JPH11134091A - Keyboard and information processor using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain miniaturization in the height direction of a keyboard with reduced height of the keyboard when using no key top by arranging a slide member, which is movable in the forward/backward moving direction of a motion supporting point, on the keyboard body and providing this slide member with a pantograph motion supporting point supporting part for the respective pantograph supporting point supporting members of the keyboard body. SOLUTION: A keyboard body 7 has a base member 8, a slide member 9 and first pantograph supporting point supporting part 10. On the base member 8, a fixed pantograph supporting point supporting part 10a of the first pantograph supporting point supporting part 10 is projected. On the slide member 9, a movable pantograph supporting point supporting part 10b of the first pantograph supporting point supporting part 10 is projected. Thus, movement between a keyboard service position and a keyboard non-service position is enabled. Therefore, when no key top is used, the key top can be located at the lowest position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a keyboard suitable for use in, for example, a notebook personal computer and an information processing apparatus using the keyboard.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a portable personal computer having a personal computer main body and a personal computer lid is known. The personal computer has a keyboard that elastically holds a number of key tops. The personal computer lid has a liquid crystal display section on the back side, and is pivotally supported by the personal computer main body.

Heretofore, such personal computers have been provided with a keyboard which holds each key top up and down on a keyboard body by a pantograph in order to obtain a good touch feeling of the key tops.

FIG. 4 shows a part of the keyboard.
Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, a keyboard denoted by reference numeral 51 in FIG.
And a key top 53 and a pantograph 54.

[0005] The keyboard body 52 has a base member 55 and a first pantograph pivot support portion 56.
The base member 55 includes a first pantograph pivot support 5.
A pantograph fixed pivot support portion (described later) of No. 6 protrudes.

The first pantograph pivot support 56 comprises a plurality of pairs of first pantograph pivot supports having a pantograph fixed pivot support 56a and a pantograph moving pivot support 56b.
a and 56b are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction.

[0007] The pantograph fixed pivot support 56a is provided with a round hole 57 in which the pantograph moving pivot (see below) of the pantograph 54 faces. A guide groove 58 is formed in the pantograph movement support point support portion 56b so as to extend in the movement direction (left-right direction) of the pantograph movement support point (described later) in the pantograph 54.

The key top 53 is composed of a number of key tops, is disposed on the base member 52 via a pantograph 54 so as to be able to move up and down, and is held by an elastic body (not shown). On each of these key tops 53, a second pantograph pivot supporting point 59 corresponding to each first pantograph pivot supporting point 56 is vertically provided.

The second pantograph pivot support 59 is composed of a pantograph fixed pivot support 59a and a pantograph movable pivot support 59b, and these pivot supports 59a, 59b are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals in the left-right direction. Have been.

The pantograph fixing pivot support 59a is provided with a round hole 60 facing the pantograph fixing pivot (not shown) of the pantograph 54. A guide groove 61 is formed in the pantograph movement support point support portion 59b so as to extend in the movement direction (left-right direction) of the pantograph movement support point (described later) in the pantograph 54.

The pantograph 54 has a central portion 54 for each link.
a, two links 62 and 63 connected to each other so as to be swingable
And is disposed between the base member 52 and each of the key tops 53 so as to be stretchable.

At both ends of the link 62, a pantograph fixed pivot point 62a and a pantograph movable pivot point 62a are respectively provided.
b. The pantograph fixed pivot point 62a is rotatably held in the round hole 60 of the pantograph fixed pivot point support part 59a, and the pantograph movement pivot point 62b is pivotally and freely movable in the guide groove 58 of the pantograph movement pivot point support part 56b. Is held in.

At both ends of the link 63, a pantograph fixed pivot 63a and a pantograph movable pivot 63 are respectively provided.
b. The pantograph fixed pivot point 63a is rotatably held in the round hole 57 of the pantograph fixed pivot point support portion 56a, and the pantograph movement pivot point 63b is pivotally and freely moved in the guide groove 61 of the pantograph movement pivot point support portion 59b. Is held in.

In the figure, the symbol a indicates the direction of the pressing operation of the key top 53, and b1 and b2 indicate the links 62,
The movement direction of the 63 pantograph movement pivot points 62b and 63b is shown.

In the keyboard constructed as described above, when the key top 53 is pressed in the direction of arrow a as shown in FIG. 4A, the pantograph 54 is reduced as shown in FIG. Key top 53 with reduction operation
Descends.

