holder member 4 is rotatably held. A pivot shaft 16 is provided so as to project outward from a substantially central position of each plate portion 13.
Each of these pivot shafts 16 is rotatably supported in a pivot hole 21 formed in each plate portion 18 of the second link member 11, which will be described later.

Next, the structure of the second link member 11 will be described with reference to FIG. Like the first link member 10, the second link member 11 is molded from polyacetal resin or the like, and has a substantially “U” shape in plan view. The second link member 11 includes a base portion 17 and a pair of plate portions 18 formed on both sides of the base portion 17. One end of each plate portion 18 (see FIG. 4).
A second sliding pin 19 is provided outward at the center left end), and a second locking pin 20 is provided between the other ends (right ends in FIG. 4) of the plate portions 18. Here, each second sliding pin 1
9 is a third member formed on the holder member 4, as will be described later.
The second locking pin 20 is slidably held by the locking portion 23,
As described above, is rotatably held by the second locking portion 9 formed in the rear portion 2B of the key top 2. A pivot hole 21 is bored from a substantially central position of each plate portion 18, and each pivot hole 21 is provided with a pivot hole projecting from each plate portion 13 of the first link member 10. A shaft 16 is rotatably supported. Further, locking grooves M (see FIG. 2) are provided at positions near the respective second sliding pins 19 on the respective plate portions 18.
In FIG. 2, only the locking groove M formed in the one plate portion 18 is shown). As will be described later, the locking groove M locks the pair of stop portions 5C provided on the rubber spring 5 when the circuit board 6 is slid, and holds the locked state. It is a thing.

As described above, the guide member 3 is constructed by rotatably supporting the pivot shaft 16 of the first link member 10 in the pivot hole 21 of the second link member 11. The first link member 10 and the second link member 11 can open and close each other. Also, the first
The distance from the center of the pivot shaft 16 in the link member 10 to the centers of the first sliding pin 14 and the first locking pin 15 and the center of the pivot hole 21 in the second link member 11 to the second locking pin 20. And the distance to the center of the second sliding pin 19 are set to be equal to each other.

Next, the holder member 4 in the key switch device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. Like the key top 2, the holder member 4 is molded from ABS resin or the like, and in the keyboard device of the present embodiment in which a plurality of key switches 1 are arranged, the holder member 4 is a key switch device provided on the keyboard. Corresponding to 1, one member is integrally formed on the entire keyboard.

A mounting hole 22 is provided in the holder member 4, and a rubber spring 5 fixed on a flexible circuit board 6 can be slid in the mounting hole 22 as will be described later. Further, among the four corner positions of the mounting hole 22, a pair of third locking portions 23 is formed at the left corner position in FIG. 5, and each third locking portion 23 is formed by each first locking portion of the key top 2.
The second sliding pin 19 of the second link member 11 is slidably held so as to face the locking portion 8 and have a long groove shape. Further, in the holder member 4, a pair of fourth locking portions 24 is formed at the right corner position in FIG. 5, and each fourth locking portion 24 faces the second locking portion 9 of the key top 2. Together with this, it is formed in a circular hole shape and rotatably holds the first locking pin 15 of the first link member 10.
The mounting hole 22 has a substantially quadrangular shape, but both side edges of the mounting hole 22 in the sliding direction (see the figure) so that the sliding operation of the rubber spring 5 will not be hindered as will be described later. The shape of the left and right side edges in 5 is an arc shape that matches the shape of the rubber spring 5.

Next, the flexible circuit board 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 5 and 6. The flexible circuit board 6 is formed by forming a predetermined circuit pattern on a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film or the like, and the lower surface thereof is supported on the support plate 7. The flexible circuit board 6 is slidable on the support plate 7. That is, the holder member 4 and the support plate 7 have a predetermined clearance (set to be larger than the thickness of the flexible circuit board 6) between them, and are “crimped” or screwed at a plurality of locations. Are connected to each other by the result that flexible circuit board 6
Is slidable on the support plate 7 via a clearance formed between the holder member 4 and the support plate 7.

