JP3318288B2 - Notebook personal computer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a notebook personal computer having a key switch device for guiding the key top up and down via a guide support member disposed between the key top and a holder plate. In particular, the present invention relates to a notebook personal computer that allows a key switch device to be made thinner while ensuring key strokes necessary for key operation, and thus can be made thinner as a whole.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, notebook type word processors and personal computers have been actively developed.
Along with this, thinning of a keyboard attached to such a word processor or the like has been pursued.

In order to cope with such a thin keyboard, as shown in FIG.
A keyboard device has been proposed in which a plurality of key switch devices described in (1) are arranged on a holder plate. FIG.
Is a side sectional view of a main part of a keyboard apparatus, JP Gantaira 3-330 detailed structure of each key switch
The outline is described with reference to No. 160.

In FIG. 8, a key top 1 has a locking hole 4 and a locking groove 5 of two locking portions 2 and 3 (a pair of locking portions 2 and 3 are provided) provided on the back surface. And two locking portions 26, 27 of the holder plate 25 (each locking portion 26,
27 is a pair) and the locking groove 28 and the locking hole 2
9, a guide support member 6 (two link portions)
The locking pins 13 and 14 provided at one end of the link member 7 are locked in the locking holes 4, and the locking pins 15 and 16 provided in the other end are locked in the locking grooves 28. Link
The locking pins 23 and 24 provided at one end of the member 8 are provided in the locking groove 5, and the locking pins 21 and 22 provided at the other end are provided in the locking holes 2.
9). The shaft support A of both link members 7 and 8 is disposed on the top of a rubber spring 31 mounted on a flexible circuit board 30 supported on a support plate 32. The switching operation is performed by buckling the rubber spring 31 via the support A.

At this time, when the key top 1 is depressed, the key stroke amount is regulated by the distance S between the lower end of the key top 1 and the upper surface of the holder plate 25.

[0006]

Generally, in a keyboard, a key input based on depression of a key top is reliably detected, and an ergonomic point of view is used in order to reduce fatigue caused by operation of the key top. It is known that it is necessary to provide a predetermined keystroke (the amount of pressing the keytop), and it has been empirically known that such a keystroke amount is about 4 mm.

Therefore, in the key switch provided in the conventional keyboard device, it is necessary to secure a key stroke amount S of about 4 mm. However, in order to further reduce the height H of the keyboard device as a whole, , FIG.
Using a rubber spring smaller (lower in height) than the rubber spring 31 described in (1), the position of the key top 1 is lowered in accordance with the rubber spring being lowered, or the link member 7 is locked. The locking hole 4 of the locking portion 2 where the pins 13 and 14 are locked and the locking pin 2 of the link member 8
The position of the locking groove 5 of the locking portion 3 where the locks 3 and 24 are locked is set to a relatively high position, and as a result, the position of the locking hole 4 and the locking groove 5 is increased. It is necessary to lower the position of the key top 1.

However, when a small rubber spring is used, or when the positions of the locking holes 4 and the locking grooves 5 are set at high positions, as the height of the rubber spring is lowered, the locking holes 4 and As the position of the locking groove 5 increases, the key stroke amount S also decreases. In this case, the keystroke amount S required for key operation cannot be secured, and as a result, from the ergonomic point of view, the operator cannot reliably detect a key input, and It is easy to get tired in operation. As described above, in the conventional keyboard device, there is naturally a limit in lowering the height H of the entire keyboard device while securing a key stroke amount necessary for key operation,
Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to further reduce the height H of the keyboard device.

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art, Keith to the base plate or the like
It is possible to install the switch easily and stably
Both aims to provide a notebook personal computer that can be made thinner as a whole.

[0010]

To SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above object, a notebook personal computer according to claim 1, a key Toppu, is disposed below the key top,
A first link member and a second link whose upper ends are locked to the lower surface of the key top and guide and support the vertical movement of the key top.
A member, a switching member for the switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key Toppu, the switch opening is formed at a position corresponding to the switching member, provided around the <br/> switch opening, and both Under the link member
A holder member formed with engagement portions for engaging the end, the ho
It is disposed below the holder member, and a flexible circuit board having a switch electrode corresponding to the switch opening, the frame
A plurality of key switches, each of which is provided below the kibble circuit board and has a support plate for supporting the flexible circuit board.
In pieces with a notebook personal computer, a protruding portion formed to protrude from the host <br/> holder member downward, is formed on the supporting holding plates, and a through hole for inserting the protruding portion of the holder member, butt state detecting section, et al provided for each key switch is, holder member and the support plate, which by inserting the collision detecting portion into the insertion hole, is interposed a flexible circuit board between the holder member and the support plate in, is fit position-decided, the lower end surface of the projecting portion
From the bottom of the support plate with the protruding part inserted through the insertion hole
It is configured not to protrude downward . Here, in the notebook personal computer, it is desirable that the protruding portion is shared between mutually adjacent key switches .

