JPH11121U - Key switch device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] By integrating an electric circuit pattern and a mounting portion of an actuator configuration, it is possible to achieve a reduction in thickness and a reduction in the number of components. SOLUTION: A conductive pattern surface of a plastically workable base material 1 is insulated with an insulating resist, a switching circuit pattern is printed thereon using a conductive ink, and a carbon conductive ink is printed on a connector and a fixed contact pattern 2. The other parts are subjected to mask insulation printing. The substrate 1 has the mounting portions 1a and 1c for mounting the guide support member 6 on the processed base material 1 by press-cutting the back surface thereof.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

 The present invention relates to a key switch device, and more particularly to a key switch device suitable for use in a thin keyboard attached to a notebook type word processor, a notebook type personal computer, or the like.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, a key switch device generally has a configuration in which a circuit board of an insulating film is sandwiched between a holder member and a switch support plate, as described in the specification and drawings attached to Japanese Patent Application No. 3-330160. I have.

On the film circuit board, a fixed contact pattern in which two types of switching circuits and fixed contacts extending from each circuit are combined in a comb-like manner is printed, and the fixed contact pattern corresponding to the fixed contact pattern described above is printed. A rubber spring formed in an inverted cup shape is arranged at the position. The rubber spring has a movable contact inside, and the switching operation is performed by depressing the rubber spring.

Further, an actuator is provided on the holder member corresponding to the rubber spring, and a keytop is mounted on an upper end of the actuator. When the operator depresses the keytop, the actuator guides the keytop to the upper part of the corresponding rubber spring, and depresses the rubber spring. When the pressing amount exceeds a certain amount, the movable contact inside the rubber spring comes into contact with the fixed contact pattern, and short-circuiting between the fixed contacts causes switching.

[0005] The switch support plate corresponds to a lower cover of the keyboard device, and increases the rigidity of the keyboard device and the reliability of key input.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in recent years, as word processors and personal computers have become smaller, thinner, lighter, and less expensive, keyboards attached to them have been similarly made smaller and thinner. ing.

[0007] On the other hand, the movable portion of the key is required to be ergonomically excellent in operability (generally, it is necessary for a person to recognize a press-down of 3 to 4 mm). Therefore, it is necessary to meet the above requirements while securing this downward stroke.

However, many parts and holder members around the key actuator are mainly manufactured using a resin material, and the processing method is mainly formed by injection molding. Therefore, the minimum thickness of each member is required to be at least 1.5 mm. This means that as the number of components to be stacked increases, it becomes more difficult to reduce the thickness, and the weight naturally increases.

The conventional key switch device has a three-layer structure of a holder member, a film circuit board, and a switch support plate. If the three layers are not properly aligned without any gaps, the response of the key operation is unreliable. For this reason, there are some types that have been processed to suppress the floating of the three layers for each key or at regular intervals, but that processing requires considerable time and effort.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has a simple structure by integrating a substrate, an electric circuit pattern, and a mounting portion for mounting a guide support member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a key switch device that can respond to the miniaturization and thinning of a keyboard, secure sufficient key strokes, has good operability of key input, and enables reliable key input. I do.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 To achieve this object, the key switch device of the present invention includes a substrate formed of a plastically deformable metal material and a circuit pattern printed on an insulated surface of the substrate. A fixed contact pattern having at least one pair of fixed contacts formed in the circuit pattern, printed on the surface of the substrate, a key top provided corresponding to the fixed contact pattern, and the key A guide support member connected to a lower portion of the top and for guiding and supporting the key top in a vertical direction; and a movable contact for performing a switching operation between fixed contacts as the key top moves up and down. A mounting portion for locking is integrally formed with the substrate.

[0012] The key top has a locking portion vertically provided from the back surface thereof in correspondence with the mounting portion provided on the substrate, and the guide support member is constituted by two link members. The two link members are pivotally supported in a cross-shaped manner at a shaft supporting portion and are rotatable relative to each other. Lock pins are formed at both ends of each link member, and each lock pin is The mounting portion and the locking portion, which are movably locked to the mounting portion and the locking portion, and are present on one side with respect to a vertical line passing through the axis of the shaft support portion, are each of the link members. Each of the mounting portions and the locking portions on the other side slidably lock the locking pins of the link members. It may have a sliding groove to stop.

[0013] The mounting portion may be processed by pressing from the back surface of the substrate, and a projection surface may be provided at a predetermined position on the surface of the substrate where the shaft of the locking pin of the guide support member contacts. .

