JPH09325843A - Keyboard, information processor, and keytop - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyboard which is easily operated and is compact and thin suitable for a portable information processor such as a PDA. SOLUTION: In each keytop 10 having cantilever structure provided with an operation part 11 appearing on the surface 1a of the keyboard 1 and an arm part 12 for side-supporting the operation part 11, the arm part 12 is constituted so as to be arranged on the rear side of the operation part 11 of a keytop 10 in another adjacent switching station 20. Since the area of the surface 1a of the keyboard 1 can be occupied maily by the operation parts 11, the area of each operation part 11 can be extended and a keyboard which is easily operated and in which respective operation parts 11 are arranged adjacently like a laptop personal computer can be provided. Since the length of the arm part 12 can be sufficiently secured, the keyboard small in size, thin in thickness and reduced in the feeling of rotation at the time of depressing the poretaion part 11 can be provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard and key top used for data input of an information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Information processing devices such as personal computers are becoming smaller and lighter, and in recent years, PDA (Person
A compact and high-performance information processing device suitable for carrying as an al Digital Assistant) has begun to be marketed. In these miniaturized information processing devices, it is necessary to reduce the space in which the processing functions such as the CPU are mounted and to provide a user interface that is small and easy to use. As the input device of the information processing device, the keyboard is the main force in the current situation where the ability of the voice recognition system is insufficient, and the most convenient input device for inputting a large amount of data and communicating with the information processing device. Is.

[0003]

Therefore, in order to make the information processing apparatus smaller and thinner suitable for carrying,
It is desired to realize a keyboard that is small, thin, and easy to use.

As one technique for thinning a keyboard,
It has been considered that the key tops forming each switching station of the keyboard have a cantilever structure. By supporting the key tops in a cantilever manner, a space for accommodating a link mechanism for supporting the key tops from below can be saved, so that a switching station having a small thickness can be configured.

10 and 11 show an example of a keyboard 1 in which a key top 10 is supported in a cantilever manner. FIG.
Each switching station 20 has a structure of a keyboard 1 in which a plurality of switching stations are arranged in accordance with a predetermined key arrangement like a Japanese 106 keyboard.
1 is shown by using a partial cross section so that the schematic configuration of FIG. Further, in FIG. 11, main constituent elements of the keyboard 1 are shown expanded. This FIG. 10 and FIG.
The keyboard 1 shown in Fig. 2 has a membrane substrate 2 that can detect whether or not the key top 10 is operated by the electrical connection of the contacts when the key top 10 is pressed; The key top 10 can press the switching portion 2a of the membrane substrate 2 via the embossed sheet 3 with the embossed sheet 3 having a function of pushing the key back to its original position. On the membrane substrate 2 and the embossed sheet 3, a switching unit 2a and a click generating unit 3a are arranged in front, rear, left and right so that a switching station can be configured according to the key arrangement of the keyboard 1. Switching part 2a of the membrane substrate 2
The key top 10 for operating is an operation unit 11 operated by a fingertip and an arm unit 12 that cantilever-supports the operation unit 11.
Each of the key tops 10 is formed integrally with the plastic plate 4 which also serves as a housing. Furthermore, a cosmetic label 5 is placed on the key top 10.
Is attached, and the operation portion 11 of each key top 10 is exposed on the surface of the keyboard 1 through the opening 5a provided in the decorative label 5.

As described above, the keyboard 1 in which the operation portion 11 of the key top 10 is laterally supported by the arm portion 12
Can save the storage space of the link mechanism that supports the key top 10 from below. Therefore, it is possible to make the keyboard 1 thin, which is suitable for a portable information processing device such as a PDA. However, the operation unit 11
Since the arm portions 12 are cantilevered, the operation portions 11 are separated from each other by the distance of the arm portions 12. Therefore, when it is attempted to provide a predetermined number of switching stations in a keyboard having a predetermined area, the operation section 11 becomes smaller by the area occupied by the arm section 12. For this reason, unlike keyboards of laptop type PCs that support the key top from below, the operating part is small and the keyboard between the key tops is open, so the operation is It's hard to do, and I can't create a product with a good design. Arm part 1
It is also possible to shorten 2 to increase the area occupied by the operation portion 11 of the key top, but if the arm portion 12 is shortened, there is a sense of rotation when the key top is pushed down, and it is horizontal like a normal keyboard. I can't get the feeling of sinking into. Therefore, there is a feeling of strangeness in the operation of the keyboard, and this also makes the keyboard difficult to operate, which causes the user not to like it.

