JPS58194214A - Keyboard switch - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention relates to a keyboard switch.

For example, a snap switch is known as a known electrical switch used in a keyboard of a data processing device. This snap switch is generally formed of silicone rubber into a sheet shape with a large number of switches. Each switch is shaped like a truncated cone and collapses to create a snap effect when pressed directly by a finger or via a key button. However, this type of switch has the following drawbacks.

Once a key is pressed, it loses lateral stability and therefore cannot be operated reliably.

FIG. 1 shows a known switch 10. FIG.

The switch 10 includes a sheet g11 made of silicone rubber. The seat portion 11 has a support 8!12, which is formed in the shape of a cone with a truncated tip and a key button 13.
It extends to A conductive member 14 is attached to the lower surface of the key button 13. The conductive member 14 may be made of conductive rubber. Sheet 11 is circuit board 15
One circuit board disposed above supports a number of contacts 16 arranged in a comb-like pattern. In such a configuration, when the button 13 is pressed, the cone or support 12 collapses and the conductive member 14 contacts the contact 16, thereby closing the switch. however,
This type of switch has the drawbacks mentioned above. That is, once pressed, the switch loses lateral stability and cannot be operated reliably. If a guide is attached to the switch to prevent lateral movement, each movement of the switch will tend to have an effect in the opposite direction.

This invention was made in view of the above points.

The purpose is to provide a keyboard switch with reliable operation.

In order to achieve the above object, the keyboard switch of the present invention includes a key operation member having a key button and a support section located on different sides of the key button, and a pressing force that is applied and a relative movement of the key button caused by the pressing force. An electrical contact means whose conductive state changes in response to movement.

It is equipped with One of the supporting parts is formed relatively hard and gives a cantilever effect to the operation of the key button. In addition, the other support part is relatively elastic,
Gives return force to key buttons.

Further, according to another keyboard switch of the present invention, a key operating member and an electrical contact means whose conductive state changes according to the applied pressing force and the movement of the key operating member caused by the pressing force are provided. We are prepared. This electrical contact means has two contacts separated by a membrane. This membrane has a hole, and in an unpressed state, the contact parts are held apart from each other at the position of the hole, and when pressed by the key operation part, these contact parts is guided into the hole. The membrane is disposed on a surface having a recess aligned with the key operating member and a protrusion located within the recess and aligned with the hole in the membrane.

Thereby, the contact portion is guided between the key operating member and the protrusion.

The latter keyboard switch of this invention, i.e. a keyboard having a protrusion located in a recess adjacent to a hole in the membrane.
The switch can provide advantageous effects without being merged with a keyboard switch that has a cantilevered effect.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 2, the switch 20 has substantially the same configuration as the switch shown in FIG. The switch 20 thus comprises a seat 21 which has a support 22 , 22 ′ extending towards the key button 23 .

The circuit board 25 is provided with contacts 26 arranged in a comb shape, and above the contacts there is a conductive member 26.
4 are provided. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the support portion 22' is longer and thicker than the support portion 22, and has a cutout portion 27 at the base end extending along the circuit board 25. Thereby, the support part 22'
acts as a cantilever. That is, when a key is pressed, the support 22' provides a positive positioning movement with lateral stability. At the same time, the support 22 provides a vertical return force, giving the switch a snap feel. @As shown in Figure 3.

The switch may be provided with side edges 28, 29 for a snap action, which also act as dust covers.

The conductive member 24, like the switch shown in FIG.
It may be attached to a key button. Further, since the key switch is supported in a cantilevered manner along the notch portion 27, the conductive member 24 may be attached to the support portion 21 as shown in FIG. In any case.

Contact 2G is positioned corresponding to conductive member 24. The latter configuration has two advantages. First, it is possible to cause a switch action when the key reaches its fully depressed position. Therefore, even if you slightly release your finger from the switch, the contact with the switch is not immediately broken. The key button 23 can be formed hollow in the IE2, which can save material costs.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of the switch. As shown in FIG. 4, in the key switch 40, instead of using conductive silicone rubber pieces to selectively conduct the contacts,
A bent member, such as the illustrated tube member 41, may also be used in a thin film switch. In this type of switch, electrical contacts 42 are attached to a layer of plastic film 43 and the contact is broken at a very small distance. This is accomplished by attaching five layers 43 to each opposing side of circuit board 44. The circuit board includes holes in which contacts are provided. When the key button is pressed, 1 bending member 4
1 presses the electrical contact 42 to close the switch.

Key switch 3 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 respectively
The 0.40 has a cantilevered side that is longer than the opposite side. Although such a configuration has the advantage of providing cantilever action, it is also possible to create a key switch in which the cantilevered side is not formed as long as the opposite side. . In this case, what you need is 1
This is because the cantilevered side is harder than the opposite side.

For example, as shown in the figure, this can be accomplished by forming the four sides of the cantilever shape to be thicker than the opposite sides. According to such a configuration, hard sides.

Thus, the support 22' can provide a cantilever effect, and the opposite side, i.e. the support 22, acts to provide a return force when the key switch is pressed, resulting in the necessary snap action. is obtained.

FIG. 3 shows a key switch with side edges 2B, :II, which has the advantage of providing a completely covered switch that is protected from adverse surrounding conditions. However, if the surrounding environment permits, the 11111 edge may be removed and the key switch actuation member may consist solely of a relatively stiff cantilevered support and a relatively flexible support that provides the return force. configured.

The various configurations described above include a rectangular key button, a substantially rectangular cantilever support portion, and a substantially rectangular reheating support portion. It is also possible to provide an arrangement with a cantilever support acting on the bottom and a support with a return effect acting on the remaining part of the key button.

The function of the relatively rigid cantilever support in the key switch molded from silicone rubber mentioned above is to ensure that the key button moves vertically without tilting, but if one side of the key button is pressed. In some cases, the key can also be tilted towards its suppression. When the switch contact is located at the bottom center of the key.

If the key is tilted, these contacts may not close. Because the operator.

This is because when one side of the key senses that it has reached its limit of movement, the pressing force applied to the key is immediately removed. Of course, it is also possible to provide the switch contacts below the sides of the key, but this is impractical and requires high material costs (for example, silver is used for the contacts). The purpose of the variant described below is to provide a switch in which the small central switch contact is closed no matter what angle the key is tilted.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a further improved switch 50. The key 51 is made of silicone rubber.

When the key 51 is pressed, the switch contact 58 on the flexible membrane 56 is pressed and sandwiched between the protrusion 55 of the key 51 and the pin 53 of the case 52. A shallow recess 54 is formed around the pin 53 and has a depth of approximately 0.02 inches (approximately 0.5 m) and is larger than the key protrusion 55. When one end edge of the key button 51 is pressed, one side of the key protrusion 55 comes into contact with the bottom surface of the recess 54. and,
Even if the protrusion g55 of the key located above the central pin 53 does not contact the contacts 58, the contacts 58 are brought into contact with each other and closed by the deformation of the membrane 56 into the recess 54.

! Figure 6 shows a top view of keyswitch 50, with membrane 56 removed for clarity of illustration.

Figure 7 shows membrane 5I! 1 shows a plan view of I. The membrane 56 is 3
It is formed by stacking plastic sheets.
These sheets are made of polycarbonate or polyester material.

The central sheet is approximately 0.01 inch (approximately 0.25 m) thick and has an adhesive coating on both sides. Furthermore, a hole 57 with a relatively large diameter is formed in the center sheet. Contacts 58 are printed on the inner surface of each of the upper and lower sheets using, for example, silver-containing ink.

These contacts are thereby kept at a very small distance and are brought into contact with each other, ie closed, by deflection of the top or bottom surface of the membrane.

