JPH11237945A - Keyboard key - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide keyboard keys which can input the desired characters, numeric characters, symbols, etc., just by pushing only a single key top even though plural characters, numeric characters, symbols, etc., are shown on the key top. SOLUTION: A symbol '#', a half-size character 'A' (cursive form of Japanese syllabary), a full-size character 'A' (cursive form of Japanese syllabary) and a numeric character '3' are engraved at four corners of a square key top 2a. Meanwhile, the switch rods 8 to 11 and the contacts 18 to 21 which are turned on and off by these switch rods are placed on the rear face side of the key top 2a corresponding to those symbol, characters and numeric character respectively. Then a rocking support means 13 is added on the rear face side of the key top 2a to rock this key top toward its four corners respectively. When the symbol '#', for example, is pushed, only the contact 18 is turned on via the rods 8 by the rocking of the key top 2a. Thus, the pushing of the symbol '#' is detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key for a keyboard, and more particularly to a key for a keyboard capable of inputting a plurality of characters, numbers, symbols and the like by pressing one key top.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a perspective view of keys for a keyboard used in a conventional personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a personal computer) and the like. As shown in FIG. 6, each key is configured to include a key top, which is a key-pressing portion for an operator or the like to tap, and a switch portion that is turned on / off according to the presence or absence of the key-in. Individual key tops 101a to 101
a switch unit (key switch) 10 facing
2 to 102d are arranged.

On the other hand, four types of characters, numbers and symbols (for example, a half-width character “ぁ”, a full-width character “A”, a number “3”, a symbol “♯”) are assigned to one key top. May be engraved. In this case, in order to input a specific symbol (for example, ♯), it is input in combination with another key (for example, while pressing the “SHIFT” key, pressing the ♯ display key), or by a command. After changing the input mode, it is necessary to perform operations such as pressing the key indicated by ♯.

[0004]

However, when inputting desired characters and the like among the keys to which a plurality of characters, numbers and symbols are assigned, it is not necessary to simply press the key top. However, since the above-described additional operation is required, the operation is complicated. For this reason, for example, when characters or symbols that are not normally used are input, there is a problem that the user cannot remember the predetermined operation method and is frustrated.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the problem that even when a plurality of characters, numbers, symbols, etc. are displayed on a key top, the desired character, number, An object of the present invention is to provide keys for a keyboard on which symbols and the like can be input.

[0006]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a key top displaying a plurality of characters, numerals, symbols, and the like at a plurality of positions, and a key touched by an operator or the like. Touch position detecting means for individually detecting display positions of characters, numbers, symbols, and the like on the top. With such a configuration, for example, different characters and the like are displayed at the four corners of the key top, for example, and the touch position detection unit detects the character and the like at the touched corner. The key code corresponding to the detected character or the like is generated from a code generation means provided separately.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A keyboard key according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiment.

(1) First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a front view of a keyboard 1 to which this embodiment is applied.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a key 2 constituting the keyboard 1, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the key 2. As shown in FIG.
A plurality of keys 2 are arranged on a horizontally-long rectangular keyboard 1. Each key 2 has a key top 2 a on which thin trapezoidal characters, numbers, symbols, etc. are displayed, and an ON key disposed on the back side of the key top 2 a.・ It consists of a switch that turns off. For example, on the surface of the key top 2a, there are four types of characters and numerals, "@" in the upper left corner, "@ (half size)" in the upper right corner, "3" in the lower left corner, and "A (full size)" in the lower right corner.・ The symbol is engraved and displayed. Each key is mounted on a printed circuit board (hereinafter, referred to as a board) 7 by means described later (see FIGS. 3 and 5).

As shown in FIG. 2, the switch circuits 4 are formed on the substrate 7 in a matrix in the XY directions. The switch circuits 4 are turned on by pressing the key tops 2a at intersections of the matrix and turned off by releasing the pressing. The contacts 18 to 21 as “touch position detecting means, swing direction detecting means” are arranged. At positions corresponding to the four corners of the key top 2a, switch rods 8 to 11, which are "touch position detecting means and swing direction detecting means", are respectively arranged.
In a normal state (a state in which a key is not pressed or pressed), a gap G1 is formed between the key 11 and the key top 2a (see FIG. 3 (A)). A gap G2 is formed between them. Reference numerals 12 and 13 denote swing support means and swing direction detecting means, which will be described next.

