The present invention relates to a key switch device to be used for key input, a keyboard, and an assembly method for the key switch device.
There has been known a key switch device having a gear link mechanism in which a pair of link members coupled interlockably with each other by engaging the respective ends thereof with each other (see Patent Document 1).
As illustrated in
A hole 10a corresponding to each key is formed on a housing panel 10 of
The membrane sheet 4 includes a pair of sheet substrates 4c and 4d, and a pair of contacts 4e functioning as a switch, as illustrated in
When the key switch device 1 is assembled, rotational shaft portions 3a of the pair of link members 3 are rotatably fitted in bearing portions 6a of the frame member 6. Then, leg portions 6b of the frame member 6 in which the pair of link members 3 is rotatably fitted are inserted into holes 5a of the support plate 5 via through holes 4a provided on the membrane sheet 4, and are caulked. Moreover, in a state where the dome rubber 4b is mounted on the membrane sheet 4, projection-shaped sliding portions 3b provided on the link member 3 are fitted into guide portions 2a provided on a rear surface of the key top 2. Next, a structure body in which the key top 2, the membrane sheet 4, the link members 3 and the frame member 6 are mounted on the support plate 5 is fixed to a rear surface of the housing panel 10 of
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2009-76321
As described above, when the conventional key switch device 1 is mounted on the housing panel 10, the membrane sheet 4 is bonded to the rear surface of the housing panel 10 by the double-sided tape or adhesive 9 (see
It is an object of the present invention to provide a key switch device, a keyboard, and an assembly method for the key switch device that can suppress the occurrence of the key-on state.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, a key switch device disclosed herein characterized by including: a key top having an operation surface; a pair of link members that vertically raises and lowers the key top in conjunction with each other; a frame member that includes a leg portion extending vertically downward and a first through hole which a reaction force generating member generating a reaction force against a depression force of the key top penetrates, and rotatably fixes the pair of link members; a panel that includes a first surface to which the frame member is fixed, a second surface that is a back side of the first surface, a second through hole into which the leg portion is inserted, a third through hole which the reaction force generating member penetrates, and a projection-shaped fastened portion formed on the second surface; a sheet on which the reaction force generating member is mounted, that is opposite to the second surface and includes a fourth through hole that is fitted to the fastened portion; a support plate that is opposite to the second surface via the sheet, and includes a fifth through hole that is fitted to the fastened portion; and a fastening member that is fastened to the fastened portion.
An assembly method for a key switch device disclosed herein, including: mounting, on a first surface of a panel which is mounted on a housing of an information processing apparatus, a pair of link members that raises and lowers a key top in conjunction with each other and a frame member in which a part of the pair of link members is fitted; and mounting a sheet and a support panel on a second surface of the panel by arranging the sheet, on which a reaction force generating member generating a reaction force against a depression force of the key top is mounted, so as to be opposite to the second surface of the panel which is a back side of the first surface, arranging the support panel so as to be opposite to the second surface via the sheet, and fastening a fastening member to a fastened portion formed on the second surface.
According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of the key-on state.
Hereinafter, a description will be given of embodiments with drawings.
A key switch device 100 includes: a key top 102 having an operation surface 102a which an operator depresses; a pair of link members 103-1 and 103-2 that supports the key top 102, and vertically raises and lowers the key top 102 in conjunction with each other; a membrane sheet 104 including a contact described later that functions as a switch; a tabular support plate 105 which is foundation structure of the key switch device 100; a frame member 106 that fixedly mounts one ends of the link members 103-1 and 103-2 on the support plate 105; and a housing panel 107 that is mounted on a housing of an information processing apparatus such as a notebook computer and a mobile terminal.
Bearing portions 106a in which rotational shaft portions 103d of the link members 103-1 and 103-2 are rotatably fitted are formed on the frame member 106. Moreover, the frame member 106 includes: leg portions 106b each of which is inserted in a through hole 107a of the housing panel 107, is caulked and extends vertically downward; and a through hole 106c (first through hole) exposing an opening end 104a of the membrane sheet 104 and a dome rubber 104b when the frame member 106 is mounted on the support plate 105.
