JPS5975522A - Contact keyboard - 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 The present invention provides a plurality of θ
) Contacts consisting of modular keys, each modular key consisting of an actuator movable in an axial direction so as to establish a connection between two parts of an electrical circuit, and an indicator cap mounted on the operable part of the actuator. Regarding the keyboard.

In known keyboards, the connections σ) between parts of the electrical circuit are made by conductive thin plates which can be deformed from a stable shape in an open contact state to an unstable shape in a closed contact state. When you press the key,
The movable actuator moves by a predetermined stroke, and at the end of the stroke, the actuator overcomes the elastic reaction force of the conductive thin plate and deforms the thin plate from a stable shape to an unstable shape. The amount of deformation of the thin plate is typically a few millimeters, but the total height of the key is the slide required for reliable operation.

Since it is equipped with a 7" f unit and a cap, it is several centimeters long, which significantly narrows the range of applications of the keyboard.

The first object of the present invention is that the total height of the keys is quite small, but the stroke of each individual actuator is the same as the conventional one. To achieve this objective, the keyboard according to the invention is characterized in that the movable actuator comprises vertical slides located diametrically opposite with respect to the sliding solid axis of the actuator. death.

As for a pair of nousing, vertical slides to accommodate camp stems? The actuator is provided within the actuator at positions If that are offset in the circumferential direction by an angle of O0 and are opposed to each other with respect to the solid shaft.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a reliable, simple and inexpensive keyboard with bistable optically illuminated keys. (σ) To achieve the objective (σ) 1. The keyboard according to the present invention is characterized in that the actuator is provided with a cam follower restrained to move perpendicularly with respect to the stroke of the actuator, and the cam follower moves the key fixed to the key. It is partially moored within the group of elements responsible for the bistable function.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the key problem θ regarding the support surface.
) To provide a keyboard whose inclination can be changed by a predetermined angle in an open method. In order to achieve this object, the keyboard according to the present invention has a pair of legs pivotally attached to the base plate, the legs having a mounting surface, and the keyboard has a surface. are at different distances from the corresponding cardinal points.

Referring to FIG. 1, a keyboard according to the present invention has a rigid frame 10 that is substantially biparallepiped-shaped.

(σ) A plurality of keys 11 (described later) are attached to the frame. The frame 10 is provided with support legs 12.13 on its lower surface, and the frame is supported on the floor 14 by the legs.
Lol. According to a feature of the invention, the front leg 12 is fixed, but the rear leg 16 is adjustable in distance from the bottom of the frame 10 so that the surface of the key 110 with respect to the floor or support surface 14 is adjustable. The slope can be changed according to the user's preference.

In particular, 1 leg 1 (Fig. 4.5) is the side 1 of the frame 10.
6. It is rotatably mounted on a shaft 15 fixed at 17. Surface 20, 21.22 of each leg 16
These surfaces are spaced apart by different distances λt from the shaft 15, respectively.
and a positioning notch 24 equidistant from the shaft 15.
．． It has 25.26 pieces.

Two positioning teeth 27, 28 are fixed on the i-side 16.17, these teeth are located in the notches 24.25. of the leg 16.
Work together with 26. Two springs 18, 19 are located coaxially with the shaft 15 and press one leg 1 against the inner wall of the corresponding side 16, 17, and the teeth 27, 28
is held inside one of the notches 24, 25 or 26.

Keyboard according to the invention σ) The key 11 may be of two types. That is, it is monostable [Low J (lnw) type] or bistable "irradiation" type. Each 10" type key 60 (FIGS. 6 and 7) has a body 61 of substantially rectangular cross section and a base plate 6.
It can be detachably attached to 2. The main body roller 1 has two cylindrical slide rollers 6. located on both sides with respect to a central axis 65 (FIG. 7). 4 beg for nothing.

The actuator 66 can slide along the shaft 5.

It has two side cylinders 37.38, which are anchored inside the cylindrical slide 33.34. The actuator 66 has two 111 wings 39.
40Y, the small wings are moored in two groups 41, 42 (11, 42) and located at an angle of 90° with respect to the side cylinders 37, 38.

Actuator 66 is also central hollow 46 .

A helical spring is located within it. Two loop-shaped holes 46, lJ are provided between the hollow part 46 and the side wing filters 9, 40.
7, and these holes are fitted with the lower stems 48, 49 of the cap 50, so that the camp 50 can easily be attached to the base actuator 66 with a specific designation.The gap 50 is the actuator The inside is hollow so as to accommodate a portion of the filter 6.

W'! The cylindrical striker 52 is slidable within the hole 5 of the main body 31 under the influence of a medium-heat shaft 5vC, and has an upper N portion cooperating with the coil spring 44. The lower part of the striker 52 is dome-shaped in the stable state and cooperates with a spring 54 of known type.

The spring 54 is made of metal and one end is shaped on the base plate 2.

It is in constant contact with the electrically conductive areas 56 of the formed printed circuit.

The metal tablet 58 of the spring 54 comes into contact with the electrically conductive area 57 of the printed circuit (contact closure), so that when the actuator 6 of the key is pushed through the camp 50, a corresponding electrical current is generated in a known manner. The actuator 6 has a maximum stroke of about 4 Tm, which is typical for all keys on a contact keyboard.