At this time, each pantograph fixed pivot point 62
a, 63a are pantograph fixed pivot support portions 56a, 5
9a, the pantograph movement pivot points 62b, 63b are guided by the guide grooves 58, 61 of the pantograph movement pivot point support portions 56b, 59b.
Moves in the direction of the arrow b1 while swinging in the inside.

On the other hand, when the pressed state of the key top 53 is released from the state shown in FIG. 4B (the pressed state of the key top 53), the key top 53 returns to the initial position by an elastic body (not shown).

[0018]

By the way, in this type of keyboard, the pantograph 54 expands and contracts when the key top 53 is pressed and released.
When the key top 53 was not used, the key top 53 was positioned at the uppermost position by an elastic body (not shown). As a result, the height of the keyboard when the key top is not used is increased, and there is a problem that the size is increased in the board height direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a keyboard which can reduce the height of the keyboard when the keytop is not used, and which can be downsized in the height direction of the board. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus using the keyboard.

[0020]

In order to achieve the above object, a keyboard according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a pantograph fixed pivot support and a pantograph movable pivot support which are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval. A keyboard body having a large number of pantograph pivot support pairs, and a pantograph pivot support corresponding to each of the pantograph pivot support pairs arranged on the keyboard body via a pantograph so as to be vertically movable and held by an elastic body. In a keyboard provided with a number of key tops having pairs, a slide member movable in the reciprocating direction of a moving pivot point corresponding to a pantograph moving pivot supporting point among pivot points of each pantograph is disposed on the keyboard body, This slide member includes a pantograph of each pair of pantograph pivot points of the keyboard body. It is constituted of a rough moving pivot point supporting portion. Therefore, when the sliding member is moved from the keyboard non-use position to the keyboard usable position, the pantograph is extended by the elasticity of the elastic body, and the key top is raised. On the other hand, when the slide member is moved from the keyboard usable position to the keyboard non-use position, the pantograph contracts against the elasticity of the elastic body, and the key top descends.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the keyboard according to the first aspect, a guide groove extending in a reciprocating direction of the movement pivot point of each pantograph is provided on the pantograph movement pivot point support portion of each pair of the pantograph pivot point support portions. There is a configuration that has been formed. Therefore, when the key top is moved up and down, the movement pivot point of the pantograph moves forward and backward along the guide groove of the pantograph movement pivot point support portion.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2
In the keyboard described above, a base member for movably holding the slide member is fixed to the keyboard body. Therefore, when the slide member is moved, the slide member moves on the base member of the keyboard body between the keyboard usable position and the keyboard non-use position.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the keyboard according to the third aspect, the base member is provided with a pantograph fixing pivot support of each pair of pantograph pivots of the keyboard body, and each of the pantograph fixing pivot supports. Is provided on the slide member. Therefore, the position of the pantograph fixed pivot support portion parallel to the pantograph fixed pivot support portion in the through window is relatively displaced by the movement of the slide member.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the keyboard according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further comprising a driving mechanism for applying a moving force to the slide member.
Therefore, the slide member moves between the keyboard usable position and the keyboard non-use position by the driving mechanism.

The invention (information processing apparatus) according to claim 6 is
An apparatus main body for holding the keyboard according to any one of claims 1 to 5, and an apparatus lid rotatably supported by the apparatus main body and having a liquid crystal display section on the back side thereof. , A tooth portion extending around the lid pivot portion is formed, and a tooth portion meshing with the tooth portion is formed on a slide member, and the tooth portion extends in the reciprocating direction of the moving pivot point of the pantograph. It consists of. Therefore, when the apparatus lid is rotated with respect to the apparatus main body, the teeth of the apparatus lid are rotated with the rotation, the teeth of the slide member are moved, and the slide member is moved to the keyboard usable position. And between the keyboard non-use position.

[0026]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views showing a pressed state and a released state of a key top of a keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 (a) and 3 (b) are perspective views showing a use state of the keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention with respect to a notebook personal computer, and FIG. ) And (b) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted. In FIG. 1, a notebook personal computer denoted by reference numeral 1 includes a personal computer main body 2 and a personal computer lid 3.
And a keyboard 4.

The personal computer main body 2 contains a liquid crystal drive (not shown), a printed circuit board (not shown), and the like. The personal computer lid 3
As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a liquid crystal display unit 5 is provided on the back side of the liquid crystal display unit 5, and is rotatably supported by the personal computer main body 2. Personal computer lid 3
Is formed with a tooth portion (gear portion) 6 extending around a portion around the lid pivot portion 3a.