The housing panel 107 is a tabular panel, and includes through holes 107a (second through hole) into which the leg portions 106b of the frame member 106 are inserted, and a through hole 107b (third through hole) exposing the opening end 104a of the membrane sheet 104 and the dome rubber 104b. Here, it is assumed that a surface of the housing panel 107 on which the frame member 106 is mounted is a front surface and a surface of the housing panel 107 opposite to the membrane sheet 104 is a rear surface. Screw holes 107c (fastened portion) for screwing the membrane sheet 104 and the support plate 105 with screws 108 (fastening member) are provided on the rear surface of the housing panel 107. The screw holes 107c are provided so as to project from the rear surface of the housing panel 107.
Referring to
Referring to
The pair of link members 103-1 and 103-2 of
In
A pair of projection-shaped rotational shaft portions 103d are provided on the first end areas of the link member 103-1 and inside surfaces of the pair of arm portions 103a opposite to each other, respectively. A pair of projection-shaped rotational shaft portions 103d are provided on the first end areas of the link member 103-2 and inside surfaces of the pair of arm portions 103b opposite to each other, respectively. Moreover, a pair of projection-shaped sliding portions 103e are provided on the second end areas of the link member 103-1 and outside surfaces of the pair of arm portions 103a away from each other. Moreover, a pair of projection-shaped sliding portions 103e are provided on the second end areas of the link member 103-2 and outside surfaces of the pair of arm portions 103b away from each other. Additionally, first tooth portions 103f are provided on the pair of arm portions 103a and the first end areas of the link member 103-1. Second tooth portions 103g are provided on the pair of arm portions 103b and the first end areas of the link member 103-2.
The pair of rotational shaft portions 103d of the first end areas are rotatably fitted in the bearing portions 106a of the frame member 106, and the pair of shifting portions 103e of the second end areas are slidably fitted in guide portions 102c provided on the rear surface of the key top 102, and hence each of the link members 103-1 and 103-2 is arranged between the membrane sheet 104 and the key top 102. In this case, the first tooth portions 103f and the second tooth portions 103g engage and interlock with each other. Thereby, the link members 103-1 and 103-2 interlock and rotate around the rotational shaft portions 103d each other.
As illustrated in
First, the sliding portions 103e of the link members 103-1 and 103-2 are fitted in the guide portions 102c provided on the rear surface of the key top 102 (step S1). Next, the frame member 106 is arranged in a substantially center of the rear surface of the key top 102, and the rotational shaft portions 103d of the link members 103-1 and 103-2 are fitted in the bearing portions 106a of the frame member 106 (step S2). Next, the leg portions 106b of the frame member 106 in which the link members 103-1 and 103-2 are fitted are inserted into the through holes 107a of the housing panel 107 and caulked (by heating) (step S3). Thereby, the key top 102, the link members 103-1 and 103-2 and the frame member 106 are fixed to the front surface of the housing panel 107.
Next, the opening end 104a and the dome rubber 104b of the membrane sheet 104 are inserted into the through hole 107b of the housing panel 107, and the through holes 104n of the membrane sheet 104 are fitted to the screw holes 107c projected from the rear surface of the housing panel 107 (step S4). Next, the through holes 105a of the support plate 105 are fitted to the screw holes 107c projected from the rear surface of the housing panel 107 (step S5). Finally, the screws 108 is fastened to the screw holes 107c (step S6). Thereby, the membrane sheet 104 and the support plate 105 are fixed to a rear surface side of the housing panel 107.
According to a conventional assembly method, the key top is mounted on the link members in a state where the dome rubber is mounted on the membrane sheet. Therefore, the key top contacts the dome rubber at the time of the mounting of the key top, and the dome rubber may incline and damage.
On the contrary, according to the assembly method of
In a second embodiment, a description will be given of features different from the first embodiment.
