JPS6351334B2 - - 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 required 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; a switch sheet 6 having a plurality of movable contact patterns 5 that individually perform switching operations with respect to the contact point 1; and a bonding layer 7 made of an adhesive between these constituent members.
A diaphragm type keyboard switch, that is, a panel keyboard, which can basically be constructed from the above, 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.

Therefore, due to the characteristics of the panel keyboard, especially when configuring the switch sheet 6, sufficient consideration should be given to its electrical/mechanical properties and physical/chemical properties, including the field or environment in which it will be used. For example, it has become possible to select suitable plastic film materials such as polyester film, which is advantageous from a cost standpoint and is sufficiently durable for practical use. The problems that arise in connection with point 3 are complex. 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 sealed structure, air or other gases trapped in this gap 3 simply have no place to escape when the switch is operated, and in some cases may seriously impede operability, such as making reliable switch operation impossible. . 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. This problem becomes even more important in the case of a switch operation gap 11 in a switch seat 10 having a dome portion 9 that can be operated by clicking or snapping, which is another type of panel keyboard as shown in FIG. It's getting old. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 8 indicates a movable contact pattern provided on the lower surface of the dome portion 9.

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel structure that satisfactorily solves the above-mentioned problems. To provide a panel keyboard while reducing the cost as much as possible. According to the panel keyboard of the present invention, the base material includes passages for connecting a plurality of switch operation spaces.
When a switch is operated on the panel keyboard, the gas in the switch operation gap can move through the passageway into the other switch operation gap, which improves switch operability and prevents contact points from deteriorating due to the usage environment. It has the feature that it can be easily made into a sealed structure.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in further detail with reference to illustrated embodiments. In Figures 3 to 5,
For convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate the same components.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, both ends of the elongated gas passage 13 formed in the spacer 4, the base material 2, and the receiving plate 12 are connected to the spacer 4, the base material 2, and the switch sheet 6. It has a structure in which the switch operation gap 3 formed therein partially overlaps the edge of each switch operation gap hole in the spacer 4 in the vertical direction of the base material 2. Therefore, when a pressing force is applied to close the switch, the gas in the switch operating gap 3 can escape to other gaps 3 from the edge of the spacer 4 through the elongated perforated passage 13 formed in the base material 2. , it becomes possible to achieve proper switch operation. The receiving plate 12 may be a reinforcing plate or a backing plate of the panel keyboard, or a mounting member of the device.

In addition to the flat type panel keyboard as described above, a panel keyboard equipped with a switch sheet 10 having a dome portion 9 that can be clicked or snapped as shown in FIG. 5 also has a passage 13 similar to that described above. It goes without saying that the present invention can be constructed using the base material 2 made of the following materials.

In the panel keyboard according to the present invention, the panel keyboard can be manufactured at low cost, and gas such as air in each switch operating gap can freely move through the long and narrow through-hole-like passages formed in the base material. Since this function is provided, the operating characteristics of the switch can be greatly improved. Also, when bonding the base material and the receiving plate with adhesive, air gets trapped between the layers, which causes the base material to swell and cause the switch to shoot out. However, with the panel keyboard of the structure of the present invention, the air that has entered between the layers becomes integrated with the gas in the switch operation gap through the passages in the base material, so the above problems can be easily solved. It also has the advantage of being able to be resolved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are conceptual partial cross-sectional configuration diagrams of a conventional panel keyboard, FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway plan view of a panel keyboard according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a conceptual partially enlarged sectional view of a panel keyboard according to another embodiment of the present invention. 1...Fixed contact pattern, 2...Base material,
3, 11... Switch operation gap, 4... Insulating spacer, 5... Movable contact pattern, 6, 10...
Switch sheet, 7... Bonding layer, 9... Dome portion, 12... Receiving plate, 13... Passage.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A switch sheet having a flat or snap-operable dome portion with a movable contact pattern formed at a position corresponding to each of the above fixed contact patterns is disposed above a base material having a required number of fixed contact patterns, and each of these In a keyboard switch having a sealed structure in which a switch operation gap is formed between both contact patterns, a long and narrow through hole-like passage is formed in the base material to connect the plurality of switch operation gaps, and the bottom surface of the base material is A panel keyboard characterized in that it is configured such that a receiving plate is joined to the panel keyboard.