JPS60143529A - 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 (Technical Field) The present invention relates to a keyboard used for inputting signals to electronic equipment and the like.

[Prior art 1] In recent years, in order to improve the operability of the keys arranged on the keyboard, in this type of keyboard, the key operation surface constituted by the top surface of each of a plurality of keys has been made into a curved surface from an ergonomic viewpoint. Attempts are being made to do so.

Conventionally, the following two methods have been proposed for making the key operation surface of such a keyboard into a curved surface.

(1) One method is to mold a key array plate 2 having a large number of guide holes 1 from a steel plate in advance to have a predetermined curved surface, as shown in FIG. By fitting a stem guide 5 for slidingly guiding a key stem 4 having a key top 3 into the key top 3, a key operation surface 6 formed by the top surface of the key top 3 can be curved to any size.

However, in this method, it is necessary to fit the stem guides 5 into each guide hole 1 after forming the key arrangement plate 2, and this work is very time-consuming and the efficiency of the assembly work is seriously reduced. Resulting in.

In addition, since the key array plate 2 is molded from a steel plate through plastic processing, it is advantageous in that it can maintain its original curved surface semi-permanently; Considering the current situation where weight reduction is desired, this is not very desirable.

(2) Another method is to mold the stem guide part 8 integrally with the upper case 7 of the keyboard as shown in FIG. The top surface is molded into a unique curved surface,
Key operation surface 1 constituted by the top surface of each key top 1o
1 as a whole is a curved surface.

However, even with this method, it is necessary to mold the top surface of each key 1 to the knob 1o into a curved surface to form a hole, and therefore many types of molds are required to mold the key top 10, which increases costs. However, this method has the drawback of increasing the cost of the keyboard.

[Objective] The object of the present invention is to improve the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks and to provide a curved key operation surface constituted by the top surface of the key tops of the key switches arranged on the key arrangement plate with a simple structure.
The object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard that is low in cost and has good operability.

[Solution Means] In order to achieve this object, in the keyboard of the present invention, the thickness of the connection part that connects each key boulder part of the key arrangement board made of synthetic resin is formed to be approximately 2u or less, so that the key arrangement is improved. The plate can be held in a curved manner, thereby providing a keyboard with low cost and good operability.

[Embodiment] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7. FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the keyboard according to this embodiment, and the keyboard main body 20 is composed of a case 21 made of synthetic resin and a lower case 22 made of synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper case 21 has a rectangular opening 23 formed therein, and hanging walls 24 and 25 are formed that hang down from the left and right edges of the opening 23 in an arc shape.

Also, a boss 26 is installed downward from the back surface of the upper case 21.
．． 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32° 33 are provided.

Among the bosses 30, 31, 32, 33, a regulating plate 34 having a predetermined curved surface is attached to a set screw 35.
It is screwed by 36, 37, 38. Three protruding walls 39.4 are provided on the lower surface of the regulating plate 34 and are erected from the bottom surface of the lower case 22 so as to match the curved surface of the regulating plate 34.
0.41 is in contact. Further, on the upper surface of the regulation plate 34, a circuit board 4 is provided with a predetermined contact circuit formed by printed wiring.
2 is placed, and the regulating plate 34 and the circuit board 42 are screwed to the bosses 26.27.28.29 of the upper case 4-21 with setscrews 43, 44, 45, 46. It also imparts curvature. Furthermore,
A rubber-like elastic body/48 having a plurality of cup-shaped parts 47 formed thereon is placed on the upper surface of the circuit board 42, and the cup-shaped parts 47 are made of a sponge member 49 fixed to its inner wall as shown in FIG. An electrode plate 51 made of a flexible aluminum foil film faces a pair of fixed electrodes 50 formed on the circuit board 42 on the bottom surface, and a flexible ultra-thin insulating film 51a made of synthetic resin is further attached to the bottom surface of the board. There is. In addition, these pair of fixed electrodes 50 and the electrode plate 5 facing them
1 constitutes a capacitor.

A key arrangement plate 52 is placed on the regulation plate 34 so as to cover the circuit board 42 and the rubber-like elastic body 48 from above and close the opening 23 of the upper case 21. The key array plate 52 has a key stem 55 into which the key top 54 is fitted.
A key holder part 56 for inserting the key holder part 56, a connecting part 53 of 2 or less, preferably 0.5 to 1 part, connecting the key holder part 56, and a partition part 57 for guiding the bottom part 55a of the key stem 55. Consisting of Since the key array plate 52 is made of synthetic resin, it can be integrally molded with the upper case 21, and as shown in FIG. 5, the key array plate 52 molded as a flat plate can be , is connected to the 4-wooce 21 at the apex of the hanging wall 24, 25 hanging in an arc shape. Further, the connecting portion 53 has a length of 2 m as described above.
Since it is molded into a thin sheet of synthetic resin with a diameter of less than m, it has sufficient elasticity and can be bent. Moreover, the bottom part 55 of the key stem 55 inserted into the key holder part 56
A is placed on the upper surface of the cup-shaped portion 717 of the rubber-like elastic body 48, and is normally held in the non-operating position shown in FIG. 3 by the elastic restoring force of the cup-shaped portion 47.

