JPS6351333B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an information input device for electrical/electronic equipment, and more particularly to a panel keyboard that has wide applicability as an operation input switch means for various equipment.

Along with the rapid development of active elements for information processing, mainly based on basic electronic materials such as I.C., L.S.I., one-chip computers, and microcomputers, the widespread electronicization of electric and electronic equipment has simultaneously progressed. This encouraged the systematic emergence of various information input devices that were optimal for the uses of these devices. In this process, there are demands for such input means to be smaller, lighter, or thinner in relation to the pursuit of high reliability, ease of use, and freedom of design in terms of instrumentation and design. This has become a major issue to be solved, as is cost reduction. From this point of view, as shown in FIG. 1, a flexible or hard base material 2 having a plurality of desired fixed contact patterns 1;
an insulating spacer 4 provided on the base material 2 and arranged so as to form a switch operation gap 3 in conjunction with each of the fixed contact patterns 1; 1, a switch sheet 6 having a plurality of movable contact patterns 5 each performing a switch operation separately;
A diaphragm type keyboard switch, that is, a panel keyboard, which can basically be constructed from a bonding layer 7 consisting of a mounting material between these constituent members,
It has attracted attention as a form that can effectively meet the above-mentioned demands, and is currently being put into practical use under various proposals. In practice, such a panel gearboard is generally used by stacking a decorative board or a decorative sheet 8 on a switch sheet 6, as shown in the figure. The decorative sheet 8 corresponds to the face of a product on which a panel keyboard is installed, such as a microwave oven, and has an important function that determines the aesthetic image, and is something that users of panel keyboards have to worry about in terms of design and layout. . Therefore, when the switch sheet 6 is also used as a decorative sheet, the material or manufacturing process of the contact pattern 5 of the switch sheet 6 may restrict the manufacturing process of the decorative sheet, such as the multicolor printing process, and, in turn, the design of the decorative sheet. , since this limits the layout, it is preferable to design and manufacture the decorative sheet 8 separately from the switch sheet 6 as much as possible.

By the way, due to the characteristics of such a panel keyboard, especially when it comes to the configuration of the switch sheet 6,
Electricity, including the field or environment in which it is used.
Taking into consideration mechanical properties and physical/chemical properties, it is now possible to select appropriate plastic film materials such as polyester film, which are cost-effective and sufficiently durable for practical use. However, the problems associated with the switch operating gap 3 are complex, especially in achieving thin film thickness. In other words, in order to have wide applicability for general industrial and consumer use, it is preferable to keep each of the switch operating gaps 3 in a sealed state in order to prevent deterioration of the contact patterns 1 and 5 of the switches. , due to the closed structure, this void 3
In some cases, the air or other gas trapped inside the switch has no place to escape when the switch is operated, and in some cases, this seriously impedes operability, such as making it impossible to operate the switch reliably. Furthermore, even if the switching operation can be performed, there is a risk that the chattering or bouncing, which is a common problem with this type of switch, will be further exacerbated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a panel keyboard body having a novel structure that satisfactorily solves the above problems while reducing costs as much as possible. According to the panel keyboard of the present invention, the switch sheet is provided with passages for connecting a plurality of operating gaps by forming ventilation holes with through holes. When a switch is operated on the panel keyboard body, the gas in the switch operation gap can move through the passage into another switch operation gap, thereby improving the switch operation. Therefore, the panel keyboard of this structure has the advantage that it can be easily made into a sealed structure when there is a risk that the contact pattern may deteriorate due to environmental conditions.

The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments.

In FIGS. 2 to 6, for convenience of explanation, the first
The same reference numerals as in the figures indicate the same components, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the keyboard of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a spacer and a switch sheet for ease of understanding. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a switch sheet according to another embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, both ends of the gas passage 9 formed by the switch sheet 6, the decorative sheet 8, and the spacer 4 are connected to the switch sheet 6 formed by the spacer 4, the base material 2, and the switch sheet 6. The moving direction of the operating gap 3 and the switch seat 6,
That is, it has a structure that partially overlaps the edge of the spacer 4 in the vertical direction. Therefore, when a pressing force is applied to close the switch, the switch operation gap 3 is passed from the edge of the spacer 6 through the passage 9 of the switch seat 6.
gas can escape and proper switch operation can be achieved. In this way, the passages 9 are individually bored in the switch sheet 6 with elongated through holes so as to communicate with each switch operation gap 3, so that as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
In addition to arranging the passages 9 in the vertical direction, although not shown, by arranging them in the lateral direction and adopting the longitudinal and lateral arrangement, a plurality of operating spaces 3 can be formed.
It is easy to connect them arbitrarily. In any case, the step of drilling the passages 9 in the switch sheet 6 can be easily performed before or after the step of forming the pattern 5 formed on the sheet 6 in conjunction with the step of forming the pattern 5.

Note that the structure of the passage 9 of the switch sheet 6 can also be formed by a groove 10 that does not penetrate the switch sheet 6 in the thickness direction, as shown in the sectional view of FIG. It is also possible to sandwich another sheet between the decorative sheet 8 and the switch sheet 6.

The panel keyboard of the present invention having the above structure has the following features:
The panel keyboard body can be manufactured at low cost, and the gas such as air in each switch operation gap can move freely through the perforated passages drilled in the switch sheet. The operating characteristics of the switch have been greatly improved, and the switch operation has been improved.
As the ventilation means for communicating between a plurality of the switch sheets, it is sufficient to form a perforated passage in the switch sheet and arrange a decorative sheet on the switch sheet.
It is also extremely advantageous as a means for reducing the thickness of a keyboard switch constructed in a sealed structure.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a conceptual partial cross-sectional configuration diagram of a conventional panel keyboard, Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway plan view of the keyboard of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing spacers and switch sheets stacked on top of each other. A partially cutaway plan view, FIG. 4, shows A- in FIG. 2.
5 is a sectional view taken along line A, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line B-B, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a switch sheet according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 1...Fixed contact pattern, 2...Base material, 3
... Switch operation gap, 4 ... Insulating spacer, 5 ... Movable contact pattern, 6 ... Switch sheet, 7 ... Bonding layer, 8 ... Decorative board or decorative sheet, 9 ... Gas passage.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A switch sheet having a movable contact pattern formed at a position corresponding to each of the above-mentioned fixed contact patterns is disposed above a base member having a plurality of required fixed contact patterns, and a switch operation space is provided between each of the contact patterns. In the keyboard switch, a perforated passage is formed in the switch sheet to connect the plurality of switch operation holes, and a decorative sheet is applied on the switch sheet. A panel keyboard characterized by: