JP2001084080A - Keyboard device and storage method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a durable and operable keyboard device which can be downsized when not in use such as when carried, even though it is a full keyboard device, and a storage method thereof. thing. SOLUTION: A hinge plate 3 joins a first divided portion 1 and a second divided portion 2, and the first divided portion 1 and the second divided portion 1 are vertically moved by the hinge plate 3. From the storage position superimposed on each other, the two divided portions 1 and 2 are switched to a sliding position where they are located at an interval on the same plane, and the two divided portions 1 and 2 are further brought into contact with each other on the same plane. The position is switched to the use position by sliding relatively.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device used in a personal computer, a word processor and the like.
In particular, the present invention relates to a keyboard device such as a portable small computer and a storage method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a full keyboard device is mainly used as an input device such as a personal computer or a word processor. In the keyboard device, one switch is assigned to one character, and a trapezoidal resin operation unit (key top) is arranged above the switch. Further, prescribed characters and symbols are printed on the upper surface of the key top. The shape and size of the key top are determined based on the size of the operator's finger, and conditions that are easy to use have been conventionally proposed based on ergonomics.

A keyboard device is constituted by arranging a plurality of switches provided with the key tops in a plurality of rows.

Recently, advanced processing functions, miniaturization, and low power consumption have been further advanced by semiconductor technology, and text processing, calculation processing, graphic processing, and the like have the same dimensions as a notebook computer in a portable personal computer. PC) has also been commercialized.

[0005]

However, a small-sized input device is desired in accordance with this. However, if the size of the keyboard device is reduced in accordance with the size of such a small device, it is obvious that one key is required for a full keyboard device. The size of the key top per hit is reduced, making it less ergonomic. On the other hand, if the dimensions of the key top which are easy to use ergonomically are secured, a miniaturized full keyboard device cannot be expected.

[0006] At present, 1
A full keyboard device with one key size of about 19 mm can be said to be the most easy to use and practical input device. However, it has been demanded to reduce the size of the ergonomic size and when not in use such as when carrying it. I have.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to reduce the size of a full keyboard device when it is not used, such as when carrying it, and it is more durable. An object of the present invention is to provide a keyboard device with good operability and a storage method thereof.

[0008]

In order to achieve this object, a keyboard device according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a keyboard body having a plurality of keys having key tops arranged in a plurality of rows at least in a first divided portion and a second portion. The first divided part and the second divided part are in contact with each other on the same plane, and a use position where key input is possible, the first divided part and the second divided part Is a keyboard device that can be switched between a sliding position that is located at an interval on the same plane and a storage position in which a first divided part and a second divided part are vertically stacked, wherein the first divided part is A hinge member provided between the portion and the second divided portion, a slide mechanism for relatively sliding the first divided portion and the second divided portion on the same plane, and a first divided portion. Secure the second split with the use position Tsu in which and a click member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the method of storing a keyboard device, a keyboard body in which a plurality of keys having key tops are arranged in a plurality of rows is divided into at least a first divided portion and a second divided portion. A hinge member is arranged between the divided parts, the first divided part and the second divided part are in contact on the same plane, and a use position where key input is possible, and the first divided part and the second divided part A storage method for a keyboard device which is switchable between a slide position in which divided parts are located on the same plane at intervals and a storage position in which a first divided part and a second divided part are vertically stacked. The first divided part and the second divided part in the use position are relatively slid so that the divided parts are separated from each other on the same plane by a distance. And fixed by the lock member Release to be located in the slide position,
Next, the hinge member is moved so that the divided portions are in the storage position where they are vertically stacked.

[0010]

According to the keyboard device of the present invention having the above-described structure, the hinge member connects the first divided portion and the second divided portion, and the hinge member connects the first divided portion to the second divided portion. Is switched from the storage position where the divided parts are vertically stacked to the slide position where both divided parts are located at an interval on the same plane, and further divided parts are
By sliding them relatively so that they are in contact with each other on the same plane, they can be switched to the use position.
In this use position, key input is possible as a full keyboard device that is ergonomically easy to use.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. The keyboard device of this embodiment is a full keyboard device in which a plurality of character input keys for inputting characters such as symbols, kana characters, and alphabets, and function keys for setting special functions are arranged in five rows. This keyboard device (keyboard body)
It is divided into two in the longitudinal direction, and forms a first division 1 (first division) and a second division 2 (second division).

