JPH04223012A - Keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make a keyboard thin and light and reduce operating noise by providing a shock absorbing member for collision of a key against a support panel via a switch element. CONSTITUTION:A shock absorbing member 24 having an almost T-shaped cross section, the horizontal side of which covers the tip end portion of an actuator 10b while the vertical side of which is inserted into a hole of the actuator 10b, is disposed at the tip end of the actuator 10b. The shock absorbing member 24 is made of a material having resiliency and large shock dissipating energy. Therefore, when a key top 10a is depressed by a finger F, the actuator 10b comes into contact in such a manner as to receive shock from a support panel 16 via a membrane switch 14, and the shock can be absorbed by the member 24. Furthermore, shock noise of the actuator 10b is absorbed, and reaction on the finger F can be alleviated so that an operating feeling can be improved.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a keyboard used in computers, word processors, etc., for example. In recent years, with the development of information devices, the importance of keyboards as input means for conveying human intentions to information devices has been increasing. In particular, with the spread of portable OA equipment, location,
As opportunities to operate a keyboard at any time have increased, there is a growing demand for keyboards that are quiet to operate.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art A keyboard is provided with a large number of keys, and switch elements are arranged below these keys.
By depressing a key, the corresponding switch element is opened or closed, and the opening/closing signal is input to the computer. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of keys and switch elements used in a conventional keyboard. key 1
0 is arranged on the wall 12 on the surface of the keyboard and consists of an integral key top 10a and an actuator 10b. The key top 10a is located outside the keyboard, and the actuator 10b is inserted into the keyboard through a hole provided in the surface wall 12. The switch element 14 is attached to a support panel 16 located inside the keyboard. A return spring 20 urges the actuator 10b outward, and the actuator 10b is provided with a retainer 10c. Further, the pressure spring 22 is applied to the actuator 1
0b and extends towards the switch element 14.

Various switches are used as the switch element 14. For example, there are reed switches, mechanical switches, membrane switches, conductive rubber switches, etc., and each is used depending on its purpose. However, FIG. 10 shows a membrane switch 14 that is currently widely used.
(The switch element is the same as the switch element 14 of FIG. 9, hereinafter the switch element will be referred to as a membrane switch) in detail. The membrane switch 14 consists of upper and lower sheets 14a, 14b and an intermediate spacer sheet 14c. These are made of polyester film. Upper and lower sheets 14a,
14b has switch contacts 14d, 14e and lead 14.
f and 14g are formed by patterning a conductive material such as Ag or C. Further, the spacer sheet 14c has holes 14h at positions corresponding to the switch contacts 14d and 14e.
is provided. Therefore, each switch contact 14d, 1
4e faces each other through the hole 14h, and when the key 10 is not pressed down, the switch remains open as shown in (B), and when the key 10 is pressed down, the switch is closed as shown in (C). become a state.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of key and switch elements. In this case as well, the key 10 consists of a key top 10a and an actuator 10b, and the membrane switch 14 is connected to the support panel 16.
The return spring 20 is attached to the actuator 10b.
is biased outward. However, the pressure spring 22 of FIG. 9 is not present. At F, the key top 10a is pressed with a finger.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the configuration shown in FIG. 9, when the key top 10a is pressed, the actuator 10b is lowered;
Pressure spring 22 moves toward membrane switch 14 . The pressing spring 22 is not in contact with the membrane switch 14 at first, but as the actuator 10b is lowered, it comes into contact with the membrane switch 14, and when the pressure spring 22 is further lowered after contact, the membrane switch 14 is closed. The stroke of the actuator 10b for this purpose is 3~
It is said that around 4mm is good, and the actuator 10b
does not come into direct contact with the membrane switch 14. In this way, by using two springs, the return spring 20 and the pressure spring 22, a click feeling and a suitable operation feeling can be obtained. However, recently, portable office automation equipment has become popular, and keyboards are also required to be thinner and lighter. In the configuration of FIG. 9, two springs are used, and in order to obtain a suitable operating feeling, the stroke of the actuator 10b is required to be about 3 to 4 mm, and the length of the pressure spring 22 is equal to the stroke of the actuator 10b. Approximately 3 to 4 times as much is required. As a result, the keyboard becomes considerably thicker.

Therefore, in order to achieve a thin and lightweight keyboard, the keyboard shown in FIG. 11 does not include the pressing spring 22 shown in FIG. 9, and the stroke of the actuator 10b is set to about 2 mm. In the keyboard of FIG. 11, the actuator 10b directly contacts the membrane switch 14 to close the switch. Therefore, the actuator 10b collides with the support panel 16 via the membrane switch 14. The actuator 10b (key 10) is usually made of plastic, and the support panel 16 is made of a steel plate, an aluminum plate, or the like. The operating speed of the keys 10 is quite fast, and few people intentionally save their finger strength to operate the keys 10. For this reason, the actuator 10b generates an impact noise against the support panel 16, and there is also a problem in that a reactionary force is generated when the finger hits the finger, resulting in a poor operating feel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a keyboard that is thin and lightweight, produces less operation noise, and has less reaction to fingers.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The keyboard of the present invention includes:
a key arranged protrudingly on the surface of the keyboard to receive the depressing force of a finger; a support panel arranged inside the keyboard; a switch element supported by the support panel and driven by the key; The present invention is characterized by comprising a buffer member that buffers the impact when the switch element collides with the support panel.