The keyboard 4 is shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b).
As shown in the figure, the keyboard body 7, the key top 53, and the pantograph 54 are provided. The keyboard body 7
It has a base member 8, a slide member 9, and a first pantograph pivot support portion 10. The base member 8 is provided with a pantograph fixed pivot support (described later) of the first pantograph pivot support 10 protruding therefrom.

The slide member 9 is a slide member that can move in the direction of movement of the movable pivot points 62b and 63b among the pivot points of the pantograph 54, and is held on the base member 8. In the vicinity of the lid pivot portion 3a of the personal computer lid 3 in the slide member 9, a pantograph moving pivot point support portion (described later) of the first pantograph pivot point support portion 10 is protruded.

A pantograph fixed pivot support (described later) of the first pantograph pivot support 10 is inserted through a side of the slide member 9 opposite the pantograph pivot support of the pantograph movement pivot support (described later). Moving pivot points 62b, 63
A through window 11 extending in the direction of advance / retreat of b is formed.

A portion of the slide member 9 near the lid pivot 3a of the personal computer lid 3 extends in the direction of movement of the pantograph movement pivots 62b and 63b and engages with the teeth 6 of the personal computer lid 3. A tooth (rack) 12 is formed. Thus, when the personal computer lid 3 is rotated with respect to the personal computer main body 2, the tooth portion 6 of the personal computer lid 3 is rotated with the rotation, and
The tooth portion 12 of the slide member 9 moves, and moves between the keyboard usable position and the keyboard non-use position.

The first pantograph pivot support 10 comprises a large number of pairs of first pantograph pivot supports having a pantograph fixed pivot support 10a and a pantograph movement pivot support 10b. The pair of pivot support portions 10a and 10b are arranged side by side in the left-right direction at predetermined intervals.

The pantograph fixing pivot support 10a is provided with a round hole 13 facing the pantograph fixing pivot 63a of the link 63. The guide groove 14 is formed in the pantograph movement pivot support point 10b so as to extend in the direction of movement of the pantograph movement pivot point 62b of the link 62.

In the figure, reference numerals c1 and c2 indicate the direction of rotation of the personal computer cover 3, and d1
And d2 indicate the moving direction of the slide member 9.

The key-top elevating operation of the personal computer having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. This is performed by moving the slide member 9 (1) and moving the key top 53 (2). First, the case (1) will be described. (1) To move the slide member 9, the personal computer lid 3 is opened and closed. That is, to open the personal computer lid 3, the personal computer lid 3 is rotated in the direction of arrow c1 from the closed state shown in FIG.

At this time, when the slide member 9 moves from the keyboard non-use position in the state shown in FIG. 2 to the keyboard usable position in the state shown in FIG.
The horizontal position of the pantograph movement support point 62b of the link 62 (the parallel position of the pantograph movement support point support portion of the keyboard body 7) is relatively displaced in the guide groove 14 of the pantograph movement support point support 10b.

Then, as shown in FIG.
The pantograph fixed pivot points 62a and 63a of the links 62 and 63 rotate with respect to the pantograph fixed pivot point support parts 10a and 59a, and the pantograph movement pivot points 62b and 63b of the links 62 and 63 are changed to the pantograph movement pivot point support parts 10b and 10b. While rotating with respect to 59b, the slide member 9
, The pantograph 54 expands due to the elasticity of the elastic body (not shown), and the key top 53 rises.

On the other hand, in order to close the personal computer lid 3, the personal computer lid 3 must be closed as shown in FIG.
From the open state shown in (b), the operation is performed in the direction of arrow c2.
At this time, when the slide member 10 moves in the direction of the arrow d2 from the keyboard usable position in the state shown in FIG. 1A (the position where the key top 53 is pressed and released) to the keyboard non-use position in the state shown in FIG. The pantograph movement pivot point 62b of the link 62 moves together with the member 10 in the same direction.

Then, the pantograph fixed pivot points 62a and 63a of the links 62 and 63 rotate with respect to the pantograph fixed pivot point support portions 10a and 59a, and the pantograph movement pivot points 62b and 63b of the links 62 and 63 move pantograph. While rotating with respect to the pivot support portions 10b, 59b, the moving operation direction of the slide member 9 (arrow d)
2), the pantograph 54 contracts against the elasticity of an elastic body (not shown), and the key top 53 descends.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the key top 53 can be positioned at the lowest position when the key top 53 is not used, so that the keyboard height when the key top 53 is not used can be reduced.