The key arrangement plate 52 is placed on the curved surface of the regulation plate 34 in a state of being curved along the arc of the hanging walls 24 and 25 provided on the left and right edges of the upper case 21. −)
It is screwed onto the bottom surface of the plate 34. With this, the key layout J+1
The plate 52 is attached to the hanging wall 2'1. ．． The key operation surface 58 is maintained in a curved state having the same curvature as the circular arc of 25, and the key operation surface 58 constituted by the top surface of each key top 54 is formed into a predetermined curved surface. In addition, here is the hanging wall 24. ．． The curvature of the circular arc 25 and the curved surface of the regulating plate 34 have the same curvature.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained. To perform a switching operation using the key switch configured as described above, first press down the key top 571I.
4 is pressed down, the key stem 55 integrated with it is guided downward along the key holder part 56, and the bottom part 55a of the key stem 55 touches the cup-shaped part 47 of the rubber-like elastic body 48.
Press.

When the cup-shaped portion /I7 is pressed, the electrode plate 51 attached to the inside thereof via the sponge member 49 comes into contact with the pair of fixed electrodes 50 via the insulating film 51a, and as a result, as shown in FIG. As shown, the fixed electrodes 50 are short-circuited in an alternating current manner, and a high frequency signal is transmitted from one fixed electrode 50 to the other fixed electrode 50 forming a pair. At this time, in this embodiment, since the electrode 7-plate 51 is attached to the inner upper wall of the cup-shaped portion 47 via the sponge member 49, the electrode plate 51 is attached via the insulating film 51a due to the elastic deformation of the sponge member 49. The fixed electrode 50 can be brought into close contact with the fixed electrode 50 to ensure sufficient transmission of high-frequency signals. Next, when the depression of the key top 54 is released, the key stem 55 is pushed upward by the elastic restoring force of the cup-shaped portion 47, and the electrode plate 51 and the fixed electrode 50 are separated, thereby stopping the signal transmission. The collapsed key top 54 is restored to its original position. Next, a method for assembling the keyboard according to this embodiment will be explained.

To assemble the keyboard, first place the circuit board 42 on the regulating plate 34, and then place the rubber-like elastic body 48 thereon. Place the key array plate 52 on which the key stem 55 has been inserted into the key holder part 56 in advance, and screw it to the boss 26° 27.28.29 of the upper case 21 using the set screws 43, 44, 45, 4.6. do.

Further, the key arrangement plate 52 is attached to the hanging wall 24.2 of the upper case 21.
Set screw 35.
36.37.38, the bosses 30.31.32.3 of the upper case 21 are removed from below the regulating plate 38-4.
Fasten the screws to 3. As a result, the key arrangement board 52 is regulated by the regulation plate 34 along with the circuit board 42 due to the elasticity of the connecting portion 53, and is held in a curved state along the curves of the hanging walls 24 and 25 in the upper case 21. be. As a result, the key operation surface 58 constituted by the top surface of the key tops 54 arranged on the key arrangement board 52 is
It is formed into a curved surface having almost the same curvature as the curvature given to it. Thereafter, the key top 54 is fitted onto the key stem 55. The keyboard 20 is completed by integrally assembling the upper case 21 and lower case 22 configured as described above.

As detailed above, in this embodiment, the key layout board 5
2, the connecting part 53, key holder part 56, and partition part 5
7 are integrally molded with the upper case 21, so the molding does not take much time, and the side walls 24. ．． 2
It can be curved very easily along the curve of 5. Therefore, the key top 571. All key tops 54 are the same without using anything special as the key stem 55
．． Even if the key stem 55 is used, the key operation surface 58 can be easily formed into a curved surface, and a keyboard with good operability can be obtained at low cost.

Further, in this embodiment, the cup upper part 4 of the rubber-like elastic body 48
Since the electrode plate 51 is attached to the inner upper wall of the circuit board 7I via the sponge member 49, the elastic deformation of the sponge member 49 is prevented even if the circuit board 7I2 is curved when the key top 54 is pressed to perform a switching operation. Therefore, the switching operation can be performed reliably.

[Effects] As described above, the present invention allows the key operation surface to be a curved surface due to the in-tube structure, thereby providing a keyboard with good operability at low cost, and has great effects.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 show cross-sectional views of conventional keyboards. FIG. 3 and subsequent figures show one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a keyboard, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged explanatory view for explaining a key switch portion of the keyboard. In the figure, 20 is the keyboard body, 21 is the upper case, 22 is the lower case, 23 is the opening, 24, 25 is the hanging wall, 42 is the circuit board, 52 is the key arrangement board, 53 is the connecting part, and 56 is the key holder part. be. Patent Applicant Brother Industries, Ltd. President Katsuji Kawashima Continued Amendment Town (Method) July 2nd, 1982 Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office Kazuo Wakasugi Patent Application No. 245778 of 1981 2, Title of Invention Keyboard 3, Make amendments Relationship with the case: Patent applicant Mizuhoku Horita Doori address (467) 9-35 Hotta-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya Name (526) Brother Industries, Ltd. 4, date of amendment order 6, details of amendment After the words "enlarged explanatory diagram" in the first and second lines of page 12 of the book, [, Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the back of the upper case, and Figure 6 is an enlarged explanation to explain the key switch part. 7 are enlarged explanatory views for explaining the key switch portion when the key top is pressed down. I"2

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An upper case made of synthetic resin with a rectangular opening, a key holder portion that slides and guides each of a number of keys up and down, and a connecting portion that connects each key holder portion. a key array board made of synthetic resin that closes the opening; a circuit board disposed below the key array board on which a contact circuit that is opened and closed by the key is formed; and a circuit board disposed below the circuit board. A keyboard, comprising: a lower case; the connecting portion has a thickness of approximately 2 m+n or less, so that the key arrangement plate can be held in a curved manner. 2. A hanging wall is formed that hangs down in an arc shape from both left and right edges of the opening of the upper case, and the key arrangement plate is held curved along the arc of the hanging wall. Keyboard as described in section.