JP7533550B2 - Key units and electronic devices - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a key unit and an electronic device having this key unit.

Key sheets are known as input units for electronic devices such as electronic dictionaries, in which multiple keys are integrally molded into a sheet and one side of the key top acts as a fulcrum, causing the other side to stroke and contact the contacts. For such key sheets, various structures have been proposed to increase the size of the keys to improve visibility and operability, as well as to prevent problems such as double clicking (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2017-130370 A JP 2019-121594 A

In this way, if the key portion of a key unit (key sheet) on which multiple keys are arranged is enlarged, it becomes easier for users to press the keys, but the spacing between the keys may become narrower, resulting in users accidentally touching adjacent keys.

In particular, in electronic devices that have key units with a structure in which one side of the key is used as a fulcrum and the other side strokes, as described above, it is preferable to operate the key by pressing the other side of the key top slightly from the center, but if the other side (edge) of the key top is pressed from the center, a key other than the key that you want to press may be pressed by mistake, resulting in the problem of not being able to operate the key correctly.

The present invention aims to enable correct key operation in a key unit that has multiple keys arranged in a structure in which one side of the key serves as a fulcrum and the other side strokes.

In one aspect of the present invention, a key unit has a plurality of keys arranged in the left-right and front-back directions when viewed from the user, and a key support portion that supports the front side of the key so that it can be moved toward or away from the user, using the rear side of the key as a fulcrum, which is farther away from the user than the front side of the key, and the rear end of the key top formed on the upper surface of the key is provided with a first inclined portion that gradually becomes lower from the front side to the rear side and a second inclined portion that gradually becomes lower from the front side to the rear side, a contact portion is formed on the bottom side of the key, and the contact portions of at least some of the plurality of keys are provided with a third inclined portion that gradually becomes lower from the front side to the rear side.

In one aspect of the present invention, in an electronic device provided with a key sheet, the key sheet has a plurality of keys arranged in left-right and front-back directions as viewed from a user, and a key support portion that supports the front side of the key so that it can be moved toward or away from the user, using the rear side of the key, which is farther away from the user than the front side of the key, as a fulcrum, and the rear end of the key top formed on the upper surface of the key is provided with a first inclined portion that gradually becomes lower from the front side to the rear side and a second inclined portion that gradually becomes lower from the front side to the rear side, contact portions are formed on the bottom surface of the keys, and the contact portions of at least some of the plurality of keys are provided with a third inclined portion that gradually becomes lower from the front side to the rear side.

According to the present invention, even if the keys on the key sheet, which is the input unit, are enlarged, it is possible to prevent touching adjacent keys.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device taken along line AA in FIG. 1. 2 is a plan view showing a main part of a key sheet incorporated in the electronic device. FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing keys of the key sheet. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the key sheet taken along line BB in FIG. 4. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing keys of a key sheet incorporated in the electronic device. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a first modified example of the key sheet taken along line CC in FIG. 6. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing keys of a key sheet incorporated in the electronic device. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a second modified example of the key sheet taken along line DD in FIG. 8. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing keys of a key sheet incorporated in the electronic device. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a third modified example of the key sheet taken along line E-E in FIG. 10.

The electronic device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an electronic device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the electronic device 100 taken along line A-A in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a plan view showing the main parts of a key sheet 20 incorporated in the electronic device 100, Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram showing key tops 32 of the key sheet 20, and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the key sheet 20 incorporated in the electronic device 100 taken along line B-B in Figure 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic device 100 includes a first housing 2, a second housing 4, and a hinge portion 6. The first housing 2 and the second housing 4 rotate about the hinge portion 6, and the electronic device 100 is folded with the first housing 2 and the second housing 4 overlapping each other. The electronic device 100 is, for example, an electronic dictionary. The first housing 2 and the second housing 4 are made of insulating resin, such as ABS resin, acrylic resin, polycarbonate, etc.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the first housing 2 has a substrate 10 and a key sheet 20 arranged on the substrate 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the second housing 4 has a display unit 8 arranged thereon. The display unit 8 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays input from the user, search results, etc.

The substrate 10 is a circuit board having wiring, contacts, electrodes, etc. When the key portion 30 of the key sheet 20 described below comes into contact with the contacts of the substrate 10, the wiring of the substrate 10 becomes conductive. This allows input to be performed to the electronic device 100.

The key sheet 20 is an input unit that receives input from a user of the electronic device 100. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the key sheet 20 has a plurality of key units 30, a base plate 40, a buckling unit (key support unit) 50, and a sheet base unit 60.