The first dividing section 1 and the second dividing section 2
They are connected by a pair of hinge plates 3 (hinge members) via torsion bars 4 and 5. Torsion bar 4,5
Is formed of an elastic material such as a wire spring, and is turned around a pair of holding portions 1a and 2a bent upward at substantially the center of the bottom plate of each of the first divided portion 1 and the second divided portion 2. It is movably supported. With the torsion bars 4 and 5 as pivot axes, the first divided portion 1 and the second divided portion 2 can swing by a hinge plate 3. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the use position where the first division unit 1 is adjacent to the second division unit 2 on the same plane and the key input operation is possible, and as shown in FIG. The sliding position where the part 1 and the second dividing part 2 are located at an interval on the same plane and the first dividing part 1 is parallel to the upper part of the second dividing part 2 as shown in FIG. It is possible to switch to a storage position that is folded so as to overlap.

Each part will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a hollow, box-shaped chassis 11 is used as a skeleton, and a key top 12 is projected from an upper surface thereof. The key tops 12 are arranged via switching members (not shown) in correspondence with switching contacts (not shown) provided on a board 13 made of FPC laid on the bottom surface of the chassis 11 for sensing key inputs. I have.

Further, when the first divided portion 1 is arranged at the use position shown in FIG. 4, a side portion of the first divided portion 1 facing the second divided portion 2 has a second portion. A connecting portion 14 for making an electrical connection with the dividing portion 2 is provided in a protruding manner. Joint 1
4 is formed by extending the bottom plate of the chassis 11 and bending the chassis 11 in a stepped manner as shown in FIG. 3, and has a hole 14a in an upright portion. Then, a part of the FPC board 13 penetrates the hole 14a, and the stepped coupling portion 14 is formed.
It is stuck on the back side of the. FPC of this pasted part
The ends of the circuit lines extending from the respective switching contacts are concentrated on the substrate 13, and the ends are bent downward by 180 degrees to form the electrical contacts 13a.

A pair of projecting lock pins 11a and a pair of long holes 11 for escaping the torsion bar 4, which will be described later, are formed on a pair of side surfaces of the chassis 11 of the first divided portion 1.
b are formed respectively. The pair of holding portions 1a that support the torsion bar 4 are formed by cutting and raising the bottom surface of the chassis 11, and the holding portions 1a are provided close to each other and near the center of the first divided portion 1. I have.

The elongated hole 11b and the holding portion 1a are arranged in a straight line, and the torsion bar 4 supported by the holding portion 1a protrudes outside the chassis 11 through the elongated hole 11b. Further, the elongated hole 11b is
, And extends horizontally in the direction in which the coupling portion 14 is provided.

Similarly to the first division 1, the second division 2 is provided with a key top 22 protruding from the division chassis 21, and the key tops 22 are formed in the division chassis 21 via switching members (not shown). Are provided corresponding to switching contacts (not shown) provided on an FPC board 23 attached to the bottom surface of the FPC.

When the second division 2 is located at the use position shown in FIG. 4, the side of the second division 2 facing the first division 1 has the first division 1 A receiving portion 24 for making an electrical connection with the coupling portion 14 is provided. The receiving part 24 is provided on a part of the bottom plate of the divided chassis 21 corresponding to the connecting part 14 in parallel with the torsion bar 5 described later, and a rubber tube 25 made of an elastic member such as silicon. And an FPC board 23 mounted on the FPC board 25. The ends of the circuit lines extending from the switching contacts are concentrated on the FPC board 23 at this position.

The divided chassis 21 of the second divided portion 2
A pair of protrusion-like lock pins 21a on a pair of side surfaces of
Slot 21b for escape of torsion bar 5 to be described later
Are formed respectively. Further, the pair of holding portions 2a that support the torsion bar 5 are formed by cutting and raising the bottom surface of the split chassis 21, and the holding portions 2a are provided close to each other and near the center of the second split portion 2. ing.
The elongated hole 21b and the holding portion 2a are arranged on a straight line, and the torsion bar 5 supported by the holding portion 2a is
1b and protrudes outward from the split chassis 21. Further, the elongated hole 21b extends horizontally from the torsion bar 5 in the direction in which the receiving portion 24 is provided (the direction of arrow A).

The torsion bar 4 passes through the elongated hole 11b provided on the side surface of the first divided portion 1 and
Are rotatably supported by a pair of holding parts 1a provided near the center of the head. Both ends of the torsion bar 4 are fitted into torsion bar coupling holes 3 b provided near one end of the hinge plate 3. Further, the torsion bar 5 penetrates a long hole 21 b provided on the side surface of the second divided portion 2, and a pair of holding portions 2 provided near the center of the divided chassis 21.
a is rotatably supported. Both ends of the torsion bar 5 are fitted into torsion bar coupling holes 3 a provided near the other end of the hinge plate 3. The torsion bars 4 and 5 are made of the same elastically deformable member, and the hinge plate 3 is prevented from coming off by retaining rings (not shown) attached to both ends of the torsion bars 4 and 5.

The hinge plate 3 has a length of about half of the longitudinal dimension of the first divided portion 1, and has U-shaped notches 3 c and 3 d at both ends thereof and ends of the torsion bars 4 and 5. There are formed torsion bar coupling holes 3b and 3a connected to the portion. The distance between the torsion bar coupling hole 3a of the hinge plate 3 and the notch 3c is set to be slightly larger than the distance between the lock pin 21a of the second divided portion 2 and the support hole of the torsion bar 5 of the holding portion 2a. Similarly, the distance between the torsion bar coupling hole 3b of the hinge plate 3 and the notch 3d is equal to the distance between the lock pin 11a of the first divided portion 1 and the support hole of the torsion bar 4 of the holding portion 1a. Is set slightly larger than the distance.

The hinge plate 3 of this embodiment corresponds to the hinge member of the present invention, and the torsion bars 4 and 5 correspond to the rotating shaft of the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a state in which the keyboard device having the above configuration is used. As shown in FIG. 4, the first divided part 1 and the second divided part 2 are adjacent to each other on the same plane to form an integral keyboard shape. At this time, the connecting portion 14 of the first divided portion 1 is overlapped and electrically connected to the receiving portion 24 of the second divided portion 2, and the connecting portion 14 reduces the weight of the first divided portion 1. It is in a state of being placed on the receiving portion 24 by being bridged. At the same time, the receiving portion 24 also urges the circuit contacts of the FPC board 23 upward while receiving the weight of the first divided portion 1 by the rubber tube 25. Thus, the circuit contacts are sufficiently pressed without causing a contact failure. In this regard, the rubber tube 25 corresponds to the urging member of the present invention.

The notch 3 provided in the hinge plate 3
Lock pins 21a and 11a are inserted into c and 3d, respectively, so that the rotation of the first divided portion 1 and the second divided portion 2 and the hinge plate 3 around the torsion bars 4 and 5 is prohibited. I have. That is, the notches 3c and 3d and the lock pin 1
1a and 21a correspond to the lock member of the present invention. Also,
At this time, the torsion bars 5 and 4 extend substantially linearly between the hinge plates 3 on both side surfaces, and move the lock pin 21a and the hinge plate 3 closer to each other and the lock pin 11a and the hinge plate 3 closer to each other. In the direction and the elastic restoring force.

The positional relationship between the first division 1 and the second division 2 at this time corresponds to the use position of the present invention (see FIG. 4). In this state, the keyboard device of this embodiment becomes an integrated full keyboard, and can perform input with high operability.

Next, switching from the use position to the storage position will be described. When not using the keyboard device, the operator first pulls each of the divided portions 1 and 2 horizontally outward from the use position shown in FIG. Then, the torsion bars 4 and 5 are bent, and their ends slide along the elongated holes 11b and 21b, and the first divided portion 1 and the second divided portion 2 are respectively connected to the hinge plate 3. As a result, the first divided portion 1 and the second divided portion 2 shown in FIG. 5 are held at a sliding position apart from each other.