Therefore, in the present invention, a cantilevered keytop can be used to make it thinner, and the operation parts of the keytop are arranged adjacent to each other like a laptop computer keyboard, and further, horizontal It is intended to provide a keyboard and a key top that give a feeling of sinking into. It is an object of the present invention to provide a small and thin keyboard which is suitable for a portable information processing terminal such as a PDA and which is easy to operate.

[0008]

Therefore, in the present invention, the cantilevered key tops can be partially overlapped vertically so that the operation portion of the key tops appearing on the surface of the keyboard is enlarged. In addition, the arm portion having a sufficient length for supporting the operation portion in a cantilever manner can be secured. That is, in a keyboard in which a plurality of switching stations each including a switching unit of the present invention and a key top for operating the switching unit are arranged in the front, rear, left, and right, the operation unit that appears on the surface of the keyboard and the operation unit At least a part of the keytop is characterized in that it has a cantilevered arm portion, and that this arm portion can be arranged on the back side of the operation portion of the keytop that constitutes the adjacent switching station. . At least a part of the switching stations of the keyboard of the present invention is characterized in that the arm portions of the keytops forming the switching stations are arranged on the back side of the operation portions of the adjacent keytops. In the keyboard using the key top of the present invention, the arm portion can be arranged on the back side (lower side) of the operation portion of the key top of the adjacent switching station. Therefore, the cantilever type key top is used to make the keyboard thin and compact. It is possible to provide a keyboard that is easy to operate and has an excellent design because the keyboard can be made compact and the operation unit can be made large. Further, by adopting the keyboard of the present invention as a data input device for the information processing unit, it is possible to provide an information processing device which is downsized and thinned as a whole and in which input operation is easy.

In such a key top, a part of the arm portion on the tip side is connected to each other to form a plurality of key tops forming the switching station, which are adjacent to each other in the front / rear or left / right directions. The key top can be integrally molded.
In the conventional laptop computer keyboard that is supported by the keytop from below, the keytops of each switching station are individually configured, and it is necessary to assemble them individually including the link mechanism. Can be integrally formed with rows in the left-right direction. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembling process can be reduced, so that a small and thin keyboard can be provided at low cost. Further, by integrally forming the key tops in the row direction, the arm portions of the respective key tops can be arranged on the back side of the operation portions of the key tops of the other adjacent row. Therefore, as described above, it is possible to provide a keyboard that is small in size and has a large operation section that is easy to operate.

Further, the arm portion of the key top is provided with a mounting portion that can be mounted on the base on which the switching station is assembled, so that the operating portion can be supported by the base in a cantilever manner to further reduce the number of parts for assembling the keyboard. can do. It is also possible to simplify the structure of the keyboard by holding a switching unit such as a membrane substrate that forms a switching station between the base and the key top by the arm unit.

