JP2012069413A - Keyswitch and keyboard - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a keyswitch excellent in oil resistance.SOLUTION: A sliding surface 26 of a protrusion 24 provided on a keyswitch 10 comprises: a first region 32 which is located on a side close to a keytop 12, and which extends to form a first range angle α (50°<α<70°) with respect to a traffic line 14; and a second region 34 which is located on a side close to a base 22, and which extends to form a second range angle β (10°<β<50°) which is smaller than the first range angle α, with respect to the traffic line 14. A force component in the ascending/descending direction of spring force generated by a leaf spring 28 as a result of load applied from the sliding surface 26 of the protrusion 24 and received on a contact 30 reduces in a stepwise manner after a gradual increase, as the keytop 12 descends from an upper-limit position 36 of the ascending/descending motion.

Description

  The present invention relates to a key switch that is operated to make a keystroke, and more particularly, to a key switch that is used in a keyboard equipped in a portable electronic device such as a notebook personal computer. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a keyboard provided with a plurality of such key switches.

  The conventional key switch described in Patent Document 1 includes at least one data input key, and the data input key includes a key top, and an embossed sheet on which a dome for giving a click feeling when the key top is depressed, A switch element that is pressed through the dome by pressing down the key top to open an electrical contact, and a spring means such as a coil spring or a leaf spring is provided between the key top and the dome to obtain a stroke of the key top. .

  Another conventional key switch described in Patent Document 2 includes a key top that transmits a downward force downward, a plunger that is fixed to the lower portion of the key top, and a coil spring that is always in contact with the lower portion of the plunger. A movable contact that is fixed to the lower end of the coil spring and moves together with the coil spring, and is inserted into the center of the coil spring and the movable contact, and serves as a guide rod for the coil spring and the movable contact with respect to vertical movement when the key top is depressed. U-shaped guide bar, fixed contact plate that is positioned perpendicular to the tip of the guide bar and is fixed and serves as a movable contact stopper, and contacts the movable contact when the key top is depressed, and a coil spring movable contact and guide that guides the plunger And a case including a fixed contact plate.

JP-A-7-56663 JP 60-148018 A

  Since the dome of Patent Document 1 is formed of an embossed sheet such as a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) film, it is inferior in oil resistance. In an environment where oil is used, the dome deteriorates and the key feel may gradually deteriorate.

  In the key switch of Patent Document 2, when the key top is pressed down, the pressing force is reduced due to the buckling of the coil spring, and a touch feeling is generated. However, since the guide bar is U-shaped, when the coil springs buckle, the coil springs are entangled with each other, and even if the pressing force is removed, the key top does not return to the original position, and the key feel may deteriorate. .

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a key switch that is oil-resistant and does not deteriorate the feel of the key, and a keyboard having such a key switch.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the key top, a support member that supports the key top so as to be movable up and down, and fixedly arranged with respect to the support member, An electrical contact that opens and closes in response to the key top, a biasing mechanism that is disposed between the key top and the support member and elastically biases the key top in a direction away from the electrical contact, and supports the support member and the electrical contact In the key switch including the base, the urging mechanism is a protruding portion that has a protruding shape that faces the key top and is fixedly arranged with respect to the support member. A projection having a sliding surface extending in a direction corresponding to the direction of the lifting operation at a plurality of different angles with respect to a line connecting positions where the center of the key top moves up and down) Cantilevered A leaf spring having a contact point that contacts the sliding surface of the protrusion while the key top moves up and down along the flow line, and the sliding surface of the protrusion is close to the key top A first region that is located on a side that extends at an angle within a first range with respect to the flow line, and a second region that is located on a side closer to the base, the flow region being A second region extending at an angle in the second range that is smaller than the angle in the first range, and the spring force generated by the leaf spring by the load received at the contact point from the sliding surface of the protrusion in the direction of the lifting operation The key component is characterized in that the force component of the key top gradually increases as the key top descends from the upper limit position of the raising / lowering operation and then decreases stepwise.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the sliding surface of the protrusion is a third region located closer to the base than the second region, and is in the first range with respect to the flow line. A third region having an angle of a third range larger than the angle, further including a characteristic that the force component of the spring force generated by the leaf spring gradually increases again after decreasing stepwise during the key top descending operation; Provide key switch.