In the embodiments described above, the bottom 55 of the key button 51 is shown as being uniformly flat, but other shapes may be used to save material.

For example, the key may be a key button with ribs attached along a horizontal or diagonal direction which may be hollow, circular or rectangular.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a known keyboard switch. ) Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a keyboard switch relating to one implementation of this invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the keyboard switch shown in FIG. 2. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the keyboard switch, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another modified example of the keyboard switch, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing another modified example of the keyboard switch. FIG. 2 is a plan view with some parts omitted; FIG. 7 is a plan view of a portion omitted in FIG. 6. 20.40.50...keyboard switch, 23.5
1...Key button, 22°22'...Support paper 26.
42.58...Contact, 53...Pin. 54... recess, 55... protrusion, 56... membrane. Applicant's agent Takeshi Suzue Intentional engraving (
No change in content) Figure 6Z Procedural Amendment (Method) Showa 518. June 15, 1989, Commissioner of the Patent Office, Mr. Kazuo Wakasugi 1, Indication of the case 4? Application No. 58-29602 2, name of invention key is single switch 3, relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant Sinclair 9 Nade Limited 4, agent address 1-chome, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, part number 5 17th Mori Building 5, date of amendment order May 31, 1980 6, appropriate document to be amended (name of representative), power of attorney and its translation. Drawings, Specification 7, Contents of amendments Reprint of specification as attached (Contents I: No changes) Reprint of drawings (No changes to contents)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] (1) A key operation unit having a key button and a support portion located on different sides of the key button, a pressing force applied to the key button, and a pressing force generated by applying the pressing force to the key button. electrical contact means whose conductive state changes in response to relative movement; one support part is formed relatively hard to provide a cantilever effect on the operation of the key button, and the other support part is formed relatively hard. A keyboard switch that is relatively elastic and provides a return force to the key buttons. (2) The hard support part forms one side of the key operation part and is formed to be larger than the other side of the key operation member on which the resilient support part is formed. A keyboard switch according to claim 1. 2. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the hard support portion is thicker than the resilient support portion.
switch. (4) According to any one of claims 1 to 111E3, wherein the hard support part has a notch that forms a pivot point for exerting a one-piece holding effect. Keyboard switches listed. (5) The keyboard switch according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the key buttons and their respective supporting parts are integrally formed of an elastic material. (6) The integral key operation member is a part of a sheet made of an elastic material forming a keyboard, and the keyboard has many other key operation members similar to the above key operation member. Claims i! Keyboard switch described in I@5. (7) The key button has a conductive part, and the electrical contact means has an electrical contact part, and these contact parts are provided at positions where they are pressed by the conductive part when the key button is pressed. The keyboard switch according to any one of claims 1 to 6yIL, characterized in that: (8) The electrical contact means includes a membrane having a hole and two contact parts separated from each other by the membrane, and in an unpressed state, these contact parts are held apart from each other at the position of the hole. Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that when the key operation member is pressed by a pressing force applied to the key operation member, both of these contact portions are moved into the hole. Keyboard switches listed. (9) The membrane of the electrical contact means is disposed on a surface having a recess aligned with the key operating member and a protrusion provided within the recess and aligned with the hole; 9. The keyboard according to claim 8, wherein when biased by a pressing force applied to the member, both the contact portions are moved between the key operation member and the protrusion.
Switch〇αe A key operating member, an electrical contact means whose conduction state changes according to a pressing force applied to the key operating member and relative movement of the key operating member caused by the pressing force,
The electrical contact means has two contact parts separated from each other by a membrane having a hole, and in an unpressed state, the contact parts are held apart from each other at the position of the hole, and the key operation When biased by the member, the stiff contact portions are moved together into the hole, and the membrane has a recess aligned with the key operating member and a protrusion provided within the recess and aligned with the hole. is placed on a surface having
A keyboard switch in which both the contact parts are moved between a key operating member and a protrusion.