[0011]

According to the present invention having the above-described structure, when the keytop is depressed when performing a switching operation by the key switch , the keytop is moved with the depression of the first link member and the first link member.
It is guided downward through the second link member . When the key top is pressed, the switching member flexes
Switching operation is performed by the switch electrode on the
Done.

[0012] At this time, the protruding portion formed to protrude downward from the holder member is provided for each key switch, also protrusion insertion hole formed in the support plate while interposing the circuit board based on what is inserted in the the holder member supporting plate, since the fit position-decided while interposing the flexible circuit board between the holder member and the support plate, the projecting portion at each Kisui' each switch It is possible to reliably position the holder member, the flexible circuit board, and the support plate via the key top, and when the key top is pressed, the key stroke amount is between the lower end of the key top and the upper surface of the protrusion of the holder member. It is regulated by the distance, in this
As a result, the keystroke amount is sufficiently secured in accordance with the amount by which the protruding portion protrudes downward. Further, the thus leave minimal keystrokes required amount from keystrokes amount secured more than enough, or to lower the height of the switching member corresponding to the key stroke amount of surplus, also,
By relatively high locking position between the upper end and the key top of the engaging portion of the guide support member, thin the flexible circuit board is used as also coupled thinner keyswitch all <br/> body Is achieved. Thereby, it becomes possible to reduce the thickness of the notebook personal computer equipped with such Kisui <br/> pitch. Also, the protruding portion of the holder member may be inserted into the insertion hole of the support plate so that the protrusion is located on the bottom surface of the support plate.
It is configured so that it does not protrude downward from the notebook
To a base plate of a personal computer
Easy and stable integration of key switch
Become.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A notebook personal computer according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings based on an embodiment embodying the present invention. First, a schematic configuration of the notebook personal computer according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a notebook personal computer. In FIG. 7, the notebook personal computer 400 basically includes a main body 401 having a built-in CPU for performing various arithmetic processing, and a display unit 404 supported by the main body 401 to be openable and closable. . Here, the display unit 4
The body 04 is rotatably supported by the connecting portion 407 of the main body 401, and is configured to be able to open and close with respect to the main body 401. The main body 401 is provided with a keyboard 402 in which a plurality of key switch devices are provided. Next, the notebook personal computer 40
A key switch device attached to the 0 keyboard unit 402 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, in order to facilitate understanding, the same members and the like as those in the conventional keyboard device described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a main part of a keyboard device according to this embodiment.
Is molded from a synthetic resin such as an ABS resin, and letters such as alphabets are formed on the upper surface thereof by printing or the like. Also, from the back surface of the key top 1, two locking portions 2, 3 (each locking portion 2, 3 has a pair in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface, and FIG. 1 shows only one of each pair). ) Is provided integrally with the key top 1 body downward.

[0015] The engaging portion 2, locking holes of one locking rotatably locking pins 13, 14 formed at one end of the link member 7 of the two link members 7 and 8 to be described later In the locking portion 3, a locking groove 5 for locking locking pins 23 and 24 formed at one end of the other link member 8 so as to be slidable in the horizontal direction. Is formed. A guide support member 6 for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key top 1 is provided below the key top 1, and the guide support member 6 includes two link members 7 and 8.

One link member 7 is, as shown in FIG.
Two base ends 10 and 11 are integrally formed at both ends of the base 9. From one side of the central part of the base 9, the shaft 1
2 are extended, such shaft 12 of the other, which will be described later re
It is supported by a shaft hole 20 formed in the link member 8. In addition, Li
Locking pins 13 and 14 and locking pins 15 and 16 of link member 7
Are arranged so as to be aligned on a straight line with the axis 12 as a center, and the distances from the axis 12 are equal.

Locking pins 13 and 14 extend from the side surfaces of the both end extending portions 10A of the base end portion 10. The locking pins 13 and 14 are connected to the locking portions 2 of the key top 1 described above. Is locked by a locking hole 4 formed in the hole. Further, the base end portion 11 is formed in a U-shape in plan view, and the locking pin 1 similar to the above is formed from the side surface of the U-shaped both-end extending portion 11A.
5, 16 are extended. Such locking pins 15, 16
Is a locking portion 26 formed on a holder plate 25 described later.
Is locked.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the link member 8
Two base ends 18 and 19 are integrally formed at both ends of the base 17. A shaft hole 20 is formed in the center of the base portion 17, and the link member 7 is formed in the shaft hole 20 as described above.
The shaft 12 provided on the base 9 is inserted. Further, the base end portion 18 is formed in a U-shape in plan view, and locking pins 21 and 22 extend from the U-shaped both end extending portions 18A. The locking pins 21 and 22 are locked by locking portions 27 formed on a holder plate 25 described later.

