JPS6310527B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an electronic device having an input key switch, such as an electronic desktop calculator, in which the key switch portion is improved so that a plurality of input contents can be input to one key switch.

When an electronic device requires a large number of key switches for its functionality, the keyboard must have a large area in order to operate each key switch accurately with fingers, making it impossible to make the device compact. . Furthermore, since there are many key switches arranged in rows and columns, if the operator is not familiar with the keyboard layout when operating a specific key switch, he or she may have trouble finding the desired key switch, or may accidentally use another key switch. There is a risk of operating the key switch.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is configured so that a plurality of input contents can be inputted to one key switch and these input contents can be used selectively, thereby reducing the number of key switches. To achieve downsizing of equipment, eliminate the trouble of searching for a predetermined key switch, and accurately operate the key switch.

That is, the present invention is a cylindrical key switch in an electronic device 1 having a housing including an upper case 2 and a lower case 3, and a keyboard 5 and a display 4 provided in the upper case 2. a rotatable key switch 6a, 6b, 6c having a plurality of conductive parts 9a, 9b, 9c diagonally arranged on a cylindrical side surface without contacting each other; Windows 15 exposing the sides of the key switches 6a, 6b, 6c
a, 15b, 15c, and supports a rotating shaft 7 that is integrally formed with the upper case 2 and provided on the cylindrical bottom surface of the key switch 6a, 6b, 6c along the windows 15a, 15b, 15c. arm 11 having elasticity for
11; supporting means 8a, 8b, 8c indicating information corresponding to each of the plurality of conductive parts 9a, 9b, 9c; When pressed, a plurality of contacts 12a, 12b, 12c contact one of the plurality of conductive parts 9a, 9b, 9c, and the conductive part 9a, 9b, 9c contacts the contact 12.
a, 12b, 12c, the support means 8
An electronic device characterized by comprising: means for inputting information supported by a, 8b, and 8c;

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an electronic desk calculator main body capable of performing functional calculations, which requires a relatively large number of key switches, an upper case 2 and a lower case 3. Both 2 and 3 are integrally assembled by fitting or abutting their opening edges with each other by screws or the like. A display section 4 is provided at the front of the upper surface of the upper case 2, a keyboard section 5 is provided at the rear of the upper surface, and a calculation circuit section (not shown) is housed in the case below the display section 4.

Among the plurality of key switches 6, three 6a, 6
b and 6c are key switches in the present invention, which are rotatably provided with respect to the main body 1 of the calculator.

Each of the key switches 6a to 6c has the same mechanical structure, so to explain one key switch 6a among them, the key switch 6a
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, it has a cylindrical shape and has rotating shafts 7, 7 on both end faces. In addition, three input contents 8a (SIN), 8b (SIN ^-1 ), 8c are displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical part.
(log) is formed by printing or the like, and three conductive parts 9 corresponding to the input contents 8a to 8c are located at symmetrical positions with respect to the rotation axis.
a, 9b, and 9c are arranged diagonally with their tips exposed without contacting each other.

The upper case 2 is made of synthetic resin, for example, and integrally has a window 10 and two elastic bearing arms 11, 11 that are inclined forward and downward from the rear edge of the window 10, as shown in FIG. And that window 10
The key switch 6a is inserted from above, and both rotating shafts 7, 7 are supported by end bearing portions 12, 12 of arms 11, 11, respectively, so that the key switch 6a is held movable up and down. key switch 6a
A printed wiring board 13 having signal patterns 12a, 12b, and 12c corresponding to the conductive portions 9a to 9c is provided below. In order to prevent the key switch 6a from coming off upward, a window 15a is provided in the decorative panel 14 that covers the upper surface of the upper case.
The structure is such that a part of the outer peripheral surface of the key switch 6a is exposed from the inside. 15b and 15c are windows for preventing the other key switches 6b and 6c from falling out.

In the above configuration, for example, the key switch 6a
When using the input content 8a, rotate the key switch 6a to position the input content 8a in the window 15a, and push down the key switch 6a against the elasticity of the arms 11, 11, the input content 8a will be displayed. The conductive portion 9a comes into contact with the signal pattern 12a to make it conductive, thereby making it possible to perform arithmetic processing (or input numbers) on the input content 8a. key switch 6a
When the key switch 6a is released from the depression, the key switch 6a returns to its original position due to the elasticity of the arm 11. When using other input contents 8b and 8c, the key switch 6a may be rotated and pressed in the same manner as described above.

In the above embodiment, one key switch has three
We explained the case where input contents are provided, but
By narrowing the spacing between the signal patterns on the printed wiring board, it is possible to provide more input contents to one key switch.

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of input contents are input to the input key switch and it is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the main body of the device, so that each input contents can be selectively used by rotating the key switch. By reducing the number of key switches, it is possible to make the keyboard more compact and, by extension, make the device more compact. Further, by reducing the number of key switches, the trouble of searching for a desired key switch can be saved, and in addition, the trouble caused by accidentally operating a different key switch can be eliminated.

Furthermore, since the rotatable key switch is supported by an arm integrally formed with the upper case of the housing, assembly is facilitated and the number of component parts is reduced. Since the rotatable key switch has a plurality of diagonally conductive parts on its side surface (outer circumferential surface), the conductive parts can be made larger or more numerous.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view showing the relationship between a key switch and a printed wiring board, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the key switch. 1 is an electronic desk calculator main body as a device main body,
6a to 6c are key switches, and 8a to 8c are input contents.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A casing consisting of an upper case and a lower case,
In the electronic device having a keyboard and a display provided in the upper case, the key switch is a cylindrical key switch, and a rotatable key switch having a plurality of conductive parts disposed diagonally on the side surface of the cylindrical shape without contacting each other. a key switch; a window provided on the upper case of the housing and exposing a side surface of the key switch; and a rotating window provided along the window and integrally with the upper case and provided on the cylindrical bottom surface of the key switch. an arm having elasticity for supporting a shaft; a support means for indicating information corresponding to each of the plurality of conductive parts; and when the key switch is pressed against the elasticity of the arm, the plurality of conductive parts An electronic device comprising: a plurality of contacts that make contact with one of the contacts; and means for inputting information supported by the support means when the conductive part comes into contact with the contact.