In a key switch device 101 of
Except for the above, the construction of the key switch device 101 is the same as that of the key switch device 100 of the first embodiment. Moreover, an assembly method for the key switch device 101 is the same as the assembly method for the key switch device 100 of
According to the second embodiment, the light from the optical guide plate 115 passes through the membrane sheet 104, passes through the through holes 107f and the character 102b processed transparently, and reaches the eyes of an operator. Therefore, an illumination type key switch device can be provided.
In the above-mentioned first embodiment and the second embodiment, the projection-shaped screw holes 107c are formed on the rear surface of the housing panel 107, the screws 108 are fastened to the screw holes 107c, and hence the membrane sheet 104 and the support plate 105 are fixed to the rear surface of the housing panel 107. However, a method for fixing the membrane sheet 104 and the support plate 105 to the rear surface of the housing panel 107 is not limited to this. For example, holes having no thread are formed as substitute for the screw holes 107c, and pins having heads may be press-fitted into the holes having no thread or rivets may be fitted in the holes having no thread and caulk the heads of the rivets.
As described above, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, the key switch device 100 includes: the key top 102 having the operation surface 102a; the pair of link members 103-1 and 103-2 that vertically raises and lowers the key top 102 in conjunction with each other; the frame member 106 that includes the leg portions 106b extending vertically downward and the through hole 106c exposing the dome rubber 104b which generates the reaction force against the depression force of the key top 102, and rotatably fixes the pair of link members 103-1 and 103-2; the housing panel 107 that is mounted on the housing 201 of the information processing apparatus 200, and includes a first surface (front surface) to which the pair of link members 103-1 and 103-2 and the frame member 106 are fixed, a second surface (rear surface) that is a back side of the first surface, the through holes 107a into which the leg portions 106b are inserted, the through hole 107b exposing the dome rubber 104b, and the projection-shaped fastened portions 107c formed on the second surface; the membrane sheet 104 on which the dome rubber 104b is mounted, that is opposite to the second surface and includes the through holes 104n that are fitted to the screw holes 107c; the support plate 105 that is opposite to the second surface via the membrane sheet 104, and includes the through holes 105a that are fitted to the screw holes 107c; and the screws 108 that are fastened to the screw holes 107c.
Therefore, the membrane sheet 104 is not bonded to the rear surface of the housing panel 107 by a double-sided tape or an adhesive, and hence it is avoided that the membrane sheet 104 warps or transforms. Accordingly, the occurrence of the state keeping on turning on the contact 104e in the membrane sheet 104, i.e., the key-on state can be suppressed.
Moreover, according to the above-mentioned embodiment, the pair of link members 103-1 and 103-2 that vertically raises and lowers the key top 102 in conjunction with each other, and the frame member 106 in which a part 103d of the pair of link members 103-1 and 103-2 is fitted are mounted on the first surface (front surface) of the housing panel 107 that is mounted on the housing 201 of the information processing apparatus 200. The membrane sheet 104 on which the dome rubber 104b generating the reaction force against the depression force of the key top 102 is mounted is arranged opposite to the second surface (rear surface) of the housing panel 107 which is the back side of the first surface. The support plate 105 is arranged opposite to the second surface via the membrane sheet 104. The membrane sheet 104 and the support plate 105 are mounted on the second surface of the housing panel 107 by fastening the screws 108 to the screw holes 107c formed on the second surface.
Therefore, the membrane sheet 104 is not bonded to the rear surface of the housing panel 107 by the double-sided tape or the adhesive, and hence it is avoided that the membrane sheet 104 warps or transforms. Accordingly, the occurrence of the state keeping on turning on the contact 104e in the membrane sheet 104, i.e., the key-on state can be suppressed. Moreover, the dome rubber 104b does not contact the key top 102, and hence the inclination and the damage of the dome rubber 104b can be avoided.
Some preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, but the present invention is not limited to these specifically described embodiments but may have various variations and alterations within the scope of the claimed invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2014-157891 | Aug 2014 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2015/063670 | 5/12/2015 | WO | 00 |