The locking pins 21 and 22 and the locking pins 23 and 24 of the link member 8 are arranged in a straight line with the shaft hole 20 as the center, and the distances from the shaft hole 20 are equal. .

Further, locking pins 23 and 24 similar to the above are extended from both end extending portions 19A of the base end portion 19, and the locking pins 23 and 24 are connected to the locking portions 3 of the key top 1 described above. Is slidably locked in the locking groove 5 formed in the groove.

As described above, the guide support member 6 has one
The shaft 12 formed in the base 9 of the link member 7 is inserted into a shaft hole 20 formed in the base 17 of the other link member 8, and the two link members 7, 8 are connected to the shaft 12 and the shaft. It is possible to rotate relative to each other via a shaft support A formed of the hole 20.

Next, a resin-made holder plate 25 is disposed below the guide support member 6, and the holder plate 25 is provided with a plurality of key switches as shown in FIGS. Correspondingly, each switch support portion 40 is provided by integral molding, and a switch opening 41 is formed inside each switch support portion 40. In the switch opening 41, a rubber spring 31 mounted on a flexible circuit board 30 described later is arranged.

Further, holder openings 42 are formed at four positions around the switch support portion 40. These holder openings 42 reduce the weight of the holder plate 25 and reduce the amount of resin material required for molding the holder plate 25 to reduce costs.

Further, in the holder plate 25, a projecting portion 43 (see FIG. 1) projecting downward is formed between the respective switch supporting portions 40 excluding the respective holder openings 42. The support portions 40 are connected to each other via the respective projecting portions 43. Here, each protruding portion 43 connects the square positions of the switch support portion 40 as shown in FIGS. This allows
Four projections 43 are provided for each key switch device, and each projection 43 is shared by mutually adjacent key switch devices.

The holder plate 2 configured as described above
In each switch support 40 of 5, the link member 7
Locking pins 15, 16 extending from the base end 11 of the
A locking pin 21 extending from the base end 18 of the link member 8;
Locking portions 26 and 27 for locking the respective 22 are provided.

The engaging portion 26 has a long hole-shaped engagement groove 28 is provided with integrally formed with the projecting from the switch support portion 40 of the holder plate 25, the link member in such locking groove 28 7, locking pins 15 and 16 are slidably locked in the horizontal direction. Further, the engaging portion 27 has engagement hole 29 is provided with integrally formed with the projecting from the switch support portion 40 of the same holder plate 25 and the engaging portion 26, the link to this locking hole 29 The locking pins 21 and 22 of the member 8 are rotatably locked.

In the above-described configuration, the locking portion 2 formed on the back surface of the key top 1 and the key holder plate 25 formed on the left side in FIG. 1 with respect to the perpendicular L passing through the center of the shaft supporting portion A. The locking portion 27 is provided with a locking hole 4 and a locking hole 29 for rotatably locking the locking pins 13, 14, 21 and 22, respectively. Further, the locking portion 26 formed on the key top first locking portion 3 is formed on the rear surface of and key holder plate 25 that is present on the right side in FIG. 1 of the perpendicular L, respectively locking pins 2
The locking groove 5 and the locking groove 28 for locking the lock pins 3 and 24 and the lock pins 15 and 16 slidably in the horizontal direction are provided.

Below the holder plate 25, there is provided a flexible circuit board 30 on which a predetermined circuit pattern (not shown) including switch electrodes is formed. At a position corresponding to the switch electrodes, an inverted cup as a switching member is provided. A rubber spring 31 is mounted. This rubber spring 31 has a known movable electrode inside,
A shaft support A for supporting the two link members 7 and 8 so as to be rotatable relative to each other is disposed at the center of the upper surface thereof.

[0029] More thereto, the shaft support A is moved downward in association with the depression of the key top 1, when the depression amount shaft support A depresses the rubber spring 31 exceeds a certain limit,
Rubber spring 31 is crushed, rubber spring 31
The switch electrode is short-circuited by the movable electrode inside.

In the flexible circuit board 30, as shown in FIG. 5, a board insertion hole 44 is provided at a position facing each of the projections 43 formed on the holder plate 25.
As a result, each projecting portion 43 is inserted downward through each board insertion hole 44.