On the flexible circuit board 6, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a rubber spring is provided at a lower position corresponding to a portion where the first link member 10 and the second link member 11 are axially supported with respect to each other. 5 is fixed. The rubber spring 5 is made of an elastic rubber material such as silicon rubber or EPDM, and has a conical dome portion 5A, an edge portion 5B formed around the dome portion 5A, and an edge portion 5B.
And two stopper portions 5C extended from (see FIG. 5). The movable electrode 25 made of conductive rubber is fixed to the inner upper wall of the dome portion 5A.
The base 12 of the first link member 10 is placed on the top of A. As a result, the guide member 3 including the first link member 10 and the second link member 11 has the rubber spring 5
It is elastically supported via the dome portion 5A. Since the rubber spring 5 is fixed on the circuit board 6, the rubber spring 5 is slid along with the flexible circuit board 6 according to the sliding operation of the flexible circuit board 6. This will be described later. Further, a chamfered portion N1 is formed around the upper edge of the dome portion 5A, and the chamfered portion N1 is formed at the side end (the left end in FIG. 2) of the base 12 of the first link member 10. N2
In cooperation with, the guide member 3 is smoothly guided upward.

Also, the dome portion 5A of the rubber spring 5
A pair of fixed electrodes 26 are formed on the flexible circuit board 6 corresponding to the movable electrodes 25 in the above. The fixed electrodes 26 are interposed via the movable electrodes 25 when the key top 2 is pressed, as will be described later. The switching operations are performed by being short-circuited with each other. Note that, as shown in FIG. 2, the fixed electrode 26 is formed so as to be shifted slightly to the left of the vertical line L with respect to the movable electrode 25. This is because when the key top 2 is pressed, the first sliding pin 1 of the first link member 10
4 and the second sliding pin 19 of the second link member 11,
The movable electrode 25 of the rubber spring 5 also buckles while being slightly shifted to the left in FIG. 1 by being slid in the first locking portion 8 and the third locking portion 23, respectively.
Contact the movable electrode 25 during switching.
Is for short-circuiting the fixed electrode 26 at the center thereof.

Further, as described above, the operation knob 27 integrally formed with the pressing member 34 fixed on the flexible circuit board 6 is operated when the flexible circuit board 6 is slid. As shown in FIG. 6, positioning protrusions 28 are formed on both sides of the operation knob 27 (only one of the positioning protrusions 28 is shown in FIG. 6). Both opposite side edges (upper and lower side edges in FIG. 6) of the elongated holes 32 formed in the holder member 4 corresponding to the movable range of the pressing member 34.
It is positioned and fitted in one of the two positioning grooves 29A, 29B formed in the upper edge only in FIG. 6). As a result, when the flexible circuit board 6 is slid between the holder member 4 and the support plate 7 via the operation knob 27 of the pressing member 34, the guide member 3 is placed on the dome portion 5A of the rubber spring 5. The first position (position where the keytop 2 can be operated) and the second position (position where the keytop 2 cannot be operated) where the guide member 3 is disengaged from the dome portion 5A of the rubber spring 5. It is possible to perform positioning with the holder member 4.

Incidentally, the positioning protrusion 28 of the operation knob 27 is positioned and fitted in the positioning groove 29A in FIG. 6, but in this state, the relationship between the respective members constituting the key switch device 1 is shown in FIGS. , And the relationship shown in FIG.
Further, the relationship between the respective members forming the key switch device 1 when the positioning protrusion 28 is positioned and fitted in the positioning groove 29B is as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 (described later).

Next, a method of assembling the key switch device 1 having the above-described structure will be described. First, in the state where the flexible circuit board 6 to which the rubber spring 5 is fixed and the pressing member 34 is fixed is sandwiched between the support plate 7 and the holder member 4, each support plate 7 and the holder member 4 are inserted.
While maintaining the clearance between the two, "Caulking",
Alternatively, they are connected to each other by screwing. at this point,
The flexible circuit board 6 is slidably arranged between the support plate 7 and the holder member 4. After this,
The pivot 16 of the first link member 10 is connected to the second link member 11
The guide member 3 is assembled so as to be pivotally supported in the pivot support hole 21 of the guide member 3. Next, each second sliding pin 19 of the second link member 11 is locked to the third locking portion 23 of the holder member 4, and further,
Each first locking pin 15 of the first link member 10 is snapped into the fourth locking portion 24 of the holder member 4. As a result, the guide member 3 is held by the holder member 4.