Of course, the key top may be made of resin or metal. If the key top is made of metal, the thickness of the key top can be made thinner than that made of resin.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a thin and miniaturized keyboard which can be easily carried in a bag or the like according to an embodiment of the present invention, and particularly suitable as a data input device of a PDA. In the keyboard 1 of this example, a plurality of switching stations 20 are arranged on the surface 1a according to the standard such as Japanese 106 keyboard. The keyboard 1 of the present example is provided with a connector portion 31 that can be opened and closed in the rear portion thereof, that is, in the portion far from the portion in front of the keyboard 1.
By connecting the PDA 30 to the PDA 1, the PDA 30 can be used in the form of a notebook personal computer. PDA3 which is the portable information processing terminal shown here
The 0 has a large LCD 32 that can be carried in a pocket or the like and can display a large amount of data such as e-mail. The PDA 30 can be downsized, and is a large LC for displaying a large amount of data.
Since the D32 is adopted, the one in which the pen input is adopted as the data input device instead of the keyboard is one direction. Until the function of the voice input device is improved, the PDA 30 having such a form processes and displays a large amount of data and is suitable as a portable information processing device having various functions such as a connection function with the Internet. Will be. However, a keyboard that is easier to operate than a pen input device is suitable for inputting a large amount of data and performing smooth communication with a PDA computer or a computer connected via a network. Therefore, in this example, P
A small and thin keyboard 1 that can be easily attached to and detached from the DA 30 and that can be easily stored and carried in a bag etc. separately from the PDA 30 is used for inputting a large amount of data and for communicating with a computer. When you need to establish quick communication with the PDA30 keyboard 1
It can be used by connecting to.

As shown in FIG. 2, the LCD 3 of the PDA 30
The lower part of 2 has a slot 3 for the keyboard 1
4a is prepared, the connector 33 is built therein, and the insertion port 34a is covered by a cover 34 that can be opened and closed. On the other hand, the connector portion 31 of the keyboard 1
Is composed of a PDA mounting mechanism 35 that can be swung at an appropriate angle by a mechanism 36 that generates an appropriate torque by using a frictional force of a metal surface. The PDA attachment mechanism 35 can be rotated to a position where it is integrated with the surface 1a of the keyboard 1, and the surface 1a of the keyboard 1 becomes flat in the closed state. P for the PDA mounting mechanism 35
A connector 36 with the DA 30 is housed, and when the insertion port 34a of the PDA 30 is inserted into the PDA attachment mechanism 35, the PDA 30 and the keyboard 1 are connected and data can be input. Since the angle between the PDA 30 and the keyboard 1 can be set to an appropriate angle that is easy for the user to use by the torque generating mechanism 36, it is possible to provide a configuration similar to that of a notebook computer in which the keyboard 1 can be used on a desk or in a car. The PDA 30 can be set at a position where the LCD 32 can be easily seen.

The keyboard 1 used with the PDA 30 as in this example is preferably of A4 or B5 size or smaller so that it can be carried in a bag or the like, and further, it occupies a space for the bag. It is desirable that it is thin and lightweight so that it does not happen. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in this example, the key top 10 having a cantilever structure is adopted in order to realize the thin keyboard 1. Further, a part of the key tops 10 constituting the adjacent switching stations 20 are vertically overlapped with each other so that a large area of the operation portion 11 of the key tops 10 can be secured. Each switching station 20 of the keyboard 1 of the present example is assembled on a base 25 which is a reinforcing plate, and a switching unit including a membrane substrate 2 and the like for discriminating the switching operation from the lower side by electrical connection of contacts and a switching unit. , The embossed sheet 3 that generates a click feeling when a key is operated and at the same time generates a restoring force that returns the key top 10 to the original position, and the movement of the key top 10 is transmitted to the click portion 3a of the embossed sheet 3 to provide a key operation feeling. A rubber sheet 6 for improving is laminated. The key top 1 is above the rubber sheet 6.
0 is arranged, and the switching station 2 is operated by the operation unit 11 of the key top 10 that appears on the surface of the keyboard 1.
0 can be operated. A plurality of switching stations 20 having such a laminated structure are arranged on a base 25 so as to form a predetermined arrangement, and a resin case 7 that forms the framework of the keyboard 1 is attached.