Further, a switch support plate 32 is provided below the flexible circuit board 30. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the switch support plates 32 has a board insertion hole formed in the flexible circuit board 30. A support plate insertion hole 45 is formed at a position corresponding to 44. Accordingly, as described above, each of the board insertion holes 4 of the flexible circuit board 30 is formed.
Projecting portion 4 of holder plate 25 inserted through
3 is further inserted downward through each support plate insertion hole 45. As described above, the switch support plate 32 is connected to the respective projecting portions 4 of the holder plate 25 through the support plate insertion holes 45.
3, the guide support member 6 supporting the flexible circuit boards 30, the rubber springs 31, and the key tops 1 described above. Here,
Each projection 43 of the rudder plate 25 is supported by the support plate 32.
In a state where the plate is inserted into the plate insertion hole 45, as shown in FIG.
As described above, each protrusion 43 projects downward from the lower surface of the support plate 32.
Out, and more specifically, each protrusion
The lower surface of the portion 43 and the lower surface of the support plate 32 are flush with each other on the same plane.
It is configured so that Therefore, multiple key switches
Keyboard 402 equipped with a touch device
Simple and easy for the base plate of the Sonal Computer 400
And can be stably incorporated.

With the above configuration, the key stroke S of the key top 1 is regulated by the distance between the lower end 1A of the key top 1 and the upper surface of the projection 43 (see FIG. 1). As a result, the upper surface of the key holder plate 25 that regulates the key stroke S is the upper surface of the protruding portion 43 that is located below the flexible circuit board 30 and the switch support plate 32 by an amount corresponding to the thickness. S is for ensuring a sufficient keystroke amount of 4 mm or more.

Accordingly, while securing the amount of 4 mm necessary for the key stroke S, based on the remaining amount of the stroke S exceeding 4 mm as described above, as shown in FIG. A rubber spring 31 having a height lower than that of the rubber spring used in the conventional keyboard device shown in FIG. 7 can be used. Therefore, the thickness of the entire keyboard device can be reduced by the amount by which the height of the rubber spring 31 can be reduced, and a thin keyboard is realized.

Next, the operation of the key switch device having the above configuration will be described. When the key top 1 is pressed down, the link is
The locking pins 13 and 14 of the locking member 7 rotate counterclockwise in the locking hole 4 of the locking portion 2, and the locking pins 23 and 24 of the link member 8 are locked in the locking grooves of the locking portion 3. 5 within horizontally slides (to the right in FIG. 1). At the same time, the link
The locking pins 21 and 22 of the member 8 rotate clockwise in the locking hole 29 of the locking portion 27 of the holder plate 25, and the locking pins 15 and 16 of the link member 7
Slides (to the right in FIG. 1) horizontal direction within 6 of the locking groove 28.

As a result, the shaft supporting portion A for supporting the link members 7 and 8 with each other moves downward and gradually presses down the rubber spring 31. When the pressing amount exceeds a certain limit, the rubber support 31 is pushed down. The spring 31 is buckled.
Thereby, the movable electrode in the rubber spring 31 short-circuits the switch electrode on the flexible circuit board 30, and a predetermined switching operation is performed.

[0036] When you release the pressing of the key top 1, both phosphorus
The shaft supports A of the locking members 7 and 8 are pushed upward by the elastic restoring force of the rubber spring 31. Accordingly, each of the locking pins 13, 14, 15, 16, 21, and 22 performs an operation reverse to that described above, and as a result, the key top 1 is returned to the original position.

Here, since the locking pins 13 and 14 and the locking pins 21 and 22 are not moved in the horizontal direction but only rotate in the locking holes 4 and 29, respectively. The key top 1 is moved up and down without being moved in the horizontal direction while maintaining the horizontal state of the key surface of the key top 1.

As described in detail above, in the keyboard device according to the present embodiment, the switch support portion 40 having the switch opening 41 is formed in the holder plate 25,
Holder openings 42 at four locations around each switch support 40
The switch support portions 40 are connected to each other via projecting portions 43 projecting downward, and the flexible circuit board 30 and the switch support plate 32 are respectively formed in the flexible circuit board 30 and the switch support plate 32 so as to correspond to the respective projecting portions 43. Since the insertion holes 45 are formed so that the projections 43 are inserted into the insertion holes 44, 45, a sufficient keystroke amount of 4 mm or more can be secured as the keystroke S. is there.