After the guide member 3 is held by the holder member 4 as described above, the key top 2 is arranged above the guide member 3 and each first sliding pin 14 of the first link member 10 is attached to the key top. First locking portion 8 formed on the front portion 2A of the second
The second locking pin 20 of the second link member 11 is formed in the rear portion 2B of the key top 2 while being locked inside.
Snap into the locking part 9. Thereby, the key switch device 1 is assembled. When the key switch device 1 is assembled as described above, the base portion 12 of the first link member 10 has the dome portion 5 of the rubber spring 5.
Since it is placed on A, the key top 2 is urged upward together with the guide member 3 through the elastic force of the rubber spring 5 and is held in the non-depressed position shown in FIG.
At this time, the operation knob 27 is fitted in the positioning groove 29A.

Next, the switching operation of the key switch device 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 7. FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the key switch device 1 showing a state in which the key top is pressed. When the key top 2 is not pressed, the positioning protrusion 28 of the operation knob 27 has the positioning groove 2 as shown in FIG.
9A is positioned and fitted.

When the key top 2 is pushed down from the state shown in FIG. 2, each first sliding pin 14 of the first link member 10 in the guide member 3 is slid to the left in the first locking portion 8. At the same time, the first locking pin 15 is rotated counterclockwise in the fourth locking portion 24. At the same time, the second locking pin 20 of the second link member 11 of the guide member 3 is rotated clockwise in the second locking portion 9, and the second sliding pin 1
9 is slid to the left inside the third locking portion 23. At this time,
The key top 2 is moved downward while maintaining the horizontal state regardless of the pressed position of the key top 2 by the cooperation action of each of the first link member 10 and the second link member 11.

With the downward movement of the key top 2, the first
The base 12 of the link member 10 gradually becomes the rubber spring 5
The dome portion 5A is pushed, and when the pushing force exceeds a certain limit, the dome portion 5A buckles with a click feeling. Due to the buckling of the rubber spring 5, the movable electrode 25 fixed to the inner upper wall of the dome portion 5A is turned on by short-circuiting the fixed electrodes 26 formed on the flexible circuit board 6 as shown in FIG. Then, the on-switching operation is performed.

When the key top 2 is released,
The base portion 12 of the first link member 10 is urged upward by the elastic force (returning force) of the rubber spring 5. At this time, each of the first sliding pins 14 of the first link member 10 is slid to the right in the first locking portion 8 and the first locking pin 1
5 is rotated clockwise in the fourth locking portion 24. At the same time, the second link member 11 of the second link member 11 of the guide member 3
The locking pin 20 is rotated counterclockwise in the second locking portion 9, and the second sliding pin 19 is slid to the right side in the third locking portion 23. Along with this, the dome portion 5A of the rubber spring 5 gradually returns to the original state, and the movable electrode 25 is separated from each fixed electrode 26 in this process. At this point, it is turned off and off-switching operation is performed. Then, the key top 2 returns to the original non-depressed state shown in FIG. 2 via the elastic force of the rubber spring 5.
At this time, the key tops 2 have the same first
The link member 10 and the second link member 11 cooperate to move the link member 10 upward while maintaining the horizontal state.

Next, in order to improve the portability of the key switch device 1 configured as described above, in order to lower the height of the key top 2, the flexible circuit board 6 is inserted through the operation knob 27 of the pressing member 34. Each first link member 10, second
The operation of sliding the link member 11 in the leg opening direction will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. Here, FIG. 8 is an explanatory view schematically showing the relationship between the holder member 4 and the rubber spring 5 in the non-operating position of the key top 2 after sliding the rubber spring, and FIG. 9 is the key top after sliding the rubber spring. It is a side sectional view showing typically the situation of key switch device 1 in the 2 non-operating position. In addition, before the sliding operation of the circuit board 6, the holder member 4 is
The rubber spring 5 is assumed to be in the state shown in FIG.

First, between the holder member 4 and the support plate 7,
The flexible circuit board 6 is moved in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 5 (leftward in FIG. 2) via the operation knob 27 of the pressing member 34, and is slid until the positioning protrusion 28 is positioned and fitted in the positioning groove 29B. When the flexible circuit board 6 is slid, the flexible circuit board 6 has the guide pin 34A of the pressing member 34 and the long hole 7A of the support plate 7 described above.
It is slid while maintaining a parallel state without tilting in cooperation with, and the sliding operation is performed by the pressing action of the protrusion 36 formed on the pressing member 34 in addition to the pressing action of the pressing member 34 itself. It slides smoothly without bending or wavy. At the same time, the dome portion 5A of the rubber spring 5 is gradually separated from the base portion 12 of the first link member 10, and the base portion 12 is moved to the dome portion 5A.
When it comes into contact with the conical wall portion A, the guide member 3 is urged upward by the elastic force of the rubber spring 5.
Each of the first link member 10 and the second link member 11 is mutually folded via the pivot shaft 16 and the pivot hole 21 thereof. Along with this, the height of the key top 2 gradually decreases from the state shown in FIG. And the first
When the base portion 12 of the link member 10 is completely removed from the dome portion 5A of the rubber spring 5, each first link member 1
0 and the second link member 11 are completely folded and placed on the flexible circuit board 6 as shown in FIG. 9, and at the same time, the height of the key top 2 is equal to the elastic force from the rubber spring 5. As shown in FIG. 9, it becomes the lowest because it is in the state of not receiving any noise.

When the base portion 12 of the first link member 10 is completely removed from the dome portion 5A of the rubber spring 5, each stopper 5C formed on the rubber spring 5 is removed.
Are locked in the locking grooves M formed in the second link member 11, whereby the first link member 10 and the second link member 11 are held in a folded state. Therefore, the key top 2 is held in a state in which the height of the key top 2 is the lowest, and even when vertical vibration is applied to the key top 2 while the key switch device 1 is being carried. It is possible to reliably prevent 2 from rattling.

Further, when the base portion 12 of the first link member 10 is completely disengaged from the dome portion 5A of the rubber spring 5, the rubber spring 5 is completely stored below the front portion 2A of the key top 2. In this way, when sliding the rubber spring 5 together with the flexible circuit board 6 to the non-operating position of the key top 2, the rubber spring 5 is slid toward the front portion 2A which is longer than the rear portion 2B and the front portion 2A. Since the rubber springs 5 are stored underneath, it is possible to reliably prevent the rubber springs 5 from being stored in a deformed state by contacting the key tops 2 and maintain the characteristics of the rubber springs 5 for a long time. it can. Also, the mounting hole 22
Both end edges (both left and right end edges in FIG. 5) of the are shaped like arcs that match the shape of the rubber spring 5,
The rubber spring 5 can be smoothly slid in the mounting hole 22 without coming into contact with the holder member 4.

When using the key switch device 1 to return the key top 2 to the operating position,
In accordance with the operation opposite to the above, the operation knob 2 of the pressing member 34
The flexible circuit board 6 is moved in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 5 (rightward in FIG. 2) through 7, and slides until the positioning protrusion 28 is positioned and fitted in the positioning groove 29A.
When the flexible circuit board 6 is slid, the flexible circuit board 6 is brought into a parallel state without tilting by the cooperation of the guide pin 34A of the pressing member 34 and the long hole 7A of the support plate 7 in the same manner as described above. It is slid while being held, and through the pressing action of the protrusion 36 formed on the pressing member 34 in addition to the pressing action of the pressing member 34 itself, it smoothly slides without bending or waviness during sliding. To be done. At the same time, first, the engagement between the engagement groove M and the stopper portion 5C is released, and the dome portion 5A of the rubber spring 5 gradually becomes the first link member 10.
Under the base 12 of, the base 12 will be placed on the top of the dome portion 5A. As a result, the folded first ring members 10 and the second link members 11 are restored to their original state, and along with this, the height of the key tops 2 gradually increases and the original state shown in FIG. Return to the operating position of. As described above, when the dome portion 5A of the rubber spring 5 goes under the first link member 10, the chamfered portion N1 is formed around the upper end edge of the dome portion 5A and the end of the base portion 12 is formed. Since the chamfered portion N2 that matches the chamfered portion N1 is formed in the portion, the first link member 10 is smoothly slid and guided upward through the cooperative action of the chamfered inclined portions N1 and N2. Is.

