JPS5838497Y2 - key top parts - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a key top member, and particularly to a key top member suitable for application to a diaphragm type switch used in an input section of a calculator, electronic computer, etc.

In recent years, diaphragm-type switch units, which have become increasingly popular, are often equipped with independent key tops for each switch, and are expensive.Also, the force applied to the key tops acts directly on the contacts, so the contact parts, etc. The key tops were easily damaged, and the touch felt to the fingers when pressed was hard, making the keys difficult to operate.

Therefore, in order to eliminate these conventional drawbacks, a diaphragm switch having a key top structure has been proposed in which a single highly elastic sheet (referred to as a key top member) is commonly provided at each contact point.

By the way, this key top member has a flat surface, so it does not look like a switch, and since the boundaries of each key-in part are recognized by the key display printed on the key top member, it is difficult to operate the adjacent key-in part. There was a risk of accidentally operating the adjacent key-in section because the distinction between the key-in section and the key-in section was not clear.

Also, as mentioned above, if the boundaries of each key-in part are only felt,
Because the information was not clear, the operator had to look at the key top display each time he entered information, resulting in poor operability.

Now, the ideal state of a switch is to be able to easily recognize that it has been pressed.

For this reason, there are two possible methods: (1) a method of recognition using a dynamic sense such as a stroke or a click action, and (2) a method of recognition that appeals to the operator's auditory sense using light from an LED or lamp or sound from a buzzer or the like.

However, in factories and other places, method (1) is preferable.

However, it is an object of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional technology and to provide a switch that can easily recognize that the key has been manually pressed. In addition, a highly elastic key top member forming the key-in portion is laminated on the flexible sheet, and the contact portion is displaced by manipulating the key-in portion of the key top member to manually press the key. In the switch, the surface shape of the key top member is formed such that each key-in part is convex and the boundary part of each key-in part is concave, and the back surface shape of the key top member is formed such that each key-in part is concave and the boundary part is concave. This is achieved by a key top member formed with a convex portion.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a warm configuration diagram of a diaphragm switch to which the present invention can be applied.

1 is a printed circuit board, and a thin insulating spacer 3 such as a Mylar film is sandwiched between the printed circuit board 1 and a flexible sheet 2, and these are laminated.

On the printed circuit board 1, zigzag gold-plated contact patterns 11 are arranged in a matrix corresponding to the keypads, and on the flexible sheet 2, there are contact patterns 11 in a shape that intersect with the contact patterns 11 at positions opposite to the contact patterns 11. The zigzag gold plating pattern 21 is arranged.

On the other hand, the spacer 3 has a window hole 31 between both contacts 11 and 21, and when the contact pattern part of the flexible sheet 2 is pushed in the direction of the arrow, the corresponding contact patterns 11 and 21 come into contact. There is.

On top of the flexible sheet 2, a foamed rubber material 4 made of polyethylene, vinyl chloride, or the like, having approximately the same size as the flexible sheet 2, is layered.

The foam rubber sheet 4 is relatively thick (for example, 5 mm).
degree), and the key display is printed on its surface.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the key top member according to the present invention.
is a key-in portion, and 2 is each key-in portion.

Now, the key top rubber according to the present invention is made of soft plastic or foamed rubber, and both the front and back surfaces are formed with concave and convex surfaces, as is clear from the figure.

That is, the front key-in part 111 has a shape that projects upward from the key boundary part 112, and the back key-in part 111'
is recessed from the boundary portion 112'.

Due to this uneven surface, the boundaries of each key-in area can be recognized just by the touch of the finger, reducing input errors caused by erroneous operation as with conventional diaphragm switches. Also, there is no need to look at the key top display each time, greatly improving operability. can.

Furthermore, since the surface of the key top member is uneven, each key-in part can be distinguished in shape, improving the product image as a switch.

On the other hand, due to the presence of irregularities on the back surface, a gap 200 is formed between the key top member and the flexible sheet as shown in FIG.

Now, by changing this gap length, the contact point 11.21
The stroke length of the key top required for contact, that is, the load on the key top changes.

Therefore, due to the existence of this gap, it is possible to achieve good operability and an optimum stroke feeling when pressing, and it is possible to improve reliability as a diaphragm switch.

Further, even if the key top member is deformed due to effort, the presence of this gap can absorb this deformation and improve reliability.

In addition, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a diaphragm switch to which the key top member according to the present invention is applied, and the numbers in the figure indicate the first
Shows the same parts as the figure.

By the way, the key top rubber is made of highly elastic soft plastic, foamed rubber, etc., so the effect of the above-mentioned unevenness is compounded by the effect based on its elasticity, giving a feeling of stroke and ensuring reliable and long operation. It is possible to provide a switch that does not cause erroneous operation even when timed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a diaphragm switch, FIG. 2 is a key top rubber according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a diaphragm switch according to the present invention. In the figure, 1... printed circuit board, 11...
... is a contact point, 2 ...... flexible sheet, 2
1...Contact, 3...Insulating spacer, 4
・・・・・・ is key top rubber, 111・・・・・・
Key-in part, 112... Boundary part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A flexible sheet is provided with a contact portion corresponding to each key-in portion, and a highly elastic key top member forming the key-in portion is laminated on the flexible sheet,
In a switch of the type in which the contact portion is displaced by operating the key-in portion of the key top member and the key is pressed manually, the surface shape of the key top member is such that each key-in portion is convex and the boundary portion of each key-in portion is A key top member characterized in that the key top member is formed in a concave shape, and the back surface of the key top member is formed in such a manner that each key-in part is concave and the boundary part is convex.