Accordingly, while securing the minimum required amount of 4 mm for the keystroke S, 4 mm
Based on the remaining amount of the stroke S obtained beyond the above, a rubber spring 31 having a height lower than that of a rubber spring used in a conventional keyboard device can be used. Therefore, the rubber spring 3
The thickness of the entire keyboard device can be reduced by an amount corresponding to a reduction in the height of the keyboard 1, and a thinner keyboard can be realized as compared with a conventional keyboard. The thickness can be reduced. In addition, since each protrusion 43 is provided for each key switch device and shared between adjacent key switch devices, the holder plate 25, the flexible circuit board 30, and the like are provided via the protrusion 43 for each key switch device. The switch support plates 32 can be reliably positioned with respect to each other, and the positional relationship between the key switch devices does not deviate, so that the key switch devices can always be set in an appropriate positional relationship. Becomes

Further, in the keyboard device according to the present embodiment, the switch plate 41 is provided with a switch opening 41 inside the switch support portion 40 in the holder plate 25 and a holder opening 42 at four places around the outside of the switch support portion 40. In addition, since the board insertion hole 44 and the support plate insertion hole 45 are formed in both the flexible circuit board 30 and the switch support plate 32 corresponding to the projecting portion 43 of the holder plate 25, the weight of the entire keyboard device is greatly reduced. Can be reduced. At this time, since the support plate insertion hole 45 is formed in the switch support plate 32, the rigidity of the switch support plate 32 is reduced accordingly, but the protrusion 43 of the holder plate 25 is provided in the support plate insertion hole 45. Since it is inserted,
The rigidity of the switch support plate 32 as a whole is increased, and there is no problem on the keyboard device.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the rubber spring 31 having a low height is used in order to reduce the thickness of the keyboard as the key stroke S can be increased, but as shown in FIG. Is the same as the conventional one, and the locking pins 13 and 14 of the link member 7 are used.
Locking hole 4 of locking portion 2 to which is locked, and link member 8
Locking groove 5 of locking portion 3 to which locking pins 23 and 24 are locked
Is set relatively high as compared with the conventional locking hole 4 and locking groove 5, the position of the key top 1 can be lowered corresponding to the height. By
The thickness of the entire keyboard device can be reduced to make it thinner.

[0042]

As described above , the notebook type par of the present invention is used.
According to Sonal Computer, the protrusion of the holder member is
Lower from the lower surface of the support plate with the support plate inserted through the insertion hole
It is configured so that it does not project
Key switch for the base plate of Sonal Computer
Can be easily and stably incorporated. Also,
While trying to simplify the structure, make it thinner and lower the cost,
Flexible circuit board with great flexibility and difficult to handle
Position the plate between the holder member and the support plate at an appropriate position.
As a result, the overall device can be made thinner
Becomes

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a main part of a keyboard device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one link member .

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the other link member .

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the keyboard device schematically showing each key top removed.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the keyboard device.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a keyboard device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a notebook personal computer.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a main part of a conventional keyboard device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Key top 2, 3, 26, 27 Locking portion 4, 29 Locking hole 5, 28 Locking groove 6 Guide support member 7, 8 Link member 13, 14, 15, 16 21, 22, 23, 24 Locking Pin 25 Holder plate 30 Flexible circuit board 31 Rubber spring 32 Switch support plate 40 Switch support 41 Switch opening 42 Holder opening 43 Projection 44 Board insertion hole 45 Support plate insertion hole 400 Notebook personal computer 402 Keyboard part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-59-21119 (JP, A) JP-A-4-76224 (JP, U) JP-A-4-14323 (JP, U) (58) Survey Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H01H 13/14

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] And 1. A key Toppu, below the key top
It is arranged, the upper end is locked to the lower surface of the key top ,
A first link member for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key top;
A second link member, a switching member for the switching operation in accordance with the vertical movement of the key top, the switch opening is formed at a position corresponding to the switch <br/> quenching member, around the switch opening Provided and in front
A holder member having a locking portion for locking the lower ends of the link members, and a flexible member disposed below the holder member and having a switch electrode corresponding to the switch opening. Disposed below the flexible circuit board and the flexible circuit board
It is, having a support plate for supporting the flexible circuit board
A notebook personal computer provided with a plurality of key switches , comprising: a projection formed to protrude downward from the holder member; and an insertion hole formed in the support plate and inserted through the projection of the holder member. wherein the protruding portion, the al provided for each key switch is, the holder member and the support plate, by inserting the protruding portion into the insertion hole, interposed flexible circuit board between the holder member and the support plate in a state of being, is fit position-decided, the state the lower end surface of the protrusion, which is inserted through the protrusion insertion hole
So that it does not protrude downward from the bottom surface of the support plate.
A notebook personal computer characterized by being used . 2. The key switch according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are adjacent to each other.
2. The notebook type personal computer according to claim 1, wherein the notebook type personal computer is shared between the switches .