When pressed by a user, the key unit 30 displaces its front end downward with its rear end as a fulcrum. In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, multiple key units 30 arranged in the left-right and front-rear directions protrude from one opening 3 of the first housing 2. When the electronic device 100 is folded and the first housing 2 and the second housing 4 are overlapped, the key unit 30 protruding from the opening 3 of the first housing 2 faces the second housing 4.

The base plate 40 is covered by the sheet base 60. The buckling portion 50 elastically supports the key portion 30 and buckles when the key portion 30 is pressed. The sheet base 60 covers the base plate 40 and supports the key portion 30 via the buckling portion 50.

As shown in FIG. 5, the key portion 30 has a key top 32 on the top side and a contact portion 39 on the bottom side. The key portion 30, base plate 40, buckling portion 50, and sheet base portion 60 are integrally molded. The key portion 30, buckling portion 50, and sheet base portion 60 are made of insulating elastic materials such as silicone rubber and elastomer, and the base plate 40 is made of a material with relatively high bending rigidity, for example, metals such as stainless steel and aluminum alloy, and resins such as polycarbonate.

As shown in FIG. 2, the key sheet 20 has key sections 30 in which key groups made up of multiple keys lined up in the left-right direction are arranged in three rows (P1 to P3) in the front-rear direction. The multiple key sections 30 lined up in the left-right direction at a first position P1 in the front-rear direction (key group P1) and the multiple key sections 30 lined up in the left-right direction at a second position P2 adjacent to the first position P1 in the front-rear direction (key group P2) are arranged in a staggered manner with their left-right positions shifted alternately by half the key pitch. The same is true for the multiple key sections 30 lined up in the left-right direction at a second position P2 in the front-rear direction (key group P2) and the multiple key sections 30 lined up in the left-right direction at a third position P3 adjacent to the second position P2 in the front-rear direction (key group P3).

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, a specific key part 30 located at a first position P1 and two key parts 30 located at a second position P2 on the front side of this key part 30 are arranged such that the left end or right end of each of the two key parts 30 located at the second position P2 faces the center of the specific key part 30 located at the first position P1.

When not pressed, the key portion 30 of the key sheet 20 protrudes from the opening 3 of the first housing 2, and when pressed, it displaces downward in FIG. 2 (in the direction from the key sheet 20 side to the substrate 10 side along the normal direction of the surface of the substrate 10 facing the key sheet 20). When pressure is removed, the key portion 30 displaces to a position protruding from the opening 3 of the first housing 2.

The key top 32 of the key unit 30 is the part that is pressed by the user, and is provided on the contact portion 39 of the key unit 30. The key top 32 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. Characters, symbols, characters indicating functions, etc. corresponding to input to the electronic device 100 are printed on the pressing surface of the key top 32. The key top 32 is made of ABS resin, acrylic resin, polycarbonate, etc.

In the key sections 30 arranged in three rows in the center of the first housing 2 in the front-to-rear direction, the surfaces 39a of the contact sections 39 are inclined so as to approach the board 10 toward the hinge section 6, as shown in FIG. 2. Also, the key tops 32 are formed with a slight incline from the front side to the rear side. Note that in the key sections 30 other than these three rows, the surfaces 39a of the contact sections 39 are parallel to the board 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the key top 32 has a rectangular parallelepiped base portion 32a. This base portion 32a has a trapezoid central flat portion 32H on the central upper surface. Furthermore, the base portion 32a is formed with a slope that decreases from the central portion 32b in the left-right direction toward the rear left and right ends 32c, 32d from the central flat portion 32H, and a left inclined portion 32L and a right inclined portion 32R are provided.

The contact portion 39 of the key portion 30 is supported by the buckling portion 50 and the sheet base 60. The contact portion 39 is provided on a surface 39a that faces the substrate 10 when the key portion 30 is displaced. The conductive film provided on the surface 39a of the contact portion 39 comes into contact with the contact of the substrate 10 when the key portion 30 is displaced. Note that instead of a conductive film, the surface 39a of the contact portion 39 may be subjected to a surface treatment that imparts conductivity.

The base plate 40 of the key sheet 20 is a flat plate having openings 42 at positions corresponding to the positions of the arranged key portions 30, as shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the buckling portion 50 of the key sheet 20 extends in a skirt shape from the contact portion 39 of the key portion 30 and connects the contact portion 39 to the sheet base 60. The buckling portion 50 also elastically supports the contact portion 39 in a direction protruding from the opening 3 of the first housing 2 relative to the sheet base 60. The buckling portion 50 buckles when the key portion 30 is pressed and returns to its original shape when the pressure is removed from the key portion 30.

The sheet base 60 of the key sheet 20 is placed on the substrate 10 and supports the key portion 30 via the buckling portion 50.