The entire key 30, including the cap 50, is approximately 20 mm high and is therefore thinner than the keyboard.
``Low profile /l/J (1(IW profi)
lc) type, that is, a thin keyboard can be provided. This feature is that the cap 5 [11J' accommodates a part of the actuating element such as the actuator filter 6 therein.

When the key is pressed, the fixed body 610 yen commercial slip)'
This is obtained due to the fact that it accommodates a portion of 33.34.

Illuminated bistable keys (Fig. 8.9.10) have a substantially parallelepiped-shaped outer body 6 with a square cross-section without a hollow bottom.
1 and an upper cylindrical portion.

A lamp holding element 62 is anchored within the body 61 and consists of an internally hollow central part and a lower part of square cross section forming the bottom of the body 61. lamp 70
are attached between the jaws 71 and 72 of the element 62, and two conductive thin plates 76 and 77 are anchored inside the element 62.
The thin plate 76.77 can be connected in a known manner to an electrical circuit part of a keyboard (not shown) to illuminate the lamp 70.

A hollow, substantially cylindrical slider 68 is slidably mounted between the body 61 and the cylindrical upper portion of the lamp holding element 62 . A helical spring 69 is mounted coaxially with the element 62 and continuously presses the slider 68 upward. The cap 82, which is preferably made of a transparent material, is attached to the slider 6.
8 and is hinged to two teeth 80, 81. The lower portion of the slider 68 has diametrically opposed lateral and vertical protrusions 83, 84 (eighth
(Fig.), these projections are guided in corresponding groups 85, 86 of the body 61.

Furthermore, the slider 68 has two cantilever elements 87.88 diametrically opposed to each other and positioned 90° offset with respect to the side projections 83.84. Ball 90 can slide freely within a horizontal slide 89 provided within element 87. Ball 90 is partially housed within a group 92 (FIG. 11) provided in a plate 9 cut into a side corner 94 of body 61. As clearly shown in FIG. 11, the group 92 defines a forced movement path for one ball 90 due to the position of the retaining wall 99. This movement path shown by the dashed line in FIG. 11 is a substantially closed one-way path, and the first row stops at positions 95 and 96.
.

97.984, and the positions of these rows 1" and 1", as will be explained in detail later, are offset by a distance corresponding to the vertical movement of one ball 90 from these positions.

The element 88 (FIGS. 8 and 9) always cooperates with a bend 100 of a flexible sheet metal 101, which has a lower end 102 projecting from the lower end of the element 62 and an end portion of the sheet metal 105. It has an upper end 10 which can be contacted with the user. Further, the thin metal plate 105 has a lower end portion 106 protruding from the lower end of the element 62.
has. The two lower ends 102, 106 are connected to an electrical circuit portion (not shown) of the keyboard in a known manner.

The operation of the illuminated bistable key 60 is as follows.

In the first stable state, the slider 68 of the key 60 is pressed upward by the spring 69. In this position, the element 88 holds the upper end 103 of the lamella 101 free from the end 104 of the lamella 105. Furthermore, in this position, the lamp 70 is independent of the position of the slide 68 (
It may be in an on or off state, or may be associated with slider 68 to be in an off state when this slider is lowered. Slider 68 resists the force of spring 69
When you press downward, the ball 90 in group 92 (Figure 11)
moves along the forced motion path, lower row 1], stop position 9
Reach 6. When ball 90 reaches this position, slider 6
This slider can no longer descend because the lower 0 (hl) of 8 touches the bottom of element 62.

When the key is released, the slider 68, which is always biased upward by the spring 69, returns to one side until it reaches position 97, which is 97 or 97 in the middle, and stops at that position. pile up

In the 20th) stable position, the slide 68 of the key 60 is partially lowered and the element 88 no longer cooperates with the section 100 of the flexible sheet 101. Therefore, the two ends 10 of the thin plates 101, 105.

104 is contacted and a corresponding electrical signal is emitted in a known manner by the electrical circuitry part of the keyboard.

To return key 60 to the first stable position, group 92
Lower the slider 68 again along the inner one-way forced movement path until the ball 90 reaches the second downward row 1t98.

Here, one ball 90 is at the initial position, that is, the upper dead end position 9
Release the slider 68 to return to 5. - Figures 12 to 14 show a second type of key 199 of the keyboard according to the invention. The key 199 has a main body 200 with a substantially rectangular cross section and can be removably attached to the base plate 62. The main body 200 has a vertical cylindrical slider 201,
This slider accommodates a cylinder 202 of an actuator 203 that is slidable on a shaft 204. The actuator 206 comprises side wings 205 housed within a group 206 of one body 200 and positioned 90° offset with respect to the cylinder 202 .

Actuator 203 also. It also has a horizontal side 206 perpendicular to the axis 204 within which the ball 210 can slide freely. The sphere 210 is partially housed within a group 211 on a plate 212 attached to the side 216 of the body 200. Like the actuator filter 6, the actuator 203 has a central hollow part 46 in which the helical spring 4 is inserted.
4 is located. The striker 215 is the main body 2. ,,． 0
0 along the solid shaft 204 inside the hole 214.

