JPS60158516A - 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 Field of the Invention The present invention relates to keyboards, and more particularly to an electro-optic keyboard that detects whether a key is pressed by the presence or absence of light.

(Prior Art) In the past, it was common to use individual contacts for each key, whether it was a keyboard used for a typewriter or a keyboard used for keypad data entry.

This type of switch has various structures, but they are all prone to failure.

Therefore, devices using membranes or flexible films have been developed. Although this membrane or flexible film has extremely high C reliability, it has the problem of poor feel. Also, since the keys do not move, it may be difficult to use depending on the field of use. Therefore, keyboards using light-emitting elements and light-receiving elements were proposed in order to solve the problem of electro-mechanical keyboards including membrane switches.For example, US Pat.
See No. 6.544 and No. 3,516,529. However, such an optical keyboard has problems such as the need to guide light using an optical fiber cable.

(Objective of the Invention) In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a highly reliable keyboard using an optical device that does not require guiding light or accurately positioning light-emitting water molecules and light-receiving elements. The purpose is to provide Another object of the present invention is to provide an optical keyboard that has a small number of parts, a simple structure, and is easy to manufacture.

(Structure of the Invention) The keyboard of the present invention is a keyboard using an optical sensor, and includes a keyboard case (14), a plurality of keys (12) set aside in the keyboard case, and a light emitting device that emits light into the keyboard case. a plurality of light detectors, each of which is arranged such that at least one corresponds to the device (20) and one key (12), and receives light emitted from the light emitting device -cj- (20); a device (22), and when the key (12) is pressed, the photodetector device (22) corresponds to the key (12);
The device is characterized in that light is blocked from entering the device.

(Embodiment) A keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a keyboard 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is a human keyboard for a computer or a typewriter.
It is desirable to use it as a computer keyboard. Of course, the invention can also be used with a variety of other input devices, such as limited access entry locks. The keyboard 10 of this embodiment integrally includes a plurality of keys 12 corresponding to letters, numbers, symbols, etc. A keyboard case 14 is used to hold the keys 12 within a suitable container. A connector 16 is arranged on the side surface of the keyboard case 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, an optical device mounting frame 18 is disposed inside the keyboard case 14.
A plurality of light emitting elements 20 are attached to the frame 18. As the light emitting element 20, any element that emits light in the visible or invisible range can be used, but it is preferable to use an infrared light emitting diode. A plurality of light receiving cables 22 for detecting light emitted from the light emitting elements 20 are arranged on the bottom surface of the keyboard case 14. It is desirable to use a phototransistor as this light receiving element.

As shown in FIG. 3, the key 12 has letters corresponding to the top surface,
It includes a key element 24 on which numbers, symbols, etc. are engraved. A spring 26 is disposed inside the key 12 to bias the key 12 upward and to give the user a feeling of having pressed the key 12 when pressed, as shown on the right side of FIG. Upper stem 25 extends into key base 34 and is supported within key base 34 by spring receiver 27 . A lower stem 28 is provided at the lower end of the key 12, and a light receiving element cover 3 is provided at the lower end of the upper stem 28.
0 is placed. A cosmetic cover 36 is placed over the key base 34. The keyboard case 14 constitutes the entire case of the keyboard 10, and also includes the light emitting element 2.
A space is provided for accommodating the optical device mounting frame 18 that accommodates the light receiving cable 22. In addition,
In the figure, 32 is a lead wire from the light emitting element 20 and the light receiving element 22.

When using the keyboard 10 of this embodiment, a sufficient number of light emitting elements 20 are distributed within the frame 18 as shown in the figure so that the keyboard case 14 is filled with light and light enters all the light receiving elements 22. be done.

As described above, it is desirable to use an infrared light emitting element as the light emitting element 20 and an infrared light emitting element as the light receiving element 22 in order to prevent external light from affecting the output of the light receiving element 22. Further, the number and spacing of the light emitting elements 20 are not limited to a specific number, and any light source can be used as the light source. When the key 24 is pressed, the lower stem 28 is moved downward, and the light receiving element cover 30 at the lower end thereof covers the light receiving element 22. This prevents light from entering the light receiving cable 22 corresponding to the key 24 of A.

It is desirable that the light receiving element cover 30 is a simple shell. Each light-receiving element 22 is connected to an appropriate circuit, and when the light-receiving element 22 is not receiving light, the corresponding key 24
is decoded or encoded as indicating the pressed state. In this way, by using appropriate hardware, firmware or software, N-key rollover can be achieved.
It can perform various types of functions used in today's keyboards, such as keyboards. Also, various types of light emitting elements can be used for decoding. For example, a separate phototransistor may be used for each key to sample at a speed sufficiently faster than the expected keystroke speed. Also each key 1
Alternatively, two light-receiving elements may be used for 2 and connected to form an XY matrix to obtain an encoded output.

71 The present invention is not limited to the 112th embodiment.

For example, the key spacing, key arrangement, key mounting means, etc. can be changed to other divine features other than those of the above-mentioned embodiments. The keyboard case can also have a variety of constructions, and for example, the way the light source is mounted inside the keyboard or the way the keyboard is filled with light can be modified in various ways.

For example, a single light emitting element may be arranged in the same plane as the light receiving element, and a reflective surface may be provided inside the bottom of the key.

Further, the connector, encoder, and decoder may be housed inside the keyboard case.

Also, if you select the hardware, software, firmware, etc. appropriately, you can do it without pressing the key completely.
You can also set it to detect when you press it. Of course, it is only necessary to detect that the button has been pressed when the amount of light received by the light receiving element falls below a predetermined threshold.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the following description, the keyboard of the present invention can be manufactured at a relatively low cost, has a small number of parts, has a long life, and has a good feel when used. Furthermore, it is easy to decode and can be decoded in various ways.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention;
The figure is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1.
FIG. 10...Keyboard 12...Key 14...Keyboard case

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) In a keyboard using an optical sensor, a keyboard case (14), a plurality of keys (12) attached to the keyboard case, a light emitting device (20) that emits light inside the keyboard case, and 1 4=
- a plurality of photodetecting devices (22) arranged such that at least one corresponds to the key (12) and receiving light emitted from the light emitting device (20);
A keyboard characterized in that when a key (12) is pressed, light is prevented from entering the photodetector (22) corresponding to the key (12). (2) The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting device (20) is an infrared light emitting diode. (3) The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the photodetector Ml (22>) comprises first to transistors. (4) The first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the photodetector (22) is arranged below the key (12).
4 knee board mentioned in section.