As described above, in the key part 30 whose front end is displaced with the rear end as a fulcrum, the left and right ends on the rear side of the key top 32 are lower than the other parts, so that the user can easily press the front central flat part 32H, which is the correct pressing position, instead of the rear left inclined part 32L and right inclined part 32R. In addition, the multiple key parts 30 aligned in the left-right direction at the first position P1 and the multiple key parts 30 aligned in the left-right direction at the second position P2 adjacent to the first position P1 in the front-rear direction are arranged in positions where the central flat part 32H of the key at the first position P1 corresponds to the left inclined part 32L and the right inclined part 32R of the key at the second position P2, and the left inclined part 32L and the right inclined part 32R of the key at the second position P2 are lower than the central part 32b of the key at the first position P1, so that when the central flat part 32H of the key at the first position P1 is pressed, the possibility of touching the key at the second position P2 is low. Or, even if the central flat portion 32H of the key at the second position P2 is touched, the stroke of the key at the second position P2 is small and the contacts do not come into contact.

Alternatively, even if the contacts of the keys at the second position P2 come into contact, the timing of the contacts of the keys at the first position P1 comes into contact earlier, and it is possible to prevent erroneous key input. Therefore, in the key section 30 with a displaceable front end, when the user presses the front central flat surface section 32H, which is the correct pressing position, the correct key is input without the user being careful not to press another key by mistake. In this way, in the key section 30 with a displaceable front end, the user can operate the key top 32 at the correct pressing position and perform correct key operation with fewer erroneous inputs, improving operability and improving the usability of the electronic device 100 for the user. Note that the shape of the key top 32 remains rectangular in a plan view, so visibility is maintained.

In addition, the left inclined portion 32L and the right inclined portion 32R of the key in the second position P2 are gently sloping downwards with respect to the central flat portion 32H of the key top 32, so that when the key top 32 is pressed, the central flat portion 32H of the key top 32 is naturally touched without any discomfort, naturally preventing erroneous input.

In addition, the left and right ends 32c, 32d of the key in the second position P2 are provided with a left inclined portion 32L and a right inclined portion 32R that have an inclined surface at an angle different from that of the central flat portion 32H of the key top 32, and the boundaries between the central flat portion 32H and the left inclined portion 32L and the right inclined portion 32R are slanted, which provides an excellent design.

Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing key portion 30A of key sheet 20A, and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of a first modified example of key sheet 20A incorporated in electronic device 100, taken along line CC in Figure 6. In these figures, parts with the same functions as those in Figures 4 and 5 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

The key section 30A has a key top 33. The key top 33 has a rectangular base section 33a. The base section 33a has a rectangular central flat section 33H on the central upper surface. Furthermore, the base section 33a is formed with a slope that decreases from the central section 32b in the left-right direction toward the left and right ends 33c, 33d on the left and right sides, and a left inclined section 33L and a right inclined section 33R are provided. Furthermore, a slope that decreases from the central section 33b toward the rear end 33e is formed, and a rear end inclined section 33K is provided.

The key sheet 20A according to this modified example can also achieve the same effects as the key sheet 20 according to the embodiment described above.

Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram showing key portion 30B of key sheet 20B, and Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of a second modified example of key sheet 20B incorporated in electronic device 100, taken along line D-D in Figure 8. In these figures, parts with the same functions as those in Figures 4 and 5 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions will be omitted.

The key section 30B is provided with a key top 34. The key top 34 has a rectangular base section 34a. This base section 34a has a pentagonal central plane section 34H on its central upper surface. Furthermore, the base section 34a is formed with a slope that decreases from the central section 34b in the left-right direction of the central plane section 34H toward the rear left and right ends 34c, 34d, and is provided with a left slope section 34L and a right slope section 34R. The difference from the key top 32 is that the boundary position between the central plane section 34H and the left slope section 34L and the right slope section 34R, i.e., the position where it starts to decrease, is closer to the rear end.

The key sheet 20B according to this modified example can also achieve the same effects as the key sheet 20 according to the embodiment described above.

Figure 10 is an explanatory diagram showing key portion 30C of key sheet 20C, and Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of a third modified example of key sheet 20C incorporated in electronic device 100, taken along line E-E in Figure 10. In these figures, parts with the same functions as those in Figures 4 and 5 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted.

The key section 30C has a key top 35. The key top 35 has a rectangular base section 35a. The base section 35a has a rectangular central plane section 35H on the central upper surface. Furthermore, the base section 35a is formed with a slope that decreases from the central section 35b in the left-right direction of the central plane section 35H toward the rear left and right ends 35c, 35d, and a left inclined section 35L and a right inclined section 35R are provided. Furthermore, the base section 35a is formed with a slope that decreases from the central plane section 35H toward the front end 35e from the central section 35b, and a front end inclined section (other side inclined section) 35F is provided.