The upper part of the striker cooperates with a spring 44.

The lower portion of the striker 215 cooperates with a dome-shaped spring 54.

Group 211 is substantially the same as group 92 shown in FIG. three different stability positions ff
It is possible to stop at t.

Further, the key 199 is connected to the cylindrical slider 2 with respect to the axis 204.
01 has a light emitting diode 220 attached to the main body 200 on the opposite side. The light emitting diode 220 has two lower terminals 221 connected to the electrical circuitry of the substrate 62 in a known manner. The light emitting diode 220 is the lamp 70
Similarly, the actuator 20 can be in the on or off state regardless of its position. A cup 225 attached to the actuator 20 has a transparent cover 226 and also has an opening 227 that allows the operator to view the light emitting diode 220.
The lack of light emitted from can be seen through this aperture.

Thus, the keys 199 are of the ``10'' type, bistable type, and ``instrument'' type.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, instead of a single ball 90, an oscillating cam follower may be used which is hinged to the slider 68 by a shaft and cooperates with the group 92 to move perpendicular to the direction of slide of the slider 68.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a keyboard according to the invention in a first operating position. FIG. 2 is a side view of the keyboard of the present invention in a second operating position. FIG. 3 is a side view of the keyboard of the present invention in a sixth operating position. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged detailed cross-sectional side Wi view of the oyster board of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the detailed part of FIG. 4 θ). FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the first key of the keyboard of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a partially sectional plan view of the second key of the keyboard of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line jO-10 in FIG. 8. FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 11-11 in FIG. 9. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the sixth key of the keyboard according to the present invention. FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line 16-13 in FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line 14-14 in FIG. 12. 10: Frame 11: Key 1: Main body 6: Actuator 41.42
Nigeloop Patent I to Ir People Inc. Chi Olivenci & Chi Nis P.A. FIG. 1 20 FIG. 4

Claims (1)

[Claims: CI] Consisting of a plurality of modular keys individually mounted within a basic frame, each modular key having an axially movable actuator for connecting two parts of an electrical circuit; A contact keyboard consisting of a cap mounted on an actuator, each actuator accommodating two vertical sliders diametrically opposed with respect to the slider sliding axis, and a corresponding stem of the cap located on either side with respect to said sliding axis; 9 for vertical sliders
A contact keyboard characterized by comprising a pair of slots positioned offset by 0°. (2. Claim No. (11) In the keyboard according to claim 11, each camp has an internal hollow part, and the corresponding actuator is partially accommodated in this hollow part.) (b) The keyboard according to claim (1), wherein each key further includes a thin plate that is deformable by the action of a striker that can slide on the sliding shaft, A contact keyboard characterized in that each actuator has an internal hollow part in which an elastic element cooperating with the striker is housed. (4) Claim (1) 32. The keyboard according to any one of clauses 31 to 32, wherein each of the keys comprises a fixed body and an actuator slidable with respect to the body. Each of the fixed bodies accommodates the vertical slide. 90 for a pair of housings for displacement and for accommodating corresponding side wings of the actuator;
A contact keyboard characterized by comprising a pair of groups positioned at different positions. (5) In a keyboard comprising a key having a fixed body and an actuator slidable relative to the fixed body for bistable switching of an electrical circuit associated with the key, the actuator is movable perpendicularly with respect to the sliding direction of the actuator. It consists of a restrained cam follower and a group disposed within an element of the stationary body and engaged with the cam follower. A keyboard, characterized in that said group (σ) has at least two straight positions lif for said cam follower defining a substantially one-way forced movement path and corresponding to two stable positions f of said actuator. (6) The keyboard according to claim (5), wherein the cam follower is comprised of a ball, and the restraint means on the actuator is comprised of a group perpendicular to the sliding axis of the actuator, and the said cam follower is comprised of a group perpendicular to the sliding axis of the actuator; A keyboard which is slidable and characterized in that the nuclear spheres are partially housed between the group of actuators and the group of fixed bodies. (7) In the keyboard according to claim (5) or (6), the actuator has a central through-hole, and the element supporting the lamp is housed in the hollow. , a transparent camp is mounted on the top end of the actuator σ) and is adapted to be illuminated by the lamp when the key is actuated. (8) A keyboard according to claim (6), wherein the actuator has a lateral element positioned on the side opposite to the group with respect to the a-movement IJIll, and is fixed σ). A flexible thin metal plate is provided which is moved by the lateral element between a first position in contact with the metal element and a second position away from the metal element. keyboard. (9) A keyboard consisting of a plurality of pieces that can be individually attached to the base frame (11) and a key plane (11) with support legs and a key plane (11) angle scale. and means for modifying the height of the legs in order to change the height of the legs. (10) The keyboard according to claim 9, wherein the legs are pivoted to a base group, θ) and a horizontal pivot. A keyboard having a plurality of support surfaces having variable distances from the pivot. (11) A keyboard according to claim (10), wherein the positioning tooth for each support leg is fixed to the base frame and the leg σ) cooperates with the corresponding group. A keyboard that looks like this.