According to another configuration, the keyboard of the present invention includes keys that are arranged protruding from the surface of the keyboard and receive a pressing force from a finger, a support panel that is arranged inside the keyboard, and a key that is supported by the support panel. a switch element that is pressed and driven by the key, and a hole or recess provided in the support panel at a position corresponding to the switch element, and the key collides with the support panel via the switch element. It is characterized by being designed to reduce the impact of

0010

[Operation] In the above structure, the switch element is pressed and driven by the key, and a buffer member is provided to buffer the impact when the key collides with the support panel via the switch element. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a keyboard that is thin and lightweight, produces less operation noise, and has less reaction to fingers.

[0011] Furthermore, by providing holes or recesses in the support panel at positions corresponding to the switch elements, it is possible to reduce the impact when the key collides with the support panel, and in this case as well, a thin and light weight can be achieved. In addition, it is possible to obtain a keyboard with less operation noise and less reaction to fingers.

0012

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 8 shows a portable word processor 100, in which a keyboard 102 is removably provided from the main body of the word processor. There are many keys 1 on the surface of the keyboard 102.
0 is placed. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, and is an enlarged view of one key 10 of a keyboard 102 in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. The key 10 is arranged on the wall 12 on the surface of the keyboard 102, and consists of an integral key top 10a and an actuator 10b. The key top 10a is located outside the keyboard 102, and the actuator 10b
The keyboard 102 is inserted through the hole 12a provided in the front wall 12.
inserted inside. The wall surface of this hole 12a serves as a sliding guide for the actuator 10b. A support panel 16 made of a steel plate or an aluminum plate is fixed inside the keyboard 102, and a membrane switch 14 as a switch element is bonded to the support panel 16. A return spring 20 urges the actuator 10b outward, and a retainer 10 is attached to the key top 10a or the actuator 10b.
c is provided.

The membrane switch 14 is similar to that shown in FIG. 10, and as shown in FIG.
a, a lower sheet 14b having switch contacts 14e and leads 14g, and an intermediate spacer sheet 14c having holes 14h. Each switch contact 14d, 14e faces each other via a hole 14h. Figure 1 shows switch contact 1
4d and 14e are shown with reference numerals. Therefore,
When the key 10 is not pressed down, the switch remains open as shown in FIG. 1(A), and when the key 10 is pressed down, the switch is closed as shown in FIG. 1(B). The signal that the switch is closed is the lead 14f, 1
The information is input to a computer (not shown) via 4G.

In FIG. 1, a buffer member 24 is attached to the tip of the actuator 10b. This buffer member 24 is made of a material that is elastic and has a large dissipation energy against impact, such as rubber or foamed resin. In addition, soft plastics such as polyethylene can also be used. For example, a spring such as the pressure spring 22 in FIG. 9 has a relatively large elastic energy, so it does not function as a buffer member by itself. In the present invention, in order to make the keyboard 102 thinner and lighter, the key top 10a and the actuator 10 are
b is made as compact as possible, and the actuator 10b
The stroke is also relatively small, for example, about 2 mm. Therefore, if you press the key top 10a with your finger F,
The actuator 10b immediately activates the membrane switch 14.
is pressed, and further collides with the support panel 16 via the membrane switch 14 and stops. When pressing the key top 10a forcefully, the actuator 10b hits the support panel 16 via the membrane switch 14 so as to receive an impact. The buffer member 24 buffers this impact, thereby causing the actuator 10
It absorbs the impact sound of the finger (b) and alleviates the recoil felt by the finger (F), thereby improving the operating feel. Furthermore, even after the switch contacts 14d and 14e are closed, the actuator 10b can be further pushed down within the range of deformation of the buffer member 24, realizing a switch-on operation in the middle of the stroke, giving the operator a reliable operating feeling. be able to.

As shown in FIG. 1, the buffer member 24 has a substantially T-shaped cross-sectional shape, the horizontal side of the T covers the tip end surface of the actuator 10b, and the vertical side of the T covers the tip surface of the actuator 10b.
It is fitted into a hole provided in the center of 0b. The buffer member 24 is not limited to a fitted shape. FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the invention, the schematic structure of which is similar to that of FIG. In FIG. 2, the actuator 10b of the key 10 is divided into parts, and a buffer member 26 is inserted into the middle part. The buffer member 26 is attached to the actuator 1 with adhesive.
It can be fixed to each part of 0b. The buffer member 26 has the same function as the buffer member 24 in FIG. 1, that is, it absorbs the impact sound of the actuator 10b and
This improves the feeling of operation by alleviating the recoil that can be felt when hitting a vehicle.

FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the invention, the general construction of which is similar to that of FIG. In FIG. 3, the buffer member 28 is made of a sheet-like buffer material that covers the membrane switch 14. FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which the buffer member 30 includes the membrane switch 14 and the support panel 1.
It consists of a sheet-shaped cushioning material provided between 6 and 6. Both of these buffer members 28 and 30 have the same function as the buffer member 24 in FIG. 1, that is, they absorb the impact sound of the actuator 10b and alleviate the reaction felt by the finger F when it hits the finger F, thereby improving the operation feeling. It is.

FIG. 5 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which, like the embodiment of FIG.
0b, a membrane switch 14, a support panel 16, and a return spring 20. In FIG. 5, there is no buffer member, but the support panel 1
6 membrane switch 14 (switch contact 14d, 1
A hole or depression 32 is provided at a position corresponding to 4e).

Accordingly, when the key top 10a is pressed, the actuator 10b pushes the membrane switch 14 and closes the switch contacts 14d and 14e. In this case, below the actuator 10b there is a hole or recess 32 in the support panel 16 and no wall, and the actuator 10b is within the deformation of the membrane switch 14 without colliding with the support panel 16 after achieving switch-on. You can push it down further. Since the upper and lower sheets 14a, 14b of the membrane switch 14 are made of a somewhat elastic material such as polyester film, the switch contacts 14d, 14e can be closed even at the hole or recess 32. However, the size of the hole or depression 32 must not be too large. Therefore, actuator 10
It is possible to reduce the impact when b collides with the support panel 16, and also realizes a switch-on operation in the middle of the stroke, giving the operator a reliable operating feeling.

FIG. 6 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention, which has the same general structure as the embodiment shown in FIG.
2 is provided. Furthermore, the second support panel 3
4 is provided between the membrane switch 14 and the support panel 16. The second support panel 34
The support panel 16 is made more flexible than the support panel 16 shown in FIG. For example, the second support panel 34 is a metal plate,
It is made of a plastic plate, hard rubber, etc., and is considerably thinner than the first support panel 16. Therefore, after the actuator 10b is depressed and achieves switch-on, it will come into soft contact with the second support panel 34 to prevent excessive deformation of the membrane switch 14. This reduces the impact when the actuator 10b collides with the support panel 16, and prevents the membrane switch 14 from deteriorating.

FIG. 7 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention, which has the same general structure as the embodiment shown in FIG.
2 is provided. The opening 32a of this hole or depression 32 on the membrane switch 14 side is formed with a gently curved surface. As a result, when the membrane switch 14 is deformed after the actuator 10b is pushed down to achieve switch-on, a relatively large area of the membrane switch 14 can be gently deformed, and the membrane switch 14 can be partially deformed. This can prevent physical deformation and deterioration.

In all of the embodiments described above, it is possible to reduce the impact when the actuator 10b collides with the support panel 16, and to realize a switch-on operation in the middle of the stroke, thereby giving the operator a reliable operational feeling. can. The actuator 10b can be depressed further after achieving switch-on, and the stroke of the actuator 10b can be substantially increased even if the thickness of the keyboard remains conventional.

[0022]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention,
A buffer member is provided to cushion the impact when the key collides with the support panel via the switch element, or a hole or recess is provided in the support panel at a position corresponding to the switch element, resulting in a thin and lightweight structure. Moreover, it is possible to obtain a keyboard with less operation noise and less reaction to fingers.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (A) shows when no key is pressed, and (B) shows when a key is pressed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a word processor.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a membrane switch, (A)
is an exploded perspective view, (B) is when the switch is not pressed, (C is
) is a diagram showing when the switch is pressed.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Key, 10a... Key top, 10b... Actuator, 12... Keyboard wall, 14... Membrane switch, 14d, 14e... Switch contact, 16... Support panel, 20... Return spring, 24, 26, 28, 30... Buffer Member, 30...hole or depression.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A key (10) protruding from the surface of the keyboard to receive the pressing force of a finger, a support panel (16) disposed inside the keyboard, and a key (16) supported by the support panel and pressed by the key. A keyboard comprising a driven switch element (14) and a buffer member (24, 26, 28, 30) that cushions the impact when the key collides with the support panel via the switch element. 2. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the buffer member is made of a material such as rubber or foamed resin that is elastic and has a large dissipation energy against impact. 3. A keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the buffer member (24) is attached to the tip of the key. 4. A keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the damping member (26) is attached to the middle part of the key. 5. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the cushioning member (28) comprises a sheet-like cushioning material covering the switch element. 6. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the cushioning member (30) comprises a sheet of cushioning material provided between the switch element and the support panel. 7. A key (10) protruding from the surface of the keyboard to receive the pressing force of a finger; a support panel (16) disposed inside the keyboard; and a key (16) supported by the support panel and pressed by the key. It consists of an actuated switch element (14) and a hole or recess (32) provided in the support panel at a position corresponding to the switch element, so that the key impinges on the support panel through the switch element. A keyboard designed to reduce impact. 8. A second support panel (34) is provided between the switch element and the support panel, the second support panel being more flexible than the first support panel. The keyboard according to claim 7.