JP3451082B2 - Key switch device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a key switch device, and more particularly to a key switch device used for a thin keyboard attached to a notebook word processor, a notebook personal computer or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a key switch device used for a keyboard of this type, a key member integrally having a key stem is inserted into and supported by a key holder portion formed on a holder plate, and a key member is provided below the key stem. A key switch device in which a switching member is arranged is generally used. In such a key switch device, the key stem of the key member is slidably guided up and down through the key holder portion, and when the key member is pushed down, the lower portion of the key stem causes the switching member to move as the key member moves downward. When the switch is pressed, the switching operation is performed.

Further, as a key switch device using a large key such as a space key or a return key, in order to prevent the key from being depressed in a tilted state, it is disclosed in JP-A-60-62017. And JP-A-64-74
The key switch device described in Japanese Patent No. 41 is known.

In the key switch device described in the former,
A guide member, which is disposed below the key member and supports the key member, is composed of two scissor members, and two arms of each scissor member are rotatably connected to a shaft.
When the key member is pressed, a plurality of pins formed at the ends of the scissors-like members are configured to slide horizontally on the back surface of the key member and the top surface of the keyboard substrate. As a result, when the key member is pushed down, the key member moves downward while maintaining the horizontal state, and accordingly, the pushing portion vertically provided on the key member is slidably guided through the key holder portion, and the lower portion thereof is pushed down. The switching operation is performed by pushing down the switching member provided in the.

Further, the key switch device described in the latter has the same basic structure as the key switch device described in the former, and is characterized in that the key member can be easily attached to and detached from the scissors-like member. I have.

The key switch device described in each of these publications moves the keys up and down while maintaining the horizontal state regardless of which part of the key is pressed, regardless of the pressed position on a large key such as the space key. It can be guided. As described above, in any of the conventional key switch devices described above, the key stem for pressing the switching member and the pressing portion of the key member are slidably guided up and down via the key holder portion while pressing the switching member. It is common in that it is done.

[0007]

However, in recent years,
Along with the miniaturization and thinning of word processors, personal computers, and the like, keyboards attached to these are also becoming smaller and thinner. On the other hand, in the situation where a large keystroke is required to improve the operability of the key input and to ensure the reliability of the key input, there is a problem that the conventional key switch device cannot obtain a sufficient keystroke. there were.

In the conventional key switch device, if it is attempted to reduce the thickness of the keyboard, the portion where the key stem is slid and guided by the key holder portion is reduced, and accordingly, the key stem and the key holder caused by the tilting of the key The key will be twisted between the parts. In order to prevent this, if the portion where the key stem is slidably guided by the key holder portion is enlarged, there is a dilemma that the key stroke is reduced. Further, a twist generated between the key stem and the key holder portion when the key is pressed causes a sliding noise, which significantly impairs the operability of key input.

The twisting generated between the key stem and the key holder portion is caused when the central portion of the key is always depressed.
Since the key stem is pressed vertically, it is unlikely to occur. Therefore, in order to prevent the occurrence of the twisting, it is possible to reduce the operation area of the key so that the key is always pressed down in the central portion of the key, but in this case also, the operability of key input is significantly impaired. In terms of points, there is no difference from the above.

The key switch described in US Pat. No. 3,771,636 guides the vertical movement of the key top by a link member having a gear portion.
There is no need for a structure in which the key stem slides up and down by the holder. However, the locking part of the key top, that is, the locking part of the key top that locks the sliding end of the link member,
Since it is provided in the holder member so as to project from the back surface of the key top, there is a problem in that the length of the locking portion interferes and a large key stroke cannot be obtained for the thickness of the key switch. there were.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and eliminates the need for a structure in which a key stem is slidably guided up and down by a holder portion, and the key stroke is reduced while the keyboard is made thinner. An object of the present invention is to provide a key switch device that can be maintained large, has good operability of key input with a simple configuration, and enables reliable key input without twisting.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a key switch device according to a first aspect of the invention has a first surface on the back surface.
A key top having a locking portion formed therein; and a holder member arranged below the key top and having a second locking portion formed therein,
One of the first locking portion and the second locking portion is rotatable and the other is rotatable.
A pair of gear link parts that are slidably locked to each other
A switch that urges the material and the key top upward, and performs switching operation as the key top moves up and down.
A key switch device that includes a quenching member, a pair
The gear link members of are each one end side end in side view.
Part of the key top or the holder member
A locking member that is rotatably locked to the rotation locking portion, and its engagement.
And a gear part with the stop member as the center of rotation.
Key tops that are engaged and rotate in synchronization
It supports the vertical movement of the key top and the back of the key top.
Alternatively, the rotation locking portion formed on the holder member is a pair of gears.
End of the key top in the sliding direction of the yaring member
It is formed on the inside at a distance from. Also, the claims
The key switch device according to claim 2 is the key switch device according to claim 1.
In the touch device, the gear portion is below the key top.
The key top is not pressed.
In the state, it is arranged above the holder member.
Furthermore, the key switch device according to claim 3 is the key switch device according to claim 1 or
The key switch device according to claim 2, wherein
The rudder member has a penetrating opening, and in the opening,
A switching member is arranged.