At this time, the torsion bars 4 and 5 are respectively connected to the torsion bar mounting portions 3a and 3b and the holding portions 1a and 2a.
And the holding portions 1a, 2a as shown in FIG.
Are bent against the elastic force.

Subsequently, when the first divided portion 1 and the second divided portion 2 are pulled outward, the notched portions 3c,
The lock pins 21a and 11a are disengaged from 3d, and the coupling portion 14 and the receiving portion 24 are further separated and slid outward to a position where they do not interfere with each other. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the first divided portion 1 is swingably moved above the second divided portion 2 via the hinge plate 3. Then, the first divided portion 1 is vertically overlapped with the second divided portion 2 in parallel. At this time, the torsion bars 4 and 5 are in an elastically restored state.

The positional relationship between the first division 1 and the second division 2 at this time corresponds to the storage position (see FIG. 6) of the present invention. In this state, the keyboard device of the present embodiment is about half in planar size as compared with the keyboard at the time of the use position, and can have a high storage capacity.

Further, in the keyboard device of the present embodiment, when switching to the storage position, the lock pin 11a and the lock pin 21a abut against the long sides of the hinge plate 3, and the hinge plate 3
Is limited. This prevents the second divided portion 2 from contacting the first divided portion 1 at the storage position, and prevents the bottom surface of the second divided portion 2 from hitting the key top 12 of the first divided portion 1. This prevents the key top 12 from being damaged.

In this storage position, the rotation range of the hinge plate 3 is extremely limited depending on the thickness of the hinge plate 3 and the arrangement of the lock pins 11a and 21a, and the keyboard device cannot be fully folded. There is a fear. In this case, the size of the keyboard device is unnecessarily large in the height direction, which is contrary to the object of the present invention of miniaturization. Therefore, at the storage position, the first division unit 1
It is desirable that the second divided portion 2 be overlapped as tightly as possible within a range where the bottom surface of the first divided portion 1 does not contact the key top 21 of the second divided portion 2. Therefore, the hinge plate 3 is provided with the lock pins 11a, 21
The notch for releasing the lock pin 11a, 2 is formed by bending or bending the entire hinge plate 3 into an S-shape.
It may have a shape that avoids excessive rotation suppression by 1a.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the hinge plate 3
Numeral 0 connects the first divided portion 1 rotatably via the torsion bar 4, and connects the second divided portion 2 directly rotatably by the rotation pin 21c.

The second divided portion 2 is provided with rail grooves 21d near the side surface thereof and extending in parallel with the side surface on both the upper surface and the lower surface. As shown in FIG. 7, the hinge guide 6 that fits into the rail groove 21d and covers the side surface is mounted so as to be slidable along the rail groove 21d. Inside each hinge guide 6,
As shown in FIG. 10, a groove 6a passing through the side surface of the second divided portion 2 penetrates, and a groove 6b passing through the hinge plate 30 and a groove 6c passing through the pivot pin 21c are formed to the middle.

The structure of the first division 1 and the torsion bar 5 shown in FIG. 7 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the keyboard device having the above configuration is used. The lock pin 11a is inserted into the notch 3d provided in the hinge plate 30, and the rotation of the first divided portion 1 and the hinge plate 30 about the torsion bar 4 as a central axis is prohibited. At this time, the torsion bar 4 extends substantially linearly between the hinge plates 30 on both sides.
The hinge guide 6 covers the vicinity of the pivot pin 21c from above the hinge plate 30. At this time, the hinge plate 30 is fixed by the groove 6b provided in the hinge guide 6,
The rotation of the hinge plate 30 about the rotation pin 21c as a central axis is prohibited. The positional relationship between the first division 1 and the second division 2 at this time corresponds to the use position of the present invention, and has the same effect as in the first embodiment.

The notch 3d and the lock pin 2
1a and the hinge guide 6 correspond to the lock member of the present invention.