[0014]

[Action]

 According to the key switch device of the present invention having the above configuration, when the keytop is pressed, the guide support member connected to the lower portion guides the keytop downward. Further, when the keytop is pressed, the movable contact is pressed via the guide support member, and the movable contact is brought into contact with the fixed contact pattern printed on the substrate. As a result, a switching operation is performed.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a substrate 1 of the key switch device of the present embodiment. The substrate 1 is made of a plastically deformable metal such as iron or aluminum, and its surface is subjected to resist printing as an insulating process. On the insulated surface, a first electrical circuit pattern for switching is printed with a conductive paint such as silver, and at a portion corresponding to an intersection of the second electrical circuit pattern and the first circuit pattern. After performing the insulation printing, the second circuit pattern is likewise printed with a conductive paint. At regular intervals, fixed contacts in the shape of a hand extending from two circuits are combined to form a fixed contact pattern 2.

The portions corresponding to the fixed contact pattern 2 and the connector (not shown) are coated with carbon, and the other circuit surfaces are subjected to resist printing to prevent the printed circuit lines from being deteriorated by oxidation. In some cases, a protective film is adhered thereon to protect the circuit surface during plastic working.

Around the fixed contact pattern 2, guide support member mounting portions 1a and 1c are formed integrally with the substrate 1 by press working. The mounting portions 1a and 1c are formed so as to surround the fixed contact pattern 2 so as to be arranged in a rectangular shape at four points on the upper, lower, left and right sides. The mounting portion 1a has a structure in which two locking shafts 8a of the guide support member 6 described later are rotatably locked, and the mounting portion 1c has a structure in which the locking pin 7a is horizontally slidably locked.

That is, the mounting portion 1a is integrally formed in a convex shape from the substrate 1 and is processed into an arc shape so as to have a locking hole sufficient for the locking shaft 8a to rotate. The mounting portion 1c to be slidably locked is formed integrally with the substrate 1 in a convex shape, and is formed into a U-shape as viewed from the horizontal direction so as to have a long hole-shaped locking groove.

In general, a large number of fixed contact patterns 2 are regularly and horizontally arranged, and two types of mounting portions 1a and 1c are also formed so that each is arranged in the same row.

The mounting portions 1a and 1c on the substrate 1 of the key switch device embodying the present invention are formed as follows. First, the hinge portion (the portion corresponding to the mounting portion 1a or 1c) is cut out by removing the U-shaped blank 1b at a predetermined position on the substrate 1 (this processing is hereinafter referred to as blank processing). The attachment portions 1a and 1c are formed by press bending the hinge portion. However, blanking of metal plates is generally performed by pressing in terms of cost. Since blanking by pressing is a process of shearing and breaking through a die by a punch as a punching die, when viewed from the surface to be pressed, sagging occurs on the upper surface and burrs 11 occur on the rear surface. The burrs 11 hinder the smooth movement of the locking pin. When blanking is performed from the back surface, the burrs 11 that hinder the movement of the locking shaft 8a and the locking pins 7a are formed on the boundary of the blank portion 1b on the front surface of the substrate 1.

In order to prevent the harm, as shown in FIG. 8, the thick film 3 is printed on a part of a predetermined portion on the circuit board 1 where the locking shaft 8a and the locking pin 7a touch near the mounting portion. Is applied. Due to the presence of the thick film 3, the locking shaft 8a and the locking pin 7a are mounted on the thick film 3 as shown in FIG. 9, so that the guide support member 6 floats from the surface of the substrate 1 by that much. Since the thickness of the thick film 3 is sufficiently large with respect to the height of the burr 11, the locking shaft 8a and the locking pin 7a can move smoothly without being caught by the burr 11.

In addition to the printing of the thick film 3, the same effect as that of the thick film 3 can be obtained by forming a protruding surface in the vicinity of the mounting portion by performing light pressing from the back surface of the substrate 1. Of course.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the configuration of the key switch device of the present embodiment. An inverted cup-shaped rubber spring 4 is mounted as a switching member at a position corresponding to the fixed contact pattern 2 on the substrate 1 described above. The rubber spring 4 has a well-known movable contact inside, and a pressing shaft 82 of a shaft support portion A of the guide support member 6 described later is arranged at the center of the upper surface thereof.

Thus, when the shaft support A moves downward with the depression of the key top 5, the depression shaft 82 depresses the rubber spring 4, and when the depression amount exceeds a certain limit, the rubber spring 4 buckles, The fixed contact pattern 2 is short-circuited by the movable contact in the rubber spring 4.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the key switch device. In FIG. 4, the key top 5 is molded from a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin, and letters such as alphabets are formed on the upper surface thereof by printing or the like. ing. Further, from the back surface of the key top 5, the rotation locking portion 5a and the sliding locking portion 5b correspond to the mounting portions 1a and 1c on the substrate 1 and are integrally formed with the key top main body 5 downward. Is provided.