The key sheet 20C according to this modified example can achieve the same effects as the key sheet 20 according to the embodiment described above.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above example, the front and rear rows are arranged in a staggered pattern, but the present invention can also be applied to a matrix pattern instead of a staggered pattern.

In the above-described embodiment, the front end of the key top 32 of the key section 30 is provided with a slope that decreases from the front end to the rear end, a slope that decreases from the center to the right in the left-right direction, and a slope that decreases from the center to the left in the left-right direction, but this is not limited to this. For example, the left and right ends of the rear end may be formed lower than the center in the left-right direction at the rear end, and the left and right ends of the rear end may be formed lower than the center in the left-right direction at the front end.

In the above example, the key sheet has multiple keys molded as a single sheet, but the key sheet is not limited to being sheet-shaped or molded as a single piece, and may be applied to a general key unit in which multiple keys are arranged in the left-right and front-back directions.

In the above example, the key is applied to a key in which the rear side of the key is the fulcrum when viewed from the user's side and the front side of the key is stroked, but it may also be applied to a key in which the front side of the key is the fulcrum and the rear side is stroked.

The electronic device 100 equipped with such a key unit is not limited to an electronic dictionary, but may be a calculator, a mobile phone, a PC keyboard, etc. In addition, the combination of inclinations may include those other than those described above, and inclinations may be combined. Of course, various other modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, the present invention is encompassed within the scope of the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents. The inventions described in the original claims of this application are listed below.
[Appendix 1]
A plurality of keys arranged in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction;
a key support portion that supports one of the front side and the rear side of the key as a fulcrum so as to be able to move the other side closer to or farther from the front side and the rear side of the key,
The end portion on one side of the key top of the key is provided with an inclination that decreases from the other side toward the one side, an inclination that decreases from the center toward the right side in the left-right direction, and an inclination that decreases from the center toward the left side in the left-right direction.
Key unit.
[Appendix 2]
a right inclined portion having an inclined surface that becomes lower from the other side toward the one side and from the center toward the right side in the left-right direction is provided at a right end portion of the key top of the key on the one side,
a left end portion on the one side of the key top of the key is provided with a left inclined portion having an inclined surface which becomes lower from the other side toward the one side and from the center toward the left side in the left-right direction;
A key unit described in [Appendix 1].
[Appendix 3]
A central flat portion is provided in the central portion of the key top, the flat portion having a plane at an angle different from the inclined surface of the right inclined portion and the inclined surface of the left inclined portion, the boundary between the right inclined portion and the central flat portion is inclined from the one side to the other side and from the left side to the right side, and the boundary between the left inclined portion and the central flat portion is inclined from the one side to the other side and from the right side to the left side.
A key unit described in [Appendix 2].
[Appendix 4]
A central flat portion having a flat surface is provided at the center of the key top, and the inclined surface of the right inclined portion and the inclined surface of the left inclined portion are provided so as to be inclined with respect to the plane of the central flat portion, and the left and right widths of the other side of the central flat portion are wider than the left and right widths of the one side of the central flat portion.
A key unit described in [Appendix 2].
[Appendix 5]
the plane of the central plane portion is inclined downward from the other side toward the one side, and is inclined more gently than the inclined surfaces of the right inclined portion and the left inclined portion;
A key unit described in [Appendix 3] or [Appendix 4].
[Appendix 6]
A key unit described in any one of [Appendix 1] to [Appendix 5], wherein the other end of the key top does not have a slope that decreases from the one side toward the other side.
[Appendix 7]
The other end of the key top is provided with an other-side inclined portion having an inclination that decreases from the one side toward the other side, and a front-to-rear width of the other-side inclined portion is narrower than a front-to-rear width of the right-side inclined portion and a front-to-rear width of the left-side inclined portion.
A key unit described in any one of [Appendix 2] to [Appendix 6].
[Appendix 8]
A plurality of keys arranged in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction;
a key support portion that supports one of the front side and the rear side of the key as a fulcrum so as to be able to move the other side closer to or farther from the front side and the rear side of the key,
The key top of the key is formed such that the left and right ends on the one side are lower than the left and right center part on the one side, and the left and right ends on the one side are lower than the left and right center part on the other side.
Key unit.
[Appendix 9]
A key unit as described in any one of [Appendix 1] to [Appendix 8], wherein the multiple keys are arranged in a front-to-back direction as multiple key groups each consisting of multiple keys lined up in the left-to-right direction, and the multiple keys included in each of the multiple key groups lined up in the front-to-back direction are arranged in a staggered pattern with the left-to-right positions of each key group being staggered.
[Appendix 10]
In an electronic device provided with a key sheet,
The key sheet includes a plurality of keys arranged in a left-right direction and a front-rear direction;
a key support portion that supports one of the front side and the rear side of the key as a fulcrum so as to be able to move the other side closer to or farther from the front side and the rear side of the key,
The end portion on one side of the key top of the key is provided with an inclination that decreases from the other side toward the one side, an inclination that decreases from the center toward the right side in the left-right direction, and an inclination that decreases from the center toward the left side in the left-right direction.
Electronic devices.

