JPS6059690B2 - input device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an input device, and particularly to a tablet-type input device having a large number of input switches, such as a Japanese electric typewriter or a word processor.

Generally, the surface of a tablet-shaped input device has an input character display area that displays character input switch sections such as characters or codes, and an instruction function display area that displays function instruction switch sections.

Each switch is a switch in which a display section of a flexible switch cover in which the display area is provided is pressed to deform the section, and a conductive surface provided on the back side of this section is arranged corresponding to the display section. It is configured so that it is stamped on the conductor to make it conductive, but since the area of the function instruction switch section is larger than that of the character input switch section, the deformation reaction force of the switch cover is weakened, and the response of the function instruction switch becomes better, causing malfunctions. There was a drawback. That is, Figure 1~
Figures 3a and 3b show an exploded perspective view, a vertical sectional side view, and a switch conductor pattern of the character input switch section of a conventional tablet-type input device. A character sheet 1 on which characters and codes are written or painted on the back side of a film is polymerized and adhered to the surface of an elastomer switch cover 2. On the back side of the elastomer switch cover 2, conductive elastomers 3A, 3B, .
is printed or molded, and this conductive elastomer 3A,
3B, . . . are the third terminals provided on the printed circuit board 4.
Switch conductors 5A, 5 like the patterns shown in figures a, b
B, . . . are polymerized and bonded via a spacer 6 having holes 6A, 6B, . This structure is similar to the function instruction switch section, but the area of the hole in the spacer 6 is 2 to 10 f8 of the character input switch section. In such a switch, character sheet 1
The thickness is 0.1~0.5W1, the switch cover 2 is made of silicone rubber with a hardness of H and 5 degrees and the thickness is 1~2wn, and the thickness of the spacer 6 is 0.1~0.2Trr! It is n. The reaction force at the time of pressing operation is obtained by the character sheet 1 and the switch cover 2, but since the elastic coefficients in the character input area and the function instruction area are the same, the holes 6A, 6B of the spacer 6, . . .
・The reaction force decreases in inverse proportion to the size of the area. In order to increase the operation reaction force, it is possible to thicken the character sheet 1 and switch cover 2 of the function instruction switch section, but due to dimensional constraints, the response operation force of the function instruction switch is reduced by increasing the thickness of the character sheet 1 and switch cover 2 of the function instruction switch section. It is difficult to equal or exceed it. An object of the present invention is to provide a tablet-shaped input device that can make the responsive operating force of a function instruction switch with a large compartment area equal to or greater than that of a character input switch with a small compartment area, and that is less prone to malfunctions. It is about providing.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention has a character sheet consisting of one sheet including an input character display area and an instruction function display area, and which corresponds to the instruction function display area between the character sheet and the switch cover. By inserting a reinforcing plate common to multiple switches that increases the reaction force against the operating force at the position where the switch cover increases, the reaction force of the switch cover due to the increased compartment area due to the reaction force of this reinforcing plate is reduced. The present invention is characterized in that it compensates for the deterioration and also prevents unevenness on the surface of the character sheet as much as possible by providing a reinforcing plate.

The present invention will be described in detail below based on illustrated embodiments. explain.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the input device, FIG. 5 is a longitudinal side view thereof,
FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional side view of the main part. The character sheet consists of one sheet, and its display area is input character display area 1.
A and an instruction function display area 1B, and a large number of switch sections 1a and 1b are displayed in each area.

The character sheet 1, the elastomer switch cover 2, the spacer 6, and the substrate 4 are basically polymerized and bonded together in the same manner as in the past, and the conductive elastomer 3A... and the switch conductor 5A... Configure a switch between the However, in this embodiment, the instruction function display area 1
In B, a reinforcing plate 7 having greater rigidity than the switch cover 2 is embedded in the surface of the switch cover 2 over a plurality of switch sections 1b as shown in FIG. This compensates for the decrease in operating reaction force caused by increasing the size. The reinforcing plate 7 is a 0.1 to 0.2-thick plastic sheet or metal thin plate, and can be molded at the same time as the switch cover 2, but since it is thin as described above, in some cases the surface of the switch cover 2 may be It is sufficient to keep it flat and insert it between the character sheet 1. In this way, the function instruction switch having a large section area will not reduce the response operation force, and therefore an input device with fewer malfunctions can be obtained. Furthermore, since the reinforcing plate 7 is provided in common across the plurality of switch sections 1b,
Despite the provision of the reinforcing plate, no unevenness occurs in each of these switch sections 1b, and the surface of the character sheet 1 made of one sheet becomes smooth. In the above embodiment, the switch cover 2 and the spacer 6 are formed as separate bodies, but it is also possible to mold the two integrally.

As described above, according to the present invention, a reinforcing plate that increases the reaction force against the operating force is provided in the function instruction area to compensate for the decrease in the reaction force of the switch cover due to the increase in the partition area, so that malfunctions can be prevented. can be reduced.

Further, since the reinforcing plate is provided in common to a plurality of switches, no unevenness occurs between the switches, and the surface of the character sheet can be kept smooth despite the provision of the reinforcing plate.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 and 3 show a conventional tablet-type input device. Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view, Figure 2 is a vertical side view, and
Figures A and b are pattern diagrams of switch conductors, and Figures 4 to 6 show a tablet-type input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 4 being a plan view and Figure 5 being a longitudinal side view. , FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional side view of the main part. 1... Character sheet, 2... Elastomer switch cover, 3A, 3B... Conductive elastomer, 5A, 5B... Switch conductor, 7.
...Reinforcement plate.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A flexible character sheet having an input character display area and an instruction function display area, and a flexible switch cover in which the character sheet is superimposed on the front surface and a conductive surface is provided on the back surface. ,
The conductive surface is pressed into contact with a character display section which is divided into each region of a character sheet provided opposite to the conductive surface of this switch cover, and a function display section whose area is larger than the character display section. an input device including a switch conductor group that becomes conductive when the switch is turned on, wherein the character sheet is composed of one sheet including an input character display area and an instruction function display area, and the character sheet and the switch An input device characterized in that a reinforcing plate common to a plurality of switches that increases a reaction force against an operating force is sandwiched between the input device and the cover at a position corresponding to an instruction function display area. 2. The input device according to claim 1, characterized in that a reinforcing plate storage recess is provided in a position of the switch cover corresponding to the reinforcing plate.