Next, the case (2) will be described. (2) To move the key top 53, the key top 53 is pressed and released in the same manner as described in the related art. That is, as shown in FIG. 1A, when the key top 53 is pressed in the direction of arrow a against the resilience of an elastic body (not shown), as shown in FIG. The key top 53 is lowered with the reduction operation.

At this time, each of the pantograph fixed pivot points 62
a, 63a are pantograph fixed pivot support portions 10a, 5
9a, the pantograph movement pivot points 62b, 63b are guided by the guide grooves 14, 61 of the pantograph movement pivot point support portions 10b, 59b.
While moving in the direction of arrow b1 (d2).

On the other hand, when the pressed state of the key top 53 is released from the state shown in FIG. 1B (the pressed state of the key top 53), the key top 53 returns to the initial position by an elastic body (not shown).

In this embodiment, the case where the slide member 9 is moved between the keyboard usable position and the keyboard non-use position by rotating (opening and closing) the personal computer lid 3 has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the same effects as those of the embodiment can be obtained even if a moving force is applied to the slide member 9 by a pulling operation using a cable or the like or a driving mechanism (not shown) having a motor or the like.

In the present embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a personal computer has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other information processing devices such as a word processor in the same manner as the embodiment.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, a slide member which can move in the moving direction of the moving pivot point corresponding to the pantograph moving pivot point support portion among the pivot points of each pantograph is provided on the keyboard body. However, since this slide member is provided with a pantograph moving pivot support of each pair of pantograph pivots of the keyboard body, when the slide is moved from the keyboard non-use position to the keyboard usable position, the elasticity is increased. The pantograph expands due to the body's elasticity, and the keytop rises. On the other hand, when the slide member is moved from the keyboard usable position to the keyboard non-use position, the pantograph contracts against the elasticity of the elastic body, and the key top descends.

Therefore, the key top can be positioned at the lowest position when the key top is not used, so that the height of the keyboard when the key top is not used can be reduced, and the size in the board height direction can be reduced. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views showing a pressed state of a key top of a keyboard according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a released state thereof.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a non-use state of the keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views showing the use state of the keyboard according to the first embodiment of the present invention for a notebook personal computer.

4A and 4B are cross-sectional views showing a pressed state and a released state of a key top of a conventional keyboard.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer 2 Personal computer main body 3 Personal computer lid 3a Lid pivot support part 4 Keyboard 5 Liquid crystal display part 6 Teeth part 7 Keyboard main body 8 Base member 9 Slide member 10 First pantograph pivot support point 10a Pantograph fixed pivot support part 10b Pantograph moving pivot support section 11 Penetration window 12 Teeth 53 Key top 54 Pantograph 59 Second pantograph pivot supporting point 59a Pantograph fixed pivot supporting section 59b Pantograph moving pivot supporting section 62 Link 62a Pantograph fixed pivot supporting 62b Pantograph moving Pivot point 63 Link 63a Pantograph fixed pivot point 63b Pantograph moving pivot point

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard body having a plurality of pairs of pantograph pivot support points each comprising a pantograph fixed pivot support section and a pantograph movement pivot support section which are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval, and a pantograph connected to the keyboard body via the pantograph. A keyboard provided with a number of key tops which are arranged to be able to move up and down and are held by an elastic body and have a pair of pantograph pivot support points corresponding to each pair of pantograph pivot support parts; A sliding member that is movable in the reciprocating direction of a moving pivot point corresponding to the pantograph moving pivot point support portion is disposed on the keyboard main body, and the slide member includes a pair of pantograph pivot support point pairs of the keyboard main body. Characterized in that a pantograph moving pivot support is provided. Keyboard. 2. The pantograph moving support point support portion of each of the pair of pantograph pivot support portions is provided with a guide groove extending in the direction of movement of the moving support point of each pantograph. Keyboard described. 3. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein a base member for movably holding the slide member is fixed to the keyboard main body. 4. The pantograph fixed pivot support of each pair of pantograph pivots of the keyboard main body is provided on the base member, and the slide member is provided with a through window through which each of the pantograph fixed pivot supports is inserted. 4. The keyboard according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising a drive mechanism for applying a moving force to said slide member. 6. An apparatus main body for holding the keyboard according to claim 1, and an apparatus lid rotatably supported by the apparatus main body and having a liquid crystal display section on its back side. Forming a tooth portion extending around the lid pivot portion on the device lid; and forming a tooth portion meshing with the tooth portion on the slide member, wherein the tooth portion is a moving pivot point of the pantograph. An information processing apparatus comprising a tooth portion extending in the forward and backward directions.