The rotation locking portion 5a has a locking hole for rotatably locking a locking shaft 7b formed at one end of one of the two link members 7, 8 to be described later. The sliding locking portion 5b is formed with a locking groove for locking the locking pin 8b formed at one end of the other link member 8 so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction. ing.

A guide support member 6 for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key top 5 is provided below the key top 5, and the guide support member 6 includes two link members 7 and 8.

One link member 7 is formed in a U-shape in plan view as shown in FIG. 5, and has a pair of plate-like members 71. A locking shaft 7b is provided between one end of each plate-like member 71. In addition to being integrally formed, a locking pin 7a is formed at the other end of each plate-like body 71. Shafts 7c are respectively formed at central positions inside the respective plate-like members 71 opposed to each other, and the shafts 7c are formed on respective plate-like members 81 of the link member 8 described later. Are rotatably supported by the respective shaft holes 8c.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the other link member 8 has a pair of plate-like members 81, and a locking shaft 8 a is integrally formed between one end of each plate-like member 81. The other end of each plate-like body 81 is formed with a locking pin 8b. In addition, between the central positions inside the plate-shaped members 81, they are placed on the upper surface of the rubber spring 4 described above, and when the key top 5 is pressed, the link members 7, 8 rotate relative to each other. Accordingly, a pressing shaft 82 for pressing the rubber spring 4 downward is provided. Thus, the pressing shaft 82 presses the rubber spring 4 in accordance with the pressing of the key top 5 to perform a switching operation.

A shaft hole 8 c is provided at a central position facing each other on the outside of each plate member 81, and each shaft hole 8 c is provided in each plate member 71 of the link member 7. Each of the formed shaft bodies 7c is rotatably supported. As a result, the link members 7 and 8 can rotate while crossing each other via the respective shafts 7c and the shaft holes 8c. Thus, a shaft support A is formed by the shaft body 7c, the shaft hole 8c, and the pressing shaft 82.

The locking pin 7a and the locking shaft 7b of the link member 7 are arranged on a straight line with the shaft 7c as a center, and the distance from the shaft 7c is equal. The locking pin 8b and the locking shaft 8a of the link member 8 are arranged in a straight line about the shaft hole 8c, and the distance from the shaft hole 8c is equal.

As shown in FIG. 4, the guide support member 6 is provided in a locking hole formed in the rotation locking portion 5 a of the key top 5 by the locking shaft 7 b of the link member 7. It is rotatably locked. Further, the locking pin 7a is locked to the mounting portion 1c formed on the substrate 1 for sliding locking. Further, the locking shaft 8a of the link member 8 is rotatably locked to the mounting portion 1a which is formed on the substrate 1 and is rotatably locked. Further, the locking pin 8b is slidably locked in a locking groove formed in the sliding locking portion 5b of the key top 5.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, both link members 7, 8 are formed such that the thickness of the distal end portion of each plate-like body 71, 81 is reduced. For this reason, even when the key top 5 is pressed, the ends of the plate-like bodies 71 and 81 of the link members 7 and 8 do not come into contact with each other during the pressing of the key top 5. Therefore, the key top 5 is configured such that the pressing operation is not hindered on the way and the key stroke can be sufficiently secured.

Next, the operation of the key switch device having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the key switch device.

In FIG. 7, when the key top 5 is pressed down, the locking shaft 7b of the link member 7 is moved counterclockwise in the locking hole of the rotation locking portion 5a as the key top 5 moves downward. While rotating in the direction, the locking pin 8b of the link member 8 slides horizontally (rightward in FIG. 7) in the locking groove of the sliding locking portion 5b. At the same time, the locking shaft 8a of the link member 8 rotates clockwise in the locking hole of the mounting portion 1a for rotating and locking the circuit board 1, and the locking pin 7a of the link member 7 slides. Slide horizontally (rightward in FIG. 7) in the locking groove of the mounting portion 1c to be locked.

As a result, the shaft supporting portion A that supports the link members 7 and 8 with each other moves downward and gradually presses the rubber spring 4, and when the pressing amount exceeds a certain limit, the rubber spring 4 is pressed. The spring 4 is buckled. As a result, the movable contact in the rubber spring 4 short-circuits the fixed contact pattern 2 on the circuit board 1 and a predetermined switching operation is performed.

When the depression of the key top 5 is released, the shaft supporting portions A of the link members 7 and 8 are pushed upward by the elastic restoring force of the rubber spring 4. Accordingly, the locking shafts 7b and 8a and the locking pins 7a and 8b perform operations opposite to those described above, and as a result, the key top 5 is returned to the original position.

Here, since the locking shafts 7b and 8a do not move in the horizontal direction but only rotate in the locking holes, the key top 5 does not move in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the keys do not collide with the adjacent keys, and are moved up and down while the horizontal state of the key surface of the key top 5 is maintained.

As described above, the rubber spring 4 has a substantially trapezoidal shape in a side view, and the angle of the side surface due to the length and height of the upper base and the lower base is determined according to the desired key touch. Further, the height of the trapezoid, that is, the height of the rubber spring 4 is determined according to the keystroke, and a higher one is preferred. However, in view of the thickness of the entire apparatus, it is obvious that the rubber spring 4 cannot be so large.

Further, as described above, the thickness of the distal end side of each plate-like body 71, 81 of both link members 7, 8 is reduced in side view, so that the keystroke operation is not hindered in the middle. Sufficient stroke can be secured.

From the above, the key switch device according to the present invention can increase the keystroke in response to the thinning of the keyboard by forming the circuit board, the holder member, and the switch support plate into one structure. Thus, it is possible to provide a key switch device that has good key operability and can reliably perform key input, and that is highly effective in reducing the number of parts, facilitating assembly, and reducing the weight of the device.

In general, a logic board, a storage device, and a power supply of a portable computer are often arranged under a keyboard, and thus, measures against heat generated by these are problematic. In the key switch device of the present invention, a large number of holes (blank portions 1b) provided in the substrate function as cooling holes, so that heat can be effectively radiated. In this regard, the present invention has an ideal structure.

In addition to the above effects, in particular, in the key switch device according to the present embodiment, the configuration in which the key stem is guided by the key holder portion can be completely eliminated, so that the key switch device differs from the conventional key switch device. There is no sliding noise between the key stem and the key holder when the key is pressed, and there is no need to reduce the key operation area to press the center of the key.

Further, in the key switch device according to the present embodiment, each of the locking shafts 7b and 8a locked in the locking hole of the rotary locking portion 5a and the locking hole of the mounting portion 1a for rotary locking. When the key top 5 is depressed, the key top 5 does not move in the horizontal direction but only rotates in the locking hole, so that the key top 5 is not moved in the horizontal direction. Therefore, it is possible to provide a key switch device which has good key operability and can reliably perform key input without colliding between adjacent keys and keys.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the link members 7 and 8 in the present embodiment may be the same type of members combined in a pantograph shape.

Further, in the present embodiment, the rubber spring 4 is pressed by the shaft supporting portions of the link members 7 and 8, but the rubber spring 4 is pressed by another member provided on the link members 7 and 8 or the key top 5. It may be.

[0048]

[Effect of the invention]

 As described above, according to the key switch device of the present invention, the number of components can be reduced by integrating the board, the electric circuit pattern, and the mounting portion for mounting the guide support member. At the same time, a key that has a simple configuration, can respond to the miniaturization and thinning of the keyboard, can secure sufficient key strokes, has good key input operability, and enables reliable key input. A switch device can be provided.

In addition, although a hole is formed in the substrate when the mounting portion is formed, the hole functions as a cooling hole, thereby exhibiting an excellent heat radiation effect.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a substrate of a key switch device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the substrate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a board and components of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the key switch device of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the link member of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another link member of the present embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the key switch device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the shape of thick film printing of the key switch device of the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the mounting portion 1c of the key switch device of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Substrate 1a Mounting part which rotates and locks 1c Mounting part which slides and locks 2 Fixed contact pattern 3 Thick film 4 Rubber spring 5 Key top 6 Guide support member 7 Link member 8 Link member

Claims (3)

[Utility model registration claims] A substrate formed from a plastically deformable metal material, a circuit pattern printed on an insulated surface of the substrate, and at least one pair of a pair formed in the circuit pattern. A fixed contact pattern having a fixed contact, printed on the surface of the substrate, a key top provided corresponding to the fixed contact pattern, and a key top connected to a lower portion of the key top and up and down A guide support member for guiding and supporting in a direction, and a movable contact for performing a switching operation between the fixed contacts as the key top moves up and down, and a mounting portion for locking the guide support member is integrally formed on the substrate. A key switch device comprising: 2. The key top has a locking portion vertically provided from a back surface thereof, corresponding to a mounting portion provided on the substrate, wherein the guide support member includes two link members, The two link members are pivotally supported at a shaft support in a cross-shaped manner and are rotatable relative to each other. Lock pins are formed at both ends of each link member, and each lock pin is attached to the mounting member. The mounting portion and the locking portion, which are movably locked to the link portion and the locking portion, and are present on one side with respect to a vertical line passing through the axis of the shaft support portion, It has a rotation hole for rotatably locking the stop pin, and the mounting portion and the locking portion present on the other side slidably lock the locking pin of each link member. The key switch device according to claim 1, further comprising a sliding groove. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion is processed by pressing from the back surface of the substrate, and a projection surface is provided at a predetermined position on the substrate surface with which a shaft of a locking pin of the guide support member abuts. The key switch device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein