JPS60250528A - Keyboard for electronic device - 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 for an electronic device such as an electronic calculator, and particularly to a keyboard structure suitable for implementation in an electronic device in a shed.

[Prior art]

2. Description of the Related Art Keyboards used in input devices for electronic devices are generally constructed by inserting key tops into each of a plurality of key holes formed in a frame.

In recent years, this type of electronic equipment has been provided with a wide variety of functions such as functional functions, timekeeping functions, and alarm functions, and has also tended to be made smaller and thinner from the viewpoint of energy saving and ease of handling. Therefore, the number of keycaps in keyboards for electronic devices has increased, and the shape of the keycaps has also tended to be thinner69, causing various problems in workability during the assembly process or maintenance inspection, and compared to the conventional structure. However, there was a problem in that it required a great deal of time and effort to assemble the keyboard.

In other words, in a conventional keyboard, a key top with a flange is engaged with a key hole from the back side (bottom side) of the frame (upper case), and a spring incorporated between the lower case (lower frame) is inserted into the key hole. A common structure was to provide an upward return force by making contact with the back surface of the top.

For this reason, if the upper and lower keys are separated when adjusting and inspecting electronic components, each key top will separate from the frame and cannot be scattered, and reassembly will require a lot of effort. There was a problem in that the key tops were easily inserted incorrectly. In this case, each key top must be inserted from the back of the frame, and it is difficult to see the characters and symbols on the top of the key top when inserted, which is a big problem for keyboards with a large number of key tops. Countermeasures were strongly desired.

In addition, an integrated thin plate spring has been used as the key top return spring to reduce the number of parts, but the conventional structure described above does not allow the use of flat thin plate springs, so they are bent during manufacturing. Alternatively, a drawing process was required. For this reason, there are problems in that it is inconvenient to handle and requires a large number of processing steps.

〔the purpose〕

An object of the present invention is to be able to solve such problems in the prior art, to maintain the assembled state of the frame and key tops at all times when removing the keyboard, and to apply initial pressure to the key tops. To provide a keyboard for an electronic device which can be assembled without wobbling and can use a completely flat thin plate spring as a key top return spring.

[Summary]

The present invention connects a frame and a key top by a thin leaf spring formed with a frame side fixing part, a key top side fixing part, and a spring part connecting both fixing parts, and connects the key top side fixing part to a stopper part of the frame. The above objective is achieved by bringing them into contact and applying an initial displacement.

〔Example〕

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

Figure 1 shows a small electronic computer (
Electronic components such as a circuit board are stored between the upper case 1 and the case 2, and input operations are performed by pressing the plurality of key tops 3 arranged on the upper case 1, and calculation results etc. are displayed. It is configured to display on a display window 4 formed in the case 1.

In the illustrated example, the upper case 1 also serves as the frame of the keyboard, and each key top 3 is formed in the frame (upper case) 1 and inserted into each of nine key holes. Letters or symbols are printed on the top surface of 3. Each key top 3 is assembled at a position protruding from the surface of the frame 1, and is pressed and operated against return force.

The upper cover 1, the lower cover 2, and each key top 3 are all made of plastic molding, but depending on the case, they may also be made of other materials such as metal.

FIG. 2 shows a partial cross section of the keyboard, in which key tops 3t are inserted into key holes 5 formed in the frame 1, and each key top 3 is connected to the frame 1 via a thin plate spring 6.゛The thin plate spring 6 is a completely flat sheet made by stamping and forming a thin plate spring material.As shown in Figures 3 and 4, there is a frame side fixing part T, and a key top side fixing part 6. 8 and an arm-shaped spring portion 9 are formed. Each spring part 9 is formed between the frame side fixing part 7 and the key top side fixing part 8, and by selecting the plate thickness, width and length, the spring part 9 can be formed in a desired direction perpendicular to the plane between the two fixing parts. This is the part that exerts the spring force. Both fixing parts 7.8 are rigid parts which, compared to the spring part 9, do not undergo substantial spring deformation.

The thin plate spring 6 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the key top side fixing part 8 is formed in an arrangement corresponding to each key top 3, and two nine arm-shaped spring parts 9 are connected to each key top side fixing part 8. The key top 3t is elastically supported by two spring parts 9, 9.

2 and 3, the thin plate spring 6 is thermally welded 10
It is fixed to the frame 1 by heat welding 11 and fixed to the key top 3 by heat welding 11. Further, stopper portions 12'', 12 for positioning the key top are formed on the peripheral edge of the key hole 5 of the frame 1, and the key top side fixing portion 8 is connected to the mosquito stopper portion 12.12.
By bringing the flat thin leaf spring 6 into contact with the second
As shown by the solid line in the figure, a predetermined spring displacement is applied, and the key top 3 is assembled with an initial spring force (initial pressure) applied thereto.

The two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 indicates the position when the key top 3 is pressed. If the suppression is released, the key top 3 will become a thin plate 6
It returns to the initial position shown by the solid line due to the repulsive force of , and is held at the initial position by a predetermined initial spring force (initial pressure). That is, the thin plate spring 6 acts as a key top return spring.

In FIG. 2, a boss 13 for pressing a movable contact is formed at the center of the back surface of the key top 3.

The thin plate spring (key top return spring) 6 is formed by punching out a sheet-like thin plate material into a pattern shape as shown in FIG.

According to the shape shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of spring parts 9 connected to each of two or more key tops 3 are connected to one frame-side fixing part 7 in a concentrated manner. That is, except for the four corners and side areas of the key top return spring 6, a plurality of (four) spring parts 9 connected to each of the four key tops 3 are concentrated around each frame side fixing part 1. At the same time, each key top side fixing part 8 is connected to two spring parts 9 extending from two frame side fixing parts T located at diagonal positions. As is clear from FIG. 4, the return spring 6 has a pattern shape consisting of a constant repeating pattern.

FIG. 2 also shows a state in which the keyboard is attached to an electronic device and used.

In FIG. 2, a lower circuit board 15 is provided on the inner surface of the lower coos 2.
, the spacer 16 and the upper circuit board 11 are assembled 9, and by pressing the key top 3, the boss 13 connects the contact point (movable side key pattern) 18t- of the upper circuit board IT.
Contact the contacts (fixed side key pattern) of the lower circuit board 15.

According to the embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the following effects can be obtained.

(:) Since the frame 1 and each key top 3 are connected to each other by a single thin plate spring (key top return spring) 6, each key top 3 can be detached when the keyboard is removed for maintenance or inspection. This can completely eliminate the situation where the key tops 3' are scattered all over the place, improving work efficiency and eliminating the possibility of erroneous insertion of the key top 3' during reassembly.

(ii) A plurality of (four in the illustrated example) spring portions 9f connected to each of two or more (four in the illustrated example) key tops 3: are concentrated on one frame side fixing portion 7. The key top return spring 6
The number of parts that are fixed to the frame 1 can be reduced, and the number of assembly steps can be reduced accordingly.

(11D Since the key top return spring 6 is formed from a completely flat thin plate spring, processing steps such as bending and drawing can be eliminated. Therefore, the number of processing steps is small, and it can be manufactured at low cost. A key top return spring with excellent handling properties is obtained.OV3 Since the initial position of the key top 3 is determined by bringing the key top side fixing part 8 into contact with the frame 1, the key top 3 cannot be removed by the key top return spring 6 itself. The structure can be simplified by locking and positioning the key top 3.
There is no need to provide a stopper flange.

(Vl Since there is no flange to prevent the key tops 3 from being removed, the frame 1 and each key top 3 are integrally molded and then cut, and each key top 3 is assembled with the key hole 5 directly guiding it as it is. There is also the advantage that it is possible to employ this processing process, and a keyboard that can be manufactured at low cost by reducing the number of processing steps is obtained.

(vp key top return spring 6t - By simply contacting the frame 1, initial displacement can be applied and initial spring force can be applied to the key top 3, so the rattling of the key top 3 during use can be eliminated in an extremely simple way. Can be done.

6/11 As the key top return spring 6, a thin plate spring with a frame side fixing part 7, a key top side fixing part 8, and an arm-shaped spring part 9 formed by stamping is used, so the spring displacement (stroke) is sufficient. The initial pressure and pressing force of the key top 3 can be set easily and accurately.

〔effect〕

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, the key tops do not come off the frame when the keyboard is removed, making it easier to handle during use, and a single flat piece can be used as a key top return spring. A keyboard structure for an electronic device can be obtained in which a thin plate spring can be adopted.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an electronic device suitable for implementing the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial vertical sectional view showing a keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention and its usage state, and the third factor is A partial plan view showing the detailed shape of the key top return spring (thin plate spring) in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a partial plan view showing the detailed shape of the key top return spring (thin plate spring) in Figure 2.
FIG. 3 is a partial back view of the keyboard showing the pattern shape of the thin plate springs. 1... Frame (upper frame), 3... Key top, 5... Key hole, 6... Key top return spring (thin leaf spring), 1... Frame side fixing part (spring), 8... Key top side fixing part (spring), 9... Spring part, 10... Welded part on the frame side, 11... Welded part on the key top side, 12... Stopper lip. Agent Patent Attorney Yasushi Oto Kazuon 1y! i 箪3Figure 10 10) 6 /3, // 712" l 1, Δ2

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In a keyboard for an electronic device in which a key top is inserted through a key hole formed in a frame, a thin plate spring is used to form a frame side fixing part, a key top side fixing part, and a spring part connecting both fixing parts. A keyboard, characterized in that a main frame and a key top are connected, and the key top side fixing part is brought into contact with a stopper part of the frame to give an initial displacement.