2...first housing, 3...opening, 4...second housing, 6...hinge portion, 8...display portion, 10...substrate, 20, 20A, 20B, 20C...key sheet, 30, 30A, 30B, 30C...key portion, 32, 33, 34, 35...key top, 32H, 33H, 34H, 35H...central flat portion, 32L, 33L, 34L, 35L...left side inclined portion, 32R, 33R, 34R, 35R...right side inclined portion, 33K...rear end inclined portion, 35F...front end inclined portion, 39...contact portion, 40...base plate, 42...opening, 50...buckling portion, 60...sheet base, 100...electronic device, P1...first position, P2...second position.

Claims (10)

A plurality of keys arranged in left-right and front-rear directions as seen by a user;
a key support portion that supports the front side of the key so as to be movable toward or away from the user using a rear side of the key that is farther away from the user than the front side of the key as a fulcrum,
a first inclined portion that is gradually lowered from the front side toward the rear side and a second inclined portion that is gradually lowered from the front side toward the rear side are provided at the rear end of the key top that is formed on the upper surface side of the key,
A contact portion is formed on the bottom side of the key , the contact portion contacting the substrate when the key is displaced .
The contact portions of at least some of the keys among the plurality of keys are provided with third inclined portions that become gradually lower from the front side toward the rear side.
Key unit. the third inclined portion is provided on the contact portion of the key top corresponding to the keys arranged in a plurality of rows on a center side in the front-rear direction among the plurality of keys;
The key unit according to claim 1 . the contact portion on the key top of the key other than the key having the third inclined portion among the plurality of keys is flat;
3. A key unit according to claim 1 or 2. an angle of the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion provided on the upper surface side of the key top of the key is different from an angle of the third inclined portion provided on the contact portion of the key top of at least some of the keys;
A key unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3. the first inclined portion has an inclined surface at a right end portion of the rear side of the key top of the key, the inclined surface becoming lower from the front side toward the rear side and becoming lower from the center toward the right side in the left-right direction,
The second inclined portion has an inclined surface at a left end portion of the rear side of the key top of the key, the inclined surface becoming lower from the front side toward the rear side and becoming lower from the center toward the left side in the left-right direction.
A key unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The key further comprises a top surface,
The boundary between the first inclined portion and the top surface is inclined from the rear side to the front side and from the left side to the right side, and the boundary between the second inclined portion and the top surface is inclined from the rear side to the front side and from the right side to the left side.
The key unit according to claim 5. The key further comprises a top surface,
The inclined surface of the first inclined portion and the inclined surface of the second inclined portion are provided so as to be inclined with respect to the top surface, and a left-right width of the front side of the top surface is wider than a left-right width of the rear side of the top surface.
The key unit according to claim 5. the plane of the top surface is provided with a gentler inclination than the inclined surface of the first inclined portion and the inclined surface of the second inclined portion;
8. A key unit according to claim 6 or 7. The plurality of keys are arranged such that the center lines of the keys are aligned in a left-right direction and are arranged such that the center lines of the keys differ from each other in a front-rear direction by an amount equivalent to half the length of the keys in the left-right direction.
The key unit according to claim 1 . In an electronic device provided with a key sheet,
The key sheet includes a plurality of keys arranged in left-right and front-rear directions as viewed from a user;
a key support portion that supports the front side of the key so as to be movable toward or away from the user using a rear side of the key that is farther away from the user than the front side of the key as a fulcrum,
a first inclined portion that is gradually lowered from the front side toward the rear side and a second inclined portion that is gradually lowered from the front side toward the rear side are provided at the rear end of the key top that is formed on the upper surface side of the key,
A contact portion is formed on the bottom side of the key , the contact portion contacting the substrate when the key is displaced .
The contact portions of at least some of the keys among the plurality of keys are provided with third inclined portions that become gradually lower from the front side toward the rear side.
Electronic devices.