  The invention of claim 3 is the invention of claim 1 or 2, wherein the urging mechanism is an elastic member independent of the leaf spring, and an elastic urging force that linearly changes in accordance with the moving distance of the lifting operation of the key top. There is provided a key switch further comprising an elastic member added to the key top.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the protrusion has a pair of symmetrical sliding surfaces, and the leaf spring slides on each of the pair of sliding surfaces. A key switch having a pair of dynamic contacts is provided.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the urging mechanism includes a pair of projecting portions spaced apart from each other and contact points on the sliding surfaces of the pair of projecting portions. Provided is a key switch comprising a pair of leaf springs in sliding contact.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention provides the key switch according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the support member has a cylindrical wall portion that defines a hollow portion that accommodates the protrusion and the leaf spring.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the present invention, the key further comprises an operating member that opens and closes the electrical contacts in response to the lifting operation of the key top, and the operating member is accommodated in the cavity of the support member. Provide a switch.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a keyboard comprising a plurality of key switches according to any one of the first to seventh aspects.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the urging mechanism is a protruding portion that has a protruding shape that faces the key top and is fixedly arranged with respect to the support member. A protrusion having a sliding surface extending at a plurality of different angles with respect to the line and extending in a direction corresponding to the direction of the lifting operation, and a leaf spring cantilevered by the key top. And a leaf spring having a contact point that makes sliding contact with the sliding surface of the protrusion while moving up and down along the line. The sliding surface of the protrusion is a first region located on the side close to the key top. A first region extending at an angle of the first range with respect to the flow line, and a second region located on a side close to the base, wherein the second region is smaller than the angle of the first range with respect to the flow line. A second region extending at an angle in two ranges and receiving at a contact from the sliding surface of the protrusion The force component of the spring force generated by the leaf spring in the direction of the lifting / lowering operation shows a characteristic that the key top gradually increases as the key top moves downward from the upper limit position of the lifting / lowering operation and then decreases stepwise. Because it does not use a rubber dome made of silicon rubber, etc., it is oil resistant even in an environment where oil is used, and it does not deteriorate the touch of the key due to deterioration, and when the key top is pressed down, it is the same as the rubber dome The click feeling with good touch can be obtained.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the sliding surface of the protrusion is the third region located closer to the base than the second region, and is more than the angle of the first range with respect to the flow line. The key top is further provided with a third region having an angle of a large third range, and the force component of the spring force generated by the leaf spring has a characteristic of gradually increasing again after decreasing stepwise during the key top descending operation. When the button is pushed down, the force component in the direction of the lifting / lowering operation of the spring force gradually increases and then decreases stepwise, and then gradually increases, so that it is clearly understood that the key has been pressed.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the urging mechanism is an elastic member that is independent of the leaf spring, and is an elastic member that applies an elastic urging force that linearly changes in accordance with the moving distance of the key top lifting operation to the key top. Since the member is further provided, even if the leaf spring is in the second region extending at an angle of the second range and the force for biasing the key top to the upper limit position of the lifting / lowering operation is weak, the key top It can be prevented that the upper limit position is not returned.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, since the protrusion has a pair of sliding surfaces symmetrical to each other, and the leaf spring has a pair of contacts that are in sliding contact with each of the pair of sliding surfaces, It is possible to reduce variation in load characteristics in the direction of lifting and lowering, and to eliminate the shakiness of the key top when the key top is depressed.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the urging mechanism includes a pair of protrusions that are spaced apart from each other and a pair of leaf springs that are in sliding contact with the sliding surfaces of the pair of protrusions at the contact points. Therefore, when the key top is depressed, the key top can be stably depressed without being biased.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the support member has the cylindrical wall portion that defines the hollow portion that accommodates the protrusion and the leaf spring, it is difficult for foreign matter to adhere to the protrusion and the leaf spring, and the key top is attached. It is possible to provide a key switch whose key feel does not change when the key is depressed.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the actuator further includes an operating member that opens and closes the electrical contact in response to the lifting operation of the key top, and the operating member is accommodated in the cavity of the support member. Corresponding membrane contacts can be provided with electrical contacts, and the electrical contacts can be arranged at the center position of the key top. Therefore, it is possible to provide a key switch that responds accurately to depression of the key top.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, since the key switch according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is provided in a plurality, it is oil resistant even in an environment where oil is used, Therefore, it is possible to provide a keyboard with a good click feeling that is similar to the rubber dome when the key top is depressed, while the key feel does not deteriorate.