The key top 10 of this embodiment has an operating portion 11 which is formed in a substantially square shape and is suitable for operation with a fingertip.
An arm portion 12 that cantilevers the operation portion 11 from a predetermined direction is provided. The arm portion 12 of this example is the operation portion 1
1 extends from the front side of the keyboard 1 to the lower side with a slight inclination, and the arm portion 12
Is arranged so as to be slightly lower than the operating portion 11. Therefore, in the keytop 10 of this example, the arm portion 12 can be arranged below the operation portion 11 of the keytop 10 that constitutes the adjacent switching station 20. For this reason, in the planar arrangement of the keyboard 1, the gap for the arm portion 12 can be omitted, and the surface 1 of the keyboard 1 only needs to be pushed down by the operation portion 11.
It is possible to configure almost a. Therefore, it is possible to narrow the interval between the operation portions 11 of the keytops 10 that form the respective switching stations 20, and using the keytop 10 having a cantilevered support structure, the keyboard of the conventional laptop computer. It is possible to configure the keyboard 1 having an excellent design as described above.
As described above, the keyboard 1 of the present example can make the area of the operation unit 11 much wider than that of a conventional cantilever support structure keyboard having the same area. Further, the operation unit 11
Since the arm 12 supports the switching station 20 in a cantilever manner, a link mechanism or the like for vertically supporting the operation unit 11 on the switching station 20 is unnecessary, and this space can be omitted to make the switching station 20 thin. . Therefore, it is possible to provide a thin and small keyboard which is similar in operation to a laptop computer and is easy to operate, and can input a large amount of data to a portable device such as a PDA or can be smoothly operated with a computer. An input device suitable for establishing communication can be provided.

FIG. 5 partially shows the arrangement of the switching stations 20 in the keyboard 1. In the keyboard 1 of this example, the operation unit 11 of the key top 10
The front end 12a of the arm portion 12 that supports the base 25 is extended to a position that does not hinder the operation of the adjacent operation portion 11 (in this example, the operation portion of the key top in the front row).
It is attached to In this example, the tip 12 of the arm 12 is
a extends to approximately the middle of the operating portion 11 in the front side, and a space is provided between the arm portion 12 and the operating portion 11 so that an appropriate key stroke can be obtained. The extending direction of the arm portion 12 is not limited to the front side as in this example, and it may be extended in any of front, rear, left and right directions depending on the arrangement of the keyboard and the position of the switching station. Further, in the key arrangement shown in FIG. 5, the switching stations are alternately arranged in a zigzag manner, but it goes without saying that the key arrangement is not limited to this.

In the key top 10 using the arm portion 12 as described above, when the operation portion 11 is pushed down with the fingertip,
The operation part 11 pivots around the tip 12a of the arm part 12, and the membrane substrate 2 provided below the operation part 11
You can operate the switching part. The key top 10 of this example includes an operation section 11 having a large area and this operation section 1
1 is provided with an arm portion 12 extending to the lower side of the operation portion 11 on the front side, the arm portion and the operation portion include the keyboard 1
Compared with a conventional cantilevered keyboard placed on the same level (layer), the tip 1 of the arm that becomes the center of rotation
It is possible to secure a sufficient distance from 2a to the operation unit 11. For this reason, the feeling of rotation of the keytop 10 when the operation unit 11 is pushed down is reduced, and it is possible to realize a feeling similar to that of a keyboard in which the keytop is vertically supported, which is similar to a horizontally depressed feeling. Therefore, the keyboard 1 of the present example can provide a conventional personal computer-like feel even with an operational feeling, so that a small and thin keyboard that is easy for the user to operate can be provided.

Further, in the key top 10 of this example,
A plurality of key tops adjacent to each other in the left-right direction are connected by a tip 12a of the arm portion, and the key tops forming one horizontal row of the keyboard 1 are integrally formed. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional keyboard in which the key top is attached to each switching station, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the assembling property can be improved. Further, even if the key tops are formed for each row, the keyboard 1 of the present example in which the key top operation portion 11 and the arm portion 12 are arranged in an overlapping manner can be realized, so that the above-described operation is easy and small and thin. Can provide a keyboard. The switching stations arranged on the keyboard may be formed of key tops in which one horizontal row is integrated, or may be formed of key tops partially formed in one horizontal row. Further, in the keyboard of this example, it is desirable to configure the key tops in which one horizontal row is integrated, but depending on the keyboard layout etc., it is configured with the key tops that are integrated in the row of switching stations extending in the front-back direction of the keyboard. It is also possible to do so.