As described in detail above, in the keyboard device according to this embodiment, the long hole 32 is formed on one side of the holder member 4, and the holding member 34 having a size smaller than the long hole 32 is formed on the flexible circuit board 6. And the pressing member 34 is loosely fitted in the elongated hole 32 while forming the moving gap 35, so that the flexible circuit board 6 moves in the elongated hole 32 based on the operation of the operation knob 27 of the pressing member 34. The pressing member 34 is attached to the holder member 4 and the support plate 7 via
It is slidable between the flexible circuit board 6 and the rubber spring 5 fixed on the flexible circuit board 6, and the key top 2 can be operated by mounting the guide member 3 in correspondence with the sliding of the flexible circuit board 6. Since the key top 2 is slid to the inoperable second position away from the first position and the guide member 3, the flexible circuit board 6
Is slid while being pressed by the pressing action of the pressing member 34 at the time of sliding, and therefore,
The flexible circuit board 6 can slide smoothly without being bent or wavy.

Since a plurality of recesses 33 are formed on one side edge of the elongated hole 32 of the holder member 34, and a plurality of protrusions 36 which are fitted into the recesses 33 are formed on the holding member 34. As described above, when the flexible circuit board 6 is slid, the pressing member 34 presses the flexible circuit board 6 in addition to the pressing operation of the pressing member 34, and the pressing operation of each protrusion 36 is added. Therefore, even when the flexible circuit board 6 is slid to either the first position or the second position, the flexible circuit board 6 is more surely secured by the pressing action of the pressing member 34 itself and the pressing action of each protrusion 36. It can be smoothly slid on the support plate 7 while preventing its bending and waviness and maintaining its flatness.

Further, a positioning groove 29A corresponding to the first position and a positioning groove 29B corresponding to the second position are formed on the side edge of the elongated hole 32, and the pressing member 32 has each positioning groove 29A, Since the positioning protrusion 28 that is positioned on 29B is formed, the guide member 3 and the rubber spring 5 are formed.
And can be reliably positioned at each of the first position and the second position.

Further, in the key switch device 1 used in the keyboard device according to this embodiment, the first link member 10 is used.
And the second link member 11 are rotatably supported with respect to each other, the key top 2 is arranged so as to be vertically movable on the holder member 4, and the first link member of the guide member 3 is provided. The flexible circuit board 6 to which the rubber spring 5 for mounting the base portion 12 of 10 is fixed is the operation knob 2
Since it is configured to be slidable on the support plate 7 in the direction of the open / close leg of the first link member 10 and the second link member 11 between the operating position and the non-operating position of the key top 2 by means of 7, It is possible to easily reduce the thickness of the key switch device 1 by eliminating the need for a stem portion for guiding the sliding movement of the slide switch 2. Moreover, when the key switch device 1 is carried, the flexible circuit board 6 is slid to the non-operating position and the rubber is removed. By moving the spring 5 to a non-operating position which is out of the guide member 3, the biasing of the guide member 3 by the rubber spring 5 is released, and the first link member 10 and the second link member 11 are folded to fold the key top 2 The height of can be lowered.

Further, the rubber spring 5 has a stopper portion 5
Since C is formed and the engaging groove M is formed in the second link member 11, and the stopper portion 5C is engaged with the engaging groove M when the flexible circuit board 6 is slid to the non-operating position. , The key top 2 can be held in its non-operating position. Therefore, when the key switch device 1 is carried, the key top 2 can be reliably locked in the non-operating position to reliably prevent the key top 2 from rattling during carrying.

When the key top 2 is divided into the front portion 2A and the rear portion 2B with reference to the perpendicular L passing through the pivot shaft 16 of the first link member 10 in the guide member 3, the flexible circuit board is as described above. 6 with the key top 2 slid to the non-operating position, the rubber spring 5
Is configured to be housed and positioned below the front portion 2A, which is longer than the rear portion 2B, so that the space formed below the front portion 2A can be effectively used to effectively utilize the rubber spring 5
Can be efficiently stored under the key top 2. As a result, the rubber spring 5 can be stored under the key top 2 without being deformed by being subjected to any load, and it is possible to maintain a predetermined characteristic of the rubber spring 5 for a long period of time and to extend its life. Is something that can be done.

Further, in the key switch device 1, the chamfered portion N is formed around the upper edge of the dome portion 5A of the rubber spring 5.
1, and the chamfered portion N2 and the surface that matches the chamfered portion N1 are formed at the end of the base portion 12 of the first ring member 1, so that the rubber spring 5 is returned from the portable state to the original key operable state. At this time, the base portion 12 of the first link member 10 can be smoothly slid and guided upward through the cooperation of the chamfered portions N1 and N2.

The above embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention, and it goes without saying that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, when the key top 2 is pressed, the movable electrode 25 fixed to the inner upper wall of the dome portion 5A of the rubber spring 5 and the fixed electrode 26 formed on the flexible circuit board 6 are brought into contact with each other. However, a so-called membrane switch in which a spacer is interposed between two switching sheets is arranged on the lower surface of the holder member 4, and a pressing portion is formed on the inner upper wall of the dome portion 5A. It is obvious that the same effect as that of the above-mentioned embodiment can be obtained even with the configuration.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention, the flexible circuit board is slid to switch between the first position where the guide support member is placed on the switching member and the second position where the switching member is disengaged from the guide support member. At this time, it is possible to reliably prevent the flexible board from being bent or corrugated, and thus it is possible to provide a keyboard device capable of smoothly sliding the flexible circuit board, and its industrial effect is great.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a keyboard device with a part thereof omitted.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the key switch device according to the first embodiment in which the key top is in the operating position.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one link member.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the other link member.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view schematically showing the relationship between the holder member and the rubber spring at the operating position of the key top before sliding the rubber spring.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a locking structure of an operation knob.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the key switch device showing a state where the key top is pressed.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view schematically showing the relationship between the holder member and the rubber spring at the non-operating position of the key top after sliding the rubber spring.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view schematically showing a state of the key switch device in the non-operating position of the key top after sliding the rubber spring.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Key Switch Device 2 Key Top 3 Guide Member 4 Holder Member 5 Rubber Spring 6 Circuit Board 7 Support Plate 8 First Locking Part 9 Second Locking Part 10 First Link Member 11 Second Link Member 12 Base 14 First Sliding Moving pin 15 First locking pin 16 Pivot shaft 19 Second sliding pin 20 Second locking pin 21 Pivot hole 23 Third locking part 24 Fourth locking part 25 Movable electrode 26 Fixed electrode 27 Operation knob 28 Positioning protrusions 29A, 29B Positioning groove 31 Keyboard device body 32 Long hole 33 Recessed portion 34 Holding member 35 Moving gap 36 Projection portion

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. At least one guide support member that supports the key top and guides the movement in the vertical direction, a holder member to which the guide support member is attached, and the same number as the guide support member that is arranged below the holder member. And a flexible circuit board on which a predetermined circuit pattern is formed, which is provided with fixed electrodes, and which is arranged on the flexible circuit board corresponding to the fixed electrodes and supports the guide supporting member, and when the key top is pressed. A keyboard device comprising: a switching member that performs a switching operation in cooperation with a fixed electrode when pressed through the guide support member; and a support member that supports the flexible circuit board, wherein one side of the holder member A long hole of a predetermined size formed on the long hole, and a long hole formed in a size smaller than the size of the long hole. A pressing member that is loosely fitted in the elongated hole while forming a moving gap in the hole and is fixed to the flexible circuit board; and an operating member provided on the pressing member, wherein the flexible circuit board is The holding member is slid on the supporting member by moving the holding member by operating the operating member through the moving gap formed in the long hole, and each of the switching members corresponds to the sliding of the flexible circuit board. A keyboard device, wherein the keyboard device is slid between a first position supporting a support member and a second position separated from a guide support member. 2. A plurality of recesses are formed at one end of the elongated hole, and a plurality of protrusions are formed on the pressing member so as to be fitted into the recesses when the pressing member is moved. The keyboard device according to claim 1, which is characterized in that: 3. A first engaging groove corresponding to the first position and a second engaging groove corresponding to the second position are formed on a side edge of the elongated hole, and the pressing member has a second engaging groove. The keyboard device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second locking grooves are formed with locking projections.