In order to set each of the divided portions 1 and 2 of the keyboard device of this embodiment to the storage position, first, the two upper and lower hinge guides 6 are slid along the rail grooves 21d, and the hinge plate 30 and the pivot Release the pin 21c. Then, similarly to the first embodiment, each of the divided portions 1 and 2 is pulled outward to release the lock pin 11a from the cutout 3d and to separate the coupling portion 14 and the receiving portion 24 from each other. As shown, the first divided portion 1 is swung above the second divided portion 2. By doing so, the size of the keyboard device of this embodiment can be reduced to about half the size when used. Further, at this time, the rotation range of the hinge plate 30 is limited by the lock pin 11 a and the hinge guide 6 abutting on the long sides of the hinge plate 30. Therefore, the second division 2 and the first division 1 are prevented from contacting each other at the storage position, so that the key tops 12 of the first division 1 are not damaged.

In the above-described embodiment, the small projections are provided on the rail grooves 21d so that the hinge guide 6 slides with a moderation between the position where the hinge plate 30 covers the hinge plate 30 and the position where the hinge plate 30 is released. The hinge guide 6 may be provided with a concave portion for receiving the same.

According to the above two embodiments, the keyboard device is divided into two parts in the longitudinal direction along the key arrangement to form the first divided part 1 and the second divided part 2. Therefore,
By folding this keyboard device, it is possible to reduce the size to about half the size at the time of use without changing the key size and key layout.

Further, the first divided portion 1 and the second divided portion 2 are folded so as to overlap each other in parallel. Therefore, when used for a keyboard device having a curved key arrangement surface,
Since the first division 1 and the second division 2 are overlapped along the curve, the height at the storage position can be effectively reduced.

[0042]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the keyboard device of the first aspect, since the keyboard body is divided and connected by the hinge member, the keyboard body can be folded in a vertically stacked manner. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size when not in use, such as when carrying, while ensuring key dimensions and key layout with good operability.

Further, according to the storage method of the keyboard device according to the second aspect, it is possible to smoothly switch between the usable position and the storage position, and it is possible to reliably hold the use position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a keyboard device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a connection portion of the keyboard device.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of a connection portion at a use position of the keyboard device.

FIG. 4A is a plan view when the keyboard device is in a use position. (B) is a side view when the keyboard device is in a use position.

FIG. 5A is a plan view when the keyboard device is shifted from a use position to a storage position. (B) is a side view when shifting the keyboard device from a use position to a storage position.

FIG. 6 is a side view when the keyboard device is in a storage state.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a keyboard device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A is a plan view when the keyboard device is in a use position. (B) is a side view when the keyboard device is in a use position.

FIG. 9 is a side view when the keyboard device is in a storage state.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a hinge guide of the keyboard device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st division part (1st division part) 2 2nd division part (2nd division part) 3 Hinge board (hinge member) 3c, 3d Notch part 4, 5 Torsion bar 6 Hinge guide 11b, 21b Lock pin 14 Connecting part 24 Receiving part 25 Rubber tube

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A keyboard body in which a plurality of keys having key tops are arranged in a plurality of rows is divided into at least a first divided part and a second divided part, and the first divided part and the second divided part Are in contact with each other on the same plane and key input is possible, a sliding position in which the first divided part and the second divided part are located at an interval on the same plane, and a first divided part A keyboard device that can be switched to a storage position in which the first and second divided parts are vertically stacked, and a hinge member provided between the first and second divided parts; A slide mechanism that relatively slides the first divided portion and the second divided portion on the same plane; and a lock member that fixes the first divided portion and the second divided portion at the use position. Keyboard device characterized by having . 2. A keyboard body in which a plurality of keys having key tops are arranged in a plurality of rows is divided into at least a first divided portion and a second divided portion, and a hinge member is arranged between the divided portions. The first divided part and the second divided part are in contact on the same plane, and a use position at which key input is possible, and the first divided part and the second divided part are spaced apart on the same plane. A storage method for a keyboard device that is switchable between a sliding position to be positioned and a storage position in which a first divided part and a second divided part are vertically stacked, the first divided part being in the use position And the second divided part is slid relative to each other so that the divided parts are separated from each other on the same plane at an interval, and the fixing by the locking member is released. Position, then The serial hinge member, a storage method of the keyboard apparatus and moving so that their wedges is superimposed storage position vertically.