According to the key switch device of the present invention having the above structure, when the key top is not pressed, the key top is biased upward by the switching member and is held upward. When the key top is pressed in this state, the key top moves down against the biasing force of the switching member . With the downward movement of the key top, it rotates a pair of gears link member synchronously while meshing with the gear unit, the rotation or sliding thereof gear link member in the locking portion of the lower surface and the holder member of the key top respectively To guide the lowering movement of the key top. Along with the lowering operation of the key top, the switching member is pressed to perform the switching operation.

On the other hand, when the depression of the key top is released,
Since the key top is urged upward by the switching member , the urging force pushes the key top upward while being supported by the gear link member and returns to the original position.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a top perspective view of a key switch device according to this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a key switch device when pressed. 5 is a perspective view of a gear link member of the key switch device, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a holder plate portion of the key switch device.

The key top 1 is molded from a synthetic resin such as ABS resin, and letters such as alphabets are formed on the upper surface by printing or the like. From the back surface of the key top 1, the four first locking portions 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b
Is vertically provided inside the back surface of the key top 1 integrally with the main body of the key top 1. The first locking portions 2a and 2b include
Out of two gear link members 7 and 8 which will be described later, locking holes 4a and 4b for locking the locking shafts 13a and 13b formed in one gear link member 7 are provided,
Further, the first locking portions 3a, 3b are provided with locking holes 5a, 5b for rotatably locking the locking shafts 23a, 23b formed on the other gear link member 8, respectively.

A guide support member 6 for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key top 1 is disposed below the key top 1. The guide support member 6 has a mechanism for preventing the key top 1 from tilting when the key is pressed, and is composed of two gear link members 7 and 8. One gear link member 7
As shown in FIG. 1, two base ends 1 are provided at both ends of the base 9.
0a, 10b are integrally formed, and the base end portions 10a, 1
Gears (gear parts) 12a and 12b are formed on the gear 0b, respectively. These gears 12a and 12b are gears (gear parts) 22a and 22 formed on the other gear link member 8 described later.
It is configured to be engaged with b at the action points A and B so that they can rotate in synchronization with each other.

Further, the base 9 has two locking shafts 13a, 1
3b is formed, and the locking shafts 13a, 13b are rotatably locked in the locking holes 4a, 4b. Further, locking pins 14a and 14b are extended from the side surfaces of the extension portions 11a and 11b of the base end portions 10a and 10b. The locking pins 14a and 14b are locked to second locking portions 28a and 28b formed on a holder plate 26 described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the other gear link member 8 is formed by integrally forming two base end portions 20a and 20b at both ends of a base portion 19, and the base end portions 20a and 20b respectively have a gear 22a. , 22b are formed, and the gears 22a,
Reference numeral 22b denotes a gear 12 formed on the other gear link member 7.
The a and 12b are engaged with each other at the action points A and B so that they can rotate in synchronization with each other.

The base 19 has two locking shafts 23a,
23b is formed, and the locking shafts 23a, 23b are rotatably locked in the locking holes 5a, 5b. Furthermore, locking pins 24a and 24b are extended from the side surfaces of the extension portions 21a and 21b of the base end portions 20a and 20b. The locking pins 24a and 24b are locked to second locking portions 27a and 27b formed on a holder plate 26 described later. Both gear link members 7 and 8 are formed in a square shape when viewed from the top, so that there is a large space in the center, and a rubber spring 32 and a coil spring 33, which will be described later, are efficiently provided in this space. It can be stored underneath.

A holder plate 26 having an opening 25 as shown in FIG. 6 is disposed below the guide support member 6, and the holder plate 26 is provided on the gear link members 7 and 8. Locking pins 14a, 14b, 24
Second locking portions 27a, 2 for locking a and 24b respectively
7b, 28a, 28b are provided. Each of the second locking portions 27a, 27b, 28a, 28b is integrally formed in a convex shape with two sides forming each corner of the inner peripheral edge of the holder plate 26, and the locking grooves 29a, 29 are formed in the opening 25.
b, 30a, 30b are formed. Then, the respective locking pins 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b are fitted into the locking grooves 29.
It is slidably locked in the horizontal direction in a, 29b, 30a, 30b.