The assembly drawing of the key switch 10 by embodiment of this invention. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the key switch 10. FIG. III-III sectional drawing of FIG. IV-IV sectional drawing of FIG. The figure which shows operation | movement of the leaf | plate spring 28 when the key switch 10 is pushed down. The figure which showed typically the load which the leaf | plate spring 28 of FIG. 5 receives. The figure which shows the modification of FIG. The figure which shows the pushing-down characteristic of the coil spring. The figure which shows the pushing-down characteristic of the leaf | plate spring. The figure which superposed | stacked FIG. 8 and FIG. The perspective view of the keyboard provided with two or more key switches.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same or similar components are denoted by common reference numerals.

  Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is an assembly view of a key switch 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the key switch 10. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1 (cross-sectional view of a portion where the leaf spring 28 is disposed), and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3 is a cross-section at a position shifted outward from the center of the key switch 10, and FIG. 4 is a cross-section passing through the center of the key switch 10.

  The key switch 10 includes a key top 12, a support member 16 that supports the key top 12 so that the key top 12 can be moved up and down, and an electric device that is fixedly disposed with respect to the support member 16 and that opens and closes in response to the lifting operation of the key top 12. The contact 18 is disposed between the key top 12 and the support member 16 and elastically biases the key top 12 in a direction away from the electrical contact 18, and the support member 16 and the electrical contact 18 are supported. And a base 22 to be provided. The electrical contact 18 is provided on the membrane sheet switch 50.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the urging mechanism 20 is cantilevered by the key top 12 and a protrusion 24 that has a protruding shape facing the key top 10 and is fixedly disposed with respect to the support member 16. And a leaf spring 28. The key top 12 is held by the key top cover 13 so as to define the upper limit position of the key top 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the leaf spring 28 protrudes from both outer surfaces (only one side is shown) of a plate member 28 a having a substantially U-shaped cross section. That is, a pair of plate springs 28 are provided on both sides of the plate member 28a, the upper end portions thereof are supported by the plate member 28a, and the lower portions of the support portions can be elastically deformed in the directions of the arrows in the drawing, respectively. The urging mechanism 20 is an elastic member independent of the leaf spring 28, and an elastic member 40 (for example, a coil spring 42) that applies an elastic urging force that linearly changes in accordance with the moving distance of the lifting operation of the key top 12 to the key top 12. Further prepare.

  In the cavity 44 of the support member 16, a pair of protrusions 24 are disposed so as to correspond to the leaf spring 28. As shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion 24 has a sliding surface 26 that extends in a direction corresponding to the direction of the lifting operation at a plurality of different angles with respect to the flow line 14 of the key top 12. . FIG. 5 is a view showing the operation of the leaf spring 28 when the key switch 10 is pushed down. While the key top 12 moves up and down along the flow line 14 (FIG. 3), the contact 30 at the tip of the leaf spring 28 is shown. Is in sliding contact with the sliding surface 26 of the protrusion 24, and the leaf spring 28 is elastically deformed outward.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the support member 16 is provided with a cylindrical wall portion 46 that defines a cavity 44 for accommodating the protrusion 24 and the leaf spring 28. As shown in FIG. 4, an operating member 48 (for example, a coil spring 52) for operating the switch is accommodated in the hollow portion 44, and the upper end portion of the operating member 48 is supported by the key top 12. The actuating member 48 passes through the plate member 28 a (FIG. 2), and its lower end presses the membrane sheet switch 50 in response to the lifting and lowering operation of the key top 12 to open and close the electrical contact 18 of the switch 50.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a load that the leaf spring 28 receives when the key top 12 is pressed down. The sliding surface 26 of the protrusion 24 includes a first region 32 positioned on the side close to the key top 12 and a second region 34 connected to the first region 32 and positioned on the side close to the base 22. Have. The first region 32 forms a first range angle α (for example, 50 ° <α <70 °) with respect to the flow line 14, and the second region 34 is more than the angle of the first range α with respect to the flow line 14. A small second range angle β (eg, 10 ° <β <50 °) is formed. The leaf spring 28 exerts a spring force due to the load received by the contact 30 from the sliding surface 26 of the protrusion 24, and the force component in the lifting / lowering direction of the spring force is the upper limit of the lifting / lowering operation of the key top 12 as will be described later. As it descends from the position 36, the characteristic gradually increases and then decreases stepwise (see FIG. 10).