Further, in the key top 10 of this embodiment, the support portion 13 extends substantially vertically from the tip 12a of the arm portion 12 toward the base 25, and the base 25 is provided below the support portion 13.
The hook portion 14 that can be attached to the cut-and-raised portion 26 provided in the
Is provided. The support portion 13 is a membrane substrate 2 and an embossed sheet 3 laminated on the lower side of the key top 10.
And the thickness of the rubber sheet 6 is set to be almost the same, and the support is provided in the openings 2b, 3b and 6b provided in the membrane substrate 2, the embossed sheet 3 and the rubber sheet 6 corresponding to the switching station 20. Cut the hook portion 14 through the portion 13 and raise the base 2
6 can be connected. As described above, the key top 10 of the present example can be directly attached to the base 25, and the key top 10 can be cantilevered with respect to the base 25 with a simple structure. Further, by attaching the key top 10 to the base 25, the membrane substrate 2 or the embossed sheet 3 and the rubber sheet 6 which form a switching part are attached to the key top 10 and the base 25.
It is possible to hold the keyboard 1 in a predetermined position between them, and by mounting the key top 10 on the base 25, the keyboard 1 can be almost assembled. As described above, the keyboard 1 of the present embodiment is excellent in assemblability and can realize a simple configuration suitable for downsizing and thinning. Further, when a plurality of key tops arranged in the column direction are integrally formed as in this example, it is possible to provide a hook portion 14 for each switching station to improve the operation feeling. The hook portion 14 is provided for each of a plurality of switching stations with an interval enough to ensure appropriate strength.
May be provided.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic process of manufacturing the keytop 10 of this example. First, a base material 41 of a metal plate as shown in FIG. 6 (a) is prepared, and the base material 41 in a flat state is printed on the surface of the key top by a method such as silk printing as shown in FIG. 6 (b). The symbol 42 or the like is printed. Next, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6C, printing is protected by a method such as laminating 43 or coding, and punching is performed as shown in FIG. 6D when the printing process is completed. Further, as shown in FIG. 6E, bending and drawing are performed to form the final shape of the key top. As described above, when the keytop 10 of this example is formed of metal, the keytop 10 can be formed by simple processing steps such as punching, bending, and drawing.
Furthermore, since a highly accurate punching process can be adopted, a thin key top 10 can be provided. Further, as shown in the above process, it is possible to perform printing in the state of the flat base material 41, and the keytop 10 can be installed by a simple and inexpensive printing facility.
It is possible to perform highly accurate printing. Therefore, it is possible to easily deal with various specifications of keyboards that differ depending on countries or regions, and keyboards with different specifications can be supplied at low cost in a short period of time.

It is of course possible to mold the key top 10 with a resin such as plastic, and various functions can be added to the key top 10 by using a resin such as plastic. For example, FIGS. 7 and 8 show different examples of the key top 10 according to the present invention, and a rib-shaped projection 15 with a rounded tip is provided on the back surface of the operating portion 11 of the key top 10. If such a key top 10 is adopted, the click portion 3a of the embossed sheet 3 can be operated by the protrusion 15, as shown in the configuration of the switching station 20 using the cross section in FIG. Therefore, the rubber sheet 6 can be omitted, the keyboard 1 can be made thinner by the space of the rubber sheet, and the keyboard 1 can be provided at low cost. Further, in the key top 10 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the mounting opening 27 opened in the base 25.
A vertically extending hook portion 14 is provided so that it can be inserted into. As described above, various methods can be adopted for attaching the arm portion 12.

FIG. 9 shows an example in which the switching station 20 is configured by using a coupling instead of the embossed sheet. Switching station 2 of this example
In No. 0, the membrane substrate 2 is provided on the base 25, the bowl-shaped coupling 8 made of silicon rubber is provided thereon, and the position of the coupling 8 is fixed by the resin frame 9. When the operating portion 11 of the key top 10 of this example is arranged above the coupling 8 and the operating portion 11 is pushed down, the elasticity of the coupling 8 provides an appropriate click feeling and a force for returning the operating portion 11 to the original position. I am allowed to do so. Although the configuration of one switching station is shown in FIG. 7 or FIG.
The arm portion 12 that cantilevers the can is arranged below the operation portion 11 of another adjacent switching station, and the operation is easy as described with reference to FIG. 3 or FIG. It goes without saying that a customized keyboard can be provided.