Incidentally, each second locking portion 27a, 27b, 28
Of the two sides forming a and 28b, the holder plate 26
Limiting walls 27a1, 27b1, 28a1, 2
8b1 is each locking pin 1 in each locking groove 29a, 29b, 30a, 30b at the time of the raising operation of the key top 1.
4a, 14b, 24a, 24b are formed at the ends on the sliding direction side. This limiting wall 27a1, 27b1, 28a
1, 28b1 allows each locking pin 14 of the guide support member 6
The sliding amount of a, 14b, 24a, 24b is limited, and the raised position of the key top 1 is regulated.

A flexible circuit board 31 on which a predetermined circuit pattern (not shown) including switch electrodes is formed is disposed below the holder plate 26, and an inverted cup-shaped rubber is provided at a position corresponding to the switch electrodes. Spring 32
Is placed. The rubber spring 32 has a movable electrode inside, and is buckled when the pressing amount from above exceeds a certain limit, and the switch electrode is short-circuited by the movable electrode. The upper end of the rubber spring 32 is
It projects upward from the opening 25 formed in the holder plate 26. A coil spring 33 is arranged as an elastic member on the upper surface of the rubber spring 32.
The upper end of the coil spring 33 is attached to the recess 1 a on the back surface of the key top 1.

Since the upper end of the coil spring 33 is locked in the recess 1a, the position of the coil spring 33 does not shift. Further, a switch support plate 34 is arranged below the flexible circuit board 31. That is, the switch support plate 34 is provided on the flexible circuit board 3
1, the rubber spring 32, the guide support member 6, and the holder plate 26 are supported.

Two positioning pins 36a and 36b are also provided.
Is erected on the holder plate 26 in the vicinity of the second locking portions 28a and 28b, and the positioning groove 35 is correspondingly provided.
a, 35b guide the positioning pins 36a, 36b as the key top 1 moves up and down.
Is hung from the back of the. This positioning pin 36a,
The engaging portion of the positioning groove 35a, 35b of 36b is formed in a spherical shape so as to be smoothly guided along the positioning groove 35a, 35b without being twisted when the key top 1 is pressed. A through hole 26a is provided in the holder plate 26 immediately below the positioning pins 36a and 36b, so that the positioning pins 36a and 36b can be formed by resin molding without using a slide mold.
Can be created.

As is apparent from FIG. 6, each second locking portion 27a, 27b, 28a, of the holder plate 26,
The lower part of 28b is open. With this configuration, when the holder member is resin-molded, the resin is injected into the predetermined gap formed between the predetermined upper mold and the lower mold to mold the resin, and then the upper mold and the lower mold are separated from each other. It suffices to simply pull out the upper and lower parts, which makes it possible to form the holder member extremely easily and at low cost without using the expensive slide type.

A positioning member 37 is formed by the engagement of the positioning pins 36a and 36b with the positioning grooves 35a and 35b, and the positioning member 37 prevents the key top 1 from moving in the horizontal direction. It has a mechanism. Further, since the guide support member 6 has a mechanism for preventing the key top 1 from tilting, the positioning member 37 does not need to have a mechanism to prevent the key top 1 from tilting. Groove 35a,
The overlap amount of the engaging portion with 35b may be small.

In this way, the guide support member 6 performs the positioning in one direction, and the positioning in the direction of 90 degrees with respect to this positioning is performed by the positioning member 37. Therefore, the key top 1 moves in the horizontal direction. However, since the gear link members 7 and 8 of the guide support member 6 are engaged with each other at the action points A and B, the gear link members 7 and 8 are vertically moved while maintaining the horizontal state.

In the above structure, the first engaging portions 2a, 2 on the left side with reference to the perpendicular line L passing through the points of action A, B in FIG.
Locking holes 4a and 4b for locking the locking shafts 13a and 13b to be rotatable are provided in b, and the second locking portions 27a and 27b are provided.
Has locking grooves 29a, 29b for locking the locking pins 24a, 24b in the horizontal direction. Further, based on the perpendicular line L, the first locking portions 3a and 3b on the right side in FIG.
Locking holes 5 for locking the locking shafts 23a, 23b in a rotatable manner
a and 5b are provided, and the second locking portions 28a and 28b are
Locking groove 3 for locking the locking pins 14a, 14b in the horizontal direction
0a and 30b are provided.