Next, means for attaching the key 2 to the substrate 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (A), 4 (A) and 4 (B).
FIG. 3A is a side view showing the configuration of the key 2, FIG. 4A is an enlarged side view of the swing support means 13 for swinging and supporting the key top 2a, and FIG. Dynamic support means 1
3 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3A, four contacts 1 arranged on a substrate 7 in a matrix form.
A round bar-shaped support member 12 is erected at the center positions of 8 to 21, and a swing support means 13 is arranged at the top of the support member 12. The swing support means 13 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (B), a spherical outer shell 16 is fixed to the top of the support member 12, and an inner sphere 15 is rotatably arranged inside the outer shell 16, and the inner sphere 15 has a key top 2a. A round bar 14 to be fixed is attached. A guide groove 17 is formed in the outer shell 16 in a cross shape, and the round bar 14 swings along the guide groove 17. The portion 17a of the guide groove 17 corresponds to the number "3" of the key top 2a, and similarly, 1
The portion 7b corresponds to the symbol "@", the portion 17c corresponds to the half-width character "@", and the portion 17d corresponds to the full-width character "A".

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. For example, it is assumed that the operator presses the location of the symbol A (the symbol "@") at the upper left corner of the key top 2a in FIG. Then, in FIG. 4B, the key top 2a is swung along the guide groove 17b by pressing in the direction A, and the switch rod 8 is pushed down as shown in FIG. 3B. The contact 18 is turned on by this depression, and a key code corresponding to the symbol “♯” is output from a signal generation unit (not shown). Similarly, even when the other corners of the key top 2a (half-width character "@", full-width character "a", numeral "3") are pressed, the respective characters,
The key code corresponding to the number is output.

(2) Second Embodiment FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a key 20 according to this embodiment. The difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that the first embodiment has four types of characters, numbers, symbols, etc. displayed on the key tops, whereas the present embodiment has two keys. This is the case where the type of character is displayed. As shown in FIG.
The alphabetic character "B" is displayed on the left side of 2, and the character "ko" is displayed on the right side. The support member 12 and the swing support means 13 are arranged on the back side of the key top 22.
A switch rod 2 is placed on the board 7 corresponding to the letter "B".
5 and a contact (not shown) are arranged, and a switch rod 26 and a contact are arranged at a position corresponding to the character "". Even with this configuration, when the location of the alphabetical character “B” is pressed in the direction of the symbol F, the key top 22 is tilted toward the alphabetical character “B” and the switch bar 25 is pressed. This switch rod 25
Is pressed, the corresponding key code is output.

In this embodiment, the switch has a mechanical structure. However, for example, a conductive rubber switch may be provided. Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the on / off switch (contact) is arranged corresponding to the position where the key top is tilted by pressing is described. A touch sensor for detecting an operator's touch may be arranged for each of the above cases, and a key code corresponding to a touch at each corner may be generated. In the above embodiment, the keytop has a square planar shape, but other shapes (for example, a circle,
Rectangular).

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, when any of the characters, numbers, symbols, etc. displayed on the key top is touched by the operator, the touch position detecting means determines which character, etc. Since it is possible to detect whether or not a touch has been made, it is possible to detect, for example, four types of characters, numbers, and symbols with one keytop.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a keyboard to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are side views showing an operation state of the first embodiment, where FIG. 3A is a view showing a state where no touch is made, and FIG. 3B is a view showing a state where a touch is made;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main part of the first embodiment,
(A) is a side view of the swing support means, (B) is a key top,
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the swing support means.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of keys on a conventional keyboard.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Keyboard 2 key 2a Key top 4 Switch circuit 7 Printed circuit board 8-11 Switch rod (touch position detection means, rocking direction detecting means) 12 Support member 13 Rocking support means 14 Round bar 15 Inner ball (rocking support means) 16 outer shell (oscillation support means) 17 guide groove (oscillation support means) 18-21 contact point (touch position detection means, oscillation direction detection means)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A key top on which a plurality of characters, numbers, symbols, etc. are displayed at a plurality of locations, and a touch position for individually detecting a display position of the characters, numbers, symbols, etc. on the key top touched by an operator or the like. A key for a keyboard, comprising: a detection unit. 2. The touch position detecting means includes: a swing supporting means which is swingably supported for each direction of a display position of the touched character / number / symbol; and a swing direction of the swing supporting means. 2. A key for a keyboard according to claim 1, further comprising a swing direction detecting means for individually detecting the key. 3. The key top has a substantially square planar shape in which characters, numerals, symbols, and the like are displayed at at least one of four corners thereof, and the swing support means is connected to a central portion of the key top. A spherical member, and an outer member for swingably covering the outer peripheral portion of the spherical member, wherein the swing direction detecting means corresponds to each of display positions of the characters, numerals, symbols, etc. 3. The key for a keyboard according to claim 2, comprising a transmission rod for transmitting a touch force, and an on / off switch that is turned on / off by the transmission rod. 4. The key for a keyboard according to claim 3, wherein a guide groove for guiding a swinging direction of the key top is provided in the outer member. 5. The key for a keyboard according to claim 1, wherein said touch position detecting means is a touch sensor arranged for each display position of characters, numerals, symbols, etc. of said key top. 6. The key for a keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the characters, numbers, symbols, and the like are engraved and displayed on key tops.