  Furthermore, the sliding surface 26 of the protrusion 24 is connected to the second region 34, and has a third region 38 located closer to the base 22 than the second region 34, and the third region 38 is A third range angle γ (for example, 70 ° <γ <90 °) larger than the first range angle α is made with respect to the flow line 14. By providing the third region 38, the force component in the lifting / lowering direction of the spring force generated by the leaf spring 28 decreases stepwise during the descending operation of the key top 12, as will be described later, and then gradually increases again. The characteristics are shown (see FIG. 10).

  When the B position and the A position in FIG. 6 are compared, the vertical load (By) at the B position is larger than the vertical load (Ay) at the A position. When the key top 12 is pushed down, the load that pushes down the key top 12 in the second region 34 decreases rapidly, so that a click feeling when the key top 12 is pushed down can be obtained.

  Here, the depression characteristic of the key top 12 of FIG. 1 will be described. 8 and 9 are diagrams showing the pressing characteristics of the coil spring 42 and the leaf spring 28, respectively. In the figure, the vertical axis represents the load F, and the horizontal axis represents the movement distance Y of the key top 12. As shown in FIG. 8, with respect to the coil spring 42, the load F increases in proportion to the movement distance Y of the key top 12 as the key top 12 is pushed down.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, with respect to the leaf spring 28, as the key top 12 is pushed down, that is, when the sliding surface 26 of the protrusion 24 is in the first region 32, the movement distance Y of the key top 12 is increased. The load F increases in proportion, but when the sliding surface 26 is in the second region 34, the load decreases rapidly, and then the load F increases when the sliding surface 26 is in the third region 38. To do. Thus, the user can obtain a good click feeling because the load is rapidly reduced at the time of transition to the second region 34.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the push-down characteristic obtained by superimposing FIG. 8 and FIG. The vertical axis represents the load F, and the horizontal axis represents the movement distance Y of the key top 12. In FIG. 10, as the key top 12 is pushed down, that is, when the sliding surface 26 of the protrusion 24 is in the first region 32, the load F increases in proportion to the movement distance Y of the key top 12. When 26 becomes the second region 34, the load rapidly decreases and a click feeling is generated, and then the load F increases as the region moves to the third region 38. This is very similar to the push-down characteristic of the leaf spring 28 in FIG. 9, but since the push-down characteristic of the coil spring 42 in FIG. 8 is added, the load when the key is pushed down increases and the click feeling becomes clear, and the key top 12 It is possible to prevent malfunction when touching by mistake.

  In the above, the leaf spring 28 that is cantilevered by the key top 12 is provided, and the protruding portion 24 that has a protruding shape facing the key top 12 corresponding to the leaf spring 28 is fixed to the support member 16. The key switch 10 is configured. For this reason, a rubber dome made of silicon rubber or the like is not used, so it is oil resistant even in an environment where oil is used, and the touch of the key does not deteriorate due to deterioration. The click feeling with the same touch as the dome can be obtained. Further, when the key top 12 is pressed down, the force component of the spring force in the ascending / descending operation direction gradually increases and then decreases in a stepped manner, and then gradually increases. Therefore, the user can clearly recognize that the key has been pressed and is good. Operability is obtained.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the elastic member 40 that applies an elastic biasing force that linearly changes in accordance with the moving distance of the lifting operation of the key top 12 to the key top 12 is provided independently from the leaf spring 28. Thereby, even when the leaf spring 28 is in the second region 34 and the force for urging the key top 12 to the upper limit position 36 of the lifting / lowering operation is weak, the key top 12 does not return to the upper limit position 36. Can be prevented.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the support member 16 is provided with the cylindrical wall portion 46 that defines the cavity 44. As a result, it is possible to provide the key switch 10 in which foreign matter is unlikely to adhere to the protrusions 24 and the leaf springs 28 in the hollow portion 44 and the touch of the key does not change when the key top 12 is depressed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an operating member 48 that opens and closes the electrical contact 18 of the membrane sheet switch 50 corresponding to the lifting and lowering operation of the key top 12 is provided, and the operating member 48 is accommodated in the cavity 44 of the support member 16. I made it. Thereby, the electrical contact 30 can be provided on the membrane sheet switch 50 corresponding to the operating member 48, and the electrical contact 30 can be disposed on the flow line 14 of the key top 12, so that the key top 12 can be accurately pushed down. It is possible to provide a key switch 10 that responds to the above.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a pair of leaf springs 28 that are in sliding contact with the contacts 30 are provided on the sliding surfaces 26 of the pair of protrusions 24 that are spaced apart from each other. Thereby, when the key top 12 is pressed down, the key top 12 can be stably pressed down without being biased.