Normally, a keyboard in a word processor or a personal computer is formed with an inclined surface so that the front side of the device is lowered so as to facilitate key input, whereas the upper surface of each key top 1 is arranged horizontally.
Therefore, in each key switch device, the front side of the device is thicker, that is, the height dimension from the switch support plate 34 to the key top 1 is longer. By disposing the positioning member 37 at a position where the height dimension is long, the above-described positioning grooves 35a and 35b and the positioning pin 36a,
Combined with the fact that the amount of overlap of the engaging portion with 36b may be small, the overall height dimension when trying to secure a predetermined stroke of the key can be reduced.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the wall thickness around the key top 1 rises upward and becomes higher, the positioning member 37 is provided in this portion, so that it is possible as much as possible.
The overall height dimension is reduced. In FIG. 2, the right side is the front side of the device.

Next, the operation of the key switch device configured as described above will be described. When the key top 1 is pushed down, the locking shafts 13a and 13b of the gear link member 7 are locked by the first locking portions 2a, as the key top 1 moves downward.
The locking shafts 23 and 24 of the gear link member 8 rotate in the counterclockwise direction in the locking holes 4a and 4b of the first locking portion 3a.
It rotates clockwise in the locking holes 5a and 5b of a and 3b.
At the same time, each locking pin 14 of the gear link member 7
a and 14b are locking grooves 30 of the second locking portions 28a and 28b.
sliding in the horizontal direction (rightward in FIG. 2) in a and 30b, and locking pins 24a and 24b of the gear link member 8 respectively.
Slides horizontally (leftward in FIG. 2) in the locking grooves 29a, 29b of the second locking portions 27a, 27b.

As a result, the gear 12 of the gear link member 7
a and 12b and the gears 22a and 22b of the gear link member 8 rotate synchronously while engaging with each other at action points A and B, whereby the key top 1 moves downward while maintaining the horizontal state. As described above, the gear link member 7,
Since the locking shafts 13a, 13b, 23, 23b of 8 are rotatably locked to the first locking portions 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b formed on the key top 1, the key top 1 is lowered. Even during the operation, the locking shaft 13 of one gear link member 7
a, 13b and the locking shafts 23a of the other gear link member 8,
The distance between the two gear link members 7, 23b is kept constant.
The meshing of the eight gears 12a, 12b, 22a, 22b is maintained.

Further, the positioning pins 36a and 36b can be smoothly positioned without causing twisting.
Since it is guided to 5b, the key top 1 does not move in the horizontal direction.

By moving the key top 1 downward, the coil spring 33 attached to the back surface of the key top 1 is compressed, and as shown in FIG.
The rubber spring 32 is gradually pushed through via the two gear link members 7 and 8.

When the amount of depression exceeds a certain limit, the rubber spring 32 is buckled, whereby the movable electrode in the rubber spring 32 short-circuits the switch electrode on the flexible circuit board 31 and the predetermined switching is performed. The action is taken. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, both gear link members 7 and 8 are substantially horizontal when folded, and the first locking portions 2a, 2b and 3a are formed inside the back surface of the key top 1. , 3b are housed inside the key top 1, so that the key stroke is not reduced by the first locking portions 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b. That is,
At the lowest position of the key top 1, both gear link members 7,
Since 8 is substantially horizontal in the folded state, its handling is extremely easy, which makes it possible to easily carry out the connecting and locking operation of both gear link members 7, 8 and the holder plate 26. .

When the depression of the key top 1 is released, the key top 1 has a coil spring 33 and a rubber spring 32.
It is pushed up by the elastic restoring force of. Along with this, the locking shafts 13a, 13b, 23a, 23b and the locking pins 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b perform an operation opposite to the above-described operation, and as a result, the key top 1 is returned to the original position. It

The rubber spring 32 is substantially trapezoidal in side view as described above, and the angle of the side surface due to the length and height of the upper bottom and the lower bottom is determined according to the desired key touch. . Further, the height of the trapezoidal portion, that is, the height of the rubber spring 32 is determined according to the key stroke and the coil spring 33, and the higher one is preferred. However, in consideration of the thickness of the entire device, the rubber spring 32 cannot be so large.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as described above, the gear link members 7 and 8 are assembled in a square shape in a top view so that a large space can be taken at the center thereof, A rubber spring 32 and a coil spring 33 are arranged. As a result, in this embodiment,
Both gear link members are substantially linear in side view, and are thinner and larger than the device described in JP-A-60-62017 or JP-A-64-7441, which cannot have a large space in the central portion of the device. You can get the stroke.