[0023]

As described above, the key top and keyboard of the present invention can provide a thin keyboard suitable for portable use, in which the operating portion is cantilevered by the arm portion as the key top constituting the switching station. Is. By allowing the arm portion to be arranged on the back side (lower side) of the adjacent operation portion, the ratio of the area occupied by the operation portion to the surface area of the keyboard can be significantly increased, and the operation portion can be small and thin but large. It is possible to provide an easy-to-use keyboard that can be arranged. Furthermore, since the arm portion can be arranged below the operation portion, a keyboard having a cantilever structure can be formed on the surface of the keyboard in which the operation portions are adjacent to each other and are easy to operate. Therefore, the length of the arm portion can be sufficiently secured, so that the keyboard can be provided in which the operation portion sinks substantially horizontally and has a good operation feeling.

Therefore, by adopting the key top and the keyboard of the present invention, it becomes possible to provide a keyboard suitable as an input device for a small and thin information processing device suitable for carrying such as a PDA, and a large number of portable types. It is possible to provide an information processing device which can easily input the data of and can easily communicate with the computer.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a keyboard of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing how a PDA is connected to the keyboard shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the keyboard shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing main components of the keyboard shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing how a partial key arrangement of the keyboard shown in FIG. 1 is configured.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic process for molding the key tops of the keyboard shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a switching station using different key tops of the present invention.

8 is a perspective view showing the key top shown in FIG. 7. FIG.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which different switching stations are configured using the key top of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of a keyboard using a conventional cantilevered keytop.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view showing main components of the keyboard shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ・ ・ Keyboard 2 ・ ・ Membrane substrate (switching part) 3 ・ ・ Embossed sheet 6 ・ ・ Rubber sheet 7 ・ ・ Resin case 8 ・ ・ Coupling 9 ・ ・ Resin frame 10 ・ ・ Keyboard 11 ・ ・ Operating part 12 ・ ・Arm part 12a · Tip of arm part 13 · Support 14 · · Hook part 15 · · Operation protrusion 20 · · Switching station 25 · · Base (reinforcing plate) 26 · · Base cut and raised 27 · · Base Opening 30..PDA 31..Keyboard connector 41..Keytop base material

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard in which a plurality of switching stations each including a switching unit and a key top for operating the switching unit are arranged in front, rear, left and right, and the key top appears on a surface of the keyboard. A keyboard having at least one arm portion of the key top disposed on the back side of the adjacent operation portion of the key top. 2. The key top according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the key tops forming at least a part of the switching stations adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction of the key tops are integrally formed, and these key tops are integrated. Also, a part of the plurality of key tops on the tip side of the arm portion are connected to each other. 3. The switching station according to claim 1, wherein the switching station is assembled on a base, the arm portion has a tip end side attached to the base, and the operation portion is cantilevered with respect to the base. Keyboard characterized by. 4. The keyboard according to claim 3, wherein the switching section is held between the base and the key top by the arm section. 5. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the key top is made of metal. 6. A key top for configuring a plurality of switching stations arranged on the keyboard in the front, rear, left and right directions to operate a switching section of the switching station, the operation section appearing on the surface of the keyboard, and the operation section. And a cantilevered arm portion, wherein the arm portion can be arranged on the back side of the operation portion of the keytop that constitutes the adjacent switching station. 7. The key top according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of key tops are integrally formed so that the operation portions thereof are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction. A key top characterized in that a part of the tip side of the key top arm is connected. 8. The key top according to claim 6, wherein the arm portion includes an attachment portion that can be attached to a base for assembling the switching station, and the operation portion can be cantilevered with respect to the base. . 9. The key top according to claim 6, wherein the operation portion and the arm portion are made of metal. 10. An information processing apparatus, comprising: the keyboard according to claim 1; and an information processing unit to which data is input via the keyboard.