  As shown in FIG. 11, a keyboard 64 can be configured by arranging a plurality of the key switches 10 described above. Thereby, it can be set as the keyboard 64 with oil resistance, and degradation in the environment which uses oil can be prevented. For this reason, the touch of the key is not deteriorated, and the click feeling with the same touch as the rubber dome is obtained when the key top 12 is depressed.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a modification of the present embodiment. In FIG. 7, a pair of leaf springs 28 are provided corresponding to the pair of symmetrical sliding surfaces 26 on both sides of the protrusion 26 so that the pair of contacts 30 are in sliding contact with each of the sliding surfaces 26. It is composed. As a result, variation in load characteristics in the up-and-down operation direction can be reduced, and rattling of the key top 12 can be suppressed when the key top 12 is depressed.

  In the above description, the leaf springs 28 that are in sliding contact with the contacts 30 are provided on the sliding surfaces 26 on one side or the sliding surfaces 26 on both sides of the pair of protrusions 24 that are spaced apart from each other. The number of protrusions 24 and leaf springs 28 is not limited to that described above. That is, only one protrusion 24 may be provided, and the leaf spring 28 may be provided so as to make sliding contact with the sliding surface 26 on one side or both sides of the protrusion 24. Further, the number of the protrusions 24 may be three or more, and the leaf springs 28 may be provided so as to be in sliding contact with the sliding surfaces 26 on one side or both sides of each protrusion 24.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Key switch 12 Key top 14 Flow line 16 Support member 18 Electrical contact 20 Biasing mechanism 22 Base 24 Protrusion part 26 Sliding surface 28 Leaf spring 30 Contact 32 1st area 34 2nd area 38 3rd area 40 Elastic member 42 Coil Spring 44 Cavity 46 Cylinder wall part 48 Actuating member 50 Membrane sheet switch

Claims (8)

A key top; a support member that supports the key top so as to be movable up and down; an electrical contact that is fixedly arranged with respect to the support member and opens and closes in response to the lifting and lowering operation of the key top; A key switch that is disposed between the support member and elastically biases the key top in a direction away from the electrical contact, and a base that supports the support member and the electrical contact. ,
The biasing mechanism is
A protrusion having a protruding shape facing the key top and fixedly disposed with respect to the support member, wherein the protrusion is formed at a plurality of different angles with respect to a flow line of the lifting operation of the key top. A protrusion having a sliding surface extending in a direction corresponding to the direction of the lifting operation;
A leaf spring that is cantilevered by the key top, the leaf spring having a contact point that makes sliding contact with the sliding surface of the protrusion while the key top moves up and down along the flow line of the operation. And
The sliding surface of the protrusion is a first region located on a side close to the key top, the first region extending at an angle of a first range with respect to the flow line, and the base. A second region located on an adjacent side, the second region extending at an angle of a second range smaller than the angle of the first range with respect to the flow line,
The force component in the direction of the lifting operation of the spring force generated by the leaf spring due to the load received at the contact point from the sliding surface of the projecting portion is as the key top moves downward from the upper limit position of the lifting operation. Exhibiting a step-down characteristic after gradually increasing,
Key switch characterized by   The sliding surface of the protrusion is a third region located closer to the base than the second region, and has a third range larger than the angle of the first range with respect to the flow line. A third region having an angle is further provided, wherein the force component of the spring force generated by the leaf spring has a characteristic of gradually increasing again after decreasing in the step shape during the lowering operation of the key top. The key switch according to 1.   The urging mechanism is an elastic member that is independent of the leaf spring, and further includes an elastic member that applies an elastic urging force that linearly changes in accordance with a moving distance of the lifting operation of the key top to the key top. Item 3. A key switch according to item 1 or 2.   4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion has a pair of sliding surfaces that are symmetrical to each other, and the leaf spring has a pair of contacts that are in sliding contact with each of the pair of sliding surfaces. The key switch according to item 1.   2. The biasing mechanism includes a pair of protrusions that are spaced apart from each other, and a pair of leaf springs that are in sliding contact with the sliding surfaces of the pair of protrusions at the contact points, respectively. The key switch of any one of -4.   The key switch according to claim 1, wherein the support member has a cylindrical wall portion that defines a hollow portion that accommodates the protrusion and the leaf spring.   The key switch according to claim 6, further comprising an operating member that opens and closes the electrical contact in response to the raising / lowering operation of the key top, and the operating member is accommodated in the hollow portion of the support member.   A keyboard comprising a plurality of key switches according to claim 1.

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