As described in detail above, in the key switch device according to the present embodiment, the two gear link members 7 and 8 are formed below the key top 1 in a square shape.
A large space is taken in the center, and the rubber spring 32 and the coil spring 33 are arranged in this space, and by pressing the key top 1, the coil spring 33 is interposed, that is, the two gear link members 7 and 8 are interposed. Instead, the rubber spring 32 is pressed. As a result, unlike the conventional key switch device, it is possible to eliminate the structure for slidingly guiding the key stem by the key holder portion and the special structure for pressing the switching member, and the pressing force applied to the key top is Since it is directly applied to the rubber spring without passing through the gear link member, the load on the rubber spring does not increase, and the durable life of the rubber spring can be extended.

Therefore, the keystroke can be increased while the keyboard can be made thinner, so that the operability of the key is good and the key input can be surely performed, and the key switch is simple and low in cost. A device can be provided.

In particular, since there is no need for a structure in which the key stem is slidably guided by the key holder portion, sliding noise does not occur between the key stem and the key holder portion when the key is pressed, unlike the conventional key switch device. , It is not necessary to reduce the operation area of the key in order to press the central portion of the key.

A guide support member 6 having a positioning function is also provided.
With the provision of the positioning member 37 and the key top 1,
The gear link members 7 and 8 of the guide support member 6 are also pressed when
Are engaged with each other at the action points A and B to exert a force downwardly, and the key top 1 does not move in the horizontal direction. Moreover, the positioning pins 36a, 3
Since the engaging portion of the 6b with the positioning grooves 35a, 35b is formed into a spherical shape, the positioning pins 36a, 36b are smoothly guided along the positioning grooves 35a, 35b without being twisted. No dynamic noise is generated. Therefore, in combination with the above, it is possible to provide a key switch device which is excellent in operability of key input also from this point and can surely perform key input.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the number of the gear link members 7 and 8 in the present embodiment may be increased to form an I-shape, and the cylinders having the carved gears may be combined so that they act on each other. In addition, the positioning member 37 including the positioning groove and the positioning pin can be omitted.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the key top 1 is provided with the recessed portion 1a for locking the coil spring 33. However, the lower surface of the key top 1 is provided with a hemispherical protrusion having substantially the same inner diameter as the coil spring 33. May be locked.

[0046]

As described in detail above, according to the key switch device of the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a structure for slidingly guiding the key stem up and down by the holder portion, and the size of the key stroke can be maintained. The effect is that the keyboard can be made thinner. Also, a pair of gear link parts
The material is meshed with the gear and rotates synchronously to move the key.
-It guides and supports the vertical movement of the top.
The locking member that is the center of rotation of the ear
The dynamic locking portion is in the sliding direction of the pair of gear link members.
Formed inside from the end of the key top
ing. Therefore, make the gear part small and
H device can be made compact. Also, the gear part
The key top can be formed with a small rotation angle because
It is possible to obtain a large stroke (the amount of vertical movement).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a key switch device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the key switch device according to the present embodiment when it is pressed down.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a gear link member of the key switch device according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a holder plate portion of the key switch device according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 key tops 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b 1st locking part 6 guide support members 7, 8 gear link members 10a, 10b, 20a, 20b base end parts 12a, 12b, 22a, 22b gears 13a, 13b, 23a, 23b Locking shafts 14a, 14b, 24a, 24b Locking pin 25 Opening 26 Holder plates 27a, 27b, 28a, 28b Second locking portions 27a1, 27b1, 28a1, 28b1 Limiting walls 29a, 29b, 30a, 30b Locking groove 31 Flexible circuit board 32 Rubber spring 33 Coil spring 34 Switch support plate

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1.The first locking portion was formed on the back surfaceKey
And It is arranged below the key top,SecondThe locking part is formed
Holder member,Rotatably to one of the first locking portion or the second locking portion,
A pair of gear rings that are each slidably locked to the other
Member, While pushing the key top upward,
Switching operation is performed with the vertical movement of the table.switch
MemberWhen A key switch device comprising:Each of the pair of gear link members has a side view.
At the end on one end side, the back surface of the key top or the holder member
Locking portion that is rotatably locked to the rotation locking portion formed on the
A material and a gear portion having the locking member as the center of rotation,
The gears are engaged and rotate synchronously.
Is for guiding and supporting the vertical movement of the key top, The back formed on the key top or the holder member
The dynamic locking portion is in the sliding direction of the pair of gear link members.
Formed inside with a space from the end of the key top
Has been A key switch device characterized in that 2. The gear portion is provided below the key top.
It is placed and its key top is in the non-pressed state
Is placed above the holder member.
The key switch device according to claim 1, which is characterized in that. 3. The holder member has an opening therethrough.
The switching member is placed in the